ii?':''h'- . ' K&.^^ Qsm§slW- COPTWGHT DEPOBtt ^ AT'^^ r^^. -M$#fe^ s>i ^^^^ i-^r — =5^^^^^^:^ '-9^;^fe^fe3fe:2fc:3fe3fe:^^^fc:^fe3^3e; A HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND, CONTAINING HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE SKETCHES COUNTIES, CITIES AND PRINCIPAL TOWNS SIX NEW ENGLAND STATES, INCLUDING, IN ITS LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS, MORE THAN SIXTY LITERARY MEN AND WOMEN, REPRESENTING EVERY COUNTY IN NEW ENGLAND. EDITED BY REV, R, H. HOWARD, A. M., AND Prof. HENRY E. CROCKER. ILLUSTRATED WITH FINE STEEL AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS, EMBRACING VIEWS OF CITIES, NATURAL SCENERY, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND PROMINENT LANDMARKS OF SPECIAL HISTORIC INTEREST. Land of the forest and the rock, Of dark blue lake and mighty river, Of mountains reared aloft to mock The storm's career, the lightning's shock. My own green land forever! " WlIITTIER BOSTON : CROCKER & CO., PUBLISHER 1879. Copcriglit. By CROCKER & CO. 1879. Y V Boston: WRIGHT * roTTEU rUlNTISQ COMPANY, No. 73 Milk STREtT (cok. Federal). PREFACE. The history of Now England is invested with a peculiar interest. Its honored antecedents, the extraordinary circumstances of its early settlement, and the numerous vicissitudes attending its later development; the rare intelligence, sturdj' virtue and indomitable energy of its primitive population; the fact, moreover, that the sons of this motherland have, for generations, been carrying her ideas and institutions, as well as her spirit of enterprise, into the new and opening regions of the great West, serve to attach to this section of our common country an exceptional importance, and to invest its annals with a corresponding signilicancc and cliarm. For not the native New Englander alone, or even the native American, l)ut for all true lovers of libertj', and of free institutions cveryM'here, the history of this "nursing spot of freedom," as also the annals of the people who contri))uted, in so eminent a degree, to the success of this notable experiment in local self-government, cannot, we feel confident, but prove a theme of deep and enduring interest. This work, as will be readily perceived, is intended to embi'ace, in a comprehensive form, what- ever may be regarded as of special interest comiected with the history of the States, counties and towns of New England. Such a work obviously possesses a peculiar merit. In this characteristically " fast and progressive ago," when there is so much to be read in a necessarily limited period of time, the public generall}- want results and not processes ; generalizations and bird's-eye views, and not extended disquisition. jMeantime, neither labor nor expense has been spared, in tlie j^reparation of this work, I to make it, as far as possi))le, accurate and relialjle ; while both the quality and variety of the talent j employed are such as to warrant, not only the authenticity of its statements, but also the varied and popular treatment', as well as the literar}- ability and skill that should characterize a work of this kind. Special attention, it will be observed, has been paid to the earlier history of each section, and not only in the letter-press, but in the illustrations. Indeed, in the latter department, the book will be found happily to embrace the two extremes of our civilization — what it was at its first and feeble beginnings, and what it is at its present advanced stage of progress. It will be noticed that the same topics have been treated to some extent b}^ different writers. The history of the torritorj- being Avritten b}' small sections, and by a variety of hands ; the ground, more- over, being traversed first in a general way by the State writers, and subsequently more in detail by the County writers ; and the fact withal that the topics of the diflerent authors naturally overlap each PREFACE. other, sufficiently explain this feature. This latter peculiarity, however, is not without its value. One writer generalizes, another furnishes us with a detailed account ; one discusses an important epoch from one standpoint, another approaches and examines it in the light of another ; and so, through this ) diversified as well as thoughtful testimony, every important theme gets the benetit of a variety of side- lights — all contributing either to contirm and strongtlu'u, or otherwise to enlighten and liberalize our historical opinions. We take occasion here to tender our acknowledgments to our contributors, and to express our hearty and unalloyed gratification that they have so generally entered into our plans, and so warmly sympathized with our undertaking, and have, with such signal abilitj', and exemplary patience and foithfulness prepared the articles that constitute the body of this work. Our acknowledgments are especially due to William E. Graves, Esq., a well-known Boston jour- nalist, of large experience and extensive acquaintance throughout the Xew England States ; to Judge McUen Chamberlain, and Arthur Mason Knapp, of the Boston Public Library; to Rev. Frederick A. Whitney of Brighton, Mass. : to the librarian of the Massachusetts Historical Society ; to John i Ward Dean, A. ]M., of the Xew England Historic and Genealogical Society: and to the librarian of the ^Massachusetts State Library, for A-aluable assistance rendered. Among numerous authorities consulted in the preparation of this work have Ijcen Prof. Zadock Thompson's "History of Vermont," Miss Hemenway's "Vermont Gazetteer," Coolidge and Mansfield's "History and Description of New England," Palfrey'^s "History of New England," Barry's "History of Massachusetts," Williamson's and Abbott's histories of Maine, Freeman's " History of Cape Cod," Drake's, Shurtleflfs and Snow's histories of Boston; Nason's "Massachusetts Gazetteer," &c., &c. And now, to all New Englanders, and to all lovers of New England, this work, prepared at a great outlay of labor and means, is commended in the earnest hope that its readers may derive pleasure and instruction from the perusal of these memorials of their ancestors. Boston, December 10, ISTO. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS, i ! EARLY EXPLORATIONS, By Heiny E. Crocker, 1 PAGE MASSACHUSETTS, By Rov. R. H. Howard, 18 Barnstable County, Henry E. Crocker, Boston, 72 Beeksiiiee County, . J. E. A. Smith, Pittsfleld, 87 Bristol County, F. E. Galligan, M. D., Taunton, .... 108 Dukes County, Hon. Hebron Vincent, Edgartown, .... 124 Essex County, Cyrus M. Tracy, Lynn, 131 Fkankxin County, . William E. Graves, Boston 147 Hampden County, . Robert O. Morris, Esq., Springfield, .... 160 Hampshiee County, Mrs. S. F. Wliite, South Wortliington, 175 j Middlesex County, Prof. L.F. Griffin, Lalje Forest, III, .... 187 Nantucket County, Dr. Arthur E. Jenks, Nantucket, .... 200 1 Norfolk County, . Henry 0. Hildreth, Esq., Dedliam, .... 216 j Plymouth County, . Rev. Charles W. Wood, Scotland, Mass., . 231 Suffolk County, Rev. Z. A. Mudge, Dedham "41 Worcester County, Rev. Elias Nason, North Billerica, .... 274 CONNECTICUT, . By Capt. Henry P. Goddard, Hartford, .... 291 Fairfield County, . William Knapp, Esq., New Milford 299 Hartford County, . William L Fletcher, Hartford, 311 Litchfield County, William Knapp, Esq., New Milford, .... 330 Middlesex County, Prof. Thomas Emmette, Middletown, 342 New Haven County, S. R. Dennen, D. D., and Carrie R. Dennen, New ILaven 354 New London County, Ashbel Woodward, M. D., Franklin 365 Tolland County, . Mrs. Eunice F. Anderson, Mansfield, 376 WiNDUAM County, . Miss Ellen D. Laraed, Thompson, .... 387 RHODE ISLAND, . By Hon. Francis Brinley, Newport, .... 399 Bristol County, Rev. James P. Lane, Bristol, 403 Kent County, . Joseph W. Congdon, Esq., East Greenwich, . 417 Newport County, . George E. Mason, Esq., Newport, .... 422 Providence County, Rev. Edwin M. Stone, Providence, .... 433 Washington County, Esther B. Carpenter and Rev. James H. Carpenter, Wakefield 445 ' 6 CONTENTS. PAGE MAINE, By Rev. Mark Trafton, D. D., Wollaston, Mass., . . 455 Androscoggin County, Rev. J. S. Cogswell, West Auburn, Me., . . 464 ! I Aroostook County, R. R. McLeod, Esq., Houlton, . . 470 1 Cumberland County, Rev. E. P. Thwing, Brooklyn, N. Y., . 473 Franklin County, . Rev. J. S. Swift, Farmington Falls, . . 490 Hancock Col-nty, . Hon. Parker Tuck, and Miss C. B. Homer Buckspoi t, . 499 ' Kennebec County, . Hon. William B. Lapham, M. D., Augusta, . 511 Knox County, . L. F. Starrett, Esq., Rockland, . . 521 Lincoln County, R. K. Sewall, Esq., Wiseasset, . . 52S Oxford County, AVilliam B. Lapham, M. D., Augusta, . 536 Penobscot County, . E. F. Duren, Esq., Bangor, . 543 Piscataquis County, Rev. Amasa Loring, Foxcroft, . . 551 Sagadahoc County, Rev. Heniy O. Thayer, AVoolwit-h, . . 555 Somerset County, . E. P. Mayo, Skowhegan, . . 562 Waldo County, Albert C. AViggin, Belfast, . . 568 WASnmGTON COUNTV, George W. Drisko, Machias, . . 576 York County, . Rev. George B. Ilsloy, Yarmouth, . . 683 NEW HAMPSHIRE, By Daniel F. Secomb, Concord, . 693 Belknap County, . the late Rev. Lcander S. Co.an, Alton, . 601 Carroll County, Hon. Larkin I). Mason, South Tamworth, . .604 Cheshire County, . William E. Graves, Boston, . '608 Coos County, . Prof. J. H. Huntington, Boston, . 616 ' Grafton County, . Prof. John K. Lord, Hanover, . . 624 Hillsborough County, Daniel Goodwin, Esq., Mason, . . 631 [ Merrimack County, Asa McFarland, Esq., Concord, . . 642 Rockingham County, Prof. L. F. Griffin, Lake Forest, 111., . . 650 ! Strafford County, William E. Graves, Boston, . 657 Sullivan County, . William' E. Graves, Boston, . 671 VERMONT, . . . By Rev. R. H. Howard, .... . 677 Addison County, Prof. William F. Bascom, Middlebury, . 693 Bennington County, D. K. Simonds, Esq., Manchester, . 702 Caledonia County, . Hon. Henry Clark, Rutland, . 711 Chittenden County, Rev. R. H. Howard, .... . 722 Essex County, . Dr. Hiram A. Cutting, Ph. D., Lunenburg 1, . . 729 Franklin County, . Hon. Henry Clark, Rutland, . 739 Grand Isle County, William E. Graves, Boston, . 748 Lamoille County, . William E. Graves, Boston, . 751 Orange County, Dr. J. T. Child, West Fairlee, . . 756 Orleans County, . William E. Graves, Boston, . 764 Rutland County, . Hon. Henry Clark, Rutland, . 770 Washington County, Rev. John H. Hinoks, Montpelier, . . 777 > Windham County, . Joseph J. Green, Fayetteville, . . . 784| Windsor County, . William E. Graves, Boston, . 791 ILLUSTRATIONS Frontispiece. A Northman's Vessel, James Cartier, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, De Monts, Samuel Champlain, .... rij-moutli Rocli, .... Colonists going to Churcli — Ancient " Meeting Monument at Plymouth, . . ' . Governor Winthrop, .... The Spinning-wheel — An Old-time Fireside, Old Wayside Inn, . . ^. . . View of Sandwich, Provincetown, Highland Light, Truro, .... Autograph of John Brown, The Court House, Pittstiold, . The Berkshire Athenreum, The Park— Railroad Depot, Pittsfield, . Memorial Hall, Lee, .... Edwards Monument, .... City Hall— St. James' Church, New Bedford, Unitarian Church, Taunton, Leonard House, Raynham, Oldest House in Edgartown, Union Chapel, Oak Bluffs, Old Tunnel Church, Lynn, Old City Hall— New City Hall, Lynn, . Public Library, Newljuryport, Old North Church, Marbleheail, Birth-place of Israel Putnam, . Phillips Academy, Public Library, Springfield, Home of Phoebe Hinsdale Brown, Monson, Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, . Mount Tom and the Connecticut River, facino Agricultural College, Amherst, Mt. Holyoke Seminary, South Hadley, . The Battle of Lexington, The Battle of Bunker Hill, facing . The County Jail — the Court House, Lowell, Ladd and Whitney Monument, Lowell, . St. Anne's Church, Lowell, Residence of the Poet Longfellow, Cambridge, Memorial Hall, Harvard University, House," ard, . Public Library, Woburn, facing Public Library, Concord, facing Henry Wilson's Home, Natick, State Normal School, Framingham, Lawrence Academy, Groton, . Residence of Edwin S. Barrett, Concord, Old North Bridge, Concord, . Old Manse, Concord Massachusetts House, Lexington, facing Map of Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Viney; Aljram Quady, The Old Windmill, Nantucket, Tlie Coffin School, Nantucket, Studio of Eastman Johnson, Nantucket, The Old Fairbanks House, Dedham, Home of John Quincy Adams, Quincy, . The Hai'vard Church, Brookline, Wellesley College, Needham, . i\Iinot's Ledge Lighthouse, Cohasset, Winthrop Churcli, Holbrook, . First Normal School Building, Bridgewater, State Normal School, Bridgewater, Railroad Depot, Brockton, Leyden Street— Burial Hill, Plymouth, . Old Meeting-House, Ilingham, Iron-Works, Bridgewater, The Standish Monument, Duxbury, The " Old Oaken Bucket," Scituate, Standish House, Duxbury, Brattle Street Chui'cli — Christ Church, Boston, Old South Church, Boston, . . ' . Faneuil Hall, Boston, .... Scene of the Great Fii'c, Boston, Boston and Providence Railroad Station, Boston, Drive on tlie Margin of the Small Reservoir, The Old Hancock House— King's Chapel, Boston, Franklin's' Birth-place, View at the head of State Street, . Old Elm, Boston Common — State House, Boston, Now Post-Office— Custom-House— City Hall, View on Boston Common, ...... Statue of Gen. Glover, Trinity Church — Cathedral of the Holy Cross— New Old South Church, Boston, Bunker Hill, Monument, ILLUSTRATIONS. cester, unty, Cl. Meeting-house Hill, Dorchester, First Church, Roxbury Institution for the Blind, South Boston, . Marine Hosj)it:il, Chelsea, Institute of luilustrial Science, Worcester, Public High School, Worcester, The Oreiul Institute— St. PiUil's Church, AVoi Building of First Daily Paper in Fairfield Coi People's Bank— Wheeler's Block, Bridgeport, New State Capitol, Hartford, facing Trinity College— High School, Hartford, The Charter Oak, Hartford, . Residence of Mark Twain, Hartford, Rapids near Weramaug's Palace, . First Foreign Jlission School in the United States, Town Hall, New Milford, High Street— Wesleyan University, Middletown, Excavation in Middlesex Quarry, Portland, Brainard & Co 's Quarry, Portland, Shaler & Hall Quarry, Portland, . New Chapel— Peabody Museum, Yale Colk Farnam Hall, Yale College. . Old Stone House, Guilford, City Hall, Norwich, The Academy, Norwich, .... St. Patrick's Church, Norwich, Old Bridge at Norwich, facing Park Church, Norwich, .... Putnam summoned to war. Academy, East Greenwich, R. I., . Old Coddingtcn House, Newport, . "Old Stone Mill," Newport, . State House, Newport, .... Trinity Church, Newport, Roger Williams Monument, Providence, Library Building, Brown University, Messer Street Primary School, Providence, First Baptist Church, Providence, . Old Town House, Providence, . City Hall, Providence, .... Hazard's Castle, NaiTaganset Pier, . Birthplace of Gilbert Stuart, . Lisbon Falls, Me., Livermore Falls, Mineral Spring, South Poland, Old Mansion House, South Poland, View of Portland Iilaine General Hospital, .... The Observatory, Portland, City Hall, Portland, Post-Office, Portland, .... Custom-House, Portland, Westbrook Seminary, .... Mansion, Abljott Family School, Farmington, Scenery at Abbott Family School, Farmington Western Normal School, Farmington, . PAGE 266 267 i'70 272 278 278 279 305 .307 318 319 321 323 331 33i 349 351 352 353 360 361 363 3G6 367 368 368 369 394 421 423 427 42H 429 433 436 440 441 Upper Dam at Ellsworth, Midnight Review, Castine, Desert-Rock Lighthouse, facing. State House, Augusta, High School, Augusta, Cobbossce Contee Falls, Gardine Cascade at West Waterville, . Last Block-house at Fort Halifax Maine Wesleyan Seminary, Kent's Hill, Upper Falls, Rumford, . Lower Falls, Rumford, Norombega, . . . • Town Hall, Orono, . Residences of the Websters, Orono, Monument of Rasle, Norridgewock, North Channel Dam, Skowhegan, . Madison Bridge Falls, Uame Central Institute, Pittsfield, . Fort Knox, Prospect, Lower Falls, East Machias, Garrison House, Y'ork, . Railroad Bridge, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Old Pepperell House, Kittery, . Sergeant LaiTabee's Garrison, Keunebunk Tlie Cliffs, Cape Arundel, Pulpit Rock, facing . Rattlesnake Island, Lake Winnipiseogee Alton Bay, .... Centre Harbor, Wolfborough, .... The Pavilion, Wolfljorough, . Crawford House, Lancaster, .... The Willey House, facing Mount Washington Railway, . Culver Hall, Agricultural College, Hanover, High School Building, Nashua, Mount Pleasant School House, Nashua, The Bradley Monument, Concord, . Home of Franklin Pierce, Concord, State House, Concord, Birthplace of Horace Greeley, facing Birthplace of Daniel Webster, facing The Wentworth House, Little Harbor, Old Langdon House, Portsmouth, . Robinson Female Seminary, Exeter, Old Catamount Tavern, Bennington, Vt. First Church in Vermont, Burr and Burton Seminary, Manchester, St. Johnsbury Academy, . Diagrams, facing .... Old Court House, Rutland, First State House— Second State House Montpelier, .... Bethany Church, Montpelier, . State Capitol, EARLY EXPLORATIONS. BY HENRY E. CROCKER. I. NOKSE DISCOVERIES. The earliest exploration of the region now known as New England, is generallj' attributed to the navigators of England and Southern Europe, who, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, examined its coast. As a matter of fact, however, the earliest European discover- ies in New England, are connected with a period almost as near the beginning of the Christian era as to the pres- ent, and the mind, to contemplate them, must bridge the gulf of nearlj- nine hundred j'ears. It seems especiallj- fitting that New England, the birthplace of hard.y marin- ers, whose vessels for more than a centurj- have ploughed the most distant seas, should have been primaril_y dis- covered bj^ a race of sea-kings, the Norsemen of Scan- dinavia, renowned in all Europe for their feats of navi- gation. Manj- still regard the tales of the Icelandic sagas as fables, or at the best as traditions, the remote- ness of whose origin renders them unworthj' of credence ; luit, to those who have made a careful study of Norse literature, the discovery of New England by the North- men is a fact as well established and unquestionable, as that Columbus discovered Guanahani, or that the Cabots, in the time of Henry VII. of England, sighted tlie shores of Labrador. The facts upon which this belief rests are obtained from the " Icelandic Annals " — old records of Iceland — which have, of late j'ears, been ex- amined verj' critically by careful investigators of history. Sir John Richardson, a learned English writer, says of them, in his work entitled "The Polar Regions," published in Edinburgh in 1861 : " The authenticity of the Icelandic manuscript seems to be fully established," and a recent American writer saj's : "These narratives are plain, straightforward, business-like accounts of actual voyages made bj' the Northmen, in the tenth and eleventh centuries, to Greenland, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and the coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Within the whole range of literature of discovery and adventure, no volumes can be found which have more abundant internal evidence of authenticity." * In considering, then, the historj' of early explorations in • " Ancient America." By John D. Baldwin. New York, Harper & Bros. 1872. New England, we shall devote a few paragi'aphs to dis- coveries nearlj' five hundred j-ears prior to the time when Columbus approached the shores of the Western World. One of the boldest of the Northmen was Naddod, who, on account of his spirit of adventure and success in commercial enterprise, was called the sea-king. Ten centuries since, this adventurer, while on one of his dar- ing voyages, was driven bj- storms far to the westward, and discovered Iceland. Nearly a score of years passed away, and the island had been peopled meanwhile bj- a colonj- of Danes. Another vessel was borne hy a storm four hundred miles to the west of Iceland, and in this accidental way Greenland was reached, and the waj' opened for colonization. A few years after this, another Northman named Bjarne, while attempting a voyage to Greenland, was carried by a north wind far to the south of his intended course. The gale continued with terrible force for many days, and when the storm subsided and the sun appeared, a long line of sandy shore was seen in the distant horizon. It is believed that this was either the island of Nantucket, or the eastern shore of Cape Cod. From this point Bjarne sailed backward along the coast until at last he arrived at Greenland. Again, some four years after, probably in the year 1000, Lief Erikson, or Lief, son of Erik the Red, sailed in Bjarne's ship, on an exploring expedition. Touching at Hellerland (now Newfoundland) and Markland (Nova Scotia), he steered to the south-west for the purpose of exploring the land that had been seen by Bjarne. The shores of Cape Cod were first descried, and after cruising along its eastern coast and passing several leagues to the west, they en- tered a large bay and cast anchor near its pleasant shores. The surrounding country' was so delightful, the fruit so abundant, and the climate so mild, that it was decided to spend the winter there. In the valleys near the shore were the sassafras and other fragrant trees, about many of which luxuriant grapevines twined, loaded with clusters of delicious fruit. They gave the region the appropriate name of Vinland, and began immediate preparations to spend the winter in that localitj-. Tents were erected, and a rude house constructed not far prob- ably from the present site of Fall River. They returned to Greenland in the spring, where the news of their dls- HISTORY OF XEW EXCxLAND. covcr3^ creati'd a profound sensation. Again the ship, which had twice visited the shores of the "Western Conti- nent, sailed out of the harbor of the little settlement in Greenland, and this time Thorwald, a brother of Lief Erikson, was in command. The vessel's prow was turned to the south-west, toward the newly discovered and de- lightful reahns. Entering, in the summer of 1002, the hay where Lief had anchored two years before, they found the spot where he had encamped, and occupied the huts of their brethren, that the natives had allowed to remain. To the place where they had encamped they gave the name of Lief 's-buder, or Liefs house, and three winters were spent in that locality. In the spring of the second jear of their staj', thej _ made a voyage around ^^ Cape Cod, intending &* then to return to Green laud. Rounding the €\- ^ tremity of the Cape : sailing north-west acn the baj-, thej' entered last a sheltered souim studded with islands This sound was enclose d by hills with rounded summits, and at the heid was a wooded elevation of great beauty. To tlie north and west, as far i^ the eye could reach, the most delightful scene 13 met the enchanted vi- sion of the voyagers, so * nokihm that Thorwald exclaims in rapture, " Here it is beautiful ; here I should like to spend my days ! " Yet, in this lovely harbor occm-red the first battle between Europeans and the aborigines of the New World, of which we have any record. And in this, as in many subsequent in- stances, the white men were the aggressors. They attacked some natives, who, unsuspicious of danger, put off a little distance from the shore in canoes. The whole tribe rushed to arms, and soon the bay was alive with the canoes of the savage warriors. Thorwald's men were sheltered behind the oaken planks of their vessel and suffered no injurj' ; but Thorwald, rashly exposing him- self, was struck by an arrow, and a mortal wound inflicted. When the Indians retired, the bodj- of the chief was carried on shore, and the spot where he had hoped to live for many years, became his burial-place. ^^ceording to his dying request, two crosses were placed at his grave, and his men called the place Krossanaes, or the promontor}- of the crosses. The placid sound entered by Thorwald is believed to have been what is now known as Boston Harbor, * although manj- have located the scene of the encounter on the shore of Xarragansett Bay, and have conjectured that the skeleton in armor, exhumed near Fall River, in 1831, and the subject of Longfellow's poem, was that of Thorwald. The Xorthmen. after the burial of their leader, returned to their settlement in Vinland, and, in the spring, set sail for their arctic home. On their arrival Thorstcin, the younger brother of Thorwald, took com- m md of the ship, and boon after sailed for \ inland, that he might find the remains of his UMloitunate kinsman. Ml 1 convey them to burial-place of his I uhers. He was ac- duipanied by his wife ( 11 Irida, whom the i_i-5 described as re- in iikal)le for her beauty, dignity, prudence, and good d iscourse. The ex- pedition proved to be an ill-staifed one. Ten-i- ble storms wore encoun- ^^i tcud, and, after many =„ ( h mges of fortune, th(.\ finaUj- succeeded , t, \t!,sLL j„ n^aching one of the cheerless settlements on the western coast of Greenland. Here Thorstein and many of the crew, worn out bj' long struggling with the elements, died, and soon after the widowed Gudiida returned to her friends. As is often the case in modem times, the grief of the widow was of brief continuance. A j'ear rolled bj', and she was united in marriage to Thorfinn, a wealth}' gentleman of Iceland, of distinguished birth, and noted for liis many vii'tues. • A Norseman statue and fountain is to be erected in Post-Office Square, Boston, to commemorate the supposed visit of tlie Norsemen to New England. Tlie statue, of bronze, -nill represent Lief Erilison and will wear the ancient armor of the Norsemen, — a shirt of mail, a two-edged sword, and the pointed helmet of that people. The pedestal will be of rough granite, richly encrusted in bronze, with grapevines, leaves, and clusters. Water will fall from the twisted vine-stems at the four comers into a simple lipped oval basin of polished granite.— A7hine ourselves together into a civil body politic for our lictter enduring and preservation, and furtherance of the ends afore- said: and by virtue hereof, to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws and measures, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be tOought most convenient for the general good of tlic colony. Unto which we all promise due obedience." for colonizing New England, — to this band of Leydcn Pilgrims, to this small, unknown company of wander- ing outcasts, should, under God, have been committed this important service. That, under all the circum- stances, on the bleak shores of a remote and barren wilderness, in the midst of desolation, with the blast of a rigorous New England winter howling aliout them, and surrounded by dangers in their most awful and appalling forms, they succeeded as well as they did, having, truly humble as were their circumstances, been tlie instruments of laying, as already intimated, tlie foundations of j American liberty, must, we think, be attributed to the overruling purpose of One who wisely kept shut the gates of this part of the New World until there should appear that race of iron men, duty-loving men, wlio should undertake its settlement and i ivilizat on in the name of God, and in the interest of truth and of humanity. After several expeditions, now inland, for the sake ol' obtaining fresh supplies, now up and down the coast for the sake of ascertaining the most elig-'ble and inviting place of settlement, at length, on Monday, Dec. 11,0. S., the final and decisive landing was effected on what is know-n and has since become immortal as Forefathers' Rock, Plymouth.* " The Plymouth Rock that had licen to their feet as a door-step Into the world unknown — the comer-stone of a nation." I I 1 And so, having providentially- escaped the many per- ils, and survived the manj- discomforts and privations of an ocean voyage, sadly worn with suffering, and weak and wearj- from their many fatigues, these min anl women that, for the sake of a good conscience, for the sake alone of "freedom to worsliip God," had thus braved the dangers of the sea, the hostilities of savage • This rock, still preserved as an object of veneration, " was proba- bly," says another, " the only stone large enough for the purpose of landing in all that lile;ik and sandy coast." The very first to have stepped on this rock is said have been a young girl by the name of Mary Chilton. The site of this stone was preserved by tradition, and a venerable co- temporary of several of the Pilgrims, whose head was silvered with tBe frosts of ninety-five winters, Elder Faunce, .settled the que^tion of the identity of this hi.',torie rock, as, in 1721, borne in his arm-chair by a grateful populace, he took his last look of it, — so endeared to his mem- i ory,— and, bedewing it with tears, bade it farewell. In 1774, this [ l)recious bowlder was raised from its bed and consecrated to Liberty, j In the act of its elevation it fell in twain, an occurrence regarded by manj' as ominous of the separation of the Colonics from England. The lower | part was left in its original bed, while the upper part, weighing several tons, was conveyed, amid the heartiest rejoicings, to Liberty-pole j Square, and adonicd with a flag bearing the significant motto and war- j cry, " LiBiuTY on Dr.Aiu." On the 4th of July, 1834, the natal day of ' the Colonics, this part was removed to its present site in front of Pil- j grim Hall. IMASSACHUSETTS. tribes, and the possible hardsliips of nakedness and want in a new countrj-, now at last land on the ice-clad rocks of Plymouth,* and, in the name of the Lord, set up their banners, and strike their first blow as members of the Plj-mouth Colonj-. " Forth they come From their long prison, hai-dy forms that brave The world's nnkindncss, men of hoary hair, And virgins firm of heart, and matrons grave. Bleak Nature's desolation wraps them round, Eternal forests and unyielding earth, And savage men who through the thickets peer With vengeful arrow. "What could lure their steps To this drear desert ? Ask him who left Tlis father's home to roam thro' Haran's wilds. Nor doubting, tho' a sti-anger, that his seed Should be as ocean's sands." In the present rapid and comprehensive survey of the events connected with the dawn and development of self-rule in New England, the writer will naturally be chiefly occupied with such affairs embraced in the history of these Pilgrim t adventurers, as are best calculated to illustrate their character, and the growth of the govern- ment they initiated, — of the rise and progress of those free institutions, the dazzling promise even of whose infancy caused Burke, in 1775, to exclaim in the British House of Commons : " What in the world was ever equal to it ! " The settlement at Plj-mouth was commenced on ■Wednesday, the 20th — twenty persons remaining ashore for the night. On the following Saturday, the first timber was felled. On Mondaj', their storehouse was com- menced. On Thursdaj', preparations were made for the erection of a fort, and allotments of land were made to the families ; and on the following Sunday, worship was performed for the first time on land. J Busy hands now speedily cleared land for their village, and, before man^- days, a hamlet of log dwellings, suffi- cient for the temporary accommodation of the Colony, had been constructed. § • The harbor had been named Plymouth by the explorer Captain John Smith, from old Plymouth, England. t The Pilgrims were so called on account of their wanderings from place to place, on the road " to heaven, their dearest country," as they said. They had acquired this title even before coming to New Eng- land. X For some time the Pilgrims, save as they were served by Elder Brewster, seem to have been without the stated ministrations of tho Gospel. The first sermon preached in these Colonics was delivered by Rev. Robert Cushman, at Plymouth, in December, 1G21 ; memorable as the first printed production of any writer iu New England. 5 The houses of most of the first settlers were, of necessity, very rude and simple structures — a log cabin, often of a single room, with an immense chimney built externally at one end. Tlie chinks between the logs were "daubed" with a moitar of clay and straw. Tall grass, Meantime, unfortunately, in consequence of exposures incurred, both while on ship-board and also during their wanderings in quest of a home, a great and distressing mortahty prevailed during this first winter, cutting off nearly one-half their numlier. A sufficiently affecting proof of the miserable and melancholy condition of these sufferers at this time is afforded in the fact, that not only had these their loved ones, and neighbors withal, to whom, by attachments consecrated by mutual toils and privations, at once in their native land, in exile, and on the deep, they had become tenderly united and endeared — been removed out of their sight by death, and their cherished forms, so early committed to the soil of New England, but, through fear of their losses being dis- covered by the warlike savages that surrounded them, and of the lattor's taking advantage of their own weak- ness and helplessness to attack and exterminate them, the sad mounds formed by the rude coffins of their friends were carefully levelled, and left utterly uuhonored and unmarked. Early the ensuing spring, the "Mayflower" took her final departure from the new settlement. The reader will, without difficulty, in fancy, reproduce the parting scene. The lone Pilgrims crowd the strand, and, through tear-dimmcd ej-cs, watch the vessel as she weighs anchor, hoists her sails, and bears awa3- — watching, with strained -^-ision, the gradually lessening speck, until at last it fades utterly and forever from view. In well-chosen and glowing words, the late Mrs. Sigoumey has sketched this picture : — " But yon lone hark Hath spread her parting sail. They crowd the strand. Those few lone Pilgrims. Can ye scan the \\oe That wrings their bosoms, as the last frail link Binding to man, and habitable earth. Is severed ? Can ye tell what pangs were there, "What keen regrets, what sickness of the heart, Wh;it yearnings o'er their forfeit land of birth, Thch- distant dear ones ? Long with straining eyes They watch the lessening speck. Hear ye no shriek Of .anguish, when that bitter loneliness Sank down into theu- bosoms. No ! they turn gathered along the beaches, was largely used for the thatching of roofs. After some thirty years, a better class of dwellings began to be more common. They were usually made of heavy oak frames, put together in the most solid manner, and made secure at ni,,'ht against the incur- sions of Indians and wild beasts by massive wood;;n bars. One of those buildings, erected originally by Townsend Bishop in 1G3.5, afterwards owned by Governor Endicott, and occupied by his son John, is still standing, and occupied, in Danvcrs. It is known as the Nourse, or " Witch House," on account of its having been the residence of Mrs- Rebecca Nourse, when hung as a witch in 1692. Though, according to Mr. TJpham, the oldest house in America, its timbers are still sound; n.iy, have liecome so hard that it is almost impossible to drive a nail into them. HISTORY OF XEW ENGLAND. Back to their dreary, famished huts, and pray ! And lo ! the ills that haunt this transient life Fade Into air. Up in eaeh gurdcd breast There sprang A loftiness to face a world in arms, To strip the pomp from sceptre, and to lay Upon the sacred altar the warm blood Of slain affections, when they rise between The soul and God." Though thus doubly bereaved, — left, amid the soli- tudes of nature, and tribes of treacherous, blood-thirstj- barbarians, to encounter the perils of the future, shorn of half their strength — to their immortal honor, j-et be it said, not one of these pioneers " fainted for weak- ness, or turned back laltering to the home of his child- hood ; but, with a loftiness of purpose which was ever theirs, and consecrating themselves anew to the work in •vrhich the3- had engaged, all resolutely remained, deter- mined to abide the direction of God, and calmly to follow the leadings of his hand until sunmioned from earth to their heavenly h-jme." Upon the organization of their pro'N'isional government, as already stated, John Carv-cr had lieen chosen gov- ernor. The ver}' day following the departure of the " Mayflower," he suddenlj- died, and "William Bradford was chosen his successor. One of the first acts of the new colonial government was to establish a military organization. Thrown, as they were, defenceless upon these inhospitable shores, and surrounded bj- more or less hostile tribes of Indians, the settlers were at once impressed with the necessity of some such means of protection. Miles Standish, who had already sensed in the armies both of Elizabeth and James, was chosen captain, * and was entrusted with " authority iu command of affairs." Meantime, while these earliest militarj' arrangements were yet in progress, through overtures from the natives themselves the settlers had commu-iication with the Indians, and concluded a treaty of amity with Massa- • Miles Standish was not a member of the Leyden Church, nor sub- sequently that of Plymonlh, but appears to have been induced to join the emigrants by personal good -will, or by love of adventure, while to them his military knowledge and habits rendered his companionship of great value He was no religious enthusiast. He never professed to care for, or no much as to understand, the s3-stem of doctrine of his friends, though he paid it all respect as being theirs. Their honest, self-renouncing piety fascinated him wholly. He nursed the sick like a mother, at the same time that he was building batteries and drilling platoons against Indian hostility. He was the strong right arm of the infant Colony — his only ambition being faithfully to discharge whatever trust had been com- mitted to his hands, whether it was to frighten the Narr.agansett or Massachusetts natives, to forage for provisions, to hold a rod over dis- oi-derly English neighbors, or to treat with merchants on the London Exchange. He died greatly lamented, October 3, 1G.3C.— Pa/fz-cy. soit, f sachem, or chief, of one of the most important of the neighboring tribes — the "Wampanoags ; a treaty afterwards preserved inviolate for upwards of fifty years. Over several other chiefs and tribes, also, though for a season occasional disputes and skirmishes occurred, A'ct at length, and mainl3' through the decided, j-ct judicious management of Miles Standish, they acquired such an influence and control as, for a long period, quite secured them from se;ious molestation. One can hardly resist the conviction that, in this earlj^ turning of the hearts of the Indians to peace, and in this protracted friendship of these undisciplined children of the forest towards this feeble and comparatively' defenceless band, we have a striking and impressive manifestation of a kindly inter- vening Providence. Satisfied with the abimdance of their first hanest, our Pilgiim fathers, with grateful hearts, made haste to re- joice, partaking, together with Massasoit and ninety of his men, of venison, wild turkej's, waterfowl, and other delicacies for which, even then, New England was akead^- famous. Thus early, and thus auspicously, was established the time-honored festival of Thanksgiving — a festival which, though originallj- confined in the observance to the sons of the Pilgrims, has now. happilv, long since become national. X t The reader will be interested to know that three descendants of the good Massasoit, consisting of a Mrs. Jlitchell, and her two daughters, still sur\-ive. They are said to have tlicu- summer habitat at a place called Betty's Nock — a tract of land on the shores of Assawampsctt Pond, as the largest Lake in this State is called. By virtue of the inter- marriage of a descendant of Massasoit with the grand-daughter of Sassamon, the Christian Indian and preacher, whose murder, at the in- stigation of Philip, precipitated the great Indian war, Mrs. M. is lineally coimected with the Praying Indians, as well as the haughty Wampa- noags ; while, if there be any found.ation for the tradition that Suspa- quin, another of Mrs. M.'s ancestors, married a young daughter of Sassacus, chief of the Pequots, the young girl having been taken prisoner of war, then in Mrs. Mitchell's veins are united the hostile blood of the Pequots, of the VTampano-ogs, and of the Praying Indians. The Mitchell fimily arc of pure blood, as their family plainly show. Mrs. JI. is well educated, having herself taught school; while her daughters have enji.'vcd all the advantages of New England high schools and academics. .She is reputed to be wealthy, inheriting, on the one hand, from Benjamin Suspaquin, a brave soldier under Captain James Church, lands granted to Church and his company for success in the field, which she still holds; and, on the other, lands in Lakevillc, which came to her from Sassamon's daughter, whom the English called Betty, and whose chief possessions were in Taunton and Raynhara, where a flourishing village is still known as " Squawbetty," because the lands, than which there arc no richer meadows in Massachusetts, were bought of her. With the help of General E. W. Pierce, the learned antiquarian and geologist, Mrs. M. has recently published a book, giving some account of her family. They take unfeigned pride in their descent, and it is not a little startling to hear one of the daughters, .arrayed in full Indian cos- tume, say that if she had been in Massa-'^oit's place, not one of the Pil- grims would have been allowed to survive that first winter. X Was not this festival suggested by the Harvest Festival in the " Old MASSACHUSETTS. A ,ycar has passed. How eventful ! What mournful changes have thus carlj' taken place. One-half of this little Colon}- is already at rest in the gra\e. Meantime, not a word has been heard from home. What a picture of loneliness is here presented ; shut out thus utterly' from the world, and surrounded only by the solitude of the primeval woods, with only the God of Israel to strengthen and to support them in their trials! Yet their efforts have thus far been, by no means, alto- gether unattended by success. If nothing more has been gained, they have at least safelj' encountered the perils of intercourse with their savage neighbors. Be- sides this, however, they had hopefully planted their settlement, and organize (Iph MS for future picg ress. In the fall of 1621 then w(ie in Plymouth seven pimte houses, and four public buildings, one of which was a fort with a flat roof, on which cannon were mounted, serving both as a defence and a place of 11 sort for pubhc wor- ship. * In the spring of 1G24, throur:h emigration, the popu- lation of the Colony had increased to one hundred and eighty souls, and the number of dwelling-houses to thirty- two. The annual harvests meanwhile had been ample. Large tracts of land had been brought under cultivation. A light, and yet hopeful fur trade had sprung ujj ; and, on the whole, — though this was, of course, a day of small things, a time of weakness and vicissitude, — j'ct the temporal circumstanceg and prospects of the colo- nists were beginning to brighten, while thcj' meantime had occasion for devout thanlifulness to God that health and peace had been so generallj' continued unto them. One of the earliest trials to which the Pilgrims were subjected arose fiom their con- tiiruity to, and iclations with, a colony which had been at- tempted by a IMi. Weston of ' mdon, and \\n), under a pitent ol)tained in 1G22, had dc sp itched an I \pcdition to settle for him a plantation somewhere in Mas sachusetts Baj. These colonists on their arrival COLONISTS GOING TO CHURCH, Country ? " However this may have been. Thanksgiving Day, from its first celebration, seems to have been, with the Pilgrims and their de- scendants, the great soeial event of the whole twelve months. The growing family, gathered from far and near, and clustering round the paternal hearthstone, forgot, on this oecasion, every trouble in the joys of kinship. " For days before it came, the plumpest fowls, the yellow- est pumpkins, and the finest vegetables were marked and put aside. The stalled ox and the fatted calf were killed. When the glad morning arrived, a happy flutter pervaded every home. Children's feet pattered over the old farmhouse from cellar to garret, and made the rafters echo with their noisy glee. After the public service came the generous dinner; and then all gathered round the blazing hickory fire to listen to the joys and perils of the year." * The first " meeting-houses " consisted ordinarily of a single room, perhaps 20 X 36 feet in size and twelve feet high. The roof was often thatched with long grass. It was a great advance when they were able to have it lathed on the inside, and plastered and whitened over. They were often built with a pyramidal roof, crowned with a belfry. The bell-rope hung from the centre, and the sexton performed his office half- way between the pulpit and the entrance door. Such a meeting-house, built in 1681, still stands in Hingham. Subsequently they were built of much ampler dimensions, with a lofty tower and steeple rising from the front, and located sometimes on the hill- In the early Plymouth days every house opened on Sunday morning at the tap of the drum. The men, in " sad-colorcd mantles," and armed to the teeth, the women in sober gowns, kerchiefs, and hoods, all as- sembled in front of the cap- tain's hou5e, when, three abreast, they marched up the hill to the meeting- house, where, every man setting down his musket within easy reach, the el- ders and deacons took their seat in a " long pue " in front of the preacher's desk, facing the congregation. Attending church in colonial days, indeed, was serious business ; the HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. were hospitabl3- received and entertained r.t riymoutli. Soon after, tlie3' proceeded to establish a plantation at ■\Vessagusset (AVeymouth) ; but being careless, im- provident, and regardless of the rights of others, and thus utterly unfitted for their undertalving, the_y were speedily reduced to want. Meanwhile, the manifold favors they had, from time to time, received at the hands of the Plj-moiith Colony, were ill requited. Not only had their idleness, wasteful exti'avagance, and riotousness clothed themselves with rags, and brought them to a morsel of bread, but their plundering habits and reckless depredations on the neighboring natives well-nigh brought down, not only upon their own, but upon the heads of the Pljmouth community, an attack bj' several combined tribes of Indians, not unnaturally' incensed by such exasperating excesses. Though the young Colony was steadily and hopefully advancing, yet, in consequence of A-arious complications and misunderstandings with the London Merchants Companj-, which, in consideration of a certain share of the profits of the enterprise, had consented to advance the mone^- necessary to defray the expenses of the voy- wildemess that echoed to the devotional songs of the Pilgrims being liable, at any moment, also, to be startled by the war-whoop of the savage, and the sacred strains of the Psalmist to be suddenly inter- rupted by the rude sound of bloody warfare. In fact, we are informed that the custom which still obtains of men sitting at the head of the pew in church, originated in this obvious necessity of their being ready for any surprise — prepared for even the most sudden alai-ms. The old men, the young men, and the young women, had each their separate place. The boys were gravely perched on the pulpit stairs, or in the galleries, and had a constable, or a tithing man, to keep them in order; and woe to the luckless youngster whose eye-lids drooped in slumber. The ever-vigilant constable, with his wand, tipped at one cud with the foot, at the other end with the tail of a hare, brings the heavier end down sharply on the little nodding flaxen head ; while, by a gentle touch on the forehead with the other and softer end of the same stick, he gently reminds the carc-ivorn matron of her duty, in ease, un- happily, she has been betrayed into a like offence. The service began with a long prayer, and was followed by reading and expounding of the Scriptures, a psalm — lined by one of the ruling elders — from Ainsworth's version, and the sermon. The approved length of the ser- mon was one hour, the sexton turning the hour-glass, which stood on the desk before the minister. Instrumental music was absolutely proscribed as condemned by the text (Amos v. 23) " I will not hear the melody of thy viols," and one tune for each metre was all those good old fathers needed. " York," " Windsor," " St. Mary's," and " Mar- tyrs" were the standard stock, and were intoned wilh a devout zeal almost forgotten in these days of organs and trained choirs. After tlie sermon came the wceldy contribution. The congregation, sternly solemn, marched to the front, the chief men, or magnates, first, and deposited their offerings in the money-box, held by one of the elders or deacons. No sensitiveness then in regard to collections. It must have been refreshing to witness not only the dignitaries below, but the occupants of the galleries as well, come down, marching two abreast, up one aisle and down another, and paying their respects sever- ally to the church treasury in money, paper promises, or articles of value, according to their abihty. — See National Repository, January, age and settlement, the Colon}' was beginning to get very restive under, and anxious to be released from an}' ftirther obligations to said compau}'. The result of pro- tracted negotiations relative to the matter was the pledge, on the p:irt of seven or eight of the principal ]ilantcrs, to advance on behalf the Colony, in settlement of all claims of the Merchants Company against the hitter, the sum of £1,800, in nine annual instalments. By this arrangement, happily, the vexatious vassalage on the part of the Colony to the foreign merchants was brought to an end. Moreover, the houses and lands of j the settlement having now bj' a timely and equitable ] assignment become private property, there existed i finally, and was to exist henceforth and forever on New | England soil, onl}' independent, sovereign freeholders. I All efforts to obtain a patent from the crown having proved unavailing, the Pl^'mouth colonists were left to establish municipal regulations and carry on their gov- ernment, without royal sanction. Accordingl}-, quietly assuming all necessary powers and prerogatives, the}"' proceeded at once to organize a government, and to dis- charge all the functions of the State. A governor, with a council of five, afterward seven, assistants, and a leg- islature, consisting at first of the whole body of the male population, made and administered the laws. The compact adopted on board the " Mayflower," as alread}' intimated, long served the Pilgrims as their onlj- constitution. Beyond an acknowledged allegiance to the king, the controlling power was the lawfully expressed j will of the majoritj". For a period of nearly twent}' j'cars the people assembled annuall}' for purposes of legisla- tion, and for electing their governor and assistants, the same constituting the executive force of the government. * In 1638, in view of the increased number of freemen, and the distance of many of them from the place of election, it was enacted that four delegates from Plym- outh and four from each of the other towns, together with the governor and fifteen assistants, should form a legislative body, — the magistrates and deputies, mean- while, constituting, unhke those of the Massachusetts Colony, but a single board. The governor and assistants formed also a Court of Justice for the trial of civil and criminal cases. In some cases the decision was made by themselves, while in others, questions of fact were submitted to a jur}' select- ed by the court, f • A fine, it is said, was imposed upon any freeman who, without a good reason, was absent from the annual election ; while any person elected governor, or assistant, was obliged, under penalty, to serve for at least one year. t The h ighest tribunal of justice in the Colony was the General Court, and from its decision there could be no appeal. The next tribunal in MASSACHUSETTS. The selectmen, chosen bj- the freemen of each town, and approved by the General Court, -were to have in charge the general interests of their several towns, and were constituted a court for the trial of minor cases, sub- ject to an appeal to the Court of Magistrates. There was, at first, no formal declaration of what should be considered crimes. It was ordered, however, "that all criminal facts, and also all matters of trespass and debt between man and man should be subject to the verdict of twelve honest men to be empanelled bj- authoritj- in form of a jurj' under oath." Like their social customs, and modes of worship, the political sjs- tem of the Pilgi-ims was very sim- ple ; — ^it was severelj- republican, — everything connected therewith being ordained, not, indeed, for show, but solely for use. And thus organized, thus equipped, for many a decade this parent Colony continued to hold on its even and moderately prosper- ous way ; I say moderately pros- perous, for though ^-igorous and enterprising, yet to the end of its separate existence, the Colony of Plj-mouth, on account of its limited resources, continued to be a humble community as it regards numbers and wealth. As late as 1G65 the Colony contained but twelve towns, while its mechanic industries were limited to a solitar3' saw-mill, and one bloomary for iron. Indeed, when we consider the tran- scendent fame of the Pilgrims, the reader will be surprised on being as- sured that, so far as it regarded their direct influence on the fortunes of the countrj', that influence amounted to no more than a small circling edd}-, in comparison with the great tide that was pouring in from other quarters. The magnitude and importance of the Pilgrims' mission, however, are not to be estimated the order of dignity and authority, was the Cotirt of Assistants. From this court parties had the right to appeal to the hirrhcr judiciary above mentioned— the Supremo, or General Court. So long as the population ■was small, or gathered within naiTOw limits, these courts conveniently answered all the ends of justice. Subsequently, however, to avoid the delay in securing legal decisions caused by travelling long distances. County Courts were organized. The latter had power, like the Courtof Assistants, to try all causes, civil or criminal, excepting only cases of divorce and crimes the punishment whereof extended to life, limb or banishment. MONIMENT AT PL1 bj- the number of acres subdued, or the number of dollars they were worth ; l)ut rather, in the light of the ideas they illustrated, and of the holy cause they represented. * Politically and commercially they were never any match for their JMassachusetts Bay rivals ; yet, though, in these respects, cast into the shade by the success of the second and better appointed Colony, they are clearly entitled to the honor which springs from, and is always due to, true worth ; while " their magnanimous spirit of self-sacrifice and devotion, will ever endear their mem- ories to all capable of appreciating their ^•il•tues, and comprehending their excellencies." No one can ponder the annals of the early settlement of New England without being profoundlj' impressed with the rare exceUeney of the ma- terial that went into its foundations. Consider the names of such prim- itive Pilgrims as Carver, Bradford, Brewster, Standish, Winslow, Alden, Warren, Hopkins, and others. Nor, meanwhile, were female fortitude ' and heroism wanting, — wives and mothers, with dauntless courage, and unexampled patience, braving all the dangers, sharing all the tiials, bear- ing all the sorrows, submitting to all the privations and hardships incident to their peculiarly hard destiny- : — while "chilled and shivering child- hood, houseless but for a mother's arms, couchless but for a mother's breast," came in for its share, too, of suflTering and exposure. How providential, truly, that in- stead of such reckless adventurers, and profligate spendthrifts, as colon- ized most of the Spanish and French, and certain other portions of the En- glish territory on the continent of America, this, oiu- New England, was settled by a race of men actuated not so much by cupidity as by faith ; by a people who, * Kev. Mr. "Wood, author of the excellent sketch of Plymouth Connty, well writes : " The eariy years of Plymouth Colony present to the readers of history a people of singular dcvotedness to the cause of Right. In their intelligent views of free government, they were far in advance, not only of their immediate neighbors, but of all other peoples. They recognized more fully and clearly than any others had ever done, the right and aljility of men to govern themselves. Their intelligence and humanity led them to make their Colony a refuge, an asylum, for fugitives, whether from the neighboring Colony, or from abroad. It is an interesting and significant fact, that at the rery time Massachusetts HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. so far from seeking their own private ends merelj-, or principally, with confidence in God, and a cheerful re- liance on his beneficent providence, did, with invincible courage, determine to subdue the wilderness before them for the sake of fiUing this great continent " with free- dom and intelligence, the arts and the sciences, flour- ishing villages, temples of worship, and the numerous blessings of civilized life baptized in the fountain of the Gospel of Christ." The Massachusetts Colony. The Massachusetts Colonj-, like that also of Tlymouth, was the offspring of religious persecution. The ground- work on which both of these primitive New England Colonies were reared, it needs hardly be said, was a desire to provide an asylum for those who were oppressed for conscience' sake ; and more particularly for those who were oppressed for dissenting from the views and politj' of the Anglican Church. But, though in this one impor- tant respect both Colonies sprung from the same source, there was yet a striking and radical distinction — notably relative to the rank, wealth, and talents of their repre- sentative men — between the two ; — a distinction truly, which, as it marked their beginnings, continued not less to influence, mould, and determine their respective des- tinies. The Pilgrims,* as we have seen, were Dissenters, having openly withdrawn from the communion, and declared themselves independent of the National Church. The Massachusetts colonists, on the other hand, were Non-conformists, or Puritans ; f that is, though they could not conscientiously conform fuUy to its service and ■was scourging and driving her terrorized citizens into exile with the penalties of witchcraft, Plymouth welcomed the latter to the safe refuge of her ample bosom, while no witch was convicted in the Plym- outh Colony. Says Judge Russell in his Middleborough address : ' Whatever may be urged to excuse that delirium of good men, we love to recall the fact that no witch was ever convicted in Plymouth Colony : that whatever complaints were brought before the magistrates, the com- plainant was made to suffer : and that when a Plymouth sea-captain was arrested in Boston charged with this crime, Plymouth demanded and obtained his liberty. AVe are proud of the fact also,' adds the judge, that ' the weaker and gentler Colony hanged no Quaker, and dealt gently with the Baptists, and for years furnished a refuge to the great- hearted Roger Williams.' " • The Pilgrims and Puritans are sometimes by writers somewhat inaccurately spoken of indiscriminately as Puritan, or Pilgrim Fath- ers, thus : " But those most conspicuous in laying the foundations of the colonial settlements, who stamped the impress of their character on New England, and gave tone and energy to its peculiar habits and life, were the Puritans. They are appropriately called Pilgrim Fathers." {Fancher on the American Republic and its Constitutional Govern- ment.) Only the Plymouth settlers, however, were, strictly speaking, the " Pilgrim Fathers." t So called on account of the smgular purity, or austerity, of their manners and morals. ritual, they j-et continued to maintain their connection with the National Church. The distinction between these two Colonies, meantime, was not mainly ecclesiastical, or political. As already intimated, it was social. The Pilgrims were poor and comparatively uncultivated. So far from their having enjoyed extended opportunities for either literary or social culture ; so far from their having been reared in opulence or luxury, and accustomed to the ease and refinements of wealth, they were, for the most part, a plain, rustic folk, inured to hardship and toil, — simple in their habits, moderate in their desires ; and hence, especially because of their unwavering faith, exemplar^' morals, and profound reverence for God and his Word, eminently fitted to serve as pioneers to New England, — to prepare the as yet unbroken wilderness for the pos- session and occupancy of succeeding generations. On the other hand, the Massachusetts colonists em- braced many men of standing, talent, and influence — men who had received a finished education at the lead- ing English universities ; who were well versed in public affairs ; who possessed fortunes either accumulated or inherited, and hence lived in the enjoyment of all the external comforts which wealth could command. Among the leading men of this second Colony were statesmen, diplomatists, and ministers, fullj' a match for the ablest of those left behind in the mother country. A few of them, indeed, had moved in the highest circles of soci ety, bore titles of nobility, and were genuine represent- atives of the conventional dignitj' of the Old World. I Shall we be surprised, therefore, that, though subsequent in its origin, and several years the junior of the primi- tive Colony, Jlassachusetts yet soon took the lead upon the theatre of action ; — that, owing to these superior advantages attending its advent, it was vastlj' more rapid in its growth, and correspondingl3' more prosper- ous in its enterprises. More fortunate than their Pilgrim neighbors, who acted so worthily their part, the rank, fortune, and political influence of the Massachusetts colonists, exempting them from the necessitj' of depend- ing upon others for means, not only enabled them to J " The founders of New England were experienced statesmen ; nor as diplomatists were they inferior to the diplomatists of England. The principal men of the clergy and of the laity possessed disciplined minds, and talents which would have distinguished them in any sphere of action. Trained to take part in political discussions, and with a sagac- ity that penetrated the disguises of despotism, they wrought for pos- terity ; and the cause in which they engaged was emphatically the cause of freedom and humanity. Not only is America indebted to them for initialing the work of popular government ; the world is indebted to them for scattering broadcast the seeds of imperishable political truths, which have been wafted on the wings of every breeze to the nations of Europe, to ripen in due time to a han'est of blessings " — Barry. MASSACHUSETTS. obtain what was wanting to the former — a charter from the crown — but to furnish in abundance both followers and funds ; — to equip not one bark merelj-, but a fleet, and to send not one hundred, but manj- hundreds, to inhabit the territory' selected for their future residence.* The reasons, therefore, we repeat, are sufficiently patent why, though hy no means destitute of incidents of hard- ship and suflTering, the histor}' of the second Colony was of so different stamp from that of the first ; whj' its enterijrises were prosecuted with so much more vigor and success ; why it so immediately acquired, and so steadfastlj' maintained, so decided an ascendencj' in all colonial affairs; — stretching out its arms, scattering abroad its means, becoming the patron of the arts and sciences, founding seminaries of learning, rearing flour- ishing villages, engaging in commerce, establishing man- ufactures, and so taking the lead in both secular and spiritual affairs, and attaining to such power and strength in these regards as to become the backbone of, and properly to give its own name to the great State subsequently constructed out of the two original Colo- nies. f The administration of Strafford and Laud, as the tem- poral and spiritual advisers of Charles I., has been well said to have been characterized, both in the civil and ecclesiastical administration of the realm, bj' a " sj-stem of insolent invasion of every right most valued by free- men and revered by Protestants," an invasion not onlj* deliberately pursued, but with a stubbornness and cruelt}- which finall}' exhausted the patience of even the most submissive and non-resistant. | Meantime, most naturally, the more immediate victims of this monarchical vengeance and prelatical rage — the Puritans ■ — at length began anxiously and prayerfully to turn their ej-es to some quarter whither they might retreat from these storms of violence, which thus threat- ened to engulf them in irretrievable ruin. * The contrast between the condition of the two Colonies as to equip- ment is sufficiently striking. Speaking of the Pilgrims, Mr. Barry says : " They landed poorly armed, scantily provisioned, surrounded by barbarians, without prospect of human succor, without help or favor of their king, with a useless patent, without assurance of liberty in religion, without shelter, without means." t Barry, to whose eloquent pen the writer is indebted for the most of the above valual)le generalizations and judgments. I " The Star Chamber and tlie High Commission Court, fit engines of despotism, were brought into requisition, and distinguished them- selves by a course of the utmost wantonness and barbarity. Fines, imprisonment, banishment, and the pillory, were the most lenient pun- ishments inflicted by its judges. Its victims were not infrequently condemned to excoriation by the lash of the executioner, the incision of their nostrils, and the excision of their ears, and in this mutilated condition were exhibited as monuments of the justice of the sovereign and the piety of liis prelates." — Barry. The success of the Plymouth Colony natm-ally sug- gested the feasibilit}- of another similar colonizing enter- prise amid the wilds of North America ; while the hope that there at least there would be none to disturb them in the exercise of their God-given rights ; none to molest in the tranquil and peaceable enjoyment of both their civil and religious liberties — not only became, on their part, a powerful inducement to encounter the perils both of the ocean and of the wilderness, but finally actually determined them, without delay, to seek for themselves a permanent home beyond the sea. Tlie First Settlement. The earliest trace of the Massachusetts Baj* Colony may be said to date back to Jan. 1, 1624, when a patent of land about Cape Ann, where a fishing-stage had already been erected, was executed by Edmund, Lord Sheffield, § in favor of two members of the Plymouth Colony, Eobert Cushman and Edward Winslow, " for themselves, and for their associates." Aside, however, from its affording temporary protection to their men while fishing in those waters, we are not informed that this patent ever proved of material service to Plymouth. During the same year, 1624, a Mr. John Wliite, a Puritan minister of Dorchester, England, a place which furnished numbers of those who were now making voyages to New England for purposes of traffic, having become deeply interested on behalf of this seafaring class, succeeded in organizing an unincorporated joint- stock company, consisting mostly of Dorchester ship- owners, and known as the "Dorchester Adventurers," the oliject of which was to establish, somewhere on the New England coast, a settlement where these mariners, when at sea, might have a home ; where supplies might be provided for them by farming and hunting, and where ' Of the spasmodic experiments made by the Council for New Eng- land * for giving value to their property, one had been a distribution of its territory among Individual members of the corpor.ition. Twenty noblemen and gentlemen owned the country along the coast from the Bay of Fundy to Narragansett Bay. The region about Cape Ann (so named by Captain Smith), fell to the lot of Edmund, Lord Sheffield,' who sold a patent for it to Cushman and Winslow, and their associates at New Plymouth. It was probably in the summer before this transac- tion that a few persons from the west of England sat down at Cape Ann for the purpose of planting and fishing. They appear to have acknowl- edged the rights of the Plymouth people when made known to them, and the fishermen of the two parties carried on their operations amica- bly side by side. — Palfrey. 1 An English corporation " for the planting, ordering, ruling, and governing New England in America." Most of its forty patentees were men of dis- tinguished consequence, embracing thirteen peers of the highest rank. It was empowered to hold territory In America extending westward from sea to sea, and in breadth from the 40th to the 48th degree of north latitude. ' Better known as a patriot leader under his later title of Earl of Mulgrave. —Pal/rey. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. especially thej' might be brought under religious influ- ences. The spot selected for the purpose of this experi ment was on Cape Ann, now Gloucester, — the grantees of the Sheffield patent cheerfully consenting to convej- to Mr. White and his associates such a site as might be deemed suitable for the objects contemplated. A com- panj- of some fourteen was at once sent out to "break the ice," and spend the winter.* Insignificant as it was as to numbers, and unfruitful as it proved in immediate results, yet this first Colony at Cape Ann is historically important, since it in realitj' became the germ, or seed-plot, as we shall soon see, of what subsequently became so famous as the Jlassachu- setts Bay Colonj-. This first attempt at colonization having proved unsuc- cessful, an eftbrt was made to retrieve matters by reor- ganizing and putting the business under a somewhat different direction, by appointing Jloger Conant, formerly of the Plymouth Colony, a gentleman uniformly spoken of in terms of the highest respect, and commended for his sobriety, prudence, and integrity, governor of the settlement, — a settlement of which he was about to become at once its superintendent and principal stay in the hour of its sorest need. This latter change not having been followed by the profits hoped for, the Adventurers at length became discouraged. The settlement was abandoned. The planters were paid off, and the most of them returned to their homes. Undismayed, however, by these reverses, Mr. Conant and a few of the most honest and industrious of his men, resolved to remain and make still further efforts at col- onization. Dissatisfied with theu- location at the Cape, Mr. Conant determined to remove to " a fruitful neck of land," at Naumkeag, now Salem, " secreth' conceiving in his mind, that in following times it might prove a receptacle for such as, on the account of rehgion, would be willing to begin a new plantation in this part of the world." Meantime, no sooner did Mr. White f hear of the heroic determination of Conant, than, unwilling that the work which had, as he thought, been too hastily- aban- • On the arrival of the London vessel in the service of the Adventur- ers, the crew found and took possession of a fishing-stage belonging to the Plymouth settlers, refusing to restore the same. Staiulisli came all the way from Plymouth to set things right. Pacific counsels prevailed, and the dispute was quieted by an engagement of the crew to lielp build another stage for the owners in place of that which had been in ques- tion. — Palfrey. t When we remember that this Puritan minister, Rector of Trinity, of Dorchester, England, was the father of this first Colony, and one of the chief founders of the Massachusetts Colony, his name and cannot be held by us in too grateful remembrance. doned by his associates, should be whollj' overthrown, he wrote to Conant, faithfully promising that, if he and three others named, would remain atNaiunkeag, he would obtain a patent, and forthwith forward men and sup- plies. This proposition was accepted ; and, though it was with the utmost difficulty that the dauntless gov- ernor prevailed upon his companions, "for fear of the Indians and other inconveniences," to persevere, yet he succeeded ; % and thus was the breath of life continued in the Colonj^ ; a beacon was kept burning on these dis- tant shores, — Conant and his companions, in the lan- guage of our New England historian, " remaining the forlorn hope, and lone sentinels of Puritanism, on the Bay of Massachusetts." Meanwhile, in fulfilment of his promise, Mr. White at once negotiated with the Council for New England, and obtained a patent, § conveying to certain parties as patentees, all the territory " lying between the Atlantic and Pacific, and extending three miles south of the Charles, and three miles north of every part of the Merrimac River." A portion of these original grantees, having early despaired of realizing at least any immediate benefit therefrom, withdrew from the enterprise, when, through the influence of Mr. White, always in\-incible alike to opposition and discouragement, several merchants of Loudon were persuaded so become partners in the adventure, — forming a company, afterwards incorpo- rated, and known as the " Massachusetts Company." In compliance with the promise to Conant, one of the first acts of this company, with its ample resources, was to seek a suitable person to conduct a bod}' of emigrants to the settlement of Naumkeag, " to carry on the planta- tion of the Dorchester merchants, and to make waj' for the settling of another Colony in the Massachusetts." They selected for this purpose John Endicott, " a Puritan J Conant's embarrassment was aggravated by the circumstance that Layford, who had accepted Conant's invitation to settle at Naumkeag as pastor, had received a " loving Invitation " to remove to Virginia, and was accordingly endeavoring, to the best of his ability, to persuade others of the Colony to accompany him, — a movement successfully thwarted only by the earnest, fearless, and persistent opposition of Conant. § A considerable portion of the land embraced in this grant had been previously granted by the same Council to Capt. John Mason, and to Robert, the son of Sir Fernando Gorges. Whether this grant had been forfeited, as it is lilicly, by non-use, or whether compromises were made by the grantees to the former proprietors, or whether said grantors were ignorant of the geography of the country, or whether they were so .anxious to increase the emoluments of their company as to sell the ter- ritory twice, certain it is, the patent, interfering as it did with that of a previous date, gave rise to perplexing embarrassments, and to contro- versies which were conducted with no little acrimony, .and which con- tinued to disturb the country for over half a centurj-.— Barry. MASSACHUSETTS. of the sternest mould." EncUcott accepted the offer as soon as tendered, and was at once appointed agent, or governor of the plantation.* Preparations for his departure were promptly made, and about the last of June, accompanied by his wife and children, — • ' ' hostages of his fixed attachment to the New World," — and about fifty colonists, he embarked in the " Abigail," and arrived at Naumkeag in about eleven weeks. A few daj-s later he notified his emploj'ers of his safe arrival, of his various proceedings, and of the wants of the Colony. Having meantime advertised the old planters f of the purchase of the property and priv- ileges of the Dorchester Company at Cape Ann, and of the formation of a new company, under whose auspices he was sent out, he proceeded at once to enter upon the duties of his office as magistrate and governor of the plantation. \ The news of Endicott's safe arrival awakened renewed interest in the Colonj' ; new associates joined, and a royal charter § was at last obtained for the Company of Blas- sachusetts Bay. The charter established a corporation, * Endicott was sent out ostensibly " to strengthen the Colony, and administer its government." The Charter was granted March 19, 1628, to Sir Henry Rosewell and others. t Not unnaturally some of the p.irties already quartered on the spot — the remains, it is likely, of Conain's company — were disposed to question somewhat tlie claims of the new-comers. Some of the old planters who had engaged in the cultivation of tobacco, h.ad been for- bidden continuing in the practice; and they were apprehensive that they were to lose their lands and rights by the absorption of their colony, and be themselves reduced to a sort of vassalage. Through the prudence of Conant, and the moderation of Endicott, however, the dis- pute was amicably composed, and in commemoration of its adjustment, the place took the name of Salem, the Hebrew for " peaceful." Mean- time, whatever became of the noble Conant, who seems to have been somewhat summarily and unceremoniously set aside, the annals of the period, so far as the writer is aware, afford no information. J Through a long and eventful period, Mr. Endicott was destined to be intimately connected with the annals, and to exert a very important influence upon the history, of the Colony of which he was thus the first, or provisional, magistrate. Often the writer has traversed the broad acres once owned and cultivated by him and by his son, near Salem, and reflected on the sturdy virtues of the Puritan, who thus, Columbus- like, opened up a new continent, as it were, to civilization. The gov- eiTior's descendants are still living in Salem, reckoned among the most eminent and influential citizens of the State. Upon the occasion of the late fifth semi-centennial celebration of the arrival in this country of the governor. Judge William C. Endicott, a lineal descendant of the brave Puritan, and hunself a native of Salem, delivered an address replete with interest. § The patent from the " Council for New England " vested in the Col- ony only the property of the soil. In order to adequate powers of mu- nicipal government, it early became apparent to the colonists that their grant must needs have further confirmation. Hence their application for a royal charter — an instrument that, for three-quarters of a cen- tury, was so enthusiastically honored and cherished by them as the palladium of theu: dearest rights and Uberties. Liberal in its spirit and comprehensive in its details, it was doubtless the best and wisest charter that had yet been granted. and the associates were constituted a body politic. Its officers were a governor, deputjs and eighteen assistants, all to be annually elected. {| A general assembly of the freemen was entrusted with legislati\e powers. Strange to say, the question of religious hberty was avoided in this famous instrument. The largest discretion in the matter of local self-government seems to have been aUowed — almost the only restriction laid upon the Col- ony being that no laws should be made contrary to those of England. In 1G29 a reinforcement of over four hundred souls, including food, arms, cattle, and tools, was despatched. The advent of this company was rendered memorable in the annals of the new-born Colony, inasmuch as espe- cially with it came the first teacher and pastor of the church at S.alem. The ordination and installation of the first Independ- ent Congregational minister in the Massachusetts Colony was an event certainly of no ordinary interest and mo- ment. As yet the new Colony had organized no church. The Pilgrims were a church at the date of their lauding, while the compact in the " Majilower " gave them a gov- ernment. The Massachusetts colonists, though provided by the company in England with a government — now happily established — were as yet without a church. Previous to the arrival of the second body of emigrants, worship, we are told, had been conducted in the Episco- pal form. After the arrival of the ministers from Eng- land, measures were at once adopted looking towards the organization of a church. A day accordingly was set apart for the purpose, as also for the trial and choice of a pastor. Taking counsel with their Pl3'mouth brethren, and requesting their presence on the interesting occasion, a church of thirty members was gathered ; elders and deacons were chosen and ordained ; a covenant and con- fession were drawn up and signed ; Mr. Skelton was ordained pastor, and Francis Higginson teacher. And thus at Salem was planted the second church in Massa- chusetts, and, some say, the first properly constituted Protestant church in America. To the ordinary reader it can never cease, we feel sure, to be a matter of- profound wonder that these orig- inal Puritan colonists, ministers and laymen, born and bred in the bosom of Episcopacy, should have so sud- II Perhaps it will never be definitely understood how or why Charles I. came to grant, as in this case, a charter for the organization or a Colony without reserving, according to usage, the royal privilege of appointing its governor— the immediate representative of the crown. The only rational theory of the case is, that he considered the adventure at first as only a commercial enterprise. When, however, from a mere trading- post, the affair became a Colony, it was too late to rectify, without trouble, the royal blunder. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. denly and completely conquered the prejudices, and sev- ered the associations of a life-tune ; and, on coming to New England, become metamorphosed into uncompro- mising Episcopal-hating, Dissenting Congregationalists.* How truly, out of the bosom of this prelatical, ritual- istic, hierarchical church, came an ultra anti-prelatical, anti-ritualistic, anti-hierarchical Congregationalism thus, full-armed, Minerva-like, to spring forth? Possibly the explanation of this singular phenomenon is to be found, at least partially, in the fact, first, that these colonists had long since repudiated many of the features of Episcopacy ; and that, moreover, the Episco- pal Church had long persecuted and oppressed them. Thej' had long led, on account of it, a troubled life for conscience' sake. Sincerely and supremely desirous to know and do God's will, their inquiries and senices, •while yet in the bosom of the ancient communion, had been seriously and most persistently abridged and re- strained. What wonder then, indeed, that now, having paid the heavy price of freedom, they should feel fully to enjoy the purchase ; that having thus withdrawn forever beyond the persecutor's reach, they should be inclined to leave none of their new-found, strange liberty un- used? Besides, nothing were more natural than just such a rebound as this from the extreme of unnatural or violent restraint, to the opposite extreme of liberty. And, finally, in a remote North American wild the power of conventional associations would be likely to be but feebly felt, if not, indeed, altogether broken. Wh^^ not, then, surelj', betake themselves, as they did, anew to the letter of Scriptm-e, and to that alone ; and, as freely as did the primitive disciples — as if neither mitre or canon had ever been made — erect their religious institutions after what they understood to be the pattern in the au- thentic Gospel? It was of very great moment that they should conform to the Bible ; it was of very little mo- ment if, in doing so, they should be found to be sepa- rated, in discipline and usage, from a church thousands of miles away, and which they had but little occasion to remember with either gratitude or affection. In the year 1629, two prominent places, Salem and Charlestown, had been commenced bj' the Massachusetts Company. On his arrival at Salem, Mr. Higginson found about half a score of houses and 400 inhabitants. Perhaps another hundred had already settled at Charles- • The platform of church government decided upon was the Congre- gational mode, connecting the several churches together, to a certain degree, and yet exempting each of them from any jurisdiction by way of authoritative censure, or any strictly ecclesiastical power extrinsic to their own. This was evidently opposed to the hicr.archy, and in order to secure to themselves rights denied in England under Church and State.— Minofs Ilist. Prox. Mass. Bay. town. So soon, therefore, had the second Colony be- come more populous than the first ; while, in another jear, it was destined, with a giant's stride, to outstrip it in the race. Connected with the charter, to which reference has already been made, excellent as it was in most of its features, there was yet one weakness — one serious de- fect, — and Endicott was not slow to detect it. The government of the Colony was vested directly in the hands of the companj' at home. Accordinglj' at an early day Endicott suggested that the government of the plan- tation should be transferred to, and vested in "those who inhabit there," — the first utterance this, so far as we know, of colonial independence — the first breathing of the distantly-coming storm. Meantime, so simple and so obviously sensible and just was this suggestion, that it excited no adverse comment. On the contrary, Aug. 29, 1629, the company voted that the " government and pattent should bee settled in New England, and accord- ingl}' an order be di-awn upp " to that effect. The Court of Assistants, also, Oct. 16, 1629, met in London and passed a resolution declaring that "it was fitt and natural! that the go\ernment of persons bee held there, the government of trade and merchandize to bee here." Thus the company and the Colony became one — the earliest stepping-stone to the exercise of that self- government subsequently to be displaj'ed on so grand a scale, first of all in New England, and afterward throughout the New World. Four days after the decision of the Court of Assistants to transfer the government of the Colony to New Eng- land, t the General Court held a meeting in London to elect officers. John Winthrop was chosen governor, a man destined in the near future to exert a powerful in- fluence upon the prosperity of both company and Col- ony. " Dignified, yet unassuming ; learned, yet no pe- dant ; sagacious, yet not crafty ; benevolent in his impulses ; cordial in his sj-mpathies ; ardent in his affec- tions ; attractive in his manners ; mildl}' conservative, and moderately ambitious ;" Mr. Winthrop was manifestly pre- t Meanwhile large preparations were being made, in various ways, to strengthen tlie Colony. Dec. 1, IC'29, a joint-stock company was formed for the purpose of maintaining and increasing the trade with the Colony. And on the 10th of Feb., 1630, another company was formed " for the sale of land, defrayment of public charges, main- tenance of ministers, transportation of poor families, bnilding of churches and fortifications, and all other public necessities of the plan- tation." These two companies, it will be understood, were formed un- der the sanction of the New England Company,— sub-companies, so to speak, composed exclusively of members of the greater, or parent or- ganization, and intended, simply by a division of their interests and responsibilities, to facilitate the operations of the company, and to advance the best interests of the Colony. MASSACHUSETTS. eminently the man for, as he subsequently came unques- tionably to be, the master spirit of the young and rising Colony.* Of excellent descent ; bred a lawyer ; accus- tomed from his youth to an easy and familiar intercourse with persons of refinement and intelligence ; conversant ■with tlicology as well as with law ; possessed of a com- fortable estate ; eminent forhis liberality and distinguished for his hospitality ; conspicuous for his virtues and im- partial as a magistrate ; and now, having just turned forty, in the maturity of his powers and the Mgoi ot his j-ears, a period when, if ever, the character of the man is developed, and the full energies of his being are brought into activity ; surelj' it would seem that this person was the one above all others, whom nature and Providence, as well as his asso- ciates, had selected for this weighty and responsible trust. Meantime, when we consider that galaxy of choice and noble spirits associated with Mr. Winthrop in la3-ing the foundations of our Com- monwealth — Thomas Dudley, Sir Richard Saltonstall, Isaac Johnson, John Humphrey, William Codding- ton, Simon Bradstreet, and others, — all persons of influence, culture, re- spectability and honor, — we cannot assuredly but rejoice in the singular good-fortune of New England in having been settled by such men ; men actuated by no sordid feelings, no mean, selfish, merely worldly am- bitions. Little there was indeed in the New World to excite a worldly greed, or enkindle sordid ambitions. As another has well and eloquently said, "No Hesperian isles laden oo-iehnor with the riches of tropical fruitage allured these Puritan fathers to scenes of luxurious indulgence. No fabled Elysium, 'Nor Sheba's groves, nor Sharon's fields,' bloomed for them upon the rock-bound coast of New England. No Paphian magnificence, or CastOian gi-an- deur, could be found in the log-hut or the temporarj- booth." t * For this eloquently sketched portrait of Winthrop, the writer is in- debted to Mr. Barry, t Barry. If PljTnouth was fortunate in the character of her earlj' settlers, not less so Massachusetts Bay. Bringing with them to these shores, not only the accumulated blessings of the land of their birth, when at the height of its best ci\dlization, but withal that strong, un- conquerable love of freedom, as also that bold sph-it of intellectual and religious inquiry so characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon ; — bringing with them that invincible prowess and energy which, in modern times, has borne \lAe the banner of St George, and the Stars of the Union mto every quarter of the globe ; and, more especially, bringing with them that spirit of religious freedom which more, perhaps, than anything else, his given to our country its present commanding position, and won for it its most imperishable laurels ; — these early pioneers, "with a vision penetrating beyond the present mo- ment ; with a forethought embracing the interests of their posterity as well as their own ; anticipating to some extent, the Commonwealth to be founded by their arduous labors, purposed on these shores to realize their aspirations in erecting a Colony in which the doctrines they had es- poused, and the principles the}' had cherished, might be practically ap- plied to both Church and State." I " On a beautiful April da}-, in the year 1630," sa3-s another, "a vessel las rocking leisurelj' at her moor- ings in the harbor of Yarmouth. It was the ' Arbella,' the vessel which was to convey Governor John Winthrop to America. His parting address was delivered on its deck, and it is marked bj- good sense, piety, and courage. He neither under nor over estimates the dangers he is to meet." On the 12th of June he dropped his anchor at Salem, the forenmner of an emigration embracing not less than one thousand souls to be conveyed hither in a fleet of seventeen vessels. Though their reception was somewhat discouraging, as the}' found the settlers sick, and weak and destitute, yet sites for settlements were speedily selected, and the names of Boston, Watertown, Dorchester, Roxbury, ' lAt the late Now England Dinner, New Yorlc City (Dec., 1878), Hon. Mr. Blaine spolio at length. Among many other good things ' said, he soberly admitted as belonging to this section of the country HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Mystic, Saugus (Lj-nn) , Charlestown and Salem occur early in the history of this period. The Colony during this initial epoch suffered great hardships. Not a few died, and some, disheartened, returned to their homes in England. The great major- ity, however, and reallj' the best, remained, preserAang their fortitude amid all discouragements. In the final organization of their government, which may be said to have been a kind of spiritual, democratic hierarchy-, particular attention was paid to the observ- ance and the maintenance of their religion, as also of the civil rights of the individual. Though at first somewhat aristocratic, the govern- ment soon received various liberal modifications ; adopting, however, in self-defence, it was claimed, a religious test of citizenship.* Peaceful relations were established with the Indians, and, desiring to promote friendly sentiments with the other European settlements, Governor "Winthrop and Mr. Wilson, first pastor of Boston, visited the old, or Plymouth Colony, in Octol ler, 1632, where they were cordially received by Bradford " tlie chief and great merit " of developing the country and shaping its institutions. He said that from 1620 to 1C40, the real founders of Amer- ica arrived in New England, about 21,000 souls, not poor outcasts, .as Mr. Evarts has described them, but men of culture and of property, bringing with them $2,500,000, which was worth six times as much then as it is to-day. " Show me any town of 21,000 inhabitants," s.ays Mr. Blaine, " which is worth to-day over $15,000,000." He thought the great fact of the last 150 years was the expansion of the English-speak- ing race, 7,000,000 when the Pilgrims landed, to 100,000,000 now. * " It was fully understood that differing from the religious tenets generally received in the country was as great a disqualitication for citizenship as any political opinions whatever. In defence of this order it is advanced that the apostolic rule of rejecting such as brought not the true doctrine with them was as applicable to the commonwealth as to the church No man could be qualified either to elect, or be elected, to office who was not a church-member. The law confining the rights of freemen to church- members was at length modified, if not repealed ; the peciimary qualifi- cations, for such as were not church members, ^vith good morals, and the absurd requisite of orthodoxy of opinion, to be certified to by a clergyman, being substituted in its place." — Minot. The foregoing ordinance was probably " not so much a sectarian scruple, as a political regulation " — a provision to guard liberty — to pre- vent untimely encroachments upon the infant Commonwealth. Says John Winthrop : " The intent of the law is to preserve the welfare of the body ; and for this end to have none received into any fellowship with us who are likely to disturb the same, and this intent, I am sure, is lawful and good." " To the end that the body of the commons may be preserved of honest and good men, no man is to be admitted to the freedom of the body politic, but such as are members of some of the churches of the s.ame." As, by the terms of the charter, the lands they held they deemed ex- clusively their own, they clauned the right, in the interest at once of the Commonwealth and of the kingdom of God, to receive, or to exclude strangers at their own discretion. Recognizing no rights founded on Asiatic, or feudal notions, of inalienable hereditary virtue ; nor more, any distinctions based exclu- sively on talent or wealth, the Puritans aimed " to erect a Common- and Brewster, and kindly welcomed and entertained bj- the people. The Massachusetts Colony continued to receive addi- tions from England, and in the exercise of their political and religious privileges, manifested a jealous and %'igilant interest. Issues were soon made between the magistrates and people, relative to the construction of the charter in reference to the nature and extent of magisterial preroga- tive. The latter urged that the government f was " uo other but as mayor and aldermen, who (as the merely executive branch of the government) have no power to make laws or to raise the taxes without the people." To this the magistrates replied that the government (i. e., the governor and his assistants, eighteen in number) "was rather in the natm-e of a parUament, and that, as the freemen chose the assistants, thej' were theii- representatives, and were authorized to act on their behalf." This controversy concerning the relative pow- ers of the people, or their deputies, and the magis- trates, continued as late as 1644, when a comprom- ise divided the court (a house of deputies ha-ving been wealth of chosen people in covenant with God, in which the humblest freeholder, if sound in faith, possessed a power as great in the election of magistrates, .and the enactment of laws, as a peer of the realm, or the proudest lord spiritual in the land of then- birth." This was all, it need hardly be said, very beautiful in theory. Un- fortunately it did not work well in practice. It presumed too much upon " orthodox," or churchly, human nature. Admitting that chiu-ch-mcm- bers were always as wise as the truth may make them, and as holy as their creed implies, this Puritan theory of Church and State were ideally perfect. Milking, however, not character, but intellectual conformity to a standard of colonial orthodoxy the condition of citizenship — of exercising the rights and prerogatives of the elective franchise — and so establishing a practical oligarchy of religious votaries, clearly it involved, as Roger AVilliams and others stoutly and wisely maintained, an order of things under which a premium was put on hypocrisy, liberty jeopardized, and justice was very likely to be defeated. The only respect in which the Church and State system of Massachu- setts was possibly better than that of the mother country was that, unlike the latter, which makes the Church the dependent creature of the secular power, it rather subordinated the State to the Church — the State being moulded ostensibly wholly so as to secure the being and wel- fare of the Church. + " The executive power of the corporation was invested in a govenior and eighteen assistants, whose duty was ' for the best dispos- ing and ordering of the lands granted, of the affairs of the plantation, of the government of the people there.' The governor and seven or more assistants were authorized to meet in monthly courts 'for despatching such business as concerned the company or settlement.' " The legislative power of the corporation, however, was invested in 'a more solemn assembly.' This body was to be composed of the governor, deputy-governor, the assistants, and of the whole freemen of the company in person, and was directed to be held ' in every last Wednesday in the four terms,' which meetings, or sessions, were named ' the four Great and General Com-ts.' It was empowered to make laws, or ordinances, for the government of the plantation, ' which should not be repugnant to the laws of England.' This Great and General Court was authorized to elect freemen, a governor, a deputy-governor, assist- ants, and other officers."— OraAc's History of Boston, page 63. MASSACHUSETTS. in the meantime organized) into two distinct branclies, each ha-\ang accorded to it a negative on the other.* The substitution of delegates to represent the free- men,! Maj', 1G34, was an earlj', an important change in the government. Whatever may have been the immedi- ate occasion of this change, | there can be no question as to its having tended greatly to complete and consolidate the power of the Commonwealth. In ordinary cases, under the new order of things, the governor and assistants sat apart, constituting a sort of upper house, and doubtless antedating our present State Senate, and transacted business by themselves, drawing up bills and orders which, being agreed upon, were sent to the deputies for confirmation or dissent. The depu- ties also sat by themselves, consulting upon the common good ; and all matters acted on by them were sent to the magistrates for their concurrence. No laws could be made without the consent of the major part of both houses. The governor had a casting vote in aU courts and assemblies, and could call a General Court, or any other court or council, at his pleasure. Previous to 1G35 the Colony had had no regularly framed bodj- of laws. The increase of population lead- ing to apprehension from the want of positive statutes, four magistrates were deputed to make a draft of what should be received for fundamental laws. Six years later • The govcmor and assistants were the first judicial court. Yet the General Court at first also exercised judicial functions. When the separation between the two orders, or the division of the court into two houses took place, the method of exercising jointly these judicial powers was one important theme of controversy. Says Minot: "The perpetual controversy incident to dividing power among several orders disproportional in their numbers took place between the assistants and representatives. Whether they should vote in separate bodies, or collectively, became a serious dispute. As, by a defect in the constitu- tion, they held both legislative and judicial authority, it was at last compromised that in making the laws the two houses should vote sep- arately, with a negative on each other; but in trying cases, in case they should differ in this mode, they should proceed to determine the ques- tion by voting together." t Thus was a House of Representatives — the second in America, that of Virginia having been the first, — introduced and established. Though not expressly provided for in the charter, it was held not to be contrary to cither its spirit or letter. " Quietly and without tumult," says Barry, the measure was effected. I The history of the original organization of the Massachusetts House of Representatives is involved in some obscurity. Dral;e says : " Up to this time (April, 1634) all the freemen had been, or had the privilege of being, present at the General Courts, and participating in making the laws by which they were to be governed. Thci/ had now become so numerous that the attendance of all was quite impracticable. So at the next General Court it was determined that there should be four General Courts yearly, and that it should be lawful for the freemen of each plantation to choose two or three before each General Court to confer of, and to prepare such business for, the next Court as they judged necessary to be acted on, and that persons so selected by the freemen should be fully empowered to act in the General Court for all the frco- a body of one hundred ordinances, compiled principally by Rev. Nathaniel Ward of Ipswich, was reported and established, and known as the " Body of Liberties." In 1G31, Winthrop was re-elected governor, and with the exception of a few years, when Vane, Dudlej-, Bell- ingham, and Endicott served a year or so each in that capacity, continued to hold that honorable office untU his death, which took place in 1G49. Pre^'ious to 1G36 there were at least nine churches in existence in the Massachusetts Colony ;§ and before 1G50 twenty were added to the number. Meantime, it being as "unnatural for a right New England man to live without an able ministrj-, as for a smith to work his iron without a fire," these earlj- New England churches were almost uniformly manned by godly ministers of highly respectable talents, and of more or less commanding influence. New England will never cease to be under the weightiest obligations to such " burning and shining lights" among her colonial clergy, as John Cotton, || Mr. John Wilson, Roger Williams, John Eliot, Increase and Cotton Mather, Thomas Hooker, ^ and Samuel Stone. If these men sometimes seemed to be bigoted, intolerant, and arbitrar}', quite as zealous in suppressing heretical opinions as in preaching the word, it should be remembered that this apparent intolerance on their part, was bom, not so much, we men of the Commonwealth in making Laws, in granting lands, in short everything excepting the elections of magistrates, &c." Jlr. Barry, on the other hand, gives another and a very confused and unsatisfactory account of this result. He seems to attribute it to a jealousy, on the part of the freemen, of the magisti-ates' usurpa- tion of legislative prerogative. Since, however, the freemen were all members of the General Court, and had a voice, not only in making the laws, but in electing all the magistrates, it is difficult. to understand how they could have complained of taxation without representation, and so have insisted on a House of Deputies in order to redress, as against the despotism of the magistrates, or in order to the eiyoyment of their full rights as citizens. § Salem, Watcrtown, Boston, Charlestown, Lynn, Roxbury, Dorches- ter, Newtown, and Ipswich. II From the ancient church of St. Botolph (Boston, Lincolnshire), perhaps the most stately parish church in England, a cathedral in size and beauty, came John Cotton, after a pastorate of twenty years, to preach the gospel within the mud walls and under the thatched roof of the meeting-house in a rude New England hamlet. The sanctity and mingled force and amiableness of his character won for hun a vast influence. — Palfrey. Precocious in youth, of very brilliant talents, distinguished as well for the mildness and gentleness of his temper as for the fervor of his manner, the suavity of his deportment, the profoundness of his learn- ing, the power of his eloquence, gave him .an ascendency in the church and an influence in the state which might have been dangerous in a person of a less elevated character. H TIic first pastor of Newtown. A distinguished refugee. A prodigy of learning, an eloquent orator — "the Light of the Western Churches., and the rich pearl which Europe gave to America." He subsequently removed to Connecticut. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. have reason to believe, of any ecclesiastical rancor or narrowness, as of a simple and sincere desire to pre- sence the unity and puritj' of the churches at a forma- tive, and hence a peculiarlj' critical, period of their his- tory ; while in manj' instances, by their prudent coun- sels, himible deportment, rare powers of harmonizing conflicting oiiinions, and moderating the spirit of contro- versj-, as well as bj- their more public and professional ministrations, they contributed greatly, there can be no doubt, to the promotion of the safetj', and aU the best interests of the Colonj-, amidst the storms and perils it was destined to encounter. Nor were the interests of education overlooked. As a large proportion of the clergy of New England, and some of the laitj', were men of liberal education, grad- uates of the time-honored universities of England, it was not unnatural that they should earlj- contemplate the founding of an institution of learning. Though pro- vision had as yet been hardlj' made for the first wants of life — habitations, food, clothing, and churches — and though dark, portentous clouds hung still on their polit- ical horizon,* yet through and be3-ond all these sad complications of the present, the New Englanders, look- ing to the great necessities of future times, made a generous appropriation for the endowment of a college.f Meantime this aforesaid magnanimous project coming to the knowledge, and engaging the sjTnpathj' of John Harvard, a graduate of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and pastor of the Charlestown church, the latter be- queathed one-half of his estate, amounting to some £700, for the erection of the necessary- college buildings. This was in 1G39. In just gratitude for this noble and verj' timel}' act, the court ordered that the new institu- tion should be called b}' Mr. Ilan-ard's name. And so, in New England, no sooner was the church erected than the school-house spnmg up, — " Fast by the oracles of God : " learning and religion united hy indissoluble bonds, and • The power of England stood in an attitude to strike. A desper- ate war with the natives had already begun, and the government was threatened with an Antinomian insurrection. — Pa/frei/. t At the late New England Dinner (December, 1S78), New York City, President Scclyc, of Amherst College, uttered the following timely and interesting observation on the Puritans : "They did not build the college on the basis of the common school, but they started the college first and built the common school with the strength which the college furnished. They were ignorant of the mod- em discovery that you can only get the best by evolution from the poorest. They began with the best. Instead of attempting to ascend from lower planes by gradual development unto a higher, they started with the higher. Harvard College was founded only seventeen years after the landing at Plymouth, but this was ten years before the begin- ning of common schools in Massachusetts. It is true that this accorded bearing their legitimate fruit of intelligence and A-irtue — the ground and pillar of all popular self-govern- ment. Somewhat later (1647), two years before his death, Governor Winthrop had the satisfaction of giving his official sanction to a measure the importance and benefi- cent issues of which no estimate of tliat day could approach a just appreciation — a measure for the insti- tution of common schools — requiring everj' township of fifty householders to maintain permanentlj- a good district school. " Since the seventeenth year of Massa- chusetts," says Mr. Palfrey, " no child of this State has been able to say that to him poverty has closed the book of knowledge, or the -way to honor." Such, two centuries and a quarter ago, were the feeble yet hopeful beginnings of institutions which have now come to occupy the consideration, and which have mate- rially affected the destiny of the world. The Indians, who in those da3-s greatly outntunbercd the colonists, have since dwindled to a handful, while the "pale face" has subdued ucarlj' the whole continent to his dominion, and transformed it from a wilderness into a beautiful garden. TJie Earliest Yankee Emigration. Strange as it may seem, before 1639 complaints were heard in some towns that the people -were already " straitened for want of room," and the result was the settlement of Connecticut. Late in the spring of 1636, " when nature was radiant with beauty, and the leaves and grass were sufficiently grown for the cattle to browse," says the historian, Mr. Hooker, Mr. Stone, and most of the congregation of Newtown, set out for that then distant Colonj' — the pastor's wife being borne on a litter on account of her feebleness. "The party was composed of about one hundred emigrants, men, women, and children, some of whom had lived in opu- lence in England ; and, subsisting largely on the milk of their cattle by the waj-, thej' toiled on through the with the history of all education in Europe, the universities of Europe having been the progenitors and not the children of the common schools, and It is true that subsequent events have shown that the lower stages of education, instead of mounting by themselves up to the higher, have been lifted up by the power which has come down to thcra from that which is above. But I do not believe, Mr. President, that it was any historical deduction from the past, or any philosophical previ- sion of the future, which led our forefathers to make provision for the highest education before they had made any provision for the lowest. Rather did this grow out of that instinct, or I might say that inspira- tion, which led them so often and so unconsciously in a way of wisdom better than their knowledge. They were accustomed to look upon upward impulses as coming first from above, and so they sought in the moimtain- tops for the sources of the streams which were to run among the val- leys, and which were to make of a desert land the garden of the Lord." MASSACHUSETTS. pathless forests of interior Massachusetts, with onlj- the compass for their guide, having no pillow but Jacob's, and no canopy but the heavens. Advancing scarce ten miles a da}-, o'er mountain-top, and hill and stream, through tangled wood and dismal swamps, it was a full fortnight ere they reached their haven of rest." '■'■Praying Indians." From the first the colonists seem to have entertained projects looking towards the conversion of the natives. Though preceded in this field by Mayhew, of Nantucket, jet John Eliot, of Roxburj-, is usually considered as " the morning star of missionary enterprise,"* and to him has been awarded the appropriate title of "the Apostle to the Indians." Meantime, with such enthu- siasm did he enter upon his work, and with such success did he prosecute it — devoting to its advancement more than fortj' years of his life — that not onl}- were his labors applauded, and his name greatl}' honored, both at home and abroad, but, as trophies of his indefatigable assaults on Indian godlessness, he could at one time point to no less than fifteen hundred natives in the neighborhood of Boston who had by him been induced to abandon their savage customs and habits, form them- selves into civilized communities, learn to read the Scriptures and to worship the Christian's God. In con- sequence, however, of King Philip's War, and the sus- picions of the fidelity of even the Praying Indians, with which the public mind had been therebj- poisoned — resulting in the subjection of some of these so-called "Praying Indians" to peculiar and verj- aggravating hardships — this good work received a serious check. Indeed, owing to the causes named, in a few short 3-ears the number of meeting-places for these Indians was reduced from fourteen to four. If the value of an enter- prise is to be measured by its final success, the conver- sion of the New England Indians must be regarded as a failure. The race itself has vanished awa}- ; and now nearly all that remains to us of the genius and labors of * The legislature having passed an act for the propagation of the Gospel among the Indians, the General Court of Massachusetts has the distinguished honor of having been the first missionary society of Prot- estant Christendom. t Eliot was not the first minister of Roxbury, but preached there more than fifty years, having been bom at Nazing in England, in 1601, and dying in Roxbury in 1C90. When he was seventy-five years old he was visited by the Dutch missionaries, Bankers and Sluyter, who thought hira " the best of the ministers we have yet heard," and who found him very polite. But he then (1G79-80) "deplored the decline of the church in New England, and especially in Boston, so that he did not know what would be the final result." After twelve years' labor, Eliot transb.tcd the Bible into the Indian tongue, and had it printed, the New Testament first, .at Cambridge, in lCOl-3. " lie that would \vrite of Eliot," says Cotton Mather, " must write of Ehot are a few scattered volumes that have descended to us from the past, "as unintelligible as the inscrip- tions on the obelisk of Luxor." Yet, as memorials of the piety and missionarj' zeal of our ancestors, and especially as monuments of the self-sacrificing labors of this primitive New England "Apostle to the Gentiles," they are certainly' most impressive and instructive. f Colonial Penalties. " Of all our colonial ancestry," says another, "the New England character was marked by severest aus- terity and integrity. No Jew ever followed more closely both the laws and the prophets than the Puritan." Nay, not onlj' was his own conduct rigorously shaped by a literal interpretation of the Scriptures, but he insisted also on watching over and shaping the conduct of others according to the same divine pattern. Accordingly, in the good " old colonial days," not only were pubUc offences dealt with, but private morals, as well, were carefully watched over by the authorities of Church and I State. In these earhost times the ministers had almost i entire control, and hence a church reproof was con- i sidered the heav-lest disgrace. Betimes, however, some- j thing further was found necessary for consciences less tender, and for oflTenders more flagrant. For shooting fowl on Sunday a man was once whipped. The swearer was made to meditate over his sin standing in a public place with his tongue in a cleft stick. For graver oflTen- ces of speech, the guilty party was set in the stocks, or the unruly member was bored through with a hot iron. Nor were minor transgressions of the tongue b}' any means winked at — the unhappy housewife, whose tem- per had got the Ijctter of her wisdom, having allotted to her sorry leisure for repentance — being gagged (espe- cially if a bad scold) , and then set at her own door for all comers and goers to gaze at. Offenders of this lat- ter class, it may be added, were sometimes punished by being ducked in running water. Philip. Ratcliffc was sentenced to bo whipped, have his ears cut off, fined charity or say nothing." The parish treasurer once paid him his salary and tied it up for him in his handkerchief, with as many hard knots as he could. On his way home he called to see a poor sick woman, and said God had sent her some relief. Unable to untie the knots with his aged hands, he finally gave the whole handkerchief to the woman, say- ing, "Take it, my dear sister; the Lord designs it all for you." " Truly," he said, in his old age, " I am good for little here below, only, while I daily find my understanding going and my memory and senses decayed, I bless God my faith and charity grow." He dressed plainly and drank nothing but \\atcr, saying, "Wine is a noble, generous liquor, and we should be humbly th.ankful for it; but, as I remember, water was made before it." His portrait was discovered in London by William Whiting, in 1851, and is engraved for Mr. Drake's history. — Correspondoice of Springfield Repub- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. forty shillings, and banished out of the limits of the jurisdiction, for uttering malicious and scandalous speeches against the government, and the chui-ch of Salem. Culprits were sometimes led about town fast- ened to the tail or back of a cart, being whipped as they went — a custom in vogue as late as the middle of the eighteenth century. — National Repository. Religious Persecutions. That the sacrifices made bj- the Puritans to obtain religious freedom for themselves involved no recogni- tion, on their part, of the general principle of religious toleration, as now understood, may be justly inferred from their conduct towards those who were considered to have deviated from their own ecclesiastical standards. When the Salem church decided that their form of church service and government should be Congrega- tional, some, dissatisfied with the covenant of said church, complained because the service of the Episcopal Chiu-ch was omitted. Aroused bj^ this opposition, Endi- cott, then governor, and no friend of the Episcopacy, regarding the course of these parties as " tending to mutinj- and faction," told them that New England was no place for them, and forthwith sent them back to England. Thus was Episcopacy professed, and thus summarilj' was it expelled from the Colon}-. Among the great lights of the earl}- colonial pulpit, and in some respects the nol)lest of the earl}- emigrants, was Roger Williams, a young Welsh preacher of singu- lar eloquence, and the second pastor of the Salem Church. He anived in 1631. This man has achieved an exceptional fame on the score of his misfortunes, as the groat apostle of the principle of freedom of relig- ious opinion, and as the founder of the city of Provi- dence. Having made himself obnoxious to the authori- ties as an agitator — as an advocate of measures con- sidered to be subversive of the peace and dignity of the state — after having been admonished and disciplined in vain, he was banished from the settlement. Scarcely were the magistrates rid of Roger Williams when they found themselves engaged in a contest much more threatening and difiicult to control than what he had raised.* At the head of it stood a capable and • The task was especially difflcnlt as her party comprehended several of the most important men in the infant Commonwealth, and its busi- ness was conducted by a determination and skill well worthy of a bet- ter cause. — Palfrey. t At a time when a war with the most powerful of the natives was imminent — a war which threatened to bring about a universal league of the New England savages ; yea, and when under these circumstances, a force had been ordered to take the field for the better defence of the settlements, the Boston men, it is recorded, refused to be mustered be- cause they suspected the chaplain, who was to accompany the expedi- resoluto woman, whose name, dismally conspicuous in the early history of New England, was Mrs. Anne Hutchin- son. Early she had become somewhat notorious for her eccentric speculations and pretensions to direct revela- tion. Of great energy of character and vivacity of mind, and possessed of striking controversial talents, she had acquired more or less popular esteem and influence. Meantime, attaching great importance to her religious notions, Mrs. Hutchinson, at length, was led to under- take some sort of public ministration of them. It had been the practice of the male members of the Boston church, of which Mrs. Hutchinson was a member, to hold meetings by themselves for the purpose of recapitu- lating and discussing the sermon of their minister. Mrs. Hutchinson conceived the idea of instituting simi- lar assembUes for her own sex, not so much, indeed, to review the sermon, as to ventilate her own peculiar va- garies. The meeting was established. From the first it was attended, it is said, by nearly one hundred females, embracing many of the chief matrons of the town. What wonder that her bold criticisms, set off with a certain voluble eloquence, — that her expositions, made impressive by an imposing familiarity at once with scripture, and the most abstruse speculations of philoso- phy ; and the whole, illumined and made impressive by devotional gifts even more striking than her didactic powers, — what wonder that these should have produced a sensation • — should have ensured this woman a follow- ing, including even such men as Governor Vane, and so eminent ministers as Wheelwright and John Cotton! Not unnaturally, in proportion to her popularity and success, she became conceited, headstrong, extravagant, imperious, fanatical ; even going so far, at length, as vehemently to assail the authorities, and thus, and at a specially perilous and critical epoch in the Colony's his- tory, creating disaflfection, and, to the same extent, of course, paralyzing the secular arm — hindering the magistrates in the effectual execution of the laws.f Forbearance, it was thought, at length, had ceased to bo a virtue. She and some of her leading partisans, were arrested, tried, convicted and banished from the settle- ment. I But that which, perhaps, more than anything else, has tion, of being under " a covenant of works." Surely, when a religious schism has become so rabid and reckless as to involve direct armed resistance to authority, even while invading hosts are supposed to be at our doors, is it not time it should be crushed with a strong hand ? J She went first to Rhode Island, but after the death of her husband, removed, with her sun-iving family, into the territory of the Dutch. The Dutch and Indians being then at war, in an invasion of the set- tlement by the latter, her house wr.s attacked and set on fire, and herself and all the family, save one child, who was carried captive, perished. MASSACHUSETTS. scandalized the Massachusetts Colonj', except it be possi- bly the hanging of tlie so-called witches of Salem, was its persecution (1659-60) of the Quakers even unto death. In so far as our Puritan fathers dealt harshly or unkindly with their pestilent agitators and rebellious heretics ; in so far as they may have been really intoler- ant in spirit, or high-handed, or arbitrary in their mea- sures, we are not careful to defend them.* It is but justice to these illustrious ancestors, however, that the principles on which thej-, at least ostensibly, proceeded, should be clearly recognized and distinctly understood ; and these, arising from their peculiar circumstances, and hence altogether singular, and without precedent, were t^^o : the right, on the ground of original occupation, of enjoj-ing unmolested their religion in their own commu- nity ; and sccondlj', self-defence. When Endicott so summarily banished the Episcopalians, and the Colony afterwards ejected Antinomians, Baptists, and Quakers, it was on the ground tuat Massachusetts having paid a great price for the sake of the unmolested worship of God in their own way, they proposed to maintain this privilege, which under the circumstances, in their judg- ment, partook largely of the nature of right. In Eng- land we were in the waj- of the National Church, virtu- ally they argued. We were crowded out. We do not complain. Now, j'ou are in our way. Go. The world is wide. Build on your own foundations. There is room for us both. We have no quarrel with 3"our doc- trines. We respect your right of private judgment. Only vacate our premises. f Says Mr. Palfrey, who has canvassed this whole sub- ject with great ability and candor, "The sound and generous principle of perfect freedom of conscience in * That this w.is the case, in some measure at least, is rendered highly probable in view of the vehement temper and character of such men for example as Endicott and Bcllingham, who, unfortunately, happened to have the most important agency in the administration of affairs at the time of the Quaker excitement. It is well knomi, moreover, that Gov- ernor Winthrop, though he did not doubt the justice of his sentence, yet keenly regretted the unnecessary harshness which attended the disci- pline and banishment of Roger Williams from the Jlassachusctts Colony. t At the foot of the gallows tlie offer was again renewed to Mary Dyer, of release, if she would only promise henceforth keep out of JIassaehusetts. But she refused it, and met her fate with brave deter- mination. — Palfrey. X The popular notion that, though exiles themselves for conscience' sake, yet with bigoted fury and intolerant ferocity, the Puritans sen- tenced, on purely religious or theological grounds, all opposers of their peculiar beliefs to the punishments of fine, whipping, imprisonment, banishment, and death, is hardly borne out by clearly established facts. Roger Williams is honored as the apostle of religious toleration, of freedom of opinion and speech on tliis continent; as the man "from the alembic of whoso soul was evolved the sublime principle of liberty of conscience." We have no disposition to take from this great and good man one laurel that belongs to him. Though we may question religious concerns can scared}' be shown to have been involved in these disputes ; between WiUiams and those who dismissed him there was no question about dogmas ; he was not charged with, and hence could not be exiled for, heresy proper, but for ' civil turbulence.' " Cotton Mather declared that "the wind-mill in the young Welshman's head seemed likely to turn everything topsj'- turvy in the settlement." Restless, violent, disputa- tious ; courageous, disinterested, kind-hearted to a fault, j'et hungering irresistibly for excitement and conflict, and, meanwhile hurling scathing denunciations against the authorities for what he was pleased to consider doubtless a mockery of liberty of conscience, Roger Williams, with aU his good qualities, proved, yet, a thorn in the side of the young Colony which they had not the grace to endure, and hence they cast him out. J In like manner Mr. Palfrey argues it would be an unjust representation of the case of Mrs. Hutchinson and her partisans to allege that they were punished for entertaining opinions distasteful to theii- associates on dark questions of theologj'. Standing, as they were, between two great perils, — a threatened rupture with the most formidable of the native tribes, and an invasion from the parent countrj", — dangers to be parried only by a concentration of all their own resources, and by further accessions from abroad, if such could be ob- tained, § is it not extravagant to suppose that the fathers of the state would have allowed themselves to be diverted into a mere distracting contest of speculative polemics ? In their estimation, it was a question of life and death with which they had to deal. The disputes introduced by Mrs. Hutchinson threat- ened nothing less than immediate anarcliy — put in jeopardy their very poUtical existence. The colonists whether it was because ho was " grieved to find among the colonists the same spirit of religious intolerance and persecution from ivhich thcr had just fled to find shelter in the wilderness," that he preached his crusade of denunciation against them, yet, that he did preach tolcr.".- tion for all sects, classes, and nations, and was, in this regard, far in advance of his time, we admit. For this we honor him. Menntin-.c, we venture to add, that so many years after William the Silent, and Henry IV. of France, Williams can hardly be esteemed in any proper sense, the author of this idea ; while it may be interesting and instruct- ive to remember that this same liberty-loving, creed-hr.ting Roger Wil- liams, rigorously repelled all religions dissentients fi'ora his sympathy and fellowship, however good Christians, if members of the Engli:.;i Church ; or, if not, if they did not publicly proclaim their repentance for having ever communed with such. § " Depending, as the young colony did, on the good word and active patronage of its Puritan friends in England, and looking to tlicm anxiously for an increase of numbers, and so of power, it could ill bear to be represented to them as already rent and disabled by fictions. Nothing more intimately concerned its welfare than the creation within it of such a state of things as would justify a report in England suited to encourage a largo emigration of men of the desired character and mcam."— Palfrey. HISTORY OF KEW ENGLAND. were, therefore, ob\-iously shut up to a choice of evils in this case : internal discord and dissolution, or, on the other hand, the expulsion from their bosom of these ele- ments of deadl}- civil strife. The question for them to decide was simplj- whether the^- would live or die. They proposed to live. * It must be admitted that this plea does not hold with equal force in the case of the Quaker persecution. Un- less the judgment of the Puritan leaders had been seri- ously disturbed by the provocations of the contest, it is difficult to understand how thcj- could have seriously considered that measures of such extreme rigor were any longer indispensable in order to the safety of their institutions. Meantime, unless distempered imaginations greatly exaggerated their dangers, it must have been sufficiently patent to these leaders that, by enforcing their extreme measures they were maintaining their position at far too great a cost.f The Neva England Confederacy. The Confederacy of 1643 has been well stated to have been an important event in the history of New England. The idea seems to have originated with the Colonj- of PljTnouth during the Pequot war. Solicited to furnish men and means for this war, it was objected that in their late difficulties with the French; their Massachusetts brethren had refused their aid. This led to a conference in Boston between the agents of the two Colonies, called for the purpose of promoting harmon}- of action, and in which proposals were made for an alliance, ofi'ensive and = Let those who are disposed, with any nndnc severity, to condemn the Turitan fathers for their seeming intolertincc and exclusivcncss, bear in mind that the position they occupied was precisely the same at present maintained by many wise and good men on the Pacific slope in regard to Chinese immigration. Whether the policy be wise or unwise, some of the ablest statesmen and divines on the Pacific coast arguo that, com- ing under the cu-cumstanecs under which they do, the advent of the Mongolian to the Pacific States tends to make the reproduction of New England civilization there impracticable. Meanwhile, before we of the East too swcepingly condemn our Western brethren, may we not profit- ably consider that many thoughtful minds regard it as a very giave question how far even New England and the East can afford to go in importing the ignorant, Bocialistic, communistic elements of the Old World, and still preserve our free suffrage and our capacity for self- government. If, for example, intclUgenec and morality are absolutely essential conditions of a republican system, m.iy we not wisely inquire, to what extent is it safe to go in diluting the population of the land with ignorant and unprincipled suffrage — in thrusting the ballot into the hands of lawlessness and ignorance ? However it may contradict our cher- ished traditions, or belie our fine theories concerning a universal asy- lum, is it, after all, unstatcsmanliko to consider whether wc may not, nevertheless, be in danger of throwing more water into the national boiler than our furnaces can possibly convert into steam, in which case, of course, the engine must inevitably stop ? Nay, are there not sug- gestive indications that the steam in the national boiler even now is get- ting fearfully low ? At all events, until we can confidently answer some of these interrogatories in the negative, let us not be too swift to defensive, in all cases of like future occurrence. The two Connecticut Colonies shortly after also entered into this alliance, and the Confederacy was known as the United Colonies of New England. It continued for a period of about forty years, when it came to an end b}- an arbitrary act of the British Court. Scattered, as the\' were, over a wide extent of wilder- ness country, encompassed hy dangers on every side, and conscious of their insccuritj' and weakness, how natural that this handful of settlers should have thus combined. All round about them there roamed a subtle, savage, revengeful foe, with whom thej- had already had occasion to engage in dcadlj', exterminating strife, and whose very friendship was known to be fickle and inconstant ; while the air was constantly full of rumors of hostilities and plots for their overthrow. That, painfully alive thus, to the insecurity of their situation, — sensible, as the his- torian has vividly painted it, "that they were resting upon the verge of a slumbering volcano, whose streams of desolation might at any time overleap the feeble bar- ters which resti-ained them, and pour a desolating tide of lava over the country," — that, under the circumstances, we say, these pioneers, in their hour of peril, far from the land of their birth, dependent solely on God and their own right arm for prescr\-ation and support, should have woven, as the}' did, this fourfold cordon for their defence, will assuredly excite no surprise. Meantime, the thoughtful reader will hardlj- learn un- moved that self-preser\-ation was b}- no means the onh' motive that influenced these early fathers in entering into condemn the Puritans because they thought best to work the pumps slowly for a time and crowd the fu-.nace. t Mr. Palfrey expresses the opinion that, among those favoring the law threatening Quakers with death if they should return from banish- ment, there was a confident persuasion that the terror of the law alone would accomplish all that was desired, and would prevent (as in most cases it did) any occasion for its actual execution. Unfortunately, however, having thus imprudently calculated on the effects of their threats on men and women become frantic, insanely inconfiidcratc, or desperate, through the influence of fanatical opinions which they enter- tained, .and havmg thus committed themselves to a policy " which could not be maintained without grievous severity, or abandoned without hu- miliation and danger," the court, when the issue was fearlessly joined, and the necessity of action laid upon them, had not the courage to acknowledge their error and to retrace their steps. Possibly the morti- fication of defeat might have been endured ; but they f.arcd, it is prob- able, that any failure on their part to execute the la«-s would affect un- favorably the stability of their govenuncnt. Perhaps each party con- tinued to the last to hope that under the shadow of the terrible gal- lows, the other would relent. If so, both were doomed to dis.ip- pointment. The fltct is, whatever New England rulers, in those days, promised or threatened, it was their practice usually to do; while on the other hand, unhappily, in the weaker party in this case, to an idiotic folly was united an indoinilable boldness. The con- test of will was, therefore, to continue to the bitter end. The Qua- ker and Puritan measured swords. Though he suffered, yet the Quaker prevailed. MASSACHUSETTS. this league ; that this league was entered into, indeed, not less for religion and for religious liberties, than for temporal protection ; not less for the preservation and the propagation of the truths and liberties of the Gospel, than for their own mutual aid, or to promote their phj'si- cal safet3^ This confederation, meanwhile, so long as it continued to exist, served, not onlj' as the strong right arm of de- fence on the part of the Colonies, at once against a foreign, and also an insidious and common domestic enemj', but, moreover, promoted that mutual commerce of opinion, and interchange of ideas, and hence that mutual acquaintance, and, withal, obviously facilitated those intercolonial political intercommunications and combinations that so signall3' paved the waj' for the realization of that far grander and more effective con- federation that was to follow bj- and by. Indian Wars. For a long period the colonists had the good fortune to avoid hostile collisions with their aboriginal neighbors. With some of the native tribes they alwaj-s maintained friendly relations. Others, however, were less tractable and peaceably inclined. One of the first of these native New England tribes to j give the settlers serious trouble was the Pequot — a for- ! midable tribe, numbering some seven hundred wamors, the central seat of whose power was between the Mystic and the Thames. If their feelings were ever friendly, they very early became changed, for some reason, to those of hatred and revenge. Having perpetrated cer- tain murders, and committed various depredations on the English, Endicott, bj' Vfaj of retaliation, burnt two of their villages, and destro3-ed their corn. This led to the Pequot war (1G37), the brunt of which was borne by Connecticut settlers. The campaign against the Pequots, under Captain Mason, in connection with which an Indian fort was surprised, the garrison put to the sword, and thus the Pequot tribe practicall}' extermi- nated, was one of the most brilliant in the annals of early New England. The first severe check which the prosperity of the • Philip was the second son of that Massasolt, sachem of the numer- ous trihc of Polianokets, who so early concluded a league of peace with the colonists of Plymouth, and who always, to the day of his death, forty years aftenvards, maintained the treaty faithfully. Dying at an advanced age, Massasoit was succeeded by his sons Wamsutta and Mctacomet. Ambitions of an English name, the court, as it cost them little to gratify him, bestowed on him the cognomen of Alexander; and desiring the same in behalf of his brother, the latter was named Philip. Philip's residence, or headquarters, was on " that beautiful peninsular range of hills, twelve miles long, called Mount Hope, now belonging to the town of liristol, which the traveller from Boston to New York by Colonies received was in what is known as " King Philip's * War," which, commencing in 1675, lasted till the latter part of 1676 — terminating with the death of PhiUp. The proximate cause of the outbreak of hostilities was the murder, bj- the tools of Philip, of a certain Praj- ing Indian, Sasamon, who, though he had apostatized and joined Philip, serving as his secretary, was yet sub- sequently reclaimed through the exertions of Mr. Eliot. The guilt}' parties were speedily secured, and, not a little to the exasperation of Philip, brought to justice. Philip's first blow was struck at Swansea. This was followed rapidly by bloody conflicts, massacres, and burnings, at Bloody Brook, Brookfield, Narragansett Fort, Hatfield, Springfield, Seekonk, and Lancaster. On the part of the savages, this war, from the very first, seems to have been one of desperation. They burned villages, lay in ambush for stray parties, fell on defenceless outposts, and pursued the conflict in a spirit of most sanguinary determination, giving over the struggle only when decimated, demoralized, crushed, driven with their bloodthirsty chieftain to his last retreat, thej' could hold out no longer. During this war — made luridl}' famous by the torch as well as the toma- hawk, and illustrated bj- the heroism and daring of such men as Price, Cudworth, Uncas, Wheeler, the defender of Brookfield, and Willard, who came to the rescue of the imperilled garrison there ; Parker, Winslow, and Captains Johnson and Davenport, — • the first to fall at the head of their respective commands on storming Narragansett Fort ; Lothrop, the hero of Bloodj- Brook, and whose compan}', known as the " Flower of Essex," was almost wholly cut to pieces on that disastrous field, and the gallant Church, who had the honor of ending the war, by overtaking and killing Philip ; — during this terrific war, no less than twelve or thirteen towns were destroyed, f and more than six hundred of the colonists perished in the field — were either stealthil}- murdered, or fell in battle, or, becoming prisoners, were lost sight of forever, an unknown number of them being put to death with nameless and most horrible tortures. There was hardly an English family in the two Colo- Fall River, sees on his right hand as ho passes down Taunton River into Narragansett Bay." t It has been well said that no mere inventory of murders and pil- lages, of massacres and conflagrations, even could such a list be made complete, can set forth the amount of distress endured in this cam- paign. Outlying houses were fired by night while their inmates slept; husbandmen at their work, and women at the well, and travellers on the road, were shot down; no man, outside the large towns, might leave his door with safety ; every bush near it might mask a watchful marksman. It was one continued succession of ruthless rav.-vgcs on a larger or smaller scale.— fo^rey. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. nies, saj's the historian, tliat was not in mourning in consequence of this war. Meantime, impoverishment ■was added to bereavement, the expenses of the struggle ha^^ng reached the enormous figure, for that daj', of $500,000 — an amount believed to have been in excess of the value of tlic whole personal propertj- of the people. * The fact of this being known as King Philip's v.-ar, has led manj- to suppose that Philip was not onlj- the instigator, but the generalissimo and master-spirit of it. There is no reason, however, to believe that Philip pos- sessed either the statesmanlilie or militarj- qualities, — the considerate foresight, capacitj' for political combina- tion, or aptness for influencing the actions of men, — attributed to him, and necessarj- in order to enable him thus to ride upon and direct the storm which he had conjured up ; or that anj- such conspiracy, as the popular theorj- supposes, to rid the countrj- of the white man, b}'^ a combined movement on the part of all the Kow Eng- land tribes, ever actually- existed. The probabilities are rather that once hostilities having broken out, the thirst for blood became epidemic ; that a few war-whoops hav- ing fired the Indian heart, the contagion became general, and spread rapidly over a wide extent of country, -j- The dealings of the colonists with the Indians, have long been a subject of more or less reproach. Their treatment of the red race has been commonly censured as barbarous and cruel. This is not the place to enter upon a studied and elaborate defence of the Puritan fathers, touching their dealings with, or treatment of the red men. And jxt we may be permitted to saj- that there is no sufficient reason to believe that the latter were ever treated othen\-ise than equitablj-, and even generously, by the whites ; j-ea, so far from the natives having been wronged or oppressed by their white neigh- bors, all the endence goes to show that, on the other hand, the new order of things was greatl}- to the advantage of the sons of the soil. J Offering them a full equivalent for whatever they received from their lands, and acquir- • " By years of steady industry and pinching frugality, however, she paid her enormous debt, principal and interest, to the uttermost for- tUing. New England never learned the doctrine of repudiation." — Pal- frey. + The Indian King Philip is a mythical character, — a creature of the popular imagination, — not less as to his personal habits, than touching his abilities, or character. " The title King, which it has been custom- ary to attach to his name," s.iys Jlr. Talfrcy, " disguises and trans- figures to the view the form of a squalid savage, whose palace was a Ety; whose royal robe was a bcar-sldn, or coarse blanket, alive with vermin; who h-irdly knew the luxury of an ablution, and who was often glad to appease appetite with food such as men ordinarily loathe." X Rev. Mr. Wood, writing concerning the Plymouth colonists, says : "Many have supposed that our fathers treated very unjustly the natives whom they found on this soil ; and sometimes AVilliam Pcnn, and Roger Williams are applauded as standing higher than others in ing whatever thej- wanted for the enlargement of their borders, hy an amicable arrangement with such as had an earlier possession ; affording a steady and profitable market for certain articles of their production, such as corn and furs, and so giving them the opportunitj', com- merce alone can give, to rise from their degradation to the decencies and comforts of ci^^lization ; while witli- oiit this custom, much which they possessed, or could acquire, must obviously remain utterly worthless on their hands ; holding over them, with assiduous solici- tude, the a?gis of law, protecting them in tlie possession of whatever they desired to keep, and shielding them with solicitous care from the dcA-iees of swindhng specu- lators and sharpers ; securing to them the benefits of instruction in such departments of knowledge, as were calculated to advance man in dignity and happiness ; and, finally, with infinite tenderness, patience, and pains, laboring to impart to them the most precious of all gifts, — the saving knowledge of Chiiotiamty, — the English had done the natives good, and only good, from the verj' beginning. True, in single instances, injustice and unkindncss maj- have been done to Indians ; but, if so, it had been contrar}' to law, by vagabonds such as infest every community, and whom no communit}- is able ab- solutely to control. When, indeed, was there ever a time, or where a place, that incapable and unluckj- persons have not been subject to injury from, arc not likely to be cheated and maltreated by, lawless people ? But so far as those responsible for the management of affairs were concerned, the natives had no occasion to complain, the government had never disturbed their homes, had never appropriated, without remuneration, or their consent, their so-called "hunting-grounds" ; had never defrauded them of an}- of their rights, but rather had aimed even religiously to regard, and sacredly to maintain them ; while, so far as practicable, they had exerted themselves, at no little cost of self-denial, to extend to them all the benefits of their own civilization. § this respect. It is believed, however, that the Pilgrim fathers were no less desirous, than the worthies just mentioned, of acting towards the Indians upon the principle of tlie Golden Rule. Gov. Winslow, in 1676, says : ' I think I can clearly say that, before the present trouble broke out, the English did not possess one foot of land in this Colony but what was fairly obtained by honest purchase of the Indi.an pro- prietors. The prices paid seem to us now as absurdly small ; but the lands sold were of little value to the few saittercd natives, who wished to use them only for hunting and fishing ; and, in a large measure, they retained these privileges after the surrender of their titles to the soil. Lest they should be wronged by individual whites, it was ordered that no person should purchase, or receive as a gift, any land of the Indians, without consent of the court.' " } And yet, as Mr. Palfrey so eloquently observes : " Without provoca- tion, and without warning, these barbarians gave full sway to the inhu- man passions of their 6av.age nature. They burst forth into a wild riot of MASSACHUSETTS. Tlie Politics of the Period. — Difficulties and Disputes with England. For four years after their settlement, the Massachu- setts Colony had been left to bear their burdens and do their work without any material interference with Eng- land. The increasing emigration, however, from the latter country, and a suspicion on the part of the crown, that the Colony desired to be independent, led to an attempt to annul their charter, and the appointment of a special commission for its government.* Receiving an order to deliver up their charter, the Colony evaded the request, and at a meeting of tlic General Court showed their mettle h}' taking measures for the fortification of Boston Harbor, Charlestown, and Dorcliester, and mak- ing arrangements for the drilling and discipUning of troops. The political agitations of the mother country, however, and the vicissitudes incident to Cromwell's Com- monwealth, preserved the Colonies for almost a genera- tion from the dangers which had threatened them from that quarter. On the restoration of tlie Stuarts the old trouble was revived. The Colony had protested against the injustice of being subject to the laws of parliament. The Long Parliament had acquiesced in this. But the new judges, under the restoration, disregarded this protest ; denied the right of local self-government, and the Colony was declared to be under the unrestricted legislative supremacy of parliament. Much controversy ensued. At length, in 1662, a commission was sent to England to pray for the continuance of civil and religious liberties. It was successful in obtaining a confirmation of the charter, the king, however, maintaining his right to interfere in the domestic concerns of the Colony ; demanding the repeal of all laws derogatory to his pillage, arson, and massacre. By night they crept, with murderous intent, to the doors of the very dwellings made familiar to them by the experi- ence of old hospitality. They wrested wives and mothers from ministra- tions of dying men, and children from mothers' arms, for death in cruel forms. They tortured their prisoners with the most atrocious ingenuity. Repeatedly, after they rose in arms, overtures of friendship were made to thcra. But whether they disregarded such proposals, or professed to fall in with them, it was all the same, the work of massacre and ravage still went on. The ferocious creature, having once tasted blood, could not restrain himself till he should be gorged therewith." Meantime, the heart of English life in New England had been well-nigh reached by these assassins ; and, doubtless, had there actually been that general and combined movement on the part of the New England savages, supposed by some to have existed, — had the Indians been really pre- pared to strike a united and vigorous blow, — the result could have scarcely been other than the devastation of the whole territory, and the total abandonment of New England by the portion of civilized people left alive. Indeed, when we consider the immense advantage enjoyed by the Indians in this warfare, if not as to numbers, yet in their supe- rior knowledge of the countrj', and in their facilities for concealment, and for falling suddenly on the fixed residences of their enemy ; in their personal knowledge of every path and defile by which an un- authority ; the taking of the oath of allegiance ; the administration of justice in his name ; the complete tol- eration of the Church of England ; and a concession of the elective franchise to everj'^ inhabitant possessed of a competent estate. A portion of the community took quite strong grounds against these royal demands, though not so much on account of the demands themselves, as on account of the further power they implied. In due time commissioners were sent out to compose these difficul- ties in New England, charged to investigate the affairs of the Colony, with "full authority to provide for the peace of the country, according to the royal instructions and their own discretion." Thcj' arrived in 1664. So vigorous, however, was the opposition organized against them, so effectually did the colonists manoeuvre to baffle and nullify the measures of the commission, that, after an utterly unsuccessful attempt to accomplish their pur- poses, — " frustrated in every effort by the vigilance of the Colon}-," — the commission returned from their boot- less mission. Massachusetts, for this behavior, was sharply reproved by the king, and the governor (Bell- ingham) was commanded to appear in England. Com- pliance with this demand, after mature deliberation, was refused. Not unnaturally this bold act of disobedience raised the anger of the king, though it excited no further aggression on the part of a " monarch who preferred the companionship of favorites and mistresses to the cares of state." Influences, meanwhile, had long been in operation in England destined to culminate in a crisis in New Eng- land history. The Tory part}-, now in the ascendant, had deliberately determined to humble Massachusetts. Her spirit of independence, not to say insubordination, defended hamlet might be secretly reached, every thicket In which they might crouch and wait for a company of travellers ; every hoUow in which they might lie hidden, and baffle pursuit, — we cannot but regard it as providential that this war was not more utterly disastrous than it was. " They knew the haunts and the habits of theii' exposed white neighbors, the day of the week when their dwellings might be ransacked and burned more safely than on others ; the hours of the night when conflagration and carnage were easiest." * The writer is aware that it may be maintained that, in seeking to recall the original charter of this compiiny, and to replace it with one allowing the crown to appoint the colonial governor, the crown was really seeking to recover only its own constitutional prerogative ; that it is not necessary to impugn the motives of the king, or of his cabinet, for seeking such a result; and that the colonists were hardly war- ranted in assuming that the attempt to recall their charter, and to un- pose on them a royal governor, was necessarily an act of despotism. It is, to be sure, barely possible, that the original colonists and their immediate descendants were unnecessarily sensitive on this point. Why, indeed, were not our forefathers as proud of having an EngUsh nobleman for their chief magistrate as are our northern neighbors, even now rejoicing over the arrival among them of a royal princess and her " noble " husband to preside over their political destinies. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. had been insufferable ; it must be subdued. Her ecclesi- astical heterodoxj- and illiberality had ever been a thorn in their side. She must now be punished. She had been guiltj- of manifold crimes and misdemeanors ; it was high time she was made to know her place. Accord- ingl}-, crown and council, prelates and peers, merchants and manufacturers, all leagued together to break down her cherished and time-honored charter. She should be made an example of. She should be taught a lesson. Thej' were determined now to push matters to the utmost extremit}-. Of course, on the receipt of these ad^4ces in the Colony, the conmiunitj' was widely and intensely agi- tated. The matter was one in which all were interested. There was no party so moderate but was friendly to the charter, while the body of the people were sincerely attached to it. Their all seemed now to be at stake. "It was for this they had left England and fled to the wil- derness ; that they had encountered perils and distress ; that they had submitted to the sorest privations, and had contended with the difficulties incident to a new set- tlement. For more than fiftj^ j-ears it had been the sheet-anchor of the Colony ; the cherished palladium of their rights ; their refuge from oppression, tjTanny, and wrong. With the shield of its protection before them they had succeeded in defeating the machinations of their enemies, and had rapidly and steadily advanced in power. And now that the wilderness was subdued, and was ready to blossom ; that then' homes had been reared and their churches had been planted, and everything indicated that they were about to enter upon a career of unexampled prosperity, thej- were to be robbed of that instrument which had secured to them all these blessings ; an instrument endeared to them by all the toils and tears, the sorrows and sacrifices of their fathers." Is it sur- prising that a question of such moment was earnestly and widely discussed — fanners talking of it bj- their fire- sides and in the fields ; women canvassing the matter in drawing-room and kitchen ; and Boston people ponder- ing it in their warehouses, upon the exchange, and in their halls of legislation ; that it went with them to church and to the closet, and was the burden of their most fcn'ent prayers ? The clergy, moreover, it would seem, were aroused, and took good care that the pulpit should utter no uncertain sound relative to an issue of such momentous public concern.* * Increase Mather, then president of Har\ard College, nurtured in the ancient faith of the Puritans, and one of its oldest and firmest de- fenders, full of zeal, and richly furnished by study and reflection — a man who for twenty years exerted a greater influence upon the fortunes of Massachusetts than any other in the same length of time — delivered a very powerful and effective speech denouncing, in the strongest and That no means might be spared to prevent the con- sunmiation of the evil that threatened them, an addi-ess was agreed "pon by the General Court, in which were made many equired, and quite important, concessions. It was all in >ain. The fate of the charter was akeady sealed. The time had passed when the Colony could effect any reconciliation with the king. In 1684, the High Court of Chancery in England, gave judgment for the crown, against the Governor and Company of Massa- chusetts, and their charter was declared forfeited. Thus at length, t^Tannj^ triumphed, and the New England charter fell, f Joseph Dudley was appointed President of Massachu- setts, the General CoiU't was dissolved, and the new Com- mission superseded the government under the charter. On Dec. 20, 1G8G, Dudley was superseded by Sir Edmund Andros, who, glittering in scarlet and lace, landed at Boston, aS "Captain-General and Governor in Chief." and proceeded at once to enter upon his duties. Though his fair speeches at first awakened a momentarj' gleam of hope, yet so evident was it from the arbitrarj- and grosslj- illegal manner in which the new governor and his council proceeded to make laws and le^-y taxes, that despotism had marked the Colonies for its victims, that a most vigorous and determined opposition to his adminis- tration was developed at once. For two j'ears, as best it could be, this tyrannous rule was submitted to. Mean- time, never, probably, was more joyful or welcome intelligence received by an)'' people than when the an- nouncement reached New England of that revolution in England b}' which the reign of the Stuarts was brought to a close, and William and Mary became the pos- sessors of the English throne. No sooner were reports received of the flight of James and of the ascension of the new sovereigns, than, on a rumor of an intended massacre by the governor's guards, the people arose in arms, imprisoned Andros, and his equally- obnoxious associates, and reinstated the old magistrates. Town meetings were held, representatives were chosen, and the General Com-t was restored. The same spirit prevailed at Plj-mouth, Clark, Andros' agent, having been im- prisoned, and Hinckley, the former governor, reinstated. A new charter, known as the Province Charter, was issued in 1692, an epoch made ever memorable in oiu: annals by the interesting and remarkable episode that occurred that year, and known as the Salem Witchcraft. most emphatic terms, the movement looking toward the downfall of the charter. — Barry. \ This was the last effective act of Charles IT. relative to Massachu- setts ; for before any new government could be settled, the monarch was dead. His death, and that cf the charter, were nearly contempo- rary — Barry. MASSACHUSETTS. According to the terms of this charter, PljTuouth, after a separate colonial existence of seventj'-two j-ears, was final!}' annexed to Massachusetts, constituting with it, henceforth, the PRO■^^NCE op Massachusetts Bat. And thus was consummated an order of things politi- cally in New England, that amid a variety of vicissitude and struggle, continued uninterrupted until the eventful opening of the American Revolution.* II. THE PEOVESrCIAL PERIOD. The erection of the two Massachusetts Colonies into a single royal Province in 1692, marked a new and im- portant era in New England history. " It was the second act," as another has well said, "of the grand drama, whose third brought freedom to a wide-spread repubUc." The distinction between the colonial and provincial history of Jlassachusetts, in certain essential particulars is striliingly marked. During the former period a large share of political independence was enjoyed b}' the peo- ple. Allowed to choose their own rulers, and to manage their own affairs, theirs was reall}' an experiment, and a most successful one, too, of self-government. Acknowl- edging their dependence upon Great Britain for the char- ter they held, and for the pri^•ileges it secured, they yet had claimed exemption from the paramount authority of parliament, and the right, under certain constitutional restrictions, to enact their own laws, and to shape their own policj'. Under the new charter, the governor and a number of other officers, were appointed bj' the king, and were removable at his pleasure. A supervision was exercised over the legislation of the Province, and the paramount authority of parliament and crown was es- pecially asserted, f In accepting this charter, however, the people of Massachusetts did not understand that they were relinquishing their natural rights, much less their rights as English subjects ; nor did the}' without stub- born opposition yield to innovations upon the customs which had long been established among them. The provincial history of Massachusetts is a continua- tion of its colonial history under the above mentioned changed circumstances. It is quite likely that it was anticipated, on the part of the crown, that these con- stitutional changes, and the powers conferred on the chief officers of the Pro^^nce, would serve effectually to counterbalance and to hold in salutary check, any re- • Massachusetts at the time had jurisdiction over the territory of New Hampshire and Maine. New Hampshii-c became a separate royal Prov- ince in 1749. Massachusetts retained her title to Maine as late as 1820. At the time of the erection of the two Eastern Colonies into a single Province In 1692, Massachusetts, which was divided into the counties of publican tendencies which a government established and most successfully administered by the people alone, might be expected to encourage, and to keep the same in immediate and wholesome subjection. No act, for example, of the legislature was to be valid without the consent of the royal governor. The appointment of all military officers was vested solely in this official. It was in his power, moreover, to reject various officers chosen by the people. The influ- ence, accordingly, of the chief magistrate upon the affairs of the Colony, as will be readily obvious, was very great, and might clearly, without difficulty, be so wielded, as to check any considerable uprising of the spirit of freedom, and to favor, on the other hand, the designs of the distant monarch, or parliament, to whom, strictly speaking, he was alone responsible. Liberty of conscience, under the new charter, was assured to all but Papists. Worship in the Episcopal form was placed upon the same footing as worship in the Congregational form. Church membership was no longer to be a qualification for citizenship, all persons of a certain estate being entitled to its immunities and alike eligible to office. In some minor regards the new charter was an im- provement upon the old. In all essential resjjccts, how- ever, it was but its shadow. Meanwhile, whatever its excellences or defects, it was now the supreme law of the land, and was destined to remain such until the nation at last should arise in its majesty and throw off the yoke of bondage, and assert, by successfully main- taining it, its title to freedom and self-government. The First Governor, under the Province charter, was Sir William Phips, a native of New England ; a man of obscure birth, and of only ordinary abilities, who was indebted for his knightly title to his success in recovering a Spanish wreck laden with treasures, and who, according to Mr. Barry, owed his elevation to the chief magistracy of the Province, "more to the concurrence of favorable circumstances, than to either the dignity of his character, or the strength of his intellect." Though an amiable man, and a con- scientious official, his administration was far from being a success. It was during his rule (1692) that the Salem witchcraft delusion prevailed. The governor weakly fell in with the popular sentiment on the sub- ject, and lent to it the whole weight of his official sup- Suffolk, Essex, Middlesex, and Hampshire, and comprised some fifty- five towns, contained a population of about 40,000. Plymouth, with a population of about 7,000, was divided into the counties of Plymouth, Bristol and Banistablc, and comprised seventeen towns, t Barry. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. port. * Complaints having at length been preferred against him, he was summoned to England to answer to them, and died before his return, f It was a hopeful feature of the new government, it maj- be added in this connection, that many of the members had held ofRce imder the old charter. Brad- street, Saltonstall, Wait ■Winthrop, Eussell Sewcll, Appleton, Bradford, and Lathrop, for example, had all been assistants in Massachusetts or Pl^-mouth, and most of them had been distinguished " for their zealous defence of the liberties of the people, and their luicom- promising resistance to the aggressions of the Stuarts." All laws passed in the Pro^-ince, accortling to the terms of the new charter, were subjected to re%-ision bj- the king, and to rejection at his pleasure. Among the acts earlj- approved bj' the king, none were of greater importance or value than those making pro-visions for education and religion. By the terms of these, every town was required to be coustantlj- pro- A-ided with an "able, learned, and orthodox minister," and a properly quaUfied schoolmaster. Certainly it is to the creilit of our fathers, that thej- paid such early and adequate attention to these ^ital and permanent interests of society. To this foresight, indeed, it is doubtless that we owe our singular prosperitj- and suc- • It is reasonable to suppose that on learning that not even his own wife had escaped suspicion as being a witch, he experienced a sudden and radical change of opinion on this subject. t The successors in office of GoTemor Phips were : — "William Stonghton (1695) ; a Puritan of the old Commonwealth mould. Lord Bellamont (1699) ; remarkable for his suavity; condescending, affable, courteous. His career was soon cut short by death. Joseph Dudley (1702) ; a native of Massachusetts, of versatile talents, and of a large experience in state-craft. Samuel Shute (1715) ; formerly an officer in the wars of 'William and of Anne. ■William Dummer (1723). William Burnett (1727) ; he was received with great pomp. Died in office. Jonathan Belcher (1730) ; he was a native of Massachusetts. "William Shu-ley (1741), for a long time acted a conspicuous part in American affairs. A native of Sussex, Eng., and a lawyer of respect- able talents ; he had lived in Boston eight years when promoted to the governor's office. He acquired grrat renown by the capture of Louis- burg. He was a devout supporter of prerogative, and an earnest ad- vocate of the subordination of the Colonies. His old mansion is still standing in Boston on a street bearing his name. Thomas Pownal (1757) was gifted with talents of a very superior order, Few were better acqnauited with, or more truly appreciated the American people. Though, lilie all his predecessors, a zealous defender of the prerogative, and of the constitutional subordination of the Colo- nies to the parliament of Great Britain, he yet so administered the duties of his office as to be immensely popular. After his return he did yeoman's service on the floor of the House of Commons in the interest of the Colonies and their constitutional rights. Not even the speeches of Pitt and Burke are more eloquent or convincing than those of Pownal on this behalf. Francis Bernard (1760), enjoys the bad pre-eminence of having done more during bis nine yeai-s of service, by his exaggerated statements in cess as a people. "We shall look in vain," says New England's eloquent annalist, "into the contemporary legislation of any country out of New England for similar provisions for the widest diffusion of that intelli- gence and virtue which must ever constitute the ground and pillar of all free institutions." Massachusetts, it has been said, enjoys the distinguished honor of having led in the work of universal education, and in making ample proAdsion for the support of religion. If so, the credit is largely due to our early fathers, — a work, truly, not less creditable to their wisdom than commend- able to their pietj-. J Holidays, Pastimes, and Customs. Fast and Thanksgi-\nng were the great public da3's of New England, — the former being regularly obsen'ed at the season of annual planting. Our Puritan forefathers were so rigidly jealous of the slightest concession to "Popish" customs, that excellent care was taken, not only to avoid a fast on Good Frida}-, but, as well, to keep clear of a feast on Christmas. § Whatever cheer, however, was lost from conscientious scruples at Christ- mas-tide, was quite made up iisuallj' at Thanksgiving daj-. Training day was also a great event. All the men, from sixteen to sixtj* 3-ears of age, were required his official reports, and gross misrepresentations of the -views and con- duct of the oppressed citizens he ruled over, and by the arbitrary and unftcling manner in which he executed the obnoxious laws of the Brit- ish ministry, to inflame the jealousy of the ministn,-, to irritate the peo- ple under his sway, and to strengthen the spirit of discord, disunion and discontent, than all the other governors combined. Thomas Hutchinson (1769) ; the last of the (civil) royal governors with which Massachusetts was ever cursed. A native of the State, a descendant of Anne Hutchinson ; gifted by nature and highly accom- plished; easy in his manners, courteous and aSiible in his intercourse -irith others, plausible and influential, he was yet a man of grasping am- bition, a lover of money and place, cautious and crafty, and, of course, a most indefatigable supporter of prerogative. It has been justly re- marked that " had the successor of Governor Bernard been a sincere and firm friend of the rights of the Province, though at the same time duly disposed to maintain the prerogative of the king, and the just au- thority of parliament— one that (like Po«-nal) was disposed to concili- ate rather than to criminate, and to represent favorably rather than to exaggerate, the temper and conduct of the people — h.armony would have been in a great degree restored to the Prorince, and the separation of the Colonics from the parent state delayed for mtiny years." But unfortunately for England, this man, — one of the most obsequious and scn-ile tools of the crown— must sin after the similitude of his prede- cessors. Just before the outbreak of hostilities he escaped to England, where he died. He was succeeded by General Gage, military governor of Massachusetts. | X The Bay Province alone, is said, at this time, to have contained eighty churches ; and most of the ministers had been educated at Har- vard, the school of the prophets of that day, and, until 1761, the only college in America. — Barry. § Christmas had such an odor of Romanism, that it was rejected utterly. In fact the Court, in 1660, forbade its celebration. It is a little strange that to-day the descendants of the Puritans have made this the queen of festival days. MASSACHUSETTS. to participate in the general drill. Though boasting of no uniform or martial music, save that of the dram, or screeching fife, to inspirit military- movements, or manoeuvres, 3-et as everj' member of the militia practised for the defence of his own household, as well as his country, we can well imagine that there was lacking, in connection with this matter, neither zest nor zeal. At Plj-mouth, bj- law, trainings were alwa3-s begun and ended with praj'er. The pike-men, — the tallest and strongest in the Colony, — shouldered their pikes, — ten feet in length, besides the spear at the end, — with religious resolution ; the musketeers firmly grasped their clums}' old matchlocks ; while the j'oung Puritan boys looked on and sighed with envj-, longing for the time when they too might wear helmet and breast-plate. To be even a corporal in the militia, was an honor which, facetiousl}' saj's a late writer, required an extra amount of humility to bear without danger to the soul. Husk- ing, apple-parings, " raisings," and quiltings, were also favorite occasions for social gatherings. Social cheer, in these earlier periods of our history, was quite inseparably associated with an institution known as the "back-log." Forest logs, four feet long, were piled upon the ponderous andirons, and on occa- sions, it is said, the back- log was drawn into the house bj' a horse, and then rolled to the fire-place with hand- spikes. " Blazing hearth-stones," had then a meaning, at which, in our days of furnaces and steam-pipes, we can only guess. No need of artificial ventilation, when thus through the crevices of the building, and up the huge, roaring chimney, swept such keen, Ijrisk cuiTents of air. Sunday was eminently-, especially to the early settlers, a sacred day. It practically begun on Saturday, at sunset, when the out-door work was expected to be done, and the household to assume the air of repose.* The selectmen were expected to see that all the children were properly catechised, and to bring their parents to a strict account for neglect. The religious services had a prevailing tone of solemnit}-, if not of awe.f No choirs • The law forbodc " the doing," during Sabbath time " of servile work, not of piety, charity, or necessity." Children were required to lay aside their play. " Youth and maids, and other persons," were not allowed to be seen " walking uncivilly on the streets or fields," on the Lord's day. No person was allowed to travel on that day, " either on foot, on horseback, or by boat," except " to a lawful meeting." t Lecture day was early a day of special service, when the people generally suspended secular business, and repaired reverently to the house of God. X So necessary was all this parade and expense considered, that it was often carried out, in the case of the burial of a poor person, at the expense of the town. Among the items of such a burial at town ex- pense, in a certain case, the record specifies : " Gold rings, Lisbon and Malaga wine, rum, lemons, sugar, pipe, and tobacco," besides " Gloves, death's head and cross-bones." or instraments of music were seen. The hymn was "lined." The deacon, or some person appointed for that purpose, acted as precentor. Funerals were made verj' expensive, as well as im- pressive occasions. Crape, scarfs, hat-bands, gloves, and rings were given to the chief mourners. Large processions were generally in attendance, often led by marshals, carrying staves, halberds, and other badges of authority, dressed in mourning at the expense of the deceased. The friends who bore the corpse, were followed first by the men, if the body was that of a man ; by the women, if that of a female, — all marching by the solemn tolling of the bell. This large concourse must be provided with entertainment, in which wine, cider, and even stronger drinks, were generously supplied. | Strangely enough, while all this parade, and expensive- ness of dress and entertainment prevailed, there was no religious service over the dead, nor pastoral words of comfort spoken to the mourners. § During the first fifty years of the Colony, only the magistrates were permitted to perform the marriage ceremon}'. The games and recreations of the young were few. " Fishing and fowling, however, were encouraged, not onl}' by common practice, but by law." || Boston, and its near towns, were not indifferent to the matters of fine dress, costly and elegant mansions, and expensive fiu-niture. All this, though assailed from the pulpit, as sinful conformity to the world, was yet winked at "in persons of competent estate and liberal educa- tion," but " for peasants to equal the prince, and imitate him in garb and in gait, or for the handmaid to imitate her mistress," was regarded as " not according to order and very indecent, the forerunner of sad confusion." However noted for frugality, and for keen, shrewd, calculating business instincts, the primitive New Eng- lander yet alwajs had a weakness in the direction of appetite. Not that he was a glutton, or a wine-bibber. He was neither. He was simply a good liver — always 5 Judge Sewall states that at the funeral of the Rev. Wm. Adams, of Roxbury, in 1685, " Mr. Wilson, minister of Medford, prayed with the company before they went to the grave." The next year, says the same authority, the Common Prayer Book was used at a burial. A prayer offered in Boston, in 1730, on the occasion of the burial of Mrs. Byfield, wife of Judge Byfield, and daughter of Gov. Lcvcrett, is spoken of as the fii'st of the practice known there. The reason sug- gested for this strange omission by the Puritians is, that Pagans and Romanists made great ado over their dead; the one with wild songs, and the other with pr.iycrs for the repose of the souls of the dep.arted, and that it did not become the true people of God to be like them. II In 1647, the Conrt proclaimed that there was " a common liberty for any man to fish in the great ponds lying in common, and to pass and repass on foot through any man's proprietary for that purpose." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. had apparently a keen appreciation of. and livel)- relish be marrels of housekeepers. The pewter dishes afore for, the higher pleasures of the table. The Yankees, we suspect, have always set a far better table than either their Dutch or Canadian neighbors — have alwa^'s ex- said, standing in orderly rows on the shelves of the open cupboard, or of the dainty buttery, were hardly more brightly polished than the sanded floor. Meantime, the esemplarily frugal in this regard. In the morning, the earlj- New England farmer and his family were wont to sit down to then- breakfast of " bean porridge." or boiled corn meal (" hasty pud- ding ") , and milk. ' ' Rye and In- dian" was the staff of life. Beer, cider and cold water furnished the usual beverage — tea and coffee being unknown in New England homes in the seventeenth century. The dinner opens with a large Indian pudding — ground com, sweetened with molasses — accom- panied by an appropriate sauce ; next come boiled beef and pork ; then wild game, with potatoes, followed by turnips, samp, or succotash. Pumpkins were served in various ways — the "pumpkin pie" being always a favorite article of diet, not less in Massachusetts than in Connecticut. Supper ^\ Is il a ^ul ^tantial meil, th h ir n ally eaten cold Baked beans (a favorite Sundij dish), baked In dian pudding md newly-midc rve and Indnn 1 re id (usually b ik( 1 m huge brick o\Ln- adjacent to i ' fire-place) , standard d for Wtdni '■after tlic ^ ing and ii agonies of "^ day and J d.ay." Notl meantinu %\ i^. more in-i-iting to the eye than the New England table of those early days, with its pewter dishes brightened to their utmost polish, and, in the wealthier families, here and there, adorned with a silver beaker, or tankard, the heir- loom of the family. The matrons of those times used to celled in the line of cookii.g. Yet they have always been . spinning-wheel and loom furnished ample emplo^-mcnt during manj- months of the year for the grandmother on the one hand, and the bevy of hearty, rosy-faced daughters on the other, who, taking both wool and flax in their crude form, worked the same up into such various fabrics for table linen, bed-spreads, and gar- ments, as the familv might chance to stand in need of. Such were the humble, simple ways of our New England forefathers and mothers, I whose sturdy descendants have come to-day to constitute the bone and sinew, not only of New En- ' gland indeed, but of a large propor- ] tion of our wide national domain, j DrFFicrxTiEs with Fraxce. Previous to the landing of the Pilgrims, and hence long before the settlement of Boston, the foundations of Quebec had already been laid by the French. The French and English had been rivals for centu- ries — rivals in poUtics, in com- merce, and in am- bition for con- quest, territorial aggrandizement and supremacy. Early competi- tors in American seas, quite evenly matched as it re- garded maritime skill and enter- prise, and very nearly equals, as well as contem- poraries, in their voyages of exi^loration and dis- covery, each nation, not nnnaturally. upon the open- ing up of the New "World, not only claimed a por- tion of the. territorj- — assuming jurisdiction over the same, and attempting its colonization, — but eam- OLI>-TIME FIKESIDE. MASSACHUSETTS. nestly coveted as large a share of the country as pos- sible. Meantime, differences arising from shari^ly contrasting national characteristics, — differences of religion, lan- guage, habits, temperament, government, opinions and customs, — engendered prejudices, only hardened by time, and animosities, deepened and intensified by re- peated collisions, which unhappily ser^'ed to keep these two great nations constantlj- in an attitude of mutual opposition and defiance. In consequence of this hereditarj' hatred and rivalry on the part of the English and French, * as a matter of necessity, the Colonies at the north were earl^' involved in difficulties and contentions — difficulties, indeed, that could not but be increased as conflicts of interest brought them into collision, f Hence, almost from the first apprehensions of hostilities were entertained in Massa- chusetts, while, toward the close of the colonial period, these apprehensions continued so to disturb the people, as to result in the adoption of the most vigorous meas- ures on the part of the English, looking towards the uprooting of their hated rivals, and the driving of them, if possible, utterl^^ from their American possessions. One of the earliest of these attempts to wrest the coloni.ll possessions of France on this continent from her grasp, was an expedition to Canada, in 1G90, under Sir William Phips, which, however, in consequence of a want of concert of action on the part of the troops ordered to co-operate by land, ended in signal disaster. J In all the several subsequent expeditions fitted out and undertaken for the conquest of Canada, most of which, • Rendered formidable as a foe, not so much on account of numbers, as because of their influence over their savage allies, — the Indians within their borders, — to whose depredations the frontier settlements of the English were peculiarly exposed, and from whose thrcitcned In- cursions they could defend themselves only by an outl.iy that must impoverish them in their weakness, and imperil their safety. t They were rivals in the fur trade, and rivals in the fisheries. — Sarry. X This disaster spread an unusual gloom over the community. The distress of the government, impoverished by Philip's war, and burdened with debt, was at its height. Finding it Impossible to raise money to pay off their troops by ordinary metms, bills of credit were issued— the first paper currency of New England. — Barry. § It seems hardly credible that so treacherous a design should have been deliberately conceived by a nation boasting of its superior enlight- enment. Charlevoix, the Jesuit historian of Canada, however, abund- antly proves the correctness of the charge, glorying meantime in the conduct of his countrymen touching the matter, speaking of it, indeed, in terms of the most extravagant eulogy.— Barry. No one will ever be likely to envy the record of either the nation or the church, that could thus have prostituted themselves to the diabol- ical work of instigating these untutored savages to violate their most solemn pledges, and to give free way to all the brutal ferocity of their nature— joining thus with the latter in spreading desolation and terror — scattering firebrands, arrows, and death, throughout the whole country. like the first, though through no fault of the colonists, terminated in discomfiture and disgrace, Massachusetts bore a conspicuous and honorable part. Tlie French and Indian War. In 1697, the date of the peace of Rjswick, there was a temporary suspension of hostilities between the French and English. In 1702, however, war was again de- clared. In the meantime it appeared that the French had been secretly' busy, tampering with and encouraging the Indians bordering on Kew England, and especially such as had been brought more immediately under their own influence, and that of their Jesuit minions, ycleped missionaries, to violate the solemn leagues formed with them on the part of the English, and ravage their coun- tr}'. Thus countenanced, § the fierce Abenakis, as may most naturallj- be supposed, manifested little reluctance to avail themselves of the opportunitj- hereby afforded to avenge their real or fancied wrongs ; and, accordinglj-, in a verj- short time thej- " bmst like an avalanche upon the country, spreading desolation and havoc wherever they went." Among the settlements which suffered the most severely' from these depredations were Deerfield, which had been rebuilt since King Philip's war, Groton, Billerica, Newbuiy, Lancaster, and Haverhill, || the two latter places being especially devoted to devastation and massacre. % Is it surprising that such atrocities as these inspired in tiie breasts of the New England settlers the deepest and most ineradicable hatred toward the French and their missionaries ? In 1722 war was again resumed with the Indians, and II The escape of Hannah Dustin, the " Heroine of Haverhill," as she has been appropriately called, is an episode of truly thrilling interest, showing what a mother can do when torn from her family, to restore herself to the embraces of her husband and children. A monument has recently been most fittingly erected to the memory of this eminently notable woman. The story of the capture of Rev. Mr. Williams, of Deerfield, is well known. H "' The barbarities perpetrated in this war equalled, if they did not exceed, those of Philip's Wear. Women, far advanced in pregnancy, were violently delivered, and the tender babes dashed to the ground. Infants were despatched in the same manner; or sometimes, half stran- gled, were thrown to their mothers to quiet. Of the captives, some were roasted alive, others were gashed in all parts of then- bodies ; brands were thrust into thoir wounds, and then set on fire. Others were sub- jected to tlio hardship of travelling barefoot and half naked, through pathless deserts, over craggy mountains, through horrible swamps and thickets ; obliged to endure frosts, rain, snow, and all the inelemencics of the season, both by day .and by night. No pity was sho\vn ; no allowance made to the ased, siil; and infirm. Such as, thfough infirmity, hunger, fatigue, or sovidh , I'aintud under their burdens, or could not keep pace with tlio enemy, wlic promptly despatched with the toma- h.awk. Poor Mrs. Williams, feeble from having been recently confined, having faltered by the way, received a blow from a tomahawk wliich put an end to her sorrows."— Barnj. HISTORY OF XEW ENGLAND. continued until the latter pai-t of 1725, when the troubles with these hated foes, -B-hich had now continued almost without interruption for nearlj' forty years, were for a season suspended. The end, however, unfortunately was not yet. Under the beUef that French and Indian hostilities against the 2\^ew Englanders were still being fomented by the French Jesuit missionaries, the Eng- lish, from time to time, perpetrated exterminating raids upon the missions of the latter, burning their churches, destropng their property, and sometimes even putting the missionaries themselves to death.* The natural re- sult of these hostile visits, on the part of the English, was, first, the utter abandonment of all Indian missions on the part of the Jesuits, in New England, and a large emigration of the Indians who had been under French influence, to Canada ; second, the awakening, or rather intensifying very generally, in the breasts of these na- tives, of a feeling of bitterness and indignation against those whom they had not a little reason to regard as intruders. They had left their hunting-grounds on the Kennebec, the Androscoggin, and the Connecticut, and had sought new homes in the North and West ; but they still retained a lively remembrance of their former seats, and a keen sense of the wrongs they considered them- selves to have suffered ; and, accordingly-, it only needed ■another war between France and England to furnish these savages justification and employment in renewed predator}- excursions against the frontier English settle- ments ; or in acting as guides to their old-time aUies, through a region with which they were perfectly- familiar. Such a war was declared in 1744, exposing once more the frontier settlements of Massachusetts to incursions from Canada by hostile French and Indians, f On the first news of the declaration of war between • In the mnsenm of Bowdoin College, Maine, there may be Been a carious relic in the shape of a bell half embedded in the stock of a tree. The bell belonged to a Jesuit chapel, built at Norridgewock, on the Kennebec, by Father Rale, who was there as a French missionary to the Indians, certainly as early as 1695, and whose chapel was pillaged and burned in 1724 by a party of English, under the belief that French and Indian hostilities against the New Englanders were stimulated and aided by this Jesuit priest. He himself was killed at the same time, several chiefs who endeavored to protect him sharing his fate ; and his body was disgracefully mutilated by those who had shot him, but was afterwards tenderly buried by the Indians beneatli the spot where he used to stand before the altar. The beU of the chapel in some way fell into the embrace of a growing tree, which preserved it till, in our own time, the woodmen fotmd it at their work, and sent it where it will be preserved till the end of timQ. — Dedham Transcript. t Their faVorite paths from the St. Lawrence were cither by Lake Champlain, up Wood and Otter Creeks, across the Highlands of Ver- mont, down Wells and White Kivers to the Connecticut, or by Lake George, across the carrying-place to the headwaters of the Hudson, and thence up the Hoosac and across the watershed now pierced by the Hoosac Tunnel (almost directly over which runs the old Indian path) , France and England, the provincial government of Mas- sachusetts, with a view to the protection of its settle- ments against these predatory assaults from the North | and "West, authorized the inmiediate construction of a line of small forts, from Fort Dummer J to the valley of the Hoosac. at the foot of Saddle Mountain ; all of which were built in the summer of 1744, and under the superintendence of that grand old hero, Ephraini Wil- liams, after whom both the town of WilUamstown and Williams College are worthily named. § The peace of Aix-la-Chapelle ( 1 74S) was little more than a truce. Once more the Province was to be called to give her sons and her wealth for the defence of their homes. Meantime the situation of the English Colonies in America was becoming undeniably critical. "The [ French were in undisputed possession of the great val- j leys of the St. Lawrence, the Ohio and the Mississippi ; : they had the friendship of the Indians, except the Six Nations ; their territory enclosed, in the form of an arc of a circle, all the English settlements ; they were bound at least to maintain entire the possessions which they had, even if they had not determined to bring together the horns of their crescent, and thus fling the Enghsh into the sea. The great thoughts of the great men of the Old World were directed to this great question of the New World. The most prominent political problem of the middle of the last century, which all statesmen were straining their minds to solve, was whether France or ' I England were to control the vast territories and resources of this continent." The somewhat desperate nature of New England's sit- uation at this time seems, meantime, to have been not a httle aggravated by the very serious disasters and losses attending not only the English fleets in their attempts to to the Deerfield EiTer. Towards the settlements these routes con- verged, and the egress of the war-parties was pretty sore to be some- where between Brattleborongh, on the Connecticut, and the base of Saddle Mountain, near the headwaters of the Hoosac. X As early as 172-4 Fort Dummer, on the sight of what is now Brattle- borough, Vt., had been erected for the purpose of covering the towns I in the valley of the Connecticut, from the attacks of the Indians. This fort has the honor of being esteemed the first English settlement within ' the limits of the present State of Vermont. I The smaller forts subsequently built, in 1744, were situated in what are now the towns of Bemardston, Heath, Rowe, Coleraine, and North Adams. § He commanded, also, with the rank of captain, tWs line of de- fences, having his headquarters at Fort Massachusetts, the westernmost and principal of his works. Again and again was this fort attacked by the French and Indians; and in August, 1746, while Capt. Williams was absent on a military expedition to Canada, it was captured, after an obstinate defence, by eight hundred men, and the garrison carried prisoners to Canada. Just two years after it was attacked again by three htmdred and thirty French and Indians, Capt. Williams being present, but this time the assailants were driven off with loss. MASSACHUSETTS. reduce the strongholds of the French in Canada, but not less their arms on land — those of Sir William Johnson at the head of Lake George, and of Braddock at the Forks of the Ohio. The daj', however, approaches that is to conduct Eng- land to a great and glorious A-ictory — a triumph, indeed, by which is to be opened a way for the final independ- ence of her choicest American Colonies. It need hardlj- be said that the object for which Massachusetts had so long lavished her strength and her treasure — a complete and final deliverance from French and Indian domina- tion and intimidation — was i-ealized only when, in 17j9, the gallant Wolfe scaled the heights of Quebec, and fought his memorable and decisive battle on the Plains of Abraham. No wonder that when the tidings of that victor}- — announcing the future and undisputed suprem- acy of English arms and English laws on this continent — reached Boston, thc}^ were received with unusual demonstrations of joj" ; that bonfires blazed from everj- hill-top ; bells were loing from every church-steeple, and shouts went up from every patriotic throat. A long and wretched war was over ; the key of Canada was at last, after so manj- humiliating defeats, in the hands of the English, and a foe that had for generations been the occasion of nameless and numberless tvoes, had finally, so far at least as this continent was concerned, been effectually and eternally set at rest. The Religion of the Period. Founded by Puritans, whose creed was the rigorous creed of Calvin, the religion of Massachusetts from the first had been Calvinistie, or " Orthodox." Tme, with the progress of settlement, and with the advancement of socictj', other fonns of faith had crept in and sprung up to some extent ; yet the prevailing religious faith in New England had been, and still was, o^-erwhelmingly Cal- vinistie. This system of theologj", whose influence in New Eng- land is still mdely felt, and whose doctrines, in a modi- fied and mild form, are still cxtensivel_y believed, was, on the whole, admirabl}- adapted to the temper of those times. Based, as it was, upon the Scriptures, it had its strong points ; and if it did not comprehend the whole circle of truth, yet it had enough to give it a wonderful vitalit}-. Upon it the churches of the country had been roared. It had, to a great extent, moulded the laws and customs of society, and contributed, as perhaps no other * The righteous souls of these men were stirred within them, not less fay the numbers of unconverted men within, than l)y the prevalence cf wickcd;iess without the Church— hy the decadence of piety within the fold, than by the developments of heresy and irreligion, both faith could have done at that day, to the strengthening and developing of the character of the people. Jleanwhile as, in process of time, the preaching came to lose somewhat of its earlier earnestness, and became more fonnal, didactic, dogmatic and doctrinal, and hence less adapted to promote spirituality, two results were developed : immorality outside, and iiTeligion and heresy inside the church. But heresy engenders controversy, and controversy, sectarian rancor. For j-ears the land was rife with theological warfare, while the pens of the dis- putants, seemed, as it were, to have been dipped in gall. The inex-itable result of such polemical stiife — of acri- monious theological debate — was wide-spread bitterness of feeling. Prondentially the advent of the renowned evangelist Whitfield brought to a happv crisis the stnig- gle that had been long convulsing the whole religious community. Already, however, under the ministry of such eniinentl}' godly and gifted men as Jonathan Ed- wards and Hopkins,* quite an ''awakening" had oc- curred (1734-1743). The people were, therefore, pre- pared and ripe for the still greater awakening that was now at hand. Meantime the ministiy of AVhitficld was eminently well adapted to supplement that of Edwards. The system of the latter, being intensely metaphysical, and emphasizing the jnore legal, judicial and punitive aspects of the Gospel, though it might stimulate thought and awaken the conscience, was not, yet, eminently calcu- lated to appeal to the emotional, or affcctional, nature. Whitfield, on the other hand, though liot neglecting the elements just mentioned, yet, through his ardent enthu- siasm, enkindling the deepest emotions of his hearers, wrought powerfulh' upon all classes, and produced an excitement the most violent and intense ever known in New England. Important and permanent, however, as were the re- , suits following this memorable "great awakening," it did not yet, hy any means, altogether allay the spirit of controvers}-, but became itself meanwhile the pestilent bone of contention. The ministers of the Province seem to have been quite widelj- divided in opinion in regard to Whitfield and his characteristic measures. Some wel- comed him as an ally ; others, the conservatives, de- nounced him as an " itinerant scourge," and his revivals as onlj- unwholesome and spurious excitements. His adherents were called "new lights"; his opponents were the "old lights" ; while between the two lay the party and the champions of " progress." The dispute \rithin and wiihont. Through the door of the "Half-way Cov- enant," unconverted men had been admitted to church membership in such numbers as neai-ly to paralyze its energies, and to destroy its life altogether. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. lasted long. The press teemed with ji.amphlets on either side. Nearly everj' clergj'nian in the country- partici- pated in the controversj-, and wrote and reproached on one side or the other. While attended with more or less e^^ls, this great discussion, let us hope, on the whole, hastened on the progress of light and truth.* Tlie Politics of the Period. 1 During most of the provincial period, political parties ' were divided on the line of acquiescence, or otherwise, in, or submission to, the steadily growing encroachments I and usurpations of arliitrar3- power. One party was j known as the party of freedom ; the otlier as the partj- of j prerogative. One part^- stood for chartered rights and I constitutional libert\- — for manhood and freedom. The I other, either for the sake of peace, or of gain, were pre- pared to surrender everjiliing to the roj-al prerogative, t The members of the one were known as Republicans, or Whigs, or as the "Sons of Liberty-;" wliile the adherents of tlie opposing cause were known as Royal- ists, Lojalists, and, subsequent to the outbreak of the Revolution, b^- the opprobious tille of Tories. Host of the latter were such of the wcalthj- class as hoped, by their ser\'ilit3' and complaisance, to share the royal favor ; while, leagued with the former, were tlie sagacious and eloquent champions of tlio people. Cliief among these, as especially the era of the Revolution drew near, were j such men as Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, John Adams, Samuel Adams, \ regarded bj' some as the " Father of the Revolution ; " and James Otis, § in the estimation of the loyalist Hutchinson, the great inccn- • Dr. Dale, in " The Kinctccnth Ccntuiy," recently wrote as folloivs concerning the New England ministry of this period: — " In New England the social position of the clergy in the last centnrj- was, no doubt, very hijii, and their inHuence on public affah-s extraor- dinarily powerful. The Congregational parish minister was generally a very dignified personage; his cocked hat, white wig, black coat and black breeches, kncebuc!;les and shoe-buckles, impressed the popular imagination with the idea of his importance. He was usually the best- educated man in his pai'ish, and he was the centre of all its intellectual actirity. Ho was also the natural leader of the people in all social and political movements. Almost to a man the Congiegational p.istors of Connecticut were vehemently on the side of the colonists in their strag- gle ■with the English Croi\Ti ; and I ))elieve that as much might be said for the Congregational ministers in the other New England States. Some of them went as chaplains w i;h the army. Those who remained at home kept up the fires of patriotism in their parishes, and helped to sustain the courage and fortitude of the people throughout the conflict. Their public inQuenec was enormous." t Reminding us of the " Peace " (at any jirice) party just previous to, and during, the latc^va^ of the Rebellion — the final fortunes of which suggested, at the time, the following epigram : " The ])icce of a party called the party of peace. Like everything else which deceases. Has gone where the wicked from troubling shall cease, For the party of peace is in pieces." diary of New England, but, in the estimation of tlie patriot people, the eloquent and heroic defeuder of their rights. Contests with the Croicn. " England lost her Colonies," saj-s New England's historian, " bj' the mismanagement of Jit r ministers." Doubtless the insane penersity and foll\- of George III., the strange fatuity of his ministers, || and the in- fiammatorj-, and exasperating and intensely partisan representations of provincial affairs b}' the royal gov- ernors, contributed greatly to precipitate the political crisis known as the American Revolution. % Yet, it cannot bo denied, that for nearly a century the American people had been the ^detulls of an oppression as sys- tematic as it was unjust, and which, hence, could not but engender distrust, disaffection, and even bitterness, on their part, towards their oppressors. Nay, educated as thej' had been, and, from the first, accustomed to self-government, war would seem to have been organized, and to have become chronic in their very constitution. Under all the circumstances, it was manifestly a serious defect in the charter of William and Mary that the governors of the Province were to be appointed b}', and dependent on, the crown. The simple fact alone that their rulers were thus the appointees of the king, were hence his representatives, that accordingl}' as such thcj- would be supposed to be bound to conform to his instructions, however arbitrary ; to do his veriest bidding at the peril of instant displace- ment ; that, therefore, if the monarcli should be t Samuel Adams was hom in Boston in 1722; graduated with distinc- tion at Harvard University when eighteen years of age. From even his college days, he was a champion of liberty. In a pamphlet war just previous to the Rcvolytion, he wrote a discussion of the question at issue, which John Adams declared was a model of candor, sagacity, impartiality, and close and correct reasoning. He was the terror of the royal officers, and as incorruptible as he was fearless and patriotic. At a, time when corruption was notoriously common, they proposed to silence him by bribery. The proposal coming to the ears of Govcnior Hutchinson, the latter exclaimed : " They don't know their man. If they knew Adams as well as I do, they would never think of whispering bribery in his ears. Ho c;m never be bribed." § James Otis, son of Colonel James Otis, of B.arnstable ; educated at Harvard University; studied law in Boston, and very early became ilie favorite advocate of the people. II " Had a little more deference been paid to their (the provinces) claims ; had the ministers of the king consented to listen to the state- ment of giicvances scut from these shores, the straggle which Lssucd in the independence of America might have been Indefinitely postponed." 1 Testilently active in inflaming the prejudices of the enemies of America, and in poisoning the minds of the king's counsellors, these royal governors directly allotted, if they did not actually instigate, a system of oppression which was continued nntil the Americ:ins, ex- asperated beyond endurance, appealed to the l.ast resort for redress, and submitted their cause to the arbitrament of the sword.— Barry. MASSACHUSETTS. to oppress his subjects, these minions of his would doubt- less make haste to assist him to fasten the j'oke and rivet the fetters — tliis fact alone must have sufficed to engender invincible prejudices against these rulers as a class, on the part of the politicians, and the majority of the people of New England. Nor could it well have been otherwise, whatever the patriotism, honesty of pxu- pose, or administrative abilities these governors might have brought to the discharge of their duties. In the very nature of the case, for tlic one reason Just named, these officials must encounter serious, if not insuperable, obstacles to perfect success in the administration of affairs — obstacles arising from the inevitable and chronic conflict of opinion between the Province and the crown, and especially from the A-ery natural jealous}^ on the part of the fornier, that those placed over them at the pleasure of the king, must be supposed from that \evy fact to be inimical to their liberties, and disposed, at all events, to uphold the prerogatives of royalty. * Again ; as, under the primitive regime, the prosperit}- of the Province and its prospects of future advance- ment, appear to have so aroused the jealousy of English statesmen, as to induce them, for the sake of checking tlie spirit of freedom which was abroad, to overthrow their Colonj's ancient charter, and to impose on that Colony special restrictions ; so now, since, in spite of these later political limitations, to which they had been subjected, the country was still rapidly increasing in wealth and power, ■ — ^for, where the spirit of liberty is, it is difficult to repress the energies of a people, — king and parliament seem once more to have become suspicious that the Province is already aiming at a separate and independent political existence ; and, hence, conspire, in eveiy safe and effective way, if possible, to cripple and enslave her. Meantime, in this dirt}- work of subjugation, as, in- deed, might have been naturally anticipated, the king seldom failed to find most willing instruments in those oflicial creatures of his, the provincial governors — zealous supporters all of the royal prerogative, and of the suprem- acy of parliament, and conspicuous ever for their zeal in the cause of oppression. Nay, these gentlemen sometimes outstripped even their royal master in this unworthy service, — it being at their suggestion often that steps • As the prerogatives of the provincial government do not seera to have been sharply or definitely defined in their written constitution, or clinitcrs, a word seems to be necessary to set forth intelligibly what was claimed on the part of the colonists as their rights as English colonial, or jirovincial, subjects. " Though they went forth under a charter from the king," says the historian, Bany, " yet, as their community con- sisted of individuals possessing all the rights, liberties and franchises of English subjects, they had a right to political liberty. So far as was were taken, and measures adopted, that otherwise would have hardly been thought of, much less actuallj- at- tempted, looking toward the more complete humiliation and enslavement of this rising and aspiring people. One of the earliest causes of complaint, on the part of the people of the Pro\ince, was the restrictions imposed on commercial and manufactiuing interests and enter- prise, — restrictions precluding the possibility of profits on the part of the American trade ; and involving dis- tinctions, moreover, clearl}' in the interest of English as against American citizens — a policy that manifestly could not but be odious in the extreme to the Colonies. Fiulher opposition was awakened by agitating the project for raising a revenue from the Colonies to go towards pajing England's war debt, and, withal, to main- tain not only the colonial officials, executive and judicial, independent of the provincial legislature, but a provincial army of ten thousand men, nominally for the defence of the country-, but in reality to enforce the royal instruc- tions. What could have well been more aggravating? Is it surprising that measures thus practically sweep- ing aw.ay the charters of the Colonies altogether, and asserting the unlimited authority of parliament, should have awakened the most serious apprehensions on the part of the people — that Massachusetts, especially, un- wearied in her opposition to t^Tannj', should have vehemently inveighed, as she did, against the blindness that seemed to be taking possession of the advisers of the king? Opposition to the revenue laws, and especially to the arbitrary manner in which the officers of the crown administered them, became especially pronounced in 1761. About this time the home government attempted to enforce what was termed "Writs of Assistance." These writs gave the officers of the customs liberty to enter stores, houses, or any other place, where the}' thought goods were kept on which no duties had been paid. Such goods, when found, were immediately con- fiscated, the revenue derived from the sale of which belonging to the treasuries of the crown and of the Province. To say nothing of the ruthless and arbitrarj- manner in which these seizures were effected, the Prov- ince, for some reason, found that it was receiving no part scarcel}-, of its share of this revenue ; a fact which consistent with due subordmation to the parent state, they held that they were entitled to have, to hold, and to eiyoy, within the body of their Colony, a free government, of the like privileges, juris- dictions and pre-eminences as those of the state from which they emigrated. . . . The power of parliament to tax them without their consent, since they were unrepresented in that body, was gen- erally denied; and the right of trial by jury in all cases was inflex- ibly demanded." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. veiy naturally led to the ofScers aforementioned being public!}- and verj- positiveh" charged -with, and denounced for, putting the money in question into their own pockets. It was in connection with a case before the court in regard to these " "Writs of Assistance," and by way, especially, of defending the rights of property against unlawful seizure by rapacious and tyrannical revenue officials, that James Otis, in 1761, when thirty-eight years of age, was first brought into special prominence in connection with the patriot cause. He had as his opponent Jeremy Gridley, Attorney-General of the rrovince, under whom Otis had studied law. Gridley was the ablest lawjer of the time, and argued, on this occasion, with his customary learning, ingenuity, and dignitj'. But one who heard the pleadings* says : "Otis was a flame of fire. With a promptitude of classical allusions, a depth of research, a rapid summary of his- torical events and dates, a profusion of legal authorities, a prophetic glance of his eye into futurity, and a rapid torrent of impetuous eloquence, he hurried away all be- fore him. American independence was then and there born. Every man of an immense, crowded audience ap- peared to me to go away, as I did, read}', if necessarj", to take up arms against Writs of Assistance. From that hour Otis became the acknowledged idol of the town." Meantime, while this issue was thus developing, partj- lines, as between the people on the one hand, and the representatives of the new king (George III.) on the other, were still more sharply drawn by the prominence given, just at this time, to the "Prelacy" question. Most of the royal officers were EpiscopaHans ; a circum- stance leading the people naturall}- to associate the polit- ical rule which they opposed, and were rapidly coming to abhor, with the Chiirch of England. f Just at this crisis a fierce pamphlet war, involving this active and bitter popular prejudice, was unhappilj- pre- cipitated — opened by a Mr. Apthorp, an Episcopal minister, of Cambridge, "hot from Oxford," in the in- terest of a State Church. The Rev. Jonathan Mayhew of Boston, appeared as his opponent. The discussion waxed hot, and spread over the whole country, and moved even some of the ablest pens of England. It is • John Adams. t With the warming np of this controversv came the general use, in New England, of the terms Whigs and Tories. " All of a sudden," says an old historian, " the offieers of the crown, and such as were for keeping up their authority, were branded with the name of ' Tories,' which was always a name of reproach, while then- opposers assumed the name of ' Whigs.' " I In 1764, news came that several revenue cutters were to be sent over to hover about the harbor to see that the custom-house was duly re- spected. This caused a non-importation and a non-consumption system to be adopted. A general agreement was entered into to do without said to have embraced the question of the nature and extent of the authoritj' of parliament over the Colonies, and ended in the distinct answer, on the part of the Americans, that the Enghsh parliament had over its New England Colonies just no authority whatever. Shortly after this came the Stamp Act. Increasing rapidly in numbers, wealth, importance, and influence, naturally the Colonies became more and more sensitive to taxation by the home government, without due repre- sentation. Early in 1 705 news came to the Colonies that a stamp- tax had been determined upon b}' the crown. It was not long before the hated law was officially announced in Boston. The people had been expert in evading the revenue laws.| As they were regarded as unjust and oppressive, they had no scruple in doing so. But the stamp-tax could not be thus evaded. Nothing could be done legally, where any kind of a written instniment was requh-ed, unless that instrument bore upon it the odious stamp — the badge of their degradation. News- papers could not be issued, the business of the courts could not move, no process was valid, no vessel could go to sea, no person could be married, no debt could be contracted, unless a " stamp " gave assurance that the crown had been paid its enforced demand. All this, it need hardl}- be said, made the Americans angrj^ ; nor were they either slow or moderate in giving expression to their indignation. Indeed, such was the storm § of indignation and excitement awakened throughout the Province by this high-handed measure, that parliament the following year made haste to vote its unqualified re- peal ; a result that was welcomed throughout the Colonies with the most extravagant demonstrations of joy. Further plans for revenue and taxation were then devised bj' the home government. No sooner, however, was any law passed to this end, than the inhabitants of Boston and vicinity voted utterly to dispense with all such articles of British manufacture as had been thus specified as subject to duty, other sections of the country meanwhile promptlj- imitating the spirited and patriotic example of Boston in this regard. But. manifestly, a crisis is approaching. Even the those articles on which the heavy taxes were laid. Very expensive mourning apparel was generally used, but because of a heavy duty to be paid upon it, it was almost wholly laid aside. § The spirit of resistance was fully aroused. " The Stamp Act shall never be executed here," was the determination of the people. " All the power of Great Britain shall not compel us to submit to it." " We will die first." " We will spend our last di-op of blood in the cause." " The man who offers a stamped paper to sell will he immediately killed." Such were the expressions heard muttered on almost every patriot lip. Is it stirprising that the historian characterizes the measure as the one above all others that laid the foundation of the American Revolution ? massachu.sp:tt.s. most patriotic virtue cannot alwaj-s cndnre such a sys- tematic and barbarous violation of sacred nglits. Faitli in the integrity of Parliament is being shaken. Here and there, indeed, men are beginning fearlessly to denounce, and boldl}' to counsel resistance to, such high-handed and arbitrary proceedings ; alleging that, under the circumstances, there remained to them no al- ternative but an appeal to Heaven to vindicate their cause. The Rise of (he Revolution. It was on the soil of Massachusetts that " the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world." It was on her territory that were fought the battles, Lexington, Concord and Bunker's Hill, th.at fired the con- tinental heart, and crystallized the public sentiment of the Colonies into a imited, determined, p.atriotic purpose to throw off the yoke of Great Britain. Influences, how- ever, had long been in operation to produce that mo- mentous result. We have seen that in the very cabin of the " Ma3"flowcr" the experiment of local self-government was initiated, — that the American Republic was born. AVe have also seen the first unconscious stirrings of a new political life, of a movement looking toward self-govern- ment and independence, in the reasonable demand of Gov. Endicott for the transfer of the government of the Massa- chusetts Bay Company to New England ; while, clearh', when that demand was actuallj' allowed, the chief corner- stone of the new political edifice went to its place. "When, very earlj' in the histor}' of the Massachusetts Colonj-, the latter had been threatened with a " general governor" from England, it was gravel}' decided on their part, that "we ought not to accept him, but to defend our lawful possessions." The truth is the germs of our national greatness, and of our characteristic political institutions inhered doubt- less in the verj' character of our first settlers. Their verj' mission to these shores was that noblest purpose that can sw.ay human beings, the enjoyment of the largest attain- able share of religious, in connection with cini freedom.* * Connected with the orisin and development of the Now England — the distinctively American — character, there is the mystery that always attends a new birth, a new creation. Whether " spontaneous genera- tion," " natural selection," or any other, be our theory of the case, the origin of a new species is always involved in profound mystery. The New England character would seem to have been a new species, — an original creation. It cannot be very well accounted for on natural groimds. Its traits do not seem to have been inherited. We can find no period in our annals, however early, when the New Englandcr was an Englishman. Across the border you will find plenty of Englishmen, Scotchmen, &c., a population still devotedly attached to their national peculiarities, and proud of their ancient transatlantic ancestors and Meantime, the circumstances of our colonial historj' were eminently of a r.ature to prepare our forefathers for self-government. Thrust out, as they were, and left en- tirely alone and in a wilderness to take care of them- selves, they must manifestly either establish and main- tain municipal regulations themselves, or perish. The transaction of their ordinary town business was highly favorable also for purposes of republican disci- pline. These little municipalities, in a measure peculiar to New England, and each sustaining a relation to the whole somewhat analogous to that of the States of our Union to the central power or constitution of the United States, m.ay be regarded as so many petty sovereignties — mimic republics — having supreme control over their own strictly internal aflTairs. One can easily appreciate, therefore, the force of the remark, made by some one, that the American Republic was born in a New England town-meeting. The responsibility, moreover, of annually electing deputies to the General Court was calculated to exert a wholesome political influence, and particularly after the measure was adopted of requiring the towns to choose their own citizens as such delegates. Previous to the year 1G94 it had been customary in the choice of depu- ties to the legislature, to allow the country towns the privilege of choosing for their representatives residents of Boston ; but in the year above-mentioned, from cer- tain local considerations, the change referred to was wiselj^ adopted, f Bringing the questions of the da}-, as it did, directly to their doors, and compelling them to take an immediate interest in political discussions, the new an-angement led naturally to the people's becoming versed in public .affairs ; was the occasion of their inves- tigating constitutional questions, issues and principles ; and so, of their partaking more largely than they other- wise would, of a public spirit and of a patriotic and national feeling ; while from the towns themselves, from tiiBC to time, were sent up (o the legislature, and so into public life, men of the first talents, to participate in the current discussions, in public affairs general'.}-, and all the exciting events which were afterwards to occur. institutions. Now Englandcrs were never such. The only cxjilanation perhaps, of the phenomcncn is, it was providential. t A motion for an address to the king against the removal of Govern- or Phips was passed by a bare majority, the Boston representatives of the country towns, acting, it was alleged, under the influence of local prejudice, voting solid against it. To save future trouble in conse- quence of any such manifest injustice, the prerogative, or court party, inserted a clause in a bill then pending, rcquuing residence as a qual- ification for town representatives. The change thus introduced for merely personal ends, and remaining ever since a part of the funda- mental law, was for reasons indicated in the text, highly important and beneficial. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. From the lieginning, in the govenimcut of ISIassachii- setts, hereditarj' claims and distinctions seem liappilj' to have been iitterl3' disregarded. Public officers were chosen periodically, and from the bod^- of the freemen, regardless of famil}- or rank. So also in the descent oi real and personal estates of intestates. The exclusive claim of anj- one heir was not admitted. Eather, equal division was made among all, reserving only to the oldest son a double portion. This, especiall}' in the case of a numerous family, which is not an uncommon thing in a young country, effectually prevented an undue accumulation of propcrtj*. " These two regulations," says Eichard Jlinot, " maj- be said to be the two gi-eat pillars on which republican libertj- in Massachusetts is supported." * The New England Confederacy of 1643, was the model and prototype of the North American Confeder- acy of 1774. The fourth article of its Constitution embodies the fundamental doctrine of the later republic, — the largest amount of local self-government consistent with nationality. This article asserted the right of jurisdiction of each Colonj- within its own limits, while the Confederacy itself existed simpl3' for the sake, and hence its prerogative was measured by the necessities of the common defence. No such heresy as " State sovereignty " but the shin- ing truth of State rights, has e\ier been the political creed of Massachusetts. | How little, meanwhile, those Colonies, over two hundred jears ago, realized that, in the organization of their humble, temporary confederacy, they were thus virtually setting a cop}' to be followed, upwards of a hundred j-ears afterwards, by the whole thirteen Colonies in the formation of the United States of America. Trulj-,- they builded better than they knew. _Nor had the Colonies been deprived of needed military experience and discipline. The military train- ing, which was to fit the citizens of New England for the battles of the impending Revolution, dates from the capture of Louisburg. The same old drums, it is said, that beat at the capture of that fortress, rallied the troops on then- march to Bunker's Hill. I Indeed, that • History of Province of Massacliusetts Bay, pp. 27, 28. Minot also observes (p. 28), "An inestimable advantajre was gained for freedom by a law of 1641, which dcclai-es tlie lands of the inhabit- ants free from all fines and licenses, the whole train of feudal exactions which have so grievously oppressed mankind in other parts of the world." t Confusion is constantly arising in consequence of speaking of " State Rights," interchangeably with the Calhoun dogma of " State Sovereignty," the fruit of wliich was secession, and which was decided against in the late war. State rights is the coiTCct doctrine under the Constitution, and the most vital of the principles underlying our gov- ernment, and as important for New England as for any other section of long and bloodj' conflict, known as the French War, became, as another has well said, for all the Colonies, " a school in which these people were to be fitted to ta!:e part in a fast ap[)roaching and more important struggle." It was, says Sir. Barrj-, emphatically ' '^yjrqjfirafi'o libertatis, — the stepping-stone to the Ecvolution" ; — the veterans trained in these earlier and arduous campaigns, having been thus, as it were, providentially prepared subse- quenth' to take charge of the armies of the Union, under George Washington as commander-in-chief. And thus we see that, from the first, the people of tliese Colonies seem to have been in training for independence and self-government. Nor was the temporar}' triumph of despotism, in the overthrow of the earlier charter, an}- serious hindrance to this work of democratic develop- ment and progress. Naj', the contests that long pre- vailed between the statesmen of the Province and the roj-al governors, so far from resulting in the subjection of the people, tended rather, on the other hand, to strengthen and develop their love of liberty, and to inspire within them that unwavering fidelity and courage that enabled them, eventualh*, so successfull}- to sta}- the tide of oppression, and permanentl}' establish the liber- ties of the people. Tnie, some of these struggles, on their part, with the Stuarts, had been desperate ; yet, as storms ser^•e onl}' to strengthen the hold of the trees the}' shake upon the soil, so these early political ■\'icissi- tudes, under all the circumstances, so far from uprooting and prostrating the infant State, ser\'ed rather to develop its powers, — to give to the same an increase of vitality and beauty. The fact was that, when the Stuarts finally attempted their subjugation, the spirit of liberty had already become by far too widely diffused throughout the Colonies to be easily crushed. Nay, notwithstand- ing the change in the constitution of the government, Puritanism was still in the ascendant, and Puritan principles still remained as vital as ever. Freedom, therefore, and none the less, but rather all the more, because of the arbitrary reign maintained over them, continued to be the beacon-light tliat guided these Col- onies on. The more it was denied them, the stronger, naturall}-, throbbed the desire in ever}' heart to enjoy it ; the Union. No more ardent advocate of the doctrine of State rights ever lived than old Snmucl Adams, the father of the Revolution. In all those functions which the Constitution confers on the national gov- ernment, the latter is sovereign, and the States are subordinate to it, Beyond, or outside of these, the States are independent commonwealths, and, as such, have important rights. J The same Colonel Gridlcy, who planned Pepperell's batteries at Louisburg, laid out the one where General Wan-on fell; and when Gage was erecting brcast-worlis acrors Boston Ncc'c, the provincial troops snceringly remarked that his mud walls were nothing compared with the stone walls of old Louisburg. MASSACHUSETTS. the more ardentlj- glowed the detcrniinatiou in CAciy breast to possess it. Under the veiy rod of oppression, laid so hca\il3' upon them, there sprung np, blossomed, and ripened, the conviction, — a conviction of such energ}- as not to be readilj- stifled, — that freedom -was the natural and inalienable birthright of man, — a boon, accordingl}-, not to be parted with on anj' terms what- ever, — espcciallj- at the behest of an}- mere earthl}- princc. "To laj- that down at Ctesai-'s feet," wrote John Milton, "which we received not from him, and T\hich accordinglj' we arc not beholden to him for, were an unworthy action, and degrading to our ver}' nature."* Tbanlcs, then, to the stern discipline of tyranny. By means of it were fostered and intensified those verj- repub- lican tendencies so much dreaded by the crown ; and which, growing with its growth, and strengthened with its strength, had, ere the unnatural " Mother Countiy " was aware, become too deeplj- rooted in the New England character ever to become eradicated or subdued. Nor, meantime, let it be supposed that the people, with all their love of libertj-, democratic instincts, and habits of self-government, were disloyal. To be sure thej- had little occasion to be fer\-enth- attached to fatherland. The}- had been driven from home by the stern hand of per- secution. Thej' had been left to shift for themselves in the wilderness ; and when, as in Philip's war, con- tending in a life and death struggle with their savage foe, from neither king or court came anj' aid -whatever. • Reply to Salmasius. t It may be urged, and apparently with reason, that at least during the long French and Indian war, the home povcrnment rendered the Colonies invaluable service, affording them the shelter of its arms, and finally delivering them from the accursed persecutions of their inveter- ate and hereditary foe. And j-ct, strange to say, according to Mr. Barry, " the conduct of Great Britain throughout the war with France, did not, to the inhabitants of America, justify the belief that it acted in good fiith towards the Colonies, or designed to render efficient aid in the eonqnest of Canada." i It may be admitted that the loyalty of the New England Colonies was of a peculiar and original character. From the vciy first, strangely, we find on the part, not even of the high-bred Puritans, any of that fanatical, unreasoning, almost adoring devotion to the crown that, even to this day, characterizes the peoples of the other Colonies and depend- encies of Great Britain. 5 " The colonists," writes Otis, in 17C4, " know the blood and treas- ure independence would cost. They will never thinii of it till driven to it, as the last fatal resort against ministerial oppression, which will make the wisest mad, and the weakest strong." The reverent spirit with which the people of New England had from the infancy of their settlements been accustomed to speak of " the mother country," was a sufBcient evidence of a sincere and loyal attachment, on their part, to the home of their ancestors. And this conviction clicrished by them, that the land of their fathers was blessed above all otht rs in the possession of a wise, beneficent constitution, led tlicm to weiLih well the consequences of a rupture with that country, and every step tending to disunion. The fathers of the Revolution were no hot-headed, visionary enthusLasts. Rather the men who guided the destinies of the Province at the opening of that bloody drama were Though it was a dependency and domain of the king of Great Britain, as well as their own homos, thej' were mak- ing such desperate eflbrls and saciifices to defend, thej' were left to struggle under tlieir heavy load absolutely alone. t Yet the}- were loyal. J There is no reason to ques- tion the accuracy of Franklin's testimony when, in response to Lord Camden's charge, that the Colonies intended to tlirow off their dependence on the mother country, and that notwithstanding their boasted affection for it, meant soon to sot up for independence, ho promptly replied, "No such idea is entertained in the minds of the Americans, and no sucli idea ever will enter their heads unless you grossly abuse them." Over and over again in their successive ad- dresses to the king, soekuiga redress of their grievances, they avowed their loyalty ; and in this they were doubtless profoundly sincere. A few wise men may ha^'e foreseen the impending struggle and predicted the result ; yet up to the last the mass of the colonists manifestly never dreamed of independence. It was not until absolutely forced to resistance that the American people declared themselves entitled to the benefits of self-government. § All they had ever demanded was simply fair play, equal rights, the un- molested enjoyment of " English rights ; " -^ tlie right of self-government under the British constitution ; to mr.lce their own laws, so far as consistent with a due subordina- tion to parliament ; and especiall}-, unless duly represented in the primal legislative bod}', to impose on themselves whatever taxes might be rightfuU}' required at their hands. || clear-headed, far-seeing, deep-thinking men ; men who pondered well evci-y word they sent forth to the world. Ko hasty sentence escaped then- pens. They knew at every step just what they were about. In their every measure, they were guided not by fancy or passion, but by an enlightened patriotism and a stern sense of duty. They had looked into the future and fully counted the cost. They formed their conclu- sions only after mature deliberation ; and it was only when, by a course of legislation from which relief had been sought in vain, they felt forced to resist, that they appealed to arms, leaving the result to Gcd, and the responsibility with those who sanctioned and persisted iu enforcing the tj-rannical measures they complained of. II Of course every tyro in history understands that it was the paying of a trifling tax on stamped paper, and threepence a pound on tea that, among other things, was so strenuously, and so stubbornly resisted by the Colonics at last. " But was a demand of that nature," says one, " of sufficient importance to go to war about ? " Under certain circum- stances, the reader need hardly be told, a single drop of water will suffice to cause a bucket to overflow ; a single straw to break p, camel's back. Trifling as at first view the issue seems, it will yet, on reflection, be found to be of sufficient magnitude and importance to embody a great principle ; to involve a principle, indeed, measuring the whole distance between freedom and serfdom, between manhood and base servitude. Besides, the claims controverted by the colonists were the thin end of the wedge whose thick end was conceived to be unmitigated despotism. To the mind of the average Anglo-Saxon, taxation and legislation seemed inseparable. Taxation, therefore, without representation, to him is tyranny, a tyranny to whi.h to tamely submit is to dcscn-c servitude ; to which to submit, as John Wilton says, is "an unworthy action, and degrading to our very HISTORY OF NEA7 ENGLAND. These rights, however, had heeii sternly-, haughtilj- re- fused. Rough-shod the ministr}' and minions of the king had insisted upon overriding them. Grievance followed grievance. Outrage and wrong "trod each other's heel." Thej' had earned the right of revolution. * The meshes of tj'raiinj' at length having been drawn so close around them that escape seemed impossible, " the resolute," in the A'igorous language of another, " clad themselves in the panoplj' of war, and flung the gauntlet of defiance at the feet of the kiug and his ministers." Meantime, such t_vrannical measures as the " Stamp Act," •(• such acts of lawless violence as the "Boston Massacre," J such high-handed, unconstitutional meas- ures as the quartering on the cities of a disorderly, hire- ling soldiery, all contributed to hasten the struggle and precipitate the crisis. In consequence of the destruction in Boston harbor, bj' the citizens of the town, amidst the intensest popular excitement, of large quantities of tea, which, in spite of Boston's self-imposed embargo on that article, certain shipowners, royal ofllcials and Tory mer- chants were determined to land. General Gage, with a large force, was despatched at once to Boston, and appointed mihtary governor of the Province. And now there was plotting and counterplotting ; organization and the mustering of forces on both sides. The authorities were imcompromising ; the people were unawed, deter- mined. A sanguinary' collision was impending. It could not long be delayed. Every aggressive act on the part of the government was quietly, j'ct stubbornly, resisted. And when at length such resistance, ou the ever-memo- rable fields of Lexington and Concord, was attended with bloodshed, the mine, which had been so long pre- paring, was sprang. The die was cast. The Rubicon was passed. The beginning of the end had come. "The day-star of liberty," saj's the historian, "had risen on America." At all events, the signal-gun had been fired that announced the opening of Tlie War of the Revolution. September 1, 1774, the General Court met at Salem. General Gage having dissolved the assemblj-, the bodj' immediately resolved themselves into a Provincial Con- gress, which, from that time, continued to transact the • It is not in the nature of man to submit with taraencss to continued encroachments npon his real or fancied rishts. lie ni.iy forbear fur a time ; he will endure much. But when the yolce presses too heavily, an clTort will be made to throw it off, regardless of consequences, leaving the issue or success of his efTjrt with God. The instincts of a whole people may possibly be wrong ; yet, in general, the maxim Vox popiiU vox Dei holds true. A few persons mr.y delude themselves with the idea th.it their rif;hts are invaded, when, in f.ict, all that has awakened their rescnt:;icnt is that wholesome restraint indispensable to the wclf.ire of every community. But when the public itself rises in its might, business of the Province, so far as the patriots were con- cerned, until the erection of the State government in 1780. In the meantime, Massachusetts statesmen had taken the lead.in maturing plans for the union of the Colonics, and for calling a Continental Congress. § Already Benjamin Church, in his oration upon the anniversary of the Boston Massacre, as if gifted with the spirit of prophecy, predicted that " some future Congress would be the glorious source of the salvation of America," and John Hancock, in an oration on a later annivcrsaiy of the same event, had suggested a " Congress of Deputies from the several houses of asseml)l3- on the continent, as the most efFeetual method of establishing union for the security of the rights and liberties of the country." Already Samuel Adams, the master-spirit of the times, had proposed that step said to have " included the whole Revolution " — the appointment of a committee of corre- spondence to draw up a statement of the rights of tlic colonists, with the infringements and violations thereof made from time to time, and to communicate and publish the same to the towns and the world — a committee, James Otis, chairman, whose work was so ably and effectually performed, that it is said to have laid the foundation of the American Union. Jleanwhile, this institution of a committee of correspondence in Massa- chusetts prepared the way for the establishment of like committees in all the Colonies. The resulting interchange of opinion which followed, soon happily brought all the Colonies of the country- to one mind. Old jealousies were removed, and perfect harmony- was restored between all. "A common cause," it began to be said, " is best sup- ported by common association." " The defence and maintenance of rights and liberties is the common cause when especially tne gifted and the tnic as well as the masses, the intel- ligent as well as the ignorant, tlio sober as well as the irapnkive, arc burning with a sense of overwhelming injustice, and no alternative is left but to resist or be enslaved, then it can hardly be denied tb.it resist- ance is lawful ; that resistance to kinge is obedience to God. — Barr-j. t This famous act required that all deeds and receipts, and other legal documents, should be written, or printed, on stamped paper, and that this paper should be sold by the tax collectors, the money going to tlio government. In itself, there was manifestly nothing so very K".d about this law. Englishmen would not have complained of it at home. Such a law, indeed, had already even existed in England. Taxes have been imposed in a similar way in America. The colonists olijcctcd to this law because it involved a principle — the right of taxation without rep- resentation. Dr Johnson, it is true, declared this to be " no tjTanny," and John AVeslcy agreed with him. The colonists begged leave to dilTcr. X The slaughter by British troops, under Captain Preston, of several citizens in an ill-advised attempt to quell a riot i;i Boston. § The reader cannot but be interested to notice how prominent and leading a part was taken by JIassachusetts and her statesmen in the inauguration of tlie Revolutionary movement, and in laying the foun- dations of the new government. MASSACHUSETTS. of eveiy American, and all hence should unite, hand in hand, in one common association, to support it, and to drive t}Tann3- from these Northern climes." "Union" was the or}-; "union from Florida to the plains of Canada." " A Congress of the States is indispensable ; we can redress ourselves if we will, and what the people wills, shall be effected." A Congress of American States to frame a bill of rights, or to fonn an independent State — an American Commonwealth — was now, thanks to the sagacitj', and patriotism and zeal of the statesmen of Massachusetts, no longer the fiction, or "sickly dream of a political enthusiast." It was, on the other hand, al- readj- on the very eve of realization. June 2, 1774, the Massachusetts House of Representatives, by a vote of 117 to 12, appointed a committee * to meet, at the earliest possible date, a like committee appointed by other Colonies, to consult together upon the present state of the Colonies ; not so much, we have reason to think, to moot, as yet, the question of independency, or of final separa- tion from Great Britain, or even of the propriety of an appeal to arms, but to show the British ministry that a determination prevailed throughout the Colonies to oppose their arbitrary and oppressive laws, and that, whatever the cost to themselves, they were prepared to take a decided stand in defence of their rights. At a public meeting held in Boston at about this same time, John Adams in the Chair, it was voted " that the Committee of Correspondence be enjoined forthwith to write to all the other Colonies, acquainting them that we are not idle, and that we are waiting with anxious ex- pectation for the result of a Continental Congress, whose meeting we impatiently' desire, in whose wisdom and firmness we confide, and in whose determinations we shall cheerfully acquiesce." This Continental Congress assembled at Carpenter's Hall, in Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1774, and was dul}' or- • The JIassachusetts dclcjjates to this first National Congress were James Bowdoin, Thomas Cashing, Samuel Adams, John Adams, and Robert Treat Paine. t " In vain were the artifices of loyalists employed to seduce the patri- ots to a compliance with the wishes of His Excellency. Though hun- dreds were ruined, and thousands half starved, British gold was yet powerless to tempt or buy them. Nor should the noble example of woman be forgotten. Mothers and daughters infused their own earnest, principled sphnt of resistance to tyranny into the bosoms of fathers and sons, husbands and lovers ; and none more cheerfully than they submit- ted to privations, and encountered the trials which fall with peculiar hardship on their sex. Exposed to the brutal passions of the soldiery, and conscious that they were bringing on themselves manifold sorrows, they did not yet hesitate to sacrifice, if need be, home and its charms, life and endearments, and all the countless blessings of peace, rather than give up — what was dearer than all — liberty, without which life is a curse. Those gentler emotions, which are their ornament and pride, and even their natural aversion to blood, were, for the time, to give way to a sterner and more resolute temper. Yet, withal, they moved iiv their ganized by the choice of Pej-ton Randolph, Chairman, and Charles Thompson, Secretary. Throughout the Revolutionary war, JIassachusetts grandlj' sustained her former reputation for patriotism, f public spirit and valor. As she was the first to sustain the shock of battle, and to spill her blood in the interest of independence and liberty, so " wherever a stand was successfully made against British aggression, and wherever valor was called for in the assault, there were found bodies of men sent out bj^ Massachusetts, than whom none were ever more active, valiant or brave." Let it not be supposed that because, upon the evacuation of Boston bj- the British troops (March 17, 177G), the theatre of the war was conveyed to New York and to the South ; that because thus happil}- the soil of Massachusetts was never more to be trodden bj' a hireling soldiery, or to be drenched with patriot blood ; that because, hence, her sons were not again to be subjected to the dread necessitj- of fight- ing immediately for the defence of their own families, or for the protection of their own firesides, therefore they would be indifferent to the claims of other portions of their common country upon their services, whose peace was disturbed by a foreign foe. Nay. though her an- nals during this period no longer glow with the details of battle and siege, this Commonwealth, yet, let it be remembered, took a very active part in all those various movements and campaigns that, during the remaining dreary years of the war, reflected such credit upon the American arms. Meantime, while her citizen soldiers, superior to all sectional feeling or partisan prejudice, fired with genuine disinterested patriotism, were thus found at the distant front on quite everj' battle-field of the Revolution, never for a moment hesitating to conse- crate their fortunes to libertj-, and to seal their sincerity with their blood ; so her patriot statesmen — giants all — new sphere with the same quiet dignity and deep tenderness which at all times so adorn the sex, and render their presence a blessing to all; while the delicate offices which none but their hands could so well per- form, in the hour of tri.al, assuaged the pain of m.any a wound, and re- lieved the ghastlincss and horrors of death." — Barrij. The following is a specimen of the patriotic appeals made during the dark days of the Revolution : — " Act like yourselves. Arouse at the call of Washington and of the country, and you will soon be crowned with glory, independence and peace. Present interest and ease we must sacrifice ; meantime, what words can paint the solid joys, the delightful recollections, which will fill the patriotic mind hereaf.cr. He who wishes for permanent happi- ness, let him now put forth all his strength for the immediate salvation of his country, and ho shall reap immortal honor and renown. It is good for us to anticipate the joy that will fill our minds when we shall receive the reward of our labors ; when we shall see our counti-y flourish in peace; when grateful millions shall hail us as the protectors of our country, and an approving conscience shall light up eternal sunshine in om- souls." HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. during all that period that " tried men's souls," were ever found in tlie vcr}- fore-front of evciy battle for human rights, as also in every sen-ice connected with settling the foundations of the new government. Surcl3-, it can never be forgotten that it was the audacious auto- graph of John Hancock of Massachusetts that heads the list of the immortal signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence ; or that it was a no less illustrious son of this same State, John Adams,* who more, perhaps, than any other man in debate on the floor of the Conti- nental Congress, contributed to the successful and unan- imous passage (July 4, 1776) of what Daniel AVcbster has so fittingly characteiized as the great "title of our liberties." ni. THE COMMONWEALTH PERIOD. The Commonwealth period of our State history dates from the adoption of the State Constitution in 1780. The renunciation of allegiance to the crown of Great Britain, rendered it necessarj' for the Province, as earl}' as possible, to establish an independent government. Hence, while the war of the Revolution was j'et in progress, the citizens of Massachusetts were called upon to deliberate upon their civil affairs, and to determine what system of government should be adopted to suc- ceed the former one, and how that system should be framed and adopted. At quite an early date, a proposi- tion was made, in the General Court, that a committee should be appointed to prepare a form of government. Convinced, however, that an enterprise of this nature and magnitude, should originate with the people, — the proper source of the organic law ; na^-, that only a con- vention, composed of delegates from all the towns, elected expressly for this .purpose, was competent to draft a Constitution for the State ; — such a convention was duly called, and, at the appointed time, Sept. 1, 1779, assembled at Cambridge, James Bowdoin, president. The committee, consisting of twenty-six delegates, appointed to draft the Constitution, reported, at an adjourned meeting, the ensuing January. After con- * " It is doing no injustice to others to say that the general opinion was, and uniformly has been, that, in debate, on the side of inde- pendence, John Adams had no equal. The great author of the Declar- ation has himself expressed that opinion, uniformly and strongly. 'John Adams,' said he, 'was our Colossus on the floor.'" — Daniel Webster. In connection with the foregoing tiibute to the scniccs of John Adams, let John Adams's own testimony be recorded relative to the value of the services of some of his distinguished Massachusetts .asso- ciates in Revolutionary fiimc and statesmanship : " James Otis, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock, were the three most essential characters of siderable debate, the report. was adopted. In the follow- ing June, the Constitution was submitted to the vote of the people, and was b}' them accepted. In 1^20, a con- vention to revise this Constitution, met and proposed various amendments, nine of which were in due time ratified bj' the popular vote. In 1834, the constitutional provision for the mainte- nance of public worship was abolished. Since which time, the so-called "voluntary system," which rightly leaves each citizen at liberty to pay or not, as he may please, for the support of religion, has been the law of the land. In 1857, amendments of the Constitution were made, bj- which the present district sj'stem of choosing repre- sentatives and senators to the State legislature was adopted, in place of the apportionment by towns and countiec. John Hancock was elected the first governor under the new Constitution, to which office, with an inter\-al of two j'ears, he was annually" re-elected until his death, exerting to the last a profound influence upon the policy of the State. Once peace was declared ; once the objects of their manifold and costlj- sacrifices were accomplished ; once the freedom and independence of the United States were dul}- recognized, and the painful struggle, which had thus far attended their existence as a nation, was happily- at an end, — the citizens of no section of the countrj- more heartilj- rejoiced than those of Massachusetts. Evcrj' countenance was radiant with smiles. The proc- lamation, when read in the different cities, was hailed bj- the people with tumultuous cheers. BeUs were rung, cannon were fired, bonfires blazed ; in the evening, houses were brilliantlj- illuminated ; and already, in this hour of triumph, proudl}' the veteran of the late war, was recounting, round his fireside, the perilous scenes he had witnessed. But this festive condition was not long to continue. Shmjs' Eebellion.^ Hardly had the sounds of Revolution died away, when civil disturbances broke out in this State, of such dimen- the Revolution. These three were the first movers, the most constant, steady, persevering agents, and most disinterested sufferers and firmest pillars of the whole Revolution. Without the character of S.".nincl Adams, especially, the true history of the American Revolution can never be written." t So called from the name of its nominal leader, Daniel Shays, foi-mcrly a captain in the army of the Revolution ; a m.in marked by no qualities which entitled him to distinction, on the score either of cour- age or ability, and whose precedence in this rebellion was the result, we are told, of mere accident. Bankrupt in fortune, as well as in principle, he was one of those reckless characters always ready to MASSACHUSETTS. sions as to threaten, for a time, the utter subversion of law and order. The popular emeute, known as " Shaj-s' Rebellion," was somewhat notable in three respects : 1. It occurred, strange to saj-, on the ver3' heels of the successful issue of a long and sanguinar}' struggle for independence, and constitutional libert}-. 2. This has been the onl3' serious disturbance of the kind that has ever occurred within the bounds of our Commonwealth. 3. In several of its features, this insurrection strikingl}- resembles certain later popular tumults in this country, under the auspices of some of our so-called " National" or socialistic movements. The animus of " Shaj-s' EebelHon" seems to have consisted largely in a bitter grudge, on tlie part of the poor against the rich, — an implacable prejudice, a wild rage, — on the part of the impecunious classes against the " bloated bond-holders" of that daj-. The grounds of this popular discontent, — the occasion of this wide-spread "inundation of distempered humor," — it will not, perhaps, be difficult to indicate. Then, as now, a pit)tracted and enormously expensive war had convulsed and impoverished the land ; had prostrated its business, while, at the same time, it had also bui'dened it with debt and taxation. * The inevitable sequel was " hard times," — high prices, small incomes, and oppres- sive taxes. Soured, embittered by their distresses, impatient under their temporary privations, and smart- ing under the losses incident to a depreciated Qurrcncj', as also under the seemingly excessive exactions of the tax-gatherer, the people, in many sections, particularly in the western counties, — in the rural districts, strangely, rather than in the cities, f — became almost desperate ; and under the lead and instigation of designing and desperate men, were induced, finally, not only to com- mit acts of gross violence against persons and property, but to resort to open and organized revolt, — flagrant and treasonable resistance against the government and its righteous authority. Thousands, meantime, from one motive or another, S5'mpathizcd more or less with the movement. A somewhat fonnidable military force was mustered by the insurgents, and put into the field. Certain of the inferior courts, against which these ' ' Ilegulators " seemed to have a special spite, were taken " embark on the flood of any desperate adventure," in the hope either of obtaining notoriety, or improving his outward condition. He suc- ceeded in escaping the halter he had so richly earned, and finally ended his earthly career at Sparta, N. Y. Leagued with this desperado, in his insane opposition to, and crusade against the government, were men far more competent than ho for hiih military command, and more formidable by far and influential as rcljcls against the hiws. Among these, may be mentioned Luke Day, of West Springfield, also formerly a captain in the Revolutionary army, and really the master-spirit of the insurrection known as Shays' Rebellion. charge of by the rebels, and not sufTored, save under restraint, to hold their regular sessions ; while the whole State, to a very considerable extent, was becoming per- vaded with feverish excitement and alarm. The situa^ tion was becoming trulj' critical. The ship of state seemed to have been suddenlj- overtaken by a tornado of popular wrath, and by it was apparently being rapidly borne on towards breakers of anarchy and political chaos. The government at length roused itself. The General Court authorized the governor (Bowdoin) to employ vig- orous means to suppress tlie rebellion. General Lincola — a man of Revolutionar}' renown, of no less command- ing abilities as a statesman, than gifts as a commander, or excellence as a man — was put in command of the mil- itia. The crisis of the madness and folly was soon reached. Shays, having made an attack on General Shepard, at Springfield, for the purpose of obtaining possession of an arsenal at that point, was utterly and ignominiousl^- repulsed, though with only slight loss of life. Hotly pursued by General Lincoln, the discom- fitted leader, with a handful of his allies, pushed forward to the hills of Pelham. Being still further followed up, the rapidly dwindUng, and now utterly demoralized, in- surgent force, was finally overtaken at Petersham, where it speedily received the cotqy de grace, the frightened rebels scattering like sheep in everj* direction, while the redoubtable Shays succeeded in effecting his beggarly escape to the wilderness of distant New Hampshire. And thus was substantially ended this singularly wide- sjiread, and very nearlj'' disastrous rebellion. The histor}' of all such disturbances clearly shows that, in popular tumults, reason is practically dethroned, while the passions of the multitude, when highly exasper- ated, obedient to the clamor and ruling passion of the hour, overleap the barriers of outward restraint, and riot in suicidal and hideous The Adoption of the National Constitution. And j'ct Shays' rebellion maj' have after all been at- tended by at least one important practical result. It may have opened the e3es of the people generally to the neces- sity of a larger and more effective federal prerogative. * These debts had been contracted by individa.als, corporations, and by the State itself. t It often happens that the rural districts are jealous of the commer- cial, and that apparent difTcrcnee of interest separates men widely from each other in their political views. Thus, when the Federal Constitu- tion came up for adoption, the strongest affirmative vote was given by the larger towns, the scats of trade and mechanical industry, while the smaller to\\Tis, inhabited by a rural population, and particularly those counties in which these disturbances had occurred, voted largely in the negative. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. While this civil strife was in progress in Massachusetts, threatening to convulse socict}- to its very centre, there is reason to believe that it awakened in all parts of the country the li^■cliest interest, s^-mpathy and alarm. And yet, whatever the possibilities involved to the imperilled State, it was evident to all that the Confederation was helpless — had neither the authority, power, or the means to interfere in suppressing this revolt. By impressively calling the attention of the citizens of the country at large thus to this fatal weakness or defect connected with our general government, may not this ominous insurrec- tion in Massachusetts have ser\-ed an important pui-pose — have had at least the indirect effect to hasten the adop- tion of a national government? "The gate-waj' to po- litical perdition had been opened," saj-s another, ' ' and as gazing into the awful gulf yawning at their feet, there was revealed to their startled, astonished vision, the ele- ments of discord and anarchy, seething and simmering there, what wonder that even the most resolute stood aghast at the prospect of civil disaster, at an3- moment possible, unless to the Union should be conceded powers adequate for the conseri-ation of peace and order?" Yea, in the lurid glare of this one uprising of the more turbulent elements of society, the people of the country may have realized more vividlj' than ever before with what ease, unless there should be lodged somewhere in the system a centripetal force adequate to hold it steadily, serenel3' in its majestic course, even the brightest orna- ment of this glorious constellation of States might, at any moment, fly wild from its orbit, and wander blazing into the abysses. The growing conviction that it was not enough to be delivered from the yoke of foreign domination, but that there must be the power on the part of the general gov- ernment to preserve domestic tranquillity, to perpetuate the blessings which independence involves, by maintain- ing security, order, the enforcement of the laws, and the due subordination of all to a common national authority, was daily being strengthened and confirmed. To pro- Adde such security, and establish such a stable order of things, was the arduous duty to which the statesmen of America were nest to address their best effort. The steps preparatory to the calling of a convention to draft such a Constitution as to give greater stability to the Union, were taken in Massachusetts, May 31, 1785, • " The benefits from the adoption of the FcJeral Constitution were immediate and substantial. Order promptly arose out of confusion. Mutual confidence was strengthened. The arts and emploj-mcnts of life were encouraged. Commercial enterprise rapidly increased. The credit of the government, by wise and efBcicnt provisions in the finances of the conntry, the regulation of foreign trade, and the collection of the revenues, was speedily restored. And the whole nation, from a state of during the administration of Governor Bowdoin. In | Feb., 1787, the Massachusetts delegation succeeded in introducing into Congress a resolution, which was passed, sanctioning the calling of such a convention. Delegates | from all the States were chosen to attend it. The con- | vention met in Philadelphia, Maj- 25, 1787, and, on mo- tion of Robert Morris, was organized by the choice of George Wasliington for president. The result of the convention was the adoption of a Constitution, "con- sidered tnily federal and republican," — the product of the matured reflection of the assembled wisdom of the Repulilic — which was laid before Congress, and sub- mitted to conventions of the people in different States for adoption or rejection. The convention in Massa- chusetts called for this purpose convened at Boston, Jan. 9, 1788, and continued in session for nearly a month. The members of this bodj', over three hundred in num- ber, comprising not a few of those who had served at Philadelphia, as also those who were engaged in the con- vention for framing the Constitution of Massachusetts, were among the most eminent men in the State. The convention was organized bj- the choice of Governor Hancock as president. On the 6th of Feb., 1788, the convention voted the ratification of the National Consti- tution by a vote of 187 to 1C8 — the oldest and first-set- tled towns in the State casting the strongest affirmative vote ; Boston and Plj'mouth, in this respect, standing shoulder to shoulder, the descendants of the Pilgrims, and the descendants of the Puritans, acting together in this notablj- patriotic work.* The War of 1812. Massachusetts was undoubtedlj- opposed to our " last war" with Great Britain. Not that she did not consider that the nation had a real grievance di manding redress, but it was believed by the great majority of the citizens of this State that, under the guidance of a prudent and magnanimous spirit, the difficulties between the two gov- ernments might have been amicably adjusted. There was doubtless enough in the matter of impressment, the principal cause for the declaration of war, to appeal to the patriotism of the people " to demand of the govern- ment security from the domineering insolence of un- authorized press-gangs." t Still, confessedly grievous as was this evil, and imperativelj- as it demanded re- embarrassraent and weakness, made steady advances to wealth, to power, and to vital prosperity."— i?ori-y. t Ostensibly the war was waged to avenge the stimulation of Indian massacres, paper blockades, and plunder of our property on the ocean, for which the only satisfaction was contemptuous insult, as well as for the impressment of seamen. Yet it was undeniably on the latter issue that the war came finally to turn. At the breaking out of this war, it MASSACHUSETTS. dress, it was insisted that the difficulty miglit have been adjusted bj- wise negotiation ; an opinion, the wisdom of which was abundantly confirmed bj' the event — the matter of impressment, strange to say, having been entirely evaded in the final pacification between the two countries ; having been left, after all, to be adjusted bj' the peaceful methods of negotiation and diplomacy. But Massachusetts, moreover, believed the declaration and prosecution of this war impolitic and inexpedient. It is true that, being overwhelmingly Federal in her poli- tics at the time, and the war being a distinctively Demo- cratic administration measure, she would naturally have opposed the war on strictl}' partisan, or political grounds.* But Massachusetts felt that she had more vital and sub- stantial grounds for her opposition to the war than those of a mere partisan nature. The people of this State were principally engaged in commercial pursuits. With them, the spirit of thrift was greater than any thirst for military glory. Here there existed no supernumerarj' class of young men, left in idleness, as at the South, by the institution of slaverj', and hence sighing, as they read of the battles of Europe, for swords and for militar}- renown. Naturally, therefore, and not from cowardice, or from parsimony, or from an^- willingness to sacrifice the true interests of the countr}', but from a profound conviction that peace, and not war, was the true policj" of the whole nation, and that all her interests would be best subserved thereby, the voice of Massachusetts was steadfastly-, not for war, but for peace, f Meantime, whatever the views of the people in regard to the policy and expediency of this war, the citizens of this State yet recognized the obligation of all alilie, with- out distinction, since war liad been declared b}' proper authorities, to sustain the government in the prosecution of the same until the unhappy contest should be brought was said on good authority, that not less than 2,500 American seamen, claiming the rights of citizenship, and refusing to fight against their country, were committed at once to Dartmoor and other prisons, where most of them were detained for a period of nearly three years. Was not this enough to justify at least earnest remonstrance, if not actual resistance ? Can we be surprised th.it such an outrage caused an unparalleled excitement throughout the country, and was appealed to with great force by the friends of the war, in jastification of the Presi- dent's policy ? In his youth, the writer remembers to have read a volume containing a narrative of the experiences of one of these Dartmoor prisoners, and the record was as harrowing almost as those of our boys later confined in Libby or Andersonville. * So sharply were party lines drawn in those days that, though there was probably no intention on his part to resist the laws of the Federal government, or to oppose their enforcement within constitutional bounds, yet the rancor of party spirit did not hesitate very severely to censure, if it did not impeach, the motives of the Federal governor. Strong, because of his extreme reluctance, in response to the President's requisition, to order the militia into the service of the United States. to a successful issue. In proof of this, she points proudly to the great numbers of seamen she furnished to man the United States Navy, and by which the most brilliant suc- cesses of the war were won. In August, 1812, Captain Isaac Hull, commander of the ftig.ate " Constitution," having attacked and captured the English frigate " Guerriere," on his return to Boston was received by all classes with enthusiastic greetings. A salute was fired on the occasion. The public dinner was attended b^- a large number of respectable merchants of the town, and b}' officers of the State and of the nation. Part3' distinctions were for the moment forgotten, and the rejoicing of the people was for the success of their nation's arms. June 1, 1813, a battle was fought off Boston harbor, in sight of a multitude of anxious spectators, between the United States frigate " Chesapeake," commanded bj- Captain Lawrence, and the British frigate " Shannon," which, after an engagement of only fifteen minutes, ter- minated unfortunately for the American ship. The ship was taken, and the captain himself was mortally wounded. Captain Lawi'cnce died five days later, and was buried at Halifax, with military honors. Not long after he was re- buried at Salem with most imposing ceremonies — Hon. Joseph Story acting as the orator of the day. The citizens of Boston had been the more interested in this engagement, and felt the more afflicted at its issue, inas- much as the "Chesapeake" had been for some time in port, and her officers, especially her gallant commander, were well known, and very highl}' esteemed. The Uartford Convention. This memorable bod^', consisting of an assemblage of delegates from the New England States, and called "to devise means of security and defence which may be con- The Federal party, which, from Washington to Jefferson, was in power, and which stood for the largest practicable centralization of power in the general government, was the Conservative party ; while the Democratic party (then called Republican), which stood for the largest possible liberty. State and individual, consistent with nationality, and which, for the most part, retained possession of the government from Jefferson down to our own generation, was, for many years, esteemed the party of progress. t We would not be understood as intimating that the war of 1812, was, after all, altogether futile, or vain. Revealing, as it did, to our- selves, as well as to foreign nations, our resources ; preventing, it is possible, future wars, by averting foreign wrongs, and inspiring in a people, divided and alienated, a feeling of brotherhood, and the pride of nationality, that have since borne us through many a crisis, and of which we feci the influence to the present hour, the indirect effects of that contest, at least, were undeniably beneficial. Let not, there- fore, this war, or its warriors, or its examples of unostentatious self-devotion and patriotic self-denial, be spoken lightly of, or re- warded amid the more conspicuous sacrifices of a later conflict, with oblivion. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. sistent with the presentation of our resources from total luin, adapted to our local situation and mutual relations and habits, and not repugnant to our obligations as members of the Union," met at Hartford, December 15, 1814. This famous convention was born in a commit- tee-room of the Massachusetts legislature, under the auspices of Harrison Gray Otis. The legislature con- senting to adopt and baptize the bantling, and to notify- " all the rest of mankind " of his advent, he came early to great, albeit wc think unmerited, distinction. George Cabot, an eminent citizen of this State, was the president of that illustrious conclave. And such other citizens of this Commonwealth as "William Pres- cott of Boston, father of the historian, Harrison Gray Otis — statesman, orator, jurist, sage — Stephen Long- fellow, father of the poet, and manj' others hardly less eminent for their talents and virtues, took part in the proceedings of that famous convention ; — names these, surelj-, of sufficient note to preserve that body from the ridiculousl}' false and absurd charges so long and so persistently- preferred against it.* That this convention was reactionary in its temper and tendencies there can be no reasonable doubt. It seems to have been a calm, temperate, albeit emphatic expression of Federal resentment against the administra- tion for its method of conducting the war with Great Britain ; a vigorous protest especiall}' against its almost utter neglect of the greatly exposed New England sea- board. But that there was ever anything seditious or treasonable connected with its proceedings, there has never been discovered the slightest shred of evidence to show. Meantime that unhappy " Hartford Conven- tion," called simpl}' to propose a few harmless amend- * As an illustration of how great, wise, and patriotic men are liaWe to be carried away by a storm of partisan apprehension and prejudice, we quote below, from the " Life and Letters of the late George Tick- nor." As the elder President Adams was to give him some letters of introduction to important public persons whom he might meet on his way to Virginia, Mr. T. visited the retired statesman at his residence in Quincy. Ho thus writes of the interview : " I was then twenty-three years old, and though I had seen Mr. Adams occasionally, there was no real acquaintance between us. It was a time of great general anxiety. The war of 1812 was then going on, and New England was suffering from it severely. The Hartford Convention was then in session. Mr. Adams was bitterly opposed to it. Jlr. Cal)ot, who was ray acquaintance, and in some degree my friend, was its president. Soon after I was seated in Mr. Adams's parlor — where were no one but himself .and Mrs. Adams, who was knitting — he began to talk of the condition of the country with great earnestness. I said not a word. Mrs. Adams was equally silent. But Mr. Adams, who was a man of strong and vehement passions, went on more and more vehemently. He was dressed in a single-breasted, dark-green coat, buttoned tightly by very large, white, metal buttons, over his somwhat rotund person. As he grew more and more excited in his discourse, he impatiently endeavored to thrust his hand into the breast of his coat. The buttons did not yield readily. At last he forced his ments to the Federal Constitution, and with.al mildly to complain of, and to criticise certain alleged unwarranta- ble assumptions of power and prerogative, on the part of the dominant part}-, — that " Hartford Convention," alas I was fatal to all its authors and abettors — not only contributing to the doom of tlie old Federal party, but resulting withal in the exclusion from political power in the nation of almost every man implicated in its doings. Slavery in Massachusetts. The odious traffic in human beings known as chattel slavery was never sanctioned in Massachusetts. True, from quite an early period there had been a few slaves in the Province, owned principally by the wealthier classes, and valued at from £10 to £25. But, in gen- eral, slaverj' was so repugnant to the principles and instincts of the Puritans, that it was always viewed b}' them with abhoiTcnce ; and hence, fortunately, never attained to the dignity of a fixed or " i^eculiar institu- tion " of New England, f Meantime, at the opening of the Revolution, the atten- tion of patriots and philanthropists, in Massachusetts as well as elsewhere, had been directed to this subject. Under the colonial and provincial charters, though slaveiy itself was not speciflcallj' disapproved, the slave trade was deprecated and denounced as a disgrace to humanity. Five Africans, supposed to have been kid- napped, having been brought into the Colony (1G45) by Captain Smith, to be sold as slaves, were at once ordered to be liberated, and a law was passed prohibiting the bujing and selling of slaves, "except those taken in lawful war, or reduced to servitude for their crimes." X The General Court never neglected any favorable oppor- hand in, saying as he did so, in a loud voice, and with a most excited manner : ' Thank God ! thank God ! George Cabot's close-buttoned ambition has broke at last. He wants to be President of New England, sir ! ' I felt so uncomfort.able that I made my acknowledgments for his kindness in giving me the letters, and escaped as soon as I could." t Randolph speaks of two hundred slaves in the Colony in 1676. Another authority speaks of one hundred and tiventy in 16S0. For the space of fifty years after its first settlement, no slaves were imported into the Colony. At that time, after a twenty months' voyage, a vessel brought hither forty or fifty negi-ocs, mostly women and children, and these were sold here for ten, fifteen, or twenty pounds apiece. After- ward, at rare intervals, two or three negroes at a time were brought hither from Barbadocs, and from other of his Majesty's plantations, and sold for about twenty pounds each. Meantime, the opinion is expressed by the early chronicler, th.at as many Scots as Africans, captured dur- ing the border wars between England and Scotland, and about half as many Irish, had been brought to this country and likewise sold for ser- v.ints. Clearly our New England ancestors were guiltless of any pro- slavery prejudice based simply on color. The earliest known adver- tisement of slaves for sale in New England was in 1704. X Many of the captives, says Mr. Palfrey, taken during and at the close of King Philip's war, were sold to service among the conquerors, and many were transported to slavery in the West Indies. This last is MASSACHUSETTS. tunitj-, either to discountenance the practice of holding slaves, or to express its hearty abhorrence especiall}' of the slave trade. In a convention held at "Worcester (June 14, 1775), it was resolved, "that we al)hor the enslaving of anj' of the human race, and particularly of the negroes in this countrj- ; and that whenever there shall be a door opened, or opportunity' presented, for anything to be done towards the emancipation of the negroes, we v.'ill use our influence and endeavor that such a thing maj- be brought about." At the opening of the Eevolution, as ali-eady inti- mated, there seems to have been a more general disposi- tion than ever, on the part of thp people, to take into consideration the state and circumstances of the negro slaves in the Province, with reference to some effectual measures looking tov/ards their early emancipation.* In the fall of 177G, when several blacks, who had been brought into Salem on board a British prize ship, from Jamaica, had been advertised to Ijc sold, the legislature promptlj' interfered, and ordered them to be liberated forthwith. Meanwhile, the new State Constitution, in the very first article of the Declaration of Rights, based directly upon the noted axiom of the Declaration of Independence, had declared that "all men are born free and equal " — a clause said to have been inserted by Judge Lovell with special reference to the subject of slaver}'. Under the circumstances, a public expression of opin- ion in regard to this subject could not well be long de- layed. In 1783, a case f involving this all-important question came to trial. The supreme judicial court, sitting in the count}' of Worcester, did not hesitate to decide that the aforesaid provision of the new State Constitution had unquestionably abolished slavery in the said to have been the fate of the only surviving son of the wretched King Philip — an ignoble doom for the last of a noble race. Surely the sins of the fathers arc visited upon the children. Meantime, deeply as they had suffered, craelly as they had been outraged .and wronged, it is to be regretted that our ancestors did not exhibit a little more clemency towards the comparatively irresponsible parties to that great crime. And yet, horrible, repulsive as is the act of selling a man or woman or child to be a slave, it should be remembered that in this instance it was done, not indeed simply because tlic victims had black blood in tlicir veins, but by way of inflicting pen- alty for crime. • Upon the occasion of the late annual meeting of the Connecticut Valley Historical Society, Col. John S. Rice rcfid extracts from a prob- ably unpublished letter from John Adams to Dr. Belknap, the historian of New Hampshire, touching upon the metliod of the aljolition of slavery in Massachusetts. The real cause of the cmanci]>ation, accord- ing to Mr. Adams, was the multiplication of laboring white people, wlio would not allow the labor by which alone they could gain a subsistence to be done by shaves. The scoffs and jeers of the white people led the negroes to be so idle and dissipated that slavery was abolished as a mat- ter of economy. Rev. J. W. Harding recalled the fact th.at Rev. Dr. Stephen Williams of Longmeadow owned several slaves, one of whom Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The following pas- sage in the liistor}- of IMr. Bany, relative to the abolition of slaver}' in the United States, written a generation ago, reads curiously to-day in the light of events which have since transpired. He says: "It (slavery) has multiplied se^■enfold and is, without doubt, one of the most serious evils of the nation. Whether it will expand and increase, diffusing aliroad a moral miasma, to taint and corrupt the whole body politic, are questions which are certainly of \ital importance. But may we not hope that a merciful God will open a way in accortlance with the spirit of the Gospel of Christ, by which the country may be rid of this evil without the intervention of a violence which could end only in the dismemberment of the Union, or in an exasperation of feeling which would rankle so deeply as to banish forever brotherly love? Tliis is the problem of the nineteenth centur}' : who does not pray that it may be happily solved ? " The problem has alread}-, and long since, been solved ; alas, not by the peaceful method prayed for, but amid the din and smoke and tempest of battle; by "wading through slaughter ; " by pouring out patriot blood like water on many a desperately contended field ; by offering on the altar of the national honor and the national life, the most costly sacrifices of the heart on the part of mil- lions. Slavery finally struck at the very heart of the nation, and it required all the energies of the young republic to fling the monster from its breast and to crush it ; and then, to reorganize its dismembered territory, and to establish over the same its supreme authority. True, somewhat of that " exasperation of feeling" pre- dicted has douljtless been developed. Yet, let us hope that, under the guidance of prudence, magnanimity and righteousness, all this exasperation of feeling may be was sometimes put in jail for punishment, and another, who ultimately drowned himself in a well, was often whipped by a council of neigh- bors. In this connection, it may be mentioned that Henry Brewer rec- ollects that Col. Worthington owned a genuine Guinea negro female, who was one day terribly frightened by a thunder-storm. She put on her best crimson waist and petticoat, and, being asked what she diil that for, replied that it was the day of judgment, and that she wanted to be fit for the good company she expected to meet. On this same occasion was read a very interesting sketch by Judge Henry Morris, of slavery in Massachusetts, and especially iu the Con- necticut Valley and Springfield. t The case thus decided originated some time previously. It was occasioned by a citizen's beating and imprisoning his negro servant, whom he claimed as his slave. This offence the public could not over- look ; and the defendant was judged guilty of an assault, and was sen- tenced to pay a fine of forty shillings. And thus was the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts, after an existence of over a centiny, finally virtually effected. Many who had been held in bondage still continued as servants in the families of their masters during their lives. At the opening of the nineteenth century there were few such left, and the in- stitution died a natural death. The slave trade was prohibited in 178S. —Barry's Ilist. of N. E., Zd vol., pp. 188-9. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. allaj-c(l, and that, in its stead, brotliprly love — an intel- ligent, incorruptible ])atnotism — ma3- come speedilj' and universally to prevail. The Anti-Slavery Agitation. Among tlie many things, good, bad, and indifferent, said to have originated on the fertile soil of Slassachu- setts, it can hardlj- be denied that she is responsible for the birth of that " pestilent" and "incendiary" thing known as "Abolitionism." Nor do I know that she hesitates for a moment, or blushes to own it. Nay, as the ages roll on, and America becomes more and more the "land of the free," as well as the "home of the brave," it will appear more and more, there is reason to believe, th.nt the very brightest jewels in the coronet of her fame are the names of those unflinching, uncompro- mising advocates of freedom — of abolition, of unmcdi- ate and unconditional emancipation of the slave — "Wea- • Mr. Gan-ison's Anti-slavery society was organized Jan. 6, 1832, in the Bellinap Street School-house, Boston (called in the vernacular of the day the "Nigger SchooI-IIousc " on "Nigger Hill"). The oriji:ial members of that society were: William Lloyd Can-ison, Oliver John- son, Robert B. Ilall, Arnold BufTum, 'William J. SncUing, John E. Fuller, Moses Thatcher, Joshua Coffin, Stillman B. Neweomb, Benja- min C. Bacon, Isaac Knapp, Henry K. Stockton; Oliver Johnson at present being, it is supposed, the sole survivor of these original signers of the constitution of this original Abolitionist organization. These men were all poor, not able altogether, probably, to put so much as $100 into the treasury of the society ; but they were determined ; they were in earnest. Mr. Garrison was the centre and soul of this group, of this movement. He never faltered ; he never doubted. Realizing fully that the cause was God's, not man's, never, even the darkest hour, was he once doubtful of ultimate victory. He lived to see that glad day. "William Lloyd Gakrison. Bom in MassachttscttSf December 12, 1S04. Lived to Fuee the Slave, and to see him Free. Died in New York, May 24, 1879. Farewell ! The citadel of Freedom saved, What matter if its Garrison's no more ? t Mr. Garrison's well-known words indicate the temper, not only of the great agiLitor himself, but of the knot of indomitable spirits ho gathered about him: "I am in earnest. I will not equivocate; I will not excuse ; I will not retreat a single inch ; and / icill be heard, % Few men ever accomplished so much, with means so small, and in the face of hostility so incessant and so bitter. We can scarcely picture to ourselves the intolerance, the blind and reckless fanaticism with which the nation clung to human slavery, as if it had been the ark of the covenant, and not the abomination of desolation which it showed itself in the end. A few incidents and anecdotes of the early years of the Abolition movement may serve to remind us of what the state of feeling must have been. The letter of Harrison Gray Otis, describing the early insignificance of Garrison in Boston, has often been quoted, but generally only in that racy passage where the " Liberator " printing-offlee is spoken of as " an obscure hole," in which the " negro boy " is visible, flanked by " a very few persons of all colors." But there is another part of the letter which reads nowadays more like a burlesque on the worthy Mr. Otis's style of expressmg himself, and yet is literally true to the situation as it dell Phillips, William Lloyd Gan-ison, Theodore Tarker, John G. Whittier, and Horace Jlann. The first number of the "Liberator," William Lloyd Gan-ison editor, was published Jan. 1, 1830; and the little band of braves,* the resolute little "Liberty Party," that at once rallied around this fearless agitator, by their uncompromising spirit, their outspoken, unspar- ing, and sometimes inllammator3' testimonies against the "sum of all villainies," t soon challenged, and early awakened throughout the South, an intense and most inveterate reaction. Indeed, so sudden and terrific was the storm of denunciation visited on the heads of the Abolitionists that tl\e representatives of conservative political opinion in the North, thoroughl}- alarmed, not to say cowed, quite generally joined in the howl of execr.a- tion at the expense of the new sect called Abolitionists. | The ball, meantime, was now opened. The " irrepres- sible conflict " had begun in earnest. The Abolitionists exisited in 1832. " The first information received by me," says Mr. Otis (a nephew, by the way, of James Otis, the Revolutionary " flame of fire"), "of a disposition to agitate this subject in our State, was from the governors of Virginia and Georgia severally remonstrating against an incendiary newspaper published in Boston, and, as they alleged, thrown broadcast among their plantations, inciting to insurrection and its horrid results. It appeared, on inquiry, that no member of the eity government had ever heard of the publication, I communicated to the above-named governors an assurance of my belief that the new fanati- cism had not made, nor was likely to make, proselytes among the respect- able classes of our people." Aljsurdly as this sounds now, it was not unreasonable to say then, if the man who said it had no perception of the underlying strength of a tnie principle among the shallow and trivial issues that disturbed the politics of Jackson's administration. Respect- ability had no concern then for the freedom of the slave, and there seemed no prospect that it ever would have— Springfield Republican. As an illustration of the mob-tyranny of those days, the extent to which all who dared to act or think aloud in opposition to the will of the m.ijority, held their property and being subject to the edicts, or de- pendent on the clemency, of a mob, we quote further : — Miss Martineau, who was hero in 1834-36, found it in full career, and gives some curious particulars of it. " Even Judge Story," she says, " when I asked him whether there was not a public prosecutor who might not prosecute for the assault on Garrison, if the Abolitionists did not, replied that he had given his advice against any notice vhatever being taken of the outrage, — the feeling being so strong against the dis- cussion of slavery, and the rioters being so respectable in the city of Bos- ton." Prof. Ware told her that the plain truth was, " the citizens did not choose to let such a man as Gan-ison live among them,"— just as the citizens of Birmingham did not choose to have Dr. Priestley live among them and defend the rights of man. Apart, therefore, from his greatest work, of freeing the slaves. Garrison and the Abolitionists did another of almost equal importance; they wearied out and 6h.araed down the mob-spirit of the American people, which h.as almost wholly ceased since the period here spoken of. There were mobs in Boston against the Anti-slavery men of 18G1 — but they were slight affairs compared with the rage of 1835. That this mobocratic era, when public opinion, as the champion and demon of oppression, harnessed to the ploughshare of ruin the ignorant and interested opposers of the truth in every section of this heaven- favored, but then mob-cursed hand, has now passed, as we trust, forever away, we certainly cannot be sufficiently thankful. MASSACHUSETTS. would not hold their peace. The slaveholders threat- ened, flamed and thundered, — hnperiously, wrathfull3' demanding the instant suppression and extinction of the "incendiaries" and "fanatics" under the penalty of the dissolution of the Union, and the annihilation of Northern prosperity through a retributi\-e witluh-awal of Southern trade. On the other hand, the "Union-savers" and cotton-worshippers of the North, regarding South- ern favor and patronage as the sheet-anchor of all their commercial and political interests, eagerly and promptly responded to these clamors, made haste to prostrate themselves in the dust before the sla-\e power, and to promise to do its veriest bidding; made haste, indeed, at its instance, to lead the valiant editor of the " Libera- tor " through the streets of Boston at the rope's end ; to imbrue their hands in the blood of the intrepid Elijah P. Lovejoy of Alton, 111. ; and, a little later, under the auspices of the "fugitive slave law," having become kid- nappers and slave-hunters, to laj' their hands on the panting fugitive Burns, and, escorting him with United States bayonets through the streets of Boston, remand him to life-long and hopeless captivity. How shocking to the sensibilities of the future freemen of this land must seem this tale of humihation on the part of New Englanders, in terror of the crack of the slave-driver's whip ! All honor, however, to the Abolitionists, who, tliough detested and covered with odium, yet unflinch- ingly held their ground. * The heroic age had come again. A few there were, at least, in those sadly degen- erate days, who had not forgotten that the soil of New England had been consecrated to freedom, and that, cost what it might, it should still be preserved sacred, invio- late, to the rights of human nature. There were t\A0 stj-les of eloquence rife in those days. On the one hand, Hon. Edward Everett, the golden- mouthed, the eloquent representative of the elegant, cul- tured, calculating, doughface conservatism of the North, on the floor of the U. S. House of Representatives, could say (March 6, 1826) : " While it (slavery) subsists, where it subsists, its duties are presupposed and sanc- tioned by religion," — a gratuitous outburst which, in- stead of being gratefully hailed and welcomed by the • It should not be forgotten — though the fact is often overlooked — that there were active and radical Anti-slavciy men in some of the churches. It was quite the custom of some of the early Abolitionists, and particularly of the few blatant infidels among them, because certain of the wealthy and aristocratic churches were conservative and silent on this subject, to indulge in sweeping and bitter denunciations against allthc churches ; a course which was not only grossly unjust to some churches, but had the effect moreover of alienating multitudes of lovers of free- dom from the Anti-slavery society. Almost from the very first, in the Methodist church, at least, ardent Anti-slavery men have abounded ; while, in all the New England conferences, for over a generation, sLivocrats, was repelled and reprobated by them — John Randolph meeting it scornfully with his well-known stinging response: "I en^■y neither the head nor the heart of the man from the North who rises here to defend slaverj^ on principle." On the other hand, Hon. Horace Mann, also a son of Massachusetts, on the same floor of Congress, adverting to Mr. Webster's memoralile 7th of March speech (1850), lifting up his indignant voice, cried: " 'Twas then he laid his beaming forehead in the dust, and flung his clustered stars away." On the one hand, Daniel Webster, who, in days of old, had uttered so many good things for freedom, and whose majestic and impressive oratory certainly never seemed better fitted to his theme than when his voice had been given for the noble cause of Free Soil,t now, in the interest of national pacification, advises his party to " conquer their prejudices," and to " go in for the com- promise measures as a finality." On the other hand, young Sumner, whose words pealed through the nation, and smote on the ears of the rising generation like the blast of a trumpet, exclaimed : " Never more timelj- than now the maxim ' Fiat justitia mat coeJum ' — let justice be done though the heavens fall. Assured, however, that under these circumstances the heavens will never fall. Nay, rather, every act of justice iiobl3' done but adds another pillar to the skies — another link in that everlasting chain that holds heaven and earth and main." Meanwhile John G. Whittier, pre-eminentl}' the poet of freedom and reform, takes up the strain, and shouts back to the hauglity, clamorous, overbearing slaveholders : " Rail on, then, brethren of the South, Ye shall not hear the truth the less ; No seal is on the Yankee tongue— No fetter on the Y.inkce press. From our green mountains to the sea One voice shall thunder — wii are free I " Instigated by the repudiation of the Missouri Compro- mise, in the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and the atrocities perpetrated in connection with the rendi- tion of fugitive slaves ; as also the outrages committed hy " Border Ruffians " in Kansas, in their desperate en- deavor to bring that State into the Union as a slave h.ave been found many of the most eloquent and ardent champions of the slave the country has "produced. The Methodist Discipline has always been Anti-slavciy. The church split in 1841 on that issue, and an unhappy schism has since occurred in the s.ame interest. t " I frankly avow my unwillingness to do anything that shall extend the slavery of the African race on this continent, or add any other sUivc- holding St.ttcs to this Union. When I say that I regard slavery in itself a very great moral, social and political evil, I only use language which has been adopted by distinguished men, themselves citizens of slave- holding States. I shall do nothing, therefore, to favor or to encourage its extension." — Speech at Niblo's Garden, New York, March 15, 1837. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. State, — the more or less dormant Anti-slavery sentiment of the old 'Whig party, which had al'ovetime manifested itself bj' a firm, consistent, steadfast opposition to the scheme of annexing Texas as a slave State, and b}' the advocacy of the doctrine embodied in the fiimous Wilmot Proviso,* assumed in 1849 an active and organized form, under the title of the " Free Soil" part}-, and still later, in 1856, the Republican party. The fortunes of this party — known as the party of freedom, progress, justice, and reform — have been not a little influenced b}' the cotmsels and labors of such eminent statesmen of Massachusetts as Anson G. Burlingame, Henry Wilson, Governor Andrew, and — nomen clariissimum — Charles Sumner, who, early in the great struggle, not only by his affluent and scholarly tongue, but in his own person, afforded to the world a most impressive and memorable illustration of the " Barbarism of Slavery." The triumph of the Republican party in 1860, with Abraham Lincoln for its standard-bearer, was made the occasion of the slaveholders' rebellion. This resulted in the war for the Union, and the issue, Jan. 1, 1863, of the Proclamation of Emancipation, and, a little later, the Constitutional Amendment (April 8, l.sOt) abolishing and forever prohibiting slavery throughout the United States. Massachusetts in the War for the Union. Massachusetts shared in that grand uprising of the people, and unprecedented outbm-st of patriotic senti- ment occasioned hy the rebel assault on Fort Sumter. The verj' first shot sent crashing against the sides of that Union fortress convulsed and thrilled the Northern heart with the most intense excitement — with an enthusiasm of patriotism, perhaps without a parallel in history. And, now, that the Slaveholders' Confederacj' had thus • In 1846, Tvhile the vrwr n-ith Mexico was in progress, it became an important question what should be the Libor and sochl system of tlie territories about to be acquired from Mexico. While this question w;\s pending in Congress, Mr. David Vilmot of Pennsylvania, moved to add to a bill before the House the following : — " Provided, That as an express and fiind.imental condition to the ac- qnisition of any territory from the Republic of Mexico by the United States, by virtue of any treaty that may be negotiated between them, neither slavery nor involnnt.an.- servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territory, except for aime, whereof the party shall be first duly convicted." t As regiment after regiment, in rapid Buccession, was announced from old Massachusetts, the country was filled with enthusiasm. The WTiter chanced to be in a certain place of business, in a country town, of a neighboring State, on a certain morning during the early days of that struggle, when one of the workmen took up the morning paper and read the announcement, " The Masachusetis Thirty-Xinlh on its tent/ to the front." " God bless old Massachusetts ! " he ex- claimed, with the utmost warmth and emphasis. This sentiment was very general. X Robert G. Shaw, commander of the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth (colored) Regiment. From one of the oldest imd best families, actually- " appealed from sterile negotiations to the last argixment of aristocracies as well as kings, and had so given notice that the era of compromise and diplomacy' was ended," and that war — stern, grim, remorseless war — against the Union was begun, no State responded more promptly than Massachusetts to the country's call for militarj' and material aid. Her regiments, indeed, were among the very first to hurry forward, in obedience to the President's call, to the relief and defence of the beleaguered and imperilled capital. It was her troops that, as in the morning of the Revolution, were the first to resist the aggressions of tjTanny, and the first to shed their blood in defence of their country. All honor to the glorious and immortal Massachusetts Sixth ! No State, diu-ing the late civil war, sent more regiments into the field, in proportion to its population, composed of braver men, or officered by more gallant and patriotic leaders, than Massachusetts, t The lamvls of such heroes as General Bartlett, and of Colonel Robert G. Shaw, who fell at Fort Wagner, are imperishable. J On almost every battle-field of the Union repose her fallen, her honored sons. Nor were her daughters less nobly patriotic and self-denying. What monuments of their heroic toils were afibrded during those dark days, in connection with the history of the Sauitarj- and Chris- tian Commissions. Meantime, but for their brave words, their praj^ers, their white-winged love-messages to the absent ones on the " tented-field," as well as their soul- cheering presence, and personal services b}' the bed-side in t'nion hospitals, it is not easy to conceive how that fearful, desperate struggle could have ever been fought through to a successful issue. Nay, though eloquence § and poetrj- 1| have vied with each other in according to the patriotic virtue and ser- Colonel Shaw was one of the noblest and most promising yonng men of the State. He will always occupy a conspicuous and honored place in the annals of the war of the rebellion, not only in that, at a critical moment, he assumed a perilous responsibility; but, because identified prominently with that gre.at event in our history by which the title of colored men as citizen-soldiers was fixed beyond recall. As long as youthful dedication to a noble cause shall be honored in this land, America will not be unmindful of this hero who lies " buried with his niggers." § See Hon. Edward Everett's Gettysburg oration. Among other things this imperial discourse pays an eloquent and richly deserved tribute to the loyalty, and patriotic services of the Union women of not merely one, but all the Northern States. I " The maid who binds her warrior's sash. With smiles that well her p.iin dissembles ; The while beneath her drooping lash. One starry- tear-drop hangs and trembles. Though Heaven alone records the tear. And forae shall never know her story ; Her heart has shed a drop as dear. As ever dewed the field of glory. MASSACHUSETTS. vices of these noble women a cordial and emphatic recognition, the}- yet certain]}' have uttered no more than Tvas actually felt to be their due, particularly on the part of those brave men known in Union annals as the " Boys in Blue." Ill almost every cit}' and town of the Commonwealth, may be seen, occupying a more or loss conspicuous site, a granite obelisk.* crowned either with the image of Liberty, or the statue of the Union soldier, commemora- tive of our patriot dead ; signifying that, though bred to the arts of peace, the citizens of old Massachusetts — the alma mater of the Union — were not yet so insen- sible to the claims of their countr}-, and of the "Old Flag," but that when put in mortal peril, they, like their sires of yore, smiling on death, could say, ^^ Duke et decorum est ipro Patria mori." Old- Time Travelling. — The Poetry of Pillion and Stage. During the colonial period, travelling in New England was principalh' performed on foot, or on horseback, tlie women being mounted on pillions behind the men. Pedestrians were at first guided through the forests by blazed trees. The earliest roads were mere bridle-paths. As late as 1691, the blind husband of Elizabeth How, accompanied by his two young daughters, might have been seen journeymg on horseback, twice a week, along narrow, difficult, and sometimes dangerous roads, all the way from Topsfield to Boston to ^•isit the wife and mother confined there as a convicted witch. These piimitive bridle-paths at length gave way to cart-roads, some of which, having never attained to the dignity of highways, still remain clean-cut through leafy woods, and affording us romantic traces of the simplicity of earlier times. At the close of the colonial period, or of the seven- teenth century, roads, such as they were, radiated in every direction from the metropolis (Boston) to the sur- " The infe who girds the husband's sword, 'Mid little ones who weep and wonder; And bravely speaks the cheering word, ■V\'hat tho' her heart be rent asunder,— Doomed nightly in her dreams to hear The bolts of war around him rattle, Hath shed as sacred blood as e'er Was poured upon the field of battle. " The mother who conceals her grief, AVhile on her breast her son she presses ; Then breathes a few brave words and brief, Kissing the patriot brow she blesses, With no one but her secret God To know the pain that weighs upon her Sheds holy blood, as e'er the sod Received on freedom's field of honor. rounding villages, forming the media of communication with their inhabitants. These roads, ordinarily, were very poorly worked, and travel thereon was accordingly exceedingly laborious and uncomfortable ; a trip, nnder the circumstances, of only a few miles, amply sufficing, says an historian, to cure even the most inveterate case of dyspepsia. Even yet, however, the more distant hamlets, buried in the depths of the primeval forests, were reached only by tortuous paths indicated by marked trees, — fallen timber, as also ragged rocks, piled in heaps, or scattered about in indiscriminate confusion, often impeding the progress of the wayfarer in reaching these settlements. It is interesting to consider, just here, that, distant and difficult of access as they were, these localities, now so densely populated, thus early yet pos- sessed, for the yeomanr}' of our land, points of attrac- tion sufficient to allure them thither. " As many a scene, which, at the distance, looks desert and rock- bound, unfolds itself, when visited, into vales of rarest beauty," so, though nestled so far away among the hills, these embr}-o villages, in the Arcadian simplicity of those earlier times, seem yet, once reached, to have effectually charmed that brave and hardy race by whose diligent toil the wilderness, in time, was made glad, and the desert to rejoice and to blossom as the rose. Pleasure-carriages, save in Boston, were ver}' rarely seen until the middle of the eighteenth century. The chaise, so long the pleasure-vehicle of New England, was introduced about that time. The wagons of the farmers were, for the most part, ver}- rude structures, usually bedded solidly on the axles, so that riding in them, — they ordinarily ser^'cd the purpose of convey- ance "both to mill and meeting" — especially over the hideous highways of the period, rough as yet, with im- pulled stones and stimips, was far from being voluptu- ously easy. Stage-coaches were not introduced until near the close of the seventeenth century, the ver}- first of w-hich we have any account, being that of Lady Andros, wife of the provincial governor. Stage routes were gradually opened up throughout all parts of the coimtry, and became the scene, at once, of busy travel, of exciting competition on the part of differ- ent stage lines, and of ever-increasing commercial trans- portation, -f • No more imperial monument to the memory of the long procession of its unrctuming braves was, probably, ever erected by any munici- pality, than th.it erected recently by the city of Boston, and located on an eminence in its truly matchless Common. Some towns, aiming to combine utility with a patriotic duty, have erected '< Jlcmorial Halls," instead of obelisks. A notable, and most commendable instance of this has occurred in the old town of Dedham. t One of the most important and widely known of these stage routes was that from Boston to Providence, opened early in the present cen- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. On less frequented tbroroughfares, the daily arrival of the stage, with its burden of passengers and baggage, often piled high, was quite an incident in the history of the day. Its approach was indicated, or announced, by sonorous blasts upon a bora or bugle, carried for the purpose, while, as it descended the hill and, with its horses at full gallop, rounded up to the tavern door, a sensation was created throughout the whole otherwise quiet village, the loungers of the bar-room, meanwhile, and the small boys of the neighborhood hovering about, and regarding the stage-di'ivcr with no little amazement and envy. Indeed, the Jehu of those days was ordi- narily quite a noted character. In default of any others, these knights of the road occupied, in the popular imagi- nation, the plate al- lotted to the pop- ular hero. Mean time, the stjle n which they used to manage the "iib- bons," and the pi ide with which, -(Mth many a ringing crack of the -nhip, they drove their prancing steeds, four or six in hand, up to the dooi ot the waj-side inn, oi of the grand citj hotel, the obsened of all observers, was a striking fea- ture of a character now become obso- lete. Ancient stage travel, sluggish and loitering though it was, was by no means devoid of romance. Says a late writer: "In early times, say fifty years ago, the only means of public travel in these parts was the stage- coach, a thing of comfort in its day, sometimes a luxury tnry, and continued for at least a generation (from between 1S05 and ISIO, tol835, or 1836), over tlie old air-line, "Boston and Providence Tui-npike." Tlie stages nsed to start from the Exchange Colfee-house, Marlboro' Hotel, and Commercial CotTcc-housc, Boston, in the early morning, the passengers dining at South Walpole, and maUing close connections wiih the steamboats, which left Providence for New York at four o'clock, p. M. Sometimes, it is said, no less than fifty stages a day used to roll over this notable old turnpike. South Wiilpole being a kind of half- way station between the two tcnninal cities, with two good old-fashioned taverns, one long and favorably known as " Fuller's Tavcni " (the build- ing is still standing, though its capacious stable is going to decay), the other, directly opposite, as "Polly's"; horses were "changed" here, and ample refreshments for man and beast were provided. in travel. Well do we remember the time of stages which were run between Albany and Buffalo, with their ' relays of horses every ten or fifteen miles, the tooting | horn announcing its approach, the joll^' passengers who would alight for the noon meal, or to stretch their legs up some long hill, and then in again to ride on to their destination. Say what you will, the old stage- coach was an institution which, though it has gone, can never be forgotten." Sometimes, as intimated above, there would be sharp competitions on the routes, as, for example, on that between Boston and Providence, when the rival stages, enveloped in a cloud of summer's dust, vied with each other to see which should lead on entering anj- given city or town, — the excitement of the struggle, meantime, though not utterly de^•oid of risk, or unat- tended with peril, being fully shared b}- the passengers of the respective routes. But stage-coach- es and stage-driv- ers are now, for the most part, among the memories of the past. The h-on- horse, with his sinews of steel, and his heart of fire, has forever dis- tanced them. Says Holmes : — " Who in these d.iys, when all things go by steam. Recalls the stagc-eoach with its four-horse team. Its sturdy driver, who remembers him ? Or the old hmdlord saturnine aud grim." The typical country tavern, too, of those early days and simpler times, with its comely and dignified landlord, no longer exists, sa-\e in the form so well immortalized b^- Longfellow : — " A kind of old Hobgoblin hall. Now somewh.at fallen to decay, With weather-stains upon the wall And stairways worn, and crazy doors, And creaking and uneasy floors, And chimneys lai'ge and tUed and tall." Material, Educational and Eeligioxts Progress. Naturally the least fruitful of the Now England States, careful and laborious husbandly had yet, at an early MASSACHUSETTS. date, redeemed vast tracts of Massachusetts lands from barrenness, or from the grasp of the wilderness, and transformed the same into fertile and productive farms. During the early periods of the historj- of the Pro\'ince, manufactures and commerce had also made considerable and hopeful progress. Amidst the bustle and tumult of tha Revolution, however, not unnaturally-, business of all kinds was sadly interrupted. Domestic manufactures had especially fallen into decay. Cities and dwellings were dismantled and neglected. The half-tilled soil, and tlie ruined fences, which hardly kept out starving cattle, told of the hardships of the yeomanry, and of the omi- nous condition of their finances. Commerce, also, was cheeked. "Worse j-et : the country had been largely drained of its specie ; while the paper currency, sub- stituted in its place, had so far depreciated in value that creditors were reluctant to receive it for debts, and mer- chants in exchange for their commodities. But with the advent of peace, business naturally re- vived. Agriculture was encouraged ; swords, beaten into ploughshares, again turned up the fertile glebe ; while spears, transformed, were made to prune the boughs of fruitful trees. The fisheries and ship-building afforded employment for many hundreds of men ; while manufact- ures and commerce, once the business of the countrj-, had returned to their accustomed channels, and advanced with rapid strides. A special effort was made in 1786 to encourage domestic manufactures. The people, unable during the war to attend to these industries, had felt obliged meantime to depend for their supplies upon im- ports from Europe, — a condition of things soon nat- urallj^ involving indebtedness and great financial distress. To remedy this evil, and, at the same time, afford a new stimulus to home industry, an agreement was entered into b}' a number of the wealthiest and most respectable citizens to discourage the use and importation of foreign goods by wearing homespun clothes. Influenced by their example, it soon became the pride of all those who wished to be thought patriotic, even in the most fashion- able circles, to appear in garments of American fabrics. The consequence was, the spinning-wheel and the loom came once again to be busily plied in all parts of the State. At a somewhat later date, the legislature, by special enactments, gave public encouragement to such branches of industry as promised to be particular!}- useful. A duck manufactory was established in Boston, and a cotton manufactory in Beverly. The manufacturing of pot and pearl ashes was so increased in the interior of the State, under the public encouragement afforded, that not less tlian two hundred and forty establishments at once sprang up. Nails were also manufactured in large quan- tities, small forges having been erected in man}- a dwell- ing, at which even boys worked with their fathers in the long winter evenings, contributing thus an aporeciable quota to the income of the family. Earlj- in the present century the attention of the citi- zens of Massachusetts was directed to their domestic affairs, and arrangements were made for increasing the industrial resources of the State. Alread}- had woollen factories begun to be established, and by the encourage- ment of the legislature, at least thirty-four companies were incorporated for the manufacture of woollen and cotton goods. The incorjiorations for the latter purpose have, of course, since been greatly multiplied, and have, accordingl}-, in modem times, brought into existence a Lawrence, a Lowell, a Fall River, — where the hum of mj-riads of spindles, and the clank and thunder of other machinery, afford impressive evidence that, in manu- facturing industr}-, Massachusetts does, indeed, stand at the head of all States, and will compare favorably in this regard with any portion of the world. In this connection, mention should be made of an industry that, from quite an earh* day, has been char- acteristic particularly of the eastern section of the State, — the manufacture of boots and shoes. Almost everj- considerable -village in the eastern counties of Massachu- setts, supports one or more vast shoe maaufactories ; while some cities, as Lynn, are almost entirely dev ing the water into the vats, were numerous. The entire town has a population of 2,264. It has been the birthplace of many brave and accompHshcd men. Its seamen have been especiallj' noted for their daring, and many have held high positions in the navy and merchant service. Among the citizens of Yarmouth who have attained to eminence are Rev. Samuel West, D.D., (1730-1807) ; Rev. Timotiiy Aldeu, D.D. (1771-1830), an author, and a lineal descendant of John Alden of Plj-mouth ; Hon. John Reed (1781-18C0), member of Congress and heut.- governor of Massachusetts ; Hon. George Thatcher, ___. _^^ _ (1754-1824), judgeof ^J: ii-^ the Supreme Court of %^ Massachusetts ; Mr. 'iS-n Joshua Sears (1791- ^^ 18j7), a successful - merchant and capital- ist ; and Hon. John B. D. Cogswell, now the efficient presiding officer of the Massa- chusetts Senate. The late Hon. Amos Otis of this town, rendered valuable ser\-ice as a local historian and genealogist. Sandwich ( Shaw- me) is south-cast of ^sDwicH. Plymouth, in the north-western part of the County of Barnstable. It is not a compact town, but is composed of a number of villages, lying a considerable distance apart. Along the line of the railroad are Cohasset Narrows, Monument, North and West Sandwich, Sandwich, and Spring Hill, a part of which is called East Sandwich. South of the railroad, and somewhat remote, are South Sandwich, FarmersA-ille, Greenville, and Pocasset,* the latter being situated on the Wood's Holl Branch of the Old Colony Railroad. Sandwich proper is noted for its raral channs, and contains several churches, school-houses, and manu- facturing establishments. Among the latter are the • This quiet hamlet has recently become invested with a tragic inter- est, by roaton of the murder of Edith Freeman, a bc-iutiful cbild of five summers, by her father, Charles F. Freeman, who, led by blind faith and small reason, regarded himself as a second Abraham, required to offer this bloody sacrifice. MASSACHUSETTS. Boston and Sandwich Glass Works, employing several hundred hands, an establislniient for the manufacture of shoes, a tack and nail factory, and marble works. At West Sandwich (Scusset) is a machine-shop for the manufacture of cars, &c. North Sandwich, familiarly known as Herring River, is the residence of a remnant of the Herring Pond Indians, and contains the ancient burying-ground of that tribe. Here are the Manomct Iron Works, a manufactory for edge tools, &c. At Co- hasset Narrows quite a settlement has sprung up, the nucleus of an extensive village. At Spring Hill, in the eastern part of the town, is the " Old Qu:iker Jloeting- Housc," a prominent landmark. Hero, for many years, was kept the celebrated boarding-school of Paul "V\'mg, Esq. Lakes well stocked with bass, perch, and pickerel are numerous in the south part of the town, and deer inhabit the adjacent woods. Sandwicli has a population of 3,110. Seven post-offices, and an equal number of railroad stations, are within its limits. The town is more agi'icultural than otherwise, and includes many productive farms. The educational interests are well sustained, and many persons of high reputation have received their early and academic education here. Thomas Prince (1G87-1758), an able divine, and author of " New England's Annals," and Nathan Prince (1G98-1748), an eminent scholar, were natives of this town. Fai.moutii (Succannesset) is located in the south- western part of the county, upon the eastern side of Buzzard's Bay, and on the north shore of Vineyard Sound. In the western part of the town, a range of hills of moderate elevation extends pnrallel with the shore of Buzzard's Ba3-. Tlie land in other portions of the township is generally level, and the soil as good as any on Cape Cod. From mam- points charming views of mari- time scenery are obtained. Nobska Hill, near the east- ern entrance to "Wood's IIoll, on which there is a light- house, commands a fine view of Vineyard Sound, through which vessels are constantly passing, the hills of Tisbury on Martha's Vinej'ard, and the picturesque shores of Buzzard's Bay. There are five villages con- taining post-offices — Falmouth, North, East and West Falmouth, and Wood's Holl. Falmouth Heights is a noted watering-place, a mile south-east of the main vil- lage, and has broad parks and avenues, a fine hotel, and manj' pleasant residences. Falmouth Village is near a beautiful beach, sweeping westward in the form of a crescent, and terminating in an irregular promontory near tlic harbor of Wood's Holl. It has the reputation of being one of the handsomest villages in New Eng- land, and contains a natic-.ial bank, churches, the Law- rence Academy, excellent graded schools, and a news- paper ofiice. At Way numerous coves, harbors and inlets. The snrfaea is of a -varied character, and ponds, covered in tlie summer with the beautifid white lily, abound. Great Hill, near the principal village, is the highest point of land, and, from its summit in clear weather, Nantucket can be seen without the aid of a glass. Changes along the sea-line of the township are constantly occumng, and the coast is gradually wearing away. By reason of storms, and the strong currents, which set in and out of the harbors, sand-bars are con- tinuallj- changing. * A narrow beach, the extremity of which is called Sandj' I^oint, or Cape Malabarre, extends south-west ten miles toward Nantucket. This beach is in fact an island ; a breach, forming the northernmost entrance to Old Harbor, having been made bj- the tide. The emplo3"ment of the men iy mainly upon the sea, and manj' are in command of ships, sailing from Boston and New York to various foreign ports. The town has five postal centres, fourteen schools, capacious churches, and a weekly newspaper. The population is 2,274. . t,^: Unlike other Cape towns, Chatham is not upon the railroad line, but con- nection is made with the C. C. R. R. at Harwich b}' stage coaches. Much a'tcntion is paid to educa- -- . l.^ tion, and the inhabitants have a just reputation for intelligence and refine- ment. Wellfleet, known in Indian language as Pononokanet, is an important fishing and commercial town, extending across Cape Cod, north of Eastham, of which town it formed a part for many years. There are two postal villages, and the town contains a savings bank, three cliurehes, a high school, and thirteen other public schools. It has I 1 a population of 1,988. Mackerel and cod fishing, and . I the oyster trade, are the prominent pursuits. The citizens are proverbial for enterprise, and many have I j acquired wealth in the face of no ordinary difficulties. The late Dr. Thomas N. Stone, at one time a member • It is fnid that when the English first settled on the Cape, an island was located nine miles ofT the coast, called Webb's Island. Its area was some twenty acres, and it was mostly covered with cedar, the in- habitants of Nantucket gathering firewood ihcre. About 180 years since, the island disappeared, and a huge rock on its surface settled to the bottom of the sea. t There is a traditional story of a man, who often visited this region, and who was supposed to be one of Bellamy's crew. It was thought [ that he knew where some of the treasure of the pirates was secreted. of the Massachusetts Senate, was one of the citizens of AVelllleet, whose memory is revered far lieyond the narrow limits of the county, that was proud to claim him as one of its noblest sons. His "Cape Cod Rhjmes" breathe the true poetic fire, and have caused many " to read over again the unwritten poems of childhood, and bring back the days^ when, in life's earl}- morning, even Cape Cod was beautiful." In 1718, the fleet of the noted pii-ate Bellamj- was wrecked near the table-land of AVellfleet. From time to time, portions of the wreck have been seen at low tide, and coins, made in the reign of William and Mary, have been picked up on the beach, f Truro (Pamet), called for a few j'cars previous to its receiving its present name, Dangcrfield, on account of its e.^qiosure to the vicissitudes of the ocean, is anextrcmcl}' narrow town, exteuiliug across the Cape, immediatclj- s-a^^*-r?S-~'i^?? --^^ -3? - north of Wellfleet. From Small's Hill, in the eastern part of the town, the ocean view, especiall}' after a storm, is very grand. One of the most prominent objects of the landscape, is the noted Highland Lighthouse, on an eminence at North Truro. The Pounds, so called because wrecks are pounded to pieces against them, are high, soUd, and perpendicular banks of clay on the eastern shore, and, wliile they have been, from time immemorial, the especial dread of sail- and that he came to this place for supplies of coin. Aged people related of him, that often in the stillness of night, he would give utterance in his sleep to profane and boisterous language, as if he were contending with some terrible enemy. When allowed the hospitality of a private dwelling, if the Bible was produced for the customary evening prayers, he would seem to be much disturbed, and hastily retire. It is said, that, af^ur his death, which occurred during a wild and tempestuous night, a girdle, heavy with gold, was found on his body. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. ors, they serve as an effectual barrier against the encroachments of the ocean. Truro, on the Pawmet River, is the most important of the three postal villages. The Cape Cod Railroad extends through the town, and, in one place, passes over a viaduct fifty-five feet in height. Population, 1,098. Orleans, the Indian Namskaket, long known as the south precinct of Eastham, is situated between that town and Brewster. The shore line of tliis, like that of neighboring towns, is undergoing constant changes from the action of the waves and strong tidal currents, and the modern charts of this region are widely at variance with those of a half century since. * Orleans has three postal villages, eight public schools, four churches, and a population of 1,373. Brewster (Sawkattuckett), named in honor of "William Brewster, one of the Pilgrims of the " Blayflower," occupies the inner side of the bend of the elbow of the Cape. The surface is quite uneven, and is diversified by beautiful sheets of fresh water. Long Pond, the largest of these, covers 778 acres, and its outlet is a stream called Herring River. The soil in the northern part of the town is nioderatel}' heavy, and affords good tillage land. There arc some excellent orchards and fine cran- berrj- meadows. The men are chiefly employed upon the sea, in coasting and foreign vo\ages. They are dis- tinguished for nautical skill and enterprise, and man}' have risen to high positions in the merchant service. The town has four postal villages, and 1,200 inhabitants. Nine schools, two churches, a ladies' library, and two hotels, are among the appointments of the place. Eastham, a town of 039 inhabitants, and originally called Nauset, extends across Cape Cod, north of Or- leans and Brewster. It is indented b\' inlets, and con- I tains several ponds, the largest of which is Great Pond, upon whose shore Jlilcs Standish and his little band of explorers encamped, on the night of Dec. 6, 1020. Bil- lingsgate Point, on the west side of the town, is now a • An example of the shifting nature of the sand is furnished by the , wreck of the Lunilon ship " Sparrow Hawk," lost in one of the harbors of Orleans, in 1G2G, and covered by mud and sa;ul for more than two centuries. This wreck w.as disclosed m 1SG3, and some of the parts were put together, and exhibited in Boston. The wreck soon dis- appeared, and, centuries hence, may again be revealed. It is re- markable that, wliile the disaster occurred inside the harbor, after a lapse of two hundred and thirty-seven years, it appeared outside that harbor. mere sandy islet or beach, the sea having washed away ! the istliiiuis that connected it with the main land. A light-house was erected on tliis point in 1822, and, in 1838, three others were placed on the Atlantic side of the town, and have proved of great service to mariners. The grounds of the " Old Eastham Camp Meeting" were on high land near the shore of the bay, ni a beauti- t'lil tract of woodland known as " Millennial Grove." The first camp meeting was held here in 1828, but se\eral years since, the meeting was removed to Yar- mouth. JlAsnPEi;, formerly Marsiipek, is situated in the south- western part of Barnstable County upon Vineyard Sound. It covers some sixteen square miles of territory, quite largely woodland. The surface is level, the soil light and santly, but possessing considerable fertility, and adapted to the growth of corn and cereals. Several ponds, well stocked with fish, give variety to the land- scape. The JIashpee River, rising m a lake of the same name, is noted for its herring and trout fisheries. The town has two public schools, and a church, located in a beautiful grove two miles from the principal village. Near this church is an ancient bur3-ing-groiind, the graves of the tenants being covered with long grass and shrubs. Two other Indian burial places are in the township, f There are no Indians of unmixed blood now living in the town. The last of the race of purely aboriginal ex- traction was Isaac Simon, who died more tlu'.n a score of j-ears since. The present population is about 300, em- bracing some Indians of mixed blood, a promiscuous race of colored people, and a few whites. These are mostl}' emi)loyed in farming, fishing, and sea-fariiig pur- suits, are generally peaceable, and are susceptible to moral and religious influences. Their patriotism is shown by the fact that several men enlisted in the army during the late war. The Indians of Mashpee rendered eflicieiit service in the French and Indian War, and during the Revolution. It is to be hoped that this people, so faintly representing the original tribe, may long exist to remind their white brethren of the faithfulness of the Mashpee tribe to the early settlers upon the Cape. t Among the pastors of this flock in the wiMerness, were Rev. Gideon Hawley, a graduate of Yale, in the class of 1749, .at one tmie mission- ary to the Iroqnois, and subsequently chaplain of the regiment of Col. Gridlcy in tlio French and Indian War; and Rev. Phmcas Fish, a gmd- uate of Harvard College, who received his appointment from tlic authorities of that institution as trustees of the " Williams Fund "' This was a legacy of Rev. Daniel Williams, of London, " to be paid yearly to the college in Cambridge in New England, to promote the eon- version of the poor Indians of Mashpee." MASSACHUSETTS. BERKSHIRE COUNTY. BY J. E. A. SMITH. Tn!i: histoiy of Berkshire, the most westerly- county of Massachusetts, has a character largely' due to its border position and peculiar phj-sical gcographj'. Ill the opinion of the geographer, Guj-ot, the gi-oat inland topographical feature of New England is a double belt of highlands, not simply ranges of hills, but vast swells of land, separated almost to their bases b}' the deep and broad valley of the Connecticut, and rising to an average elevation of 1,000 feet above the level of the sea. Each has a width of 40 or 50 miles, from which, as a base, mountains rise in chains or in iso- lated groups to an altitude of several hundred, some- times several thousand, feet more. The sj'stem which surmounts the western upheaval, and bears the general name of the Green Mountains, is composed of two prin- cipal chains, more or less continuous, and several short- er ones. On the east, the Iloosac Jlountains present an un- broken wall, with an average altitude of some 800 feet. The Taconic chain on the east is — with two im- portant exceptions — quite as uninterrupted and of some- what greater average altitude. On the north the rude hills of the Vermont border maintain nearly the same hci^^ht. Some three miles south of these hills, with the rich valley of the Hoosac River intervening, there rises, midway between the Taconic and Iloosac ranges, and be- tween the villages of Williamstown and Adams, Grej-- lock, the highest summit of Massachusetts, and the head of a short range of hills which extend to the north line of the town of Pittsfield, a length of about 15 miles. At the town of Egrcmont, in the south-west part of the county, the Taconics send oflT a spur •which terminatos in the south part of Pittsfield, separating the valley of Richmond from that of the Housatouic. The bed of this river, which, where it enters the county at Shef- field, is 800 feet above the sca-lcvel, rises to 1,000 feet at Pittsfield, where it divides, the eastern branch finding its fountain-head in the north-cast part of that town ; while the western, passing through Pontoosuc Lake, in Pittsfield and Lancsborough, rises 100 feet more to its head waters in New Ashford. On the same valley-summits with the two branches of the IIous- atonic, and within a few feet of them respoctivclj-, the east and west branches of the IIoos.".o find their sources, and flowing north, the foimer to North Adams, the latter to Williamstown, bend at a sharp angle to the west, and uniting at Williamstown, find their way through a gap in the Taconics to the Hudson at Hoosac, N. Y. The Hoosac River has a descent of 600 feet with- in the county, and the Housatonic an equal descent ; in addition to which the latter has several tributary brooks large enough to furnish valuable water power ; while on the mountain-tops or in the valleys, there are a hundred lakelets varj'ing in area from twentj' acres to a thousand, which, either with or without artificial enlarge- ment, serve as reservoirs. Nature seems thus to have designed Berkshire for a manufacturing district. The region thus described has an area of a little over 950 square miles. The four cardinal bounda- ries of Berkshire lie along four dilTerent States. This border position has even now no little influence upon the character and fortunes of its people ; but in its earliest days, when Vermont and Northern New York were either a wilderness or very thinlj' settled, and when, as in the French and Indian and the Rovolutionarj- wars, Canada was a hostile province, Berkshire was a frontier region in quite another sense, and its history correspond- ingly interesting. The mountain barriers, of which we have spoken, of course present frequent passes available for highways, which in time were improved bj' turnpikes, and, subse- quently, bj- railroads. The territorj' now Berkshire County was, before its settlement by the English, the hunting-ground of the Mohcgan Indians, whose ordinary residence was in what is now the county of Columbia, N. Y., but who, every spring and autimin, visited the vaUey of the Housatonic and the adjacent hills, to hunt, trap, and fish. The tribe had once been powerful, boasting a thousand warriors, but it had been greatly reduced by its warfare with the Six Nations, and seems only to have escaped extinction bj- the timelj' arrival of the whites, to whom thej" became HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. firm and lasting allies. Previous to the settlement of Berkshire, they had sold much of their fertile land along the Hudson, and a few of them had begun to occupy througliout the year, their old spring and autumn hunt- ing-grounds among the hills. This native population was exceedingly scanty, but the tribal organization was perfect, and their title to the soil so well defined, as to be seldom, if ever, disputed by the colonial au- thorities. Owing to the insecurity of titles to land beyond the Connecticut Elver, to which both Massachusetts and New York, under conflicting royal jurisdictions laid claim, population for a long time lingered to the eastward of that river. On the 30th of January, 1722, Joseph Par- sons and 176 other inhabitants of Hampshire County, petitioned the General Court for two townships of land, situated on the Housatonic Eiver, at the south-west corner of the Massachusetts patent. In response, the General Court granted two townships, each to be seven miles square. John Stoddard, Ebenezer Pomeroy, and Henry Dwight, of Northampton, Luke Hitchcock of Springfield, and John Ashlej' of Westfield, — all influential citizens, and doubtless among the prompters of the petition, — were appointed commissioners to extinguish, bj- purchase, the Indian title to the tract selected ; to divide it ; to grant land to settlers ; and generally to supervise the settle- ment. Thej' were required to reserve lands to be con- ferred in fee upon the first settled minister, for the sup- port of schools and of " gospel ordinances ; " conditions which were attached to all subsequent grants of town- sliips in "Western Massachusetts, and from which many towns still derive a fund for the two latter purposes. The commissioners were also directed to exact from each settler the sum of thirty shillings for every one hundred acres of land received by him, towards the cost of purchase from the aboriginal proprietors. The few Mohcgans then resident in the vallej- lived in small vil- lages on the sites of the present towns of Great Barring- ton, Sheffield, Stockbridge, New Marlborough, Tyring- ham, Pittsfield, and Dalton, the larger collection being on the territory covered by the new grant. Those at the north and the south appear from old deeds to have owned their lands separately ; indeed, there seem to have been several distinct proprietorships. John Konka- pot, the principal man among the Mohegans of Massa- chusetts, lived in the south part of the present town of Stockbridge, near a small brook which still bears his name. He appears to have had some special leadership among his people in that vicinit3- ; and, with twenty other heads of families, he met the commissioners at Westfleld on the 2.5th of April, 1724, and conveyed to them the two townships, in consideration of £450 in money, three barrels of cider, and thirty quarts of rum. These two townships included the present towns of Sheffield, Great Barrington, Mount Washington, Egre- mont, and Alford, the larger part of Stockbridge and West Stockbridge, and a great portion of Lee. The Indians having, however, no thought of abandon- ijig their old homes, reserved a considerable quantity of this land. The best lay near the present dividing line of Sheffield and Great Barrington, on the south bank of a beautiful stream, then known as White River, but which the poet Bryant has since given to world-wide fame as Green River, his own favorite haunt in Berkshire. Here the Indians had a small village which they called Scatehook. The 177 persons who signed the petition of 1722 did not thereby indicate an intention of becoming actual settlers on the lands asked, and they were, therefore, not given to them, but to commissioners in trust. Prior to their purchase from the natives, this board met at Springfield and received the names of fifty-five persons to whom lands, in lots of from 200 to 1 ,000 acres, were promised upon their complying with the prescribed con- ditions ; and in 1 725 Captains John Ashley and Ebenezer Pomeroy made a general division of the lower township, especially that part lying along the river. The Lower Housatunnuk township was naturally the most attractive section of the valley to the agriculturist, as the climate, considerably milder than that of the north, gives the farmer a longer season, and the land is for the most part rich interval, — much of it fertile meadow. The Housatonic, for the greater portion of its course in the township a quiet stream sis or eight rods wide, in the extreme south tumbles over some conspicuous falls. And it is a singular fact, that of the multitude of water- privileges in Berkshire, the onlj- one of value which remains unused is this near the first spot settled in the county. It was little, however, that New England settlers in 1726 cared for water-power, so that they had enough to run a saw and grist mill, such as were soon built at Ashley Falls. But farmers soon began to flock into the new settlement from the Connecticut Valley, and chiefly from Westfield. The principal names among them being Noble, Austin, Kellogg, Ashley, Westover, Pell, Callcn- der, Corben, Iluggins, Smith, Ingersoll, Root, and Dewey. By an act of the General Court, approved June 24, 1733, the "Lower Housatunnok Township," eight miles long on the river, and wide enough to make its extent equivalent to seven miles square, was incor- porated as the town of Sheffieltl, so named by Gov. MASSACHUSETTS. Belcher, probably as a complimeut to Lord SheflBeld, Duke of Buckinghamshire. The first town meeting — the first west of the Con- necticut VaUcy — was held at the house of Obadiah ' Koble, Jan. 16, 1734 (new style). In the summer of that year the people built a meeting- house, and the first church was organized Oct. 22, 1735.- On the same day Mr. Jonathan Hubbard of Sunderland was ordained pastor. Mr. Hubbard, who was the first college graduate, as well as the first clergj-man, to settle in Berkshire, was a descendant, in the fourth generation, from George Hubbard, the first of the family in America. The Stockbridge Indian Mission. In the year 1734, when population had advanced, to some small extent, into the present limits of Egremont and Stockbridge, an undertaking was commenced, of striking interest in itself, and whose success proved of vast advantage, not onl}' to the security of the settle- ments on the Ilousatonic, but that of all Western Massa- chusetts and Connecticut. This was no less than an at- tempt to christianize and civilize the Mohegan and other Indians, beginning with those under the immediate mfluence of Konlcapot ; and circumstances conspired to bring this about in a manner which reallj' seemed to justify the use of the old-fashioned New England adjec- tive, " providential." Rev. Samuel Hopkins, the pro- jector, and afterwards the historian of the mission, was, in 1734, pastor of the church in AVest Springfield, where he incidentlj' learned that Konkapot " was strictlj' tem- perate, very just and upright in his dealings, a man of prudence and industr3-, and sincerely inclined to embrace Christianity." But there were two obstacles in his way : one was the fear of ostracism b}' his people ; but the other, and the greater, was the evil lives of nominal Christians. Upon this, Mr. Hopkins resolved that the gospel should be preached to them in such purit}' and power, as should overcome the prejudice created bj- those who were only Christians in name. He had just learned that the British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts had placed funds at Boston, in the hands of a commission, consisting of Gov. Belcher, Dr. Benjamin Colman, Dr. Sewall, and others. He now conferred with Col. John Stoddard of Northampton, " The Great New Englander," and Rev. Stephen Wil- liams, D. D., one of "the Redeemed Captives," — the two men better informed than anj- others concerning the state of the Indians within reach of civilized influences. It was found that, although missionaries were stationed at the forts, " nothing had been done towards civilizing the natives, — worse than nothing towards christian- izing them"; and Rev. William Williams, of Hatfield, who had also boon taken into council, wrote to the com- missioners at Boston, who at once entered warmly into the project, and requested Mr. Hopkins and Dr. Wil- liams to ascertain the feelings of the Indians upon the subject. Konkapot and Umpachenee, his sub-chief, going to Springfield, about this time, to formally receive com- missions as captain and lieutenant, which had been bestowed upon them by Gov. Belcher, the opportunity was seized to confer with them upon the greater matter in hand. Konkapot earnestly favored the plan, and Umpachenee pledged himself not to oppose it ; but both thought it essential that the tribe should be visited, and the consent of all its members gained. In July, there- fore, Dr. Williams and Rev. Nehemiah Bull of West- field, — Mr. Hopkins being detained bj- illness, — ^^sited Ilousatonic, and presented the subject to the Indians there, who, after deliberating four days, as befitted the gravitj' of the suliject, gave a hearty assent to the establishment of the mission. Upon this, the commissioners at Boston authorized Messrs. Bull and Williams to seek out a suitable mis- sionary', offering him a yearl}' salarj' of £100. In their search thej' were remarkablj' happj-, Providence direct- ing them at once to Mr. John Sergeant, a native of Newark, N. J., at that time a tutor in Yale Col- lege, but who had been heard to say that he would prefer the life of a missionary' among the Indians to anj' other. He reached, what we will call b}- its present name, Great Barrington, on the 13th of October, and preached his first sermon to about twent}' Indians. The first convert was his interpreter, Pau-paiun-nuk, who was baptized October 17, as Ebenezer ; the name being considered significant. The profession of faith and the covenant, framed for the occasion, was brief, but com- prehensive. It was arranged that, during the winter, the Indians should collect at Great Barrington, where a few English famiUes had settled, with whom Mr. Sergeant could find board. On the 21st of October, the Indians, with light hearts and willing hands, began the erection of a build- ing for a church and school-house ; around which they built huts for themselves, in which they were soon settled for the winter. November 3d, Sunday, Mr. Sergeant preached to a largely increased audience, and, for the first time, by the aid of an interpreter, led them in prayer. Soon after, a school was opened in the new building. Timothy Woodbridge, of West Springfield, a J'oung man well quaUfied for the work of teaching and cat- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. echising, was engaged as assistant : a man ■who after- ward became one of the most active magistrates and prominent citizens of the county of Berkshire. Meantime, the mission encountered vexatious ob- stacles. What with tlie determination of the Dutchmen, on the New York border, to furnish the Indians ardent spirits, the natural wealcness of the natives in the direc- tion of intemperance, and their tendency to indulge in their hideous orgies, the godly chief and the missionaries associated with him, often found their patience and wits sorely taxed to surmount all the difficulties and discour- agements in their way. Yet, under God, they did so. On the 31st of August, 1735, Mr. Sergeant was solemnly ordained, at Deerfield, as missionary to the Housatonic Indians : the presence of His Excellency Gov. Belcher, with large committees from the Council and the General Court, giving dignit}' to the occasion, and the Indians accepting him as their pastor by rising when the question was put to them by the Rev. Dr. Wil- liams. Before the end of the year 1735, over forty persons, including the two chiefs, had received the rite of bap- tism. Indeed, so scrupulous was Capt. Konkapot, that he insisted upon being re-named in the English form. A little more than a year had elapsed since the estab- lishment of the mission, and a church had been formed from converted heathen, which still flourishes, although at a distance of more than a thousand miles from its birth-jjlace. Heathenish customs had been renounced by nearly all the Indians of the Housatonic Vallej-, and they had placed themselves under the pastorate of the missionaries as at least nominal Christians. The}' had solemnly resolved to have ' ' no more trading in rum " ; fortj- children were attending school, and several adults were learning to read, and the reputation of the mission, among the Hudson River Mohegans, and to some extent bej'ond that river, was such, that there was begin- ning to be a disposition to place themselves under its immediate influence. Meantime, with a view to averting the inevitably demoralizing tendencies of seeking employment abroad during the summers, and of spending their time in idle- ness during the winters, through the influence of Col. Stoddard, Gov. Belcher, and others, in 1706, a township of land, or " reserv-ation," embracing 23,040 acres, was laid out within the limits of the Upper Housatonnuk township, and including the present towns of Stock- bridge and West Stockbridge, and these Christian Ind- ians were induced to take up farms, and settle thereon. Homes, and the care of flocks and herds of one's own, are indispensable alike as means of grace and conditions of civilization. Several leading English families also settled among them. In July, 1737, Jlr. Sergeant, Lieut. Umpachenee, and a large delegation of Indians, by invitation of Gov. Belcher, visited Boston, where thej- exijressed their sat- isfaction by relinquishing their interest in one mile of land on each side the road — the first over the Iloosac Mountains — which had been made in 1735, from AVcst- field to Sheffield, via Blandford. They added a request that the General Court would aid tliem in building a meeting-house and school-house ; and in the following January, at the instance of the governor, the General Court ordered that a meeting-house, thirty feet broad by forty long, together with a school-house, should be built under the direction of Col. Stoddard of Northampton, Mr. Sergeant, and Mr. Woodbridge. This meeting-house was a plain, two-story building, and stood on the present village green, where, at this writing — in the summer of 1878 — Hon. David Dudley Field is marking the site by the erection of an orna- mental stone tower, seventy-five feet in height, to be surmounted by a chime of bells. In this buililing Mr. Sergeant preached, both in the Mohegan and English tongue. When the sacrament was first administered, in June, 1738, there were eleven Indian communicants. The establishment of the mission upon a promising basis excited a wide interest among English and Ameri- can Christians, which was manifested in manj' waj'S.* In 1732, Rev. Isaac Hollis of Loudon wrote to Dr. Colman of Boston, offering f £-0 annually for the sup- port of a fourth missionar}' in New England ; but so little had been the success of pre\-iou3 efforts there that Dr. Colman advised him to send his monej' to New Jersoj'. Mr. Hollis did not adopt the suggestion, and in 1735 Dr. Colman, reassured hj the success of the Stockbridge mission, wrote to accept the original offer. The result was a promise by IMr. Hollis to support twelve Indians, to be educated, at an annual cost for each of £25, New England currency. This led to several experiments in education. At the time of Mr. Sergeant's death, in 1749, there • Among others, the people of Boston presented it with a conch-shell, nearly a foot long, which, being blown by Duvid Nan-nan-nee-ka-nuk .ind other Indians, suCiccd to eiimmon the worshippers to church. Rev. Frr.ncis Ayccongh, D.B., Chaplain to the Prince of Wales, sent to Mr. Sergeant a copy of the Holy Scriptures, in two largo folio volumes, which are still in the possession of the church, at its present home in Minnesota. + This mission doubly repaid its whole cost to the township and to the county, by the protection it afforded during the French and Indian wars, not only to the Massachusetts, but to the Connecticut border towns as well. Missions have always thus indirectly vastly more than paid their way. MASSACHUSETTS. were 218 mission Indians, divided into 53 families. One hundred and eight3'-two had been baptized, and 42 were communicants. Of the 53 families, 20 owued houses built in the English stjle. Mr. Sergeant's successor, the groat theologian and philosopher, Ecv., afterwards President Jonathan Ed- wards, was ordained August 8, 1751. Although an ardent friend of the Indians, and conscientious in ful- filling his duties towards them. President Edwards did not yet possess those pre-eminent qualifications for the place exhibited b}' his predecessor. While resident here he wrote his grand essay " On the Will," a labor pre- supposing an absorption of the mental faculties incon- sistent with such devotion to the mission work as Mr. Sergeant displayed, and the exigencies of the case de- manded. Under his pastorate the number of Indian famihes in the mission was reduced to fortj'-two. He resigned to accept the presidency of Princeton College. President Edwards was succeeded by Rev. Stephen West, D.D., a native of Tolland, Conn., and a gradu.ate of Yale College, who was ordained at Stockbridge, June 13, 1759. His successor, in 1775, was Mr. John Ser- geant, son of the first missionary. He was devoted to his work, but the missionary spirit in the community at large was no longer what it had been. The white popu- lation increased in the township granted to the Indians ; and, although the latter also increased, they early found that their interests were no longer paramount. The Oneidas had given them a township upon their roser\a- tion in the Province of New York, and the question of their removal to it was agitated before the Revolutionary War ; but their services in that struggle were too valua- ble to be lost to Massachusetts. In the stagnation of business which followed the close of the war, the}', how- ever, like their white friends, looked to emigration west- ward for relief. The general dcmoraUzation of society at that time was not favorable to their religious progress in their old homo, and by general consent they rcmo^-cd to the Oneida township in 1785. The number of Indians at this time was about 420, but the number of commu- nicants had shrunk to 16, who were dismissed, to fonn a new church under the pastorate of Mr. Sergeant, in their new homo, which they called New Stockbridge.* The first great event which, subsequently to 1735, affected the settlement, was the first French and Indian war, which commenced in 1744. When Sheffield was • White popniation, with its evil influences, again approaching them, they removed, between 1S23 and 1820, to Green Bay, on tlie west side of Liilie Michigan; thence they migrated, in 1833, to the east shore of Liilic Winnebago, in Wisconsin : and still again from that point to Minnesota. founded in 1725-26, — and for several j-ears later, — its nearest civilized neighbors on the south were in Litch- field, Conn., and on the east, at Westfield, thirtj' miles off. Next west of the boundary line was the county of Albany. The whole territory tying to the north- ward, and including the present State of Vermont, was a wilderness. Thus isolated from civilization were the earliest settlements of Berkshire. Mean- time the French claimed the greater part of the county of Alban}-, and, in 1731, seized Crown Point on the west side of the southern extremity of Lake Champlain, where they erected Fort Frederick, and established a post, from which hundreds of parties of Indians, coming down the lake, with frequent admix- tures of French soldiers were sent out on merciless raids. In 1744, in addition to those alreadj' mentioned, settle- ments had been commenced in Alford, Egremont, T^-ringham, and New Marlborough, — all, together with Sheffield and Great Barrington, tying in a compact bod}', and more southerly than Stockbridge. The entire popu- lation may have been over a thousand, while at Stock- bridge there were a dozen English families, and about two hundred Indians. The first apprehension of the government of Massa- chusetts was that the French and Indian war-parties would renew their inroads from Crown Point, through the valley of the Hoosac, above the Greylock range, and thence down the Housatonic Valley to the settlements below Stockbridge ; or, over the mountain under which the Hoosac Tunnel now runs, to the vallej- of the Deer- field. The General Court, therefore, ordered the construction of a line of forts between the Connecticut and Hudson rivers, which wore located by their commissioners, as Fort Shirley at Heath, Fort Pclliam at Rowe, and Fort Massachusetts at Hoosac, in the present town of North Adams, near the WOliamstown hue. Tliore was at this time among those who had agreed to take part in the settlement of Pittsfield, a man who aftcrw.ards was for many j-ears the most prominent citizen of that place, and one of the most pronunent in the couutj- — William Wil- li.ims, the son of the pastor at Weston, and the grandson of the eminent divine of Hatfield, both bearing the same name with himself. He was born at Weston in 1711, and graduated at Harvard College in 1729. He studied medicine and began the practice, but abandoned it "as by no moans consonant with his genius." He was sub- sequentl}' in mercantile business in Boston, with Gen. Oglethorpe in his expedition against St. Augustine, and under Admiral Vernon against Carthagena. He was HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. connected with the family of Col. John Stoddard, one of the original proprietors of the township which became Pittsfield, and was oflercd extraordinary inducements to settle in it. The war inten-upting that project, he accept- ed a captain's commission in Col. Stoddard's regiment of militia, and was detailed to construct the forts just mentioned. This duty he performed to the complete satisfaction of the commissioners, and while engaged in it was promoted to the rank of major. The officer highest in rank at that time in Western Massachusetts was Brig. Gen. Jos. Dwight of Brook- field, who had won distinction as commander of the ordnance at the siege of Louisburg, and whom we shall soon find the leading citizen and magistrate of Stockbridge and Great Barrington. On his return home he raised a regiment, to wliich Lieut. Col. Williams, recentl}' promoted, was assigned. Li the summer of 1746, Fort Massachusetts, which, strangely, had been left insufficiently garrisoned, while in charge of the gallant sergeant, John Hawks, was attacked by a companj- of eight hundred or nine hundred French and Indians, under Gen. Rigaud de V.-iudreuil. After a vigorous but futile defence, the fort surrendered. The gaiTison, consisting of men, women, and children, were taken prisoners, conveyed to Canada, and, subse- quently, for the most part redeemed. The fort was, of course, burned by De Vandreuil, but was rebuilt in tlie following spring by Col. William Williams, to whom Gen. Dwight assigned four com- panies for that purpose. It was completed, and the command transferred, June 29, to Maj. Ephraun Wil- liams, afterward the founder of AVilliams College. The war closed in 1748, but in the short and troubled peace of five years which followed, the settlements on the Ilousatonic made small progress, although they received some notable citizens. A few families moved into Lenox, Lanesborough, and Sandisfield, and a re- spectable plantation was established at Pittsfield. The township, now Pittsfield, was one of the three granted in 1 735 to the town of Boston. By various sales and exchanges, it was owned in equal proportions in 1741 by Col. Jacob Wendell of Boston, Col. John Stod- dard of Northampton, and Edward Livingston of Albany, lord of the neighboring Livingston Manor. * In the Bpring of 1753, one Wampanmcorsc, a SchagticoUe Indian, domiciled at Stoclvbridge, was shot at Hop Brook, in Tyringham, by one of two men whom he undertool£ to stop on the highway, supposing them to horscthicvcs. The men were tried at Springfield for the homi- cide, one of them being convicted of manslaughter, and the other acquitted. French emissaries took advantage of the craze of the Indians over this aff.iir to such a degree, that Gen. Dwight and President Edwards wrote to Boston in great alann, urging that money should immediately be sent to compensate the relatives of Wampaumcorse, By the year 1754, the settlement was well advanced. In Stockbridge, the number of white families increased to eighteen. But a greater accession than any of mere numbers was that of Gen. Joseph Dwight, who removed to the mission town, as trustee of the school, about 1751, and married Mrs. Abigail, widow of the missionar}' Sergeant, daughter of Col. Ephraim Williams, one of the four original English settlers, and sister of the founder of Williams College. From this maiTiage, many of the leading families of Stockbridge and Great Barrington derive their descent. Col. WiUiams, like all others of the Williams name whom we have occasion to mention ' here, was a descendant of Robert Williams, a native of Norwich, England, who was admitted a freeman at Rox- bury in 1638, and became the ancestor of a long succession of divines, soldiers, and eminent civOians. Joseph and Timothy Woodbridge, of wliom mention has already been made, were also "descended from a long line of Protestant clergjinen, all bearing the name of John Woodbridge ; " the first dating back to about 1492. Add to these Jonathan Edwards, and the proportion of strong men among those eighteen early families of Stock- bridge may well be called remarkable. At Great Barrington, then the flourishing north parish of Sheffield, was Rev. Samuel Hopkins, the author of the Hopkinsian system of theologj'. Here, also, was David Ingersoll, an active magistrate, and captain in the militia. At Sheffield was Capt. John Ashley, who had settled there about 1732, removing from Wcstficld ; an influential magistrate, and a man of superior abilities, natural and acquired. The progress of the settlements was, however, by no means what it would have been had not the ominous shadow of the coming war hung over them. Nor, as that war approached nearer, was the disposition of the native Indians so satisfactory as it was at the opening of hostilities ten years before. * In 1761, the plantation of Poontoosuc was superseded by the incorporation of the original township as the town of Pittsfield, the name being given by the go\- emor. Sir Francis Barnard, in honor of William Pitt, the great Earl of Chatham, to whose statesmanship the successful issue of the French and Indian wars was largely to be attributed. The north parish of Sheffield according to aboriginal custom. This was done, and the better part of the Stockbridge Indians were pacified. The Schagticokes, however, whoso scat was in Rensselaer County, New York, maint.iined their malignancy, and concerted a plot with a few of the baser Jlohegans, for the destruction of Stockbridge. This design was frustrated, being betrayed by negro slaves, who were invited to join in it, and secure their freedom by flight to Canada. The alann on the border, however, was pitiable. "I never knew," vrrota Col. Israel Williams of Hatfield, "in all yo last wai-, the people under so great surprise and fear." MASSACHUSETTS. ■was at this same session made the town of Great Barrington. Col. WiUiam Williams, who was conducting the appli- cation for the incorijoration of Pittsfield, was also, at the same time, the agent of several towns who petitioned for the division of Hampshire County by the west line of the town of Blandford ; and, in accordance with that peti- tion, the county of Berkshire was erected almost simul- taneouslj' with the incorporation of the two towns named. Sheffield was declared to be " for the present the shire or county town," meaning the north parish of that town, incorporated as Great Barrington a few dajs later. After the estabhshment of pennanent peace, incident to the final reduction of Canada in 17C0, the settlement of Berkshire was rapid. Poontoosuc began to take heart again, and to enter upon measures, not only to repair her losses, but to lay deep and broad the foundations of future prosperitj'. In 1776, the population of the countj' was 18,768, more than two-thirds of it probably in Pittsfield and towns south of it. In 1774, among the wealthy and magisterial classes the spirit of loyalty to the crown, in spite of all griev- ances, prevailed largely. In addition to the natural timiditj' of wealth, there was the allegiance to be expected from those holding office from the royal governor, who had the bestowal of all places except that of representa- tive in the General Court and town officers. Most of the Williams and Stoddard famil}' connection, of which there were many in Berkshire, of various family names, were devotedl}- and heartil}- loyal to British rule. The most prominent Tory in Pittsfield was Maj. Israel Stoddard, son of the great New Englander of Northamp- ton, and a large landed proprietor in Berkshire. But the ablest of the Berkshire loyalists was Woodbridge Little, a graduate of Yale, afterwards a preacher, and then the first law3"er in Pittsfield. The Graves familj- — which, as well as the Little * and Jones, were connected with the AVilliams-Stoddard — were all Tories. Among the conservative AVhigs of that daj* were Timo- thy Edwards, son of the great theologian, and Jahleel, son of Jos. Woodbridge. Both of these were educated at Princeton, and, after the Revolution, held high offices. • Little and Stoddard, being detected in clandestine correspondence witli Gen. Gage in 1775, fled to New York, but afterwards returned, and submitting themselves to sun-eillance, saved most of their property. In 1777, they at last toolc the oath of allegicince to the Continental govern- ment, and, responding to the call of Gen. Stark previous to the battle of Bennington, repaired to that place, but a few hours too late to take part in the engagement. After the war, they were both held in favor by their neighbors, who frequently elected Little to olTice. At his death in 1813, he divided his property between the Congregational Church in Pittsfield and Williams College. Among the Stockbridgo Whigs were Dr. Erastus Ser- geant, son of the first missionar}' to the Mohegans, and a successful physician ; and Thomas, son of Dr. Thomas Williams of Deerfield, a leading lawyer, and who died as lieutenant-colonel in the expedition against Canada in 1776. Very earl}- in the Revolutionary contest there became prominent in Southern Berkshire a man destined to take high rank among the patriots and statesmen of Massa- chusetts, and to become the ancestor of man}' men and women of ability and note, namel}'. Judge Theodore Sedgwick, f At Sheffield, besides Mr. Sedgwick, the more promi- nent Whigs in 1774 were Hon. John Ashley and his son. Col. John Ashley. J A still more energetic Sheffield Whig was Col. John Fellows, who was born at Pomfrct, Conn., in 1834, became major in the French and Indian wars, was a member of the Massachusetts Pro\'incial Congress, and served with credit as a brigadier-general in the Continental aiTuj'. He died in 1808. One of the most brilliant Berkshire Whigs was Col. Mark Hopkins, grandfather of the distinguished presi- dent of Williams College, who bears the same name. John Brown graduated at Yale in 1771, and com- menced the practice of law at Johnstown, N. Y., but soon removed to Pittsfield, which, in 1774 chose him one of its delegates to the Provincial Congress. He t Theodore Sedgwick was bom at Hartford In May, 1746, being the son of Benjamin, a merchant of that city, who was descended from Gen. Robert Sedgwick, who, after being one of the settlers of Charles- to«Ti, in 1635, returned to England, and under the English Common- wealth was employed in several high positions, the last being in the expedition which resulted in the capture of Jamaica, in 1655. At this time he was promoted major-genci-al by Cromwell, and made a com- missioner for the government of the island, where he soon died. Theo- dore entered Yale College in the class of 1765, but did not graduate ; read law with Col. Hopkins, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1775; practised first at Great Barrington, then at Sheffield; but re- moved to Stockbridge in 1785. Besides holding many minor, but hon- orable offices, he was a member of the Continental Congress, and of the Federal Congress ; United States Senator from 1796 to 1799 ; and judge of the supreme court of Massachusetts from 1802 until his death, in 1S13. In principle and by temperament Judge Sedgwick was exces- sively conservative, and for a long time he was at the head of the Fcd- er.".l party in Western jiassachusetts, and the intimate friend of the great leaders of the party in the country, including Washington, so far as any one could be intimate with him. t From 1765 to 1781 the elder Ashley was judge of the common pleas. He owned 16,000 acres of land in the town. His eon, a gradu- ate of Yale, was an active magistrate, and rose to the rank of n:ajor- gencral in the militia. The father died in 1802 at ninety-three ; the son in 1799 at sixty-four. Both were strongly conservative. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. was a mail of coiumaiiding talents, of noble personal appearance, of unflinching courage ; a true man everj' way. In Pittsfield, the most ardent and influential Whig leader was Rev. Thomas Allen, the first minister settled in the town. Bom at Northampton in 1713, a graduate of Harvard in 1762, and settled in 1764 at Pittsfield, he became one of the most noted of the clergj', who preached the gospel of libert3' from New England pulpits. He con- tinued pastor until his death in 1811, and became as widelj' known as an intense Democrat of the JeflTersonian school, as he had been as a radical Whig of the Revolution. Of the same spirit and possessed of great influence, was Elder A'alentine Rathbun, who had established a Baptist church at Pittsfield in 1772. Quite as earnest in their patriotism, but of a somewhat different class, were James Easton and John Brown, both afterwards distin- guished officers. Easton, who was a master-builder and innkeeper, was born at Hartford, and settled at Pitts- field in 1763. Lenox had several Whig leaders of abilitj'. * At Williamstown, was Benjamin Simonds, one of the wealthiest citizens, " a man," says Dr. Field, " of great activitj' and enterprise." He was born in 1726, in tlie eastern part of Hampshire County, and at the age of twenty was one of the captured garrison of Fort Massa- chusetts, lie distingiiislicd himself by his patriotic zeal in the Revolution, and particularly as commander of the Berkshire militia at the battle of Bennington. At Richmond, the leading Whig was Gen. David Rossiter, who, as lieutenant-colonel, commanded the Mid- dle Berkshire Regiment at the battle of Bennington. " Few men in the county commanded more respect, and no citizen of the town was ever more active in promot- ing its interests." Conservative and moderate, on the whole, j-et intensely patriotic was this remote countj- of Berkshire during the Revolutionary period. Dec. 16, 1773, Pittsfield in town meeting expressed its alarm at the destruc- tion of the East Indian Companj-'a tea in Boston, and declared it " unnccessarj', highly unwarrantable, and every way tending to the subversion of all good order and of the Constitution" ; although, in the same paper, the town added, "At the same time, we are as averse as any of the patriots in America of being subjected to a • Among them was Hon. TVilliam 'Walker, who was bom at Reho- both, in 1751, and removed to Berkshire when about nineteen years old. He joined the army at Cambridge in 1775, and fought in the battles of Trenton, Princeton, and Bennington. He held many honorable posi- tions, among others those of delegate to the State Constitutional Con- vention of 1781, judge of probate and of the common picas, and in 1829 presidential elector. He died in 1831. tax without our own free and voluntarj' consent, and shall, we trust, always abide by that principle. And, were there not an alternative between the destruction of said tea and the people's being saddled with ilio paj-ment of the duties thereon, we should not have the like reason to complain ; but, as far as we live in the coimtry, judge otherwise." Thus conservative and moderate were the people of the town, which soon became the most radical in its Revolutionary principles of any in the Province. Pitts- field, at a town meeting held June 30, appointed Rev. Thomas Allen, Deacon James Easton, John Brown, Deacon Josiah Wright, John Strong, David Bush, and David Noble, "a standing committee to correspond with the correspondent committees of this and other prov- inces " ; and adopted the Worcester Covenant, — the most stringent form of the " solenm league and covenant," by which indiriduals bound themselves, and towns their citizens, not to purchase an}- goods, tlie production of Great Britain, or an}' of her West Indian Colonies, and generally agreed to act together in resisting the aggres- sions of the mother countr}-. On the 14th of July, Charles Dibble, and 113 other citizens of Lenox, signed a similar covenant, and other towns took patriotic action of the same kind dming the summer. On the sixth of July, 1774, a county congress, to con- sider the state of the I'rovince, was held at Stockbridge. John Ashley was president, and Thootlore Sedgwick clerk. Thomas Williams, Peter Curtis, John Brown, Mark Hopkins, and Theodore Sedgwick, were appointed a committee to take uito consideration the acts made by parliament for the purpose of raising a revenue in America ; and Tiraothj' Edwards, Dis. Whiting, Bar- nard, and Sergeant, and Deacon Easton, to draft an agreement to be recommended to the towns in the county for the non-consiunption of British manufactures. We have no record of the action of the first-named com- mittee, but the second reported a stringent covenant, of which the sixth and final paragraph declared " that if this, or a similar covenant, shall, after the first day of August next, be ofTcred to any trader or shopkeeper in this county, and he or they shall refuse to sign the same for the space of fortj^-eight hours, that we will from thenceforth purchase no article of British manufacture, John Patterson, afterwards colonel of the minnte-men and a briga- dier-general in the Continental army, was born at New Britain, Conn., in 1744, where he commenced the practice of law, but re- moved to Lenox in 1774. After the Shays rebellion, against which he took a prominent part, he removed to Lisle, N. Y., where he be- came chief justice of the county court, and, in 1803 was elected to Congress. MASSACHUSETTS. or East India goods from him or them, until sucli time as he or thcj- shall sign this or a similar covenant." The congress farther voted to set apart the next Thursday for a da}- of fasting and prayer, and recom- mended to the charity of the several towns in the county the distressed circumstances of the poor of Charlestown and Boston, and that their contributions should be remit- ted, the next fall, in fat cattle. The clerk was directed to transmit a copy of the proceedings to the Boston Committee of Correspondence. During the ■winter of 1774-5, man}' of the Berkshire towns adopted the famous Resolution of Association, which had been signed bj' the members of the Con- tinental Congress, on the 20th of October, and appointed, under it, " Committees of Inspection," whose duty it was " to observe the conduct of all persons within their precinct concerning the articles of association, and, if any dclinquencj' was found, to publish the name of the offender in the "Gazette" (meaning, in Berkshire, the Hartford "Courant"), to the end that all such foes of the rights of British America might be piibliclj- known, and universally' contemned as the enemies of American liberty, and that all patriots might thenceforth break off all intercourse with him or her." These formidable bodies were organized all over the Province ; but, in Berkshire, a special importance is attached to them ; for while elsewhere the courts of law were soon re-established, here the committees, as constituted by the towns from time to time, were the supreme rulers, practically inde- pendent of courts and laws, and only subject to occa- sional instruction from town meetings, generally guided by the committee-men. Under the general advice of the Provincial Congress, the Berkshire militia were reorganized* with officers of their own choosing, and James Easton became colonel, in place of the veteran William "Williams, whose roj-al commission was superseded. At the same time, two regiments of minute-men were put in readiness to take the field on an instant's warning ; one in the northern and central part of the count}', under Col. John Patter- • One incident in tlie organization of the minute-men is wortliy of special rccoid. Capt. David Kohle of Pittsficld, having visited Boston and Ijccorae impressed with the necessity of prompt military prepara- tion, returned home, sold two farms in Stephcntown, N. Y., for gold, sup- plied his company — which was raised in Pittsfield and Richmond — with one hundred and thirty stand of arms, and uniformed them with neat and substantial regimentals, their breeches being of buckskin, and thcur coats "of blue turned up with white," and the whole being made up in his own house during the winter. Aftcnvards, while with his company at the siege of Boston, he ordered all the grain and other need- ful things in his store at Pittsfleld, to be sent forward for the use of the army. lie died at Lake Champlain of small-pox, on the retreat of the ai-my from Canada in 177C, and neither he nor his heirs ever received any compensation for his sacrifices. son of Lenox ; the other, in the southern section, com- manded b}' Col. John Fellows of Sheffield. Both com- manders were members of the Provincial Congress. News of the battle of Lexington reached Berkshire on the 20th, and Col. Patterson's regiment was on its my to Cambridge by sunrise the next morning, completely equipped in arms, and generally in uniform. At Cam- bridge the regiment was reorganized, most of the men enlisting for eiglit months, although some preferred to join Arnold's expedition up the Kennebec. In 1774, Pittsficld elected John Brown to represent it in the Provincial Congress, a choice which led to a long series of exciting and important events, f In April, 1776, Col. Patterson's regiment, which had been serving in the siege of Boston, and afterwards in the vicinitj- of New York, joined the army in Canada, in its disastrous retreat to the southern shores of Lake Champlain, where, to use the graphic words of John Adams, " it lay disgraced, defeated, discontented, dispirited, diseased, naked, undisciplined, eaten up with vermin ; no clothes, beds or blankets, no medicines, no victuals but salt pork and flour." Here Capt. Noble and many other Berkshire men died. When Col. Patterson's regiment left White Plains for Canada in 177G, its place was filled by a corps of levies from the three Berkshire militia regiments, under the command of the gallant Col. Simonds of Williamstown. In the same j'ear, Col. Samuel Brewer of Tyringham, led a regiment from southern Berkshire to Ticonderoga. But it would be impracticable to speak of all the military senice of this exposed and excitable count}-, which was called upon in every emergency, for men and every kind of supplies, and always responded with alacrity. The record shows that, prior to 1780, Pittsfleld fur- ;teathe t This John Brown it was who not only suggested the project of cap- turing Ticonderoga at the opening of the Revolution, but acted so con- spicuous a p.art subsequently, together with Ethan Allen, in driving the British from the waters, and from the vicinity of Lake Champhain. Failing inadvertently at last to co-operate with Allen in his contemplated attack on Montreal, the expedition against the latter city failed, and Allen was taken prisoner. Meantime, it may be added in this connec- tion, that one of the darkest pages of Revolutionary history is that wliich records the persistent, yet utterly unmerited neglect and abuse that, owing to the overweening confidence of his superior officers in Benedict Arnold, who systematically traduced him, was ■\isited upon this most heroic, intrepid, and Indomitable Revolutionary soldier. He was among the very first who detected the intrinsic baseness of Arnold; and Arnold knew that Brown understood, and did not respect him. Hence the calumnies of the latter; and hence the long agony of one of the noblest, bravest spirits that ever drew sword in defence of his country. After having achieved many brilliant exploits, and rendered most important and patriotic service to his country. Col. Brown at last, July, 17S0, fell at the head of his troops, while attempting to succor the Mohawk Valley, seriously threatened by Sir John Johnson's Indian and Tory hordes. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. nished men to meet thirty-two calls of greater or less importance ; sometimes ha^■ing more soldiers in the field than there were names on the militia roll ; and it is probable that the records of other towns, had thej- been as full}- preseri-ed, would tell a similar story. At the first opening of the Revolution, one of the most exasperating throats with which the Berkshire Tories sought to intimidate the Whigs, was that a British army, with savage auxiliaries, would sweep down upon the countv from Canada ; and it was in great part to avert this hideous calamity that the people there were so earnest for the early conquest of that Province. The defeat of that project reawakened their fears, which were enhanced b^' the apparently' needless evacuation of Fort Ticonderoga, immediatel}' upon the investment bj- Bur- goyne, and bj- the atrocities committed b^' his Indian allies. As he continued to advance, calls were frequentl}- made for details of the Berkshire militia, to aid in check- ing him. The demands were promptly answered, and the details almost as promptl}- sent back, with no oppor- tunity to accomplish anytliing. On learning that Gen. Stark had established an in- dependent command in the Grants, the courage of the people was renewed. And so, when the alarm that a large detachment of the enemy were approaching Ben- nington, was sent out b}- Stark at midnight between the 13th and 14th of August, it met an enthusiastic response. Col. Simonds — the same who had been one of the cap- tives of Fort Massachusetts, but now for several j-ears colonel of the North Berkshire regiment of militia — resided about half a mile north of the village of Williams- town, and there Stark's messengers came, early on the morning of the 14th. Simonds rapidlj- disseminated the summons throughout the county, and before the night of the 15th, more than 500 Berkshh-e men had reported at Bennington. * • During the night of the 15th occurred a conversation which has become famous. Among the Pittsfield volunteers was Rev. Thomas Allen, the impetuous pastor of an impetuous people. Both he and they had become thoroughly disgusted with the frequent al)ortive expedi- tions to ehecli Burgo.vne, and he seized the first opportunity to malce this feeling known to Stark. Proceeding to headquarters, through the rain and darkness, he thus addressed the commander, who hardly needed such prodding : " Gen. Stark ; We, the people of Berkshire, have often been called upon to fight, but have never been led against the enemy ; and now, if you won't let us fight, we have resolved not to come out again." "Do you want to march now in the dark and rain?" inquired Stark. "No, not just this minute." "Well, if the Lord once more gives us sunshine, and I don't give you fighting enough, don't eorae again." Stark was as good as his word, and the parson, after praying before the troops that the Lord would teach their hands to war and their fingers to fight, went into the battle, musket in hand, and a shower of Tory bullets about his head, and became almost as notable a figure in the story of the day as Molly Stark's husband. The Berkshire troops were with the body who charged the breastworks in front. In the second part of the battle, on the approach of Burgoyne's reinforcements, Lieut. Col. Rossiter and JIaj. Stratton, of the Berkshire contingent, rendered brilliant ser^■ice in rallj-iug the troops who had scattered in search of plunder. There is no part of their service during the Revolution of which the people of Berkshire are more proud than their ex- ploits in this battle. At the battle of Saratoga, Gen. Patterson was present with a great part of his brigade, and the Berkshire militia were present in large numbers. During the greater part of the Revolution the political state of Berkshire was anomalous. From the summer of 1775, until the adoption of the State Constitution in 1780, a part}-, composed of the great majority of the people, led by Rev. Thomas Allen, ruled the county, through committees of inspection and correspondence, in open disregard, so far as civil government was concerned, of the authority set up at Boston. From 1774 to 1778, no probate courts even were held in Berkshire ; nor were any deeds recorded between 1774 and 1776. The success of the Berkshire Constitutionalists, and of a similar committee rule which continued for a time in Hampshire County, doubtless encouraged, if it did not originally suggest, the resort to a suspension of the courts, attempted in the movement which became the Shays Rebellion. Although the principles of the two uprisings were entirely different, yet the habit of living without courts had certainly become so pleasant to man}' of the enormously large debtor class, that they were willing to do away with them altogether on any pretense. The rebellion did not, however, commence in Berk- shire, and before the resort to arms, the demands of the discontented by their conventions in that county were more moderate by far than those of their compatriots in Hampshire and Worcester. And yet few counties suffered so much by the depression of business which succeeded the Revolution. Labor had been more dis- turbed by the war here than in almost any other county, and there had been greater temptations to loose business habits. Agriculture was almost the sole occupation of its inhabitants, and their distance from large markets reduced the value of agricultural products to an almost merely nominal price. Faniis, generally owned by sol- diers of the war, were mortgaged often to Tories or Con- servatives, who had made money while their debtors were ser\'ing the country. The law of debtor and creditor was cruelly severe. In short, a large portion of the people, groaning under burdens of which they im- perfectly comprehended the nature, and still more im- MASSACI-rUSETTS. pcrfectlj' the remedies, wero in a plight to follow the lead of the first plausible demagogue who offered himself. In Berkshire, however, the leadership appears to have been more wise and moderate than could have been expected. A convention of the party held at Lenox in August, 1786, exj^ressly disapproved many of the absurd doc- trines elsewhere proclaimed, "manifested a decent and respectable regard to the administration of government in general, and solemnly engaged to use their influence to support the courts of justice in the exercise of their legal powers, and to endeavor to quiet the agitated spii-its of the people." This influence, however, did not avail ; for the con- vention had hardly adjourned before a mob of 800 col- lected at Great Barrington, and not only prevented the session of the Common Picas Court, but released the prisoners in the jail, and induced tliree of the judges to sign an agreement not to act under their commissions until the grievances complained of by the mob had been redressed. The fourth judge, Hon. Elijah Dwight of Great BaiTington, bravelj' refused to sign, and suffered no harm for it. Soon after this affair at Great Barrington, the insur- gents, who had previously confined their opposition to the Inferior (Common Pleas) Courts, collected in such numbers at Springfield, where the Superior — corre- sponding to the present Supreme — Court was about to hold a session, that the judges, although protected bj- 600 militia, deemed it unadvisable to sit there or to pro- ceed to Bcrkshu-e. Nevertheless, on the day appointed for the court to meet in that county, the malccontents as- sembled in large numbers at Great Barrington,- and, although no judges appeared, became exceedingly riot- ous, obliged obnoxious persons to flee for their lives, while armed men pursued one gentleman, who held a very honorable office, searched private houses, and fired upon several of the inoffensive inhabitants. Thus far all was the work of unorganized mobs ; but about Christmas, 1786, the insurrectionary proceedings in the lower counties assumed the form of pronounced rebellion, with Daniel Shaj-s at the head of its forces, among which were 400 Berkshii-e men, imder one Eli Parsons. An account of the defeat of the insurgents at Spring- field, and their flight to Petersham, is elsewhere given. Meanwhile small bodies of the disaffected appeared in Berkshire, in the hope of creating a diversion in favor of their brethren, and under the lead of the truculent Eli Parsons, occasioned serious distui-bance in many places. Stockbridge was the scene of an invasion by a company of 90 men, under Perez Hamlin. The insurgents, how- ever, were met, near the western boundary of Sheffield, by the loyal militia of that town, under Col. Ashley, and defeated, with a loss of two killed and thirty wounded. This blow practically ended the rebellion. Several of the insurgent leaders were prosecuted and condemned, and for some time detained in prison under sentence of death ; all, however, were subsequently set at liberty. Decemlier 21, 1841, the trains through Berkshire, making continuous trips from Boston to Albany, ran for the first time over the Western or Boston and Albany Railroad. The opening of the "Western Railroad changed the whole aspect of business affairs in Berkshire County, giving a marvellous impulse to manufactures, changing to a large extent the relative, as well as the absolute, prosperity of towns, with the advantage largely in favor of those directly on the line, and gradually modifying characteristics of the people which had arisen from their isolation. Its value to the county was greatly enhanced by the building of local roads intersecting the county from its northern to its southern border. The Pittsflcld and North Adams Railroad was built in 1846, having a length of 21 miles. It was constructed under the direction of the Western Railroad Company, at an expense of $450,000. The Ilousatonic Railroad, from Bridgeport to the north line of Connecticut, was opened in 1842, and nearly at the same time an extension was built through Sheffield, Great Barrington, and the village of Van Dcusenville, in Great Barrington, to West Stockbridge, where, by means of a short link, connection was made with the Western, and Hudson and Berkshire roads : thus giving Southern Bcrkshli-e raiboad commu- nication with New York city and Connecticut, and also with Boston and the West. In 1850, another extension of this line of roads was made by the opening of the Stockbridge and Pittsfield Railroad, connecting with the Berkshire at Van Dcusenville, and running through Stockbridge, Lee, and Lenox, to Pittsfield. This com- pleted the line commonly known as the Housatonic Rail- road, from Pittsfield to Bridgeport, there connecting with the New York and New Haven. Although the project of tunneUing the Iloosac moun- tain for a canal was abandoned, the people of Northern Berkshire never altogether gave up the idea of a line of commmiication — a railroad being substituted for a canal — through the valleys of the Deerfield and Hoosac rivers ; of which the tunnel was an essential element. The connecting links, east of Greenfield, ha\-ing been completed, the Lcgislatiure, in 1848, incorporated the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company, with a capital of §3,500,000, for the purpose of extending this line to HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. the western border of the State, there to connect witli a road leading to the city of Tro}'. Private capitalists did not displaj^ any avidity to invest in this scheme, and appeals were made to the Legislature, from time to time, for State aid, but without efToct, until the j-ear ISo-l, when, tlie politics of the Commonwealth being in an unusually perturbed state, its credit was loaned to the company for $2,000,000. Under their direction the work was conducted until 18G2, when the State toolc possession of it. From that time on there was a scries of complications which it would require a volume to explain. It is sufficient for our purpose here to say that the final cost to the State was $18,000,000, but it has greatlj' enriched and populated the town of North Adams, and, to some extent, others upon its line. A .pleasant immediate result of the completion of the Western Railroad in 1841, was the Berkshire Jubilee, held at Pittsfield, on the 22d and 23d of August, 1844. This was simply a reunion of the immigrants from the countj- and their descendants, with its resident citizens ; but it was so managed as to secure national and penna- nent fame.* The fixing of the countj'-seat at Lenox, in 1787, soon became a source of conflict between the northern and southern sections of the county, contiiming, with more or less evil results, for eighty-one j-ears. In 1868, the proprietj' of making the central market-town of the count}' also tlie seat of its courts had become so apparent, that when Hon. Thomas F. Plunkett, one of its represent- atives began a judicious movement to effect it, there was verj' little opposition, and, by a direct vote of the legis- lature the county-scat was removed to Pittsfield. The court-house adjoins Parlc Square, and besides ample space for the building, afllbrds a very spacious com-t-yard in front, shaded bj- venerable elms. Its cost, with the site, was $235,000. Educational Institutions. Common schools were provided for in many of the towns of Berksliire, in addition to the statute requirc- • It originated with a committee in the city of New York, among whose eighteen mcmlicrs were AVilli.ini Cullcn Bryant, Tlicodorc Scdg- wicli, Rev. Dr. Orville Dewey, David Dudley Field, Judge Samuel R. Bctts, and Rev. Dr. R. .S. Cool;. The citizens of the county received the proposition with the utmost favor, and entrusted the management to large committees of the most honored of its members, with Rev. Dr. Todd at their head. George N. Briggs, then just elected for the fii'st time governor of the Commonwealth, presided throughout the jubilee, and Julius Rockwell, who had just succeeded him as member of Con- gress, was one of the most active and prominent of the managers. The exercises in chief consisted of a sermon by President Mark Hopkins of Willi.ims College, an oration by Hon. Joshua A. Spencer of Utica, a poem by Rev. 'William Allen, president of Bowdoin College, and son of the first Pittsfield minister. There was, also, a public dinner, ments obligatory upon the whole Commonwealth, bj- liberal reservations in the original grants. Their historj' has not diflSered from that of similar schools in other counties ; although strenuous organized effort has often been made for their improvement, the county as a whole has not taken high rank in this respect ; but there has been a marked advance in later years, at least in the larger towns. In the higher institutions of learning, on the other hand, Berkshire has stood among the first counties of tlie State, and chief among them stands Williams College. Col. Ephraim Williams, the founder of this institution, was the son of Col. Ephraim Williams who has already been mentioned as one of the first settlers of Stock- bridge. He was led bj- an adventurous disposition into a sea-faring life, which continued until he was twenty- five j-ears old. About that time he, at his father's urgent desire, gave up the sea and joined him at Stockbridge, where he was for a short interval a useful and acti\e citizen. The war, commencing in 1744, withch'ew hini from this peaceful field, and he was for a time in com- mand of the line of forts erected bj- his kinsman. Col. William Williams of Pittsfield, besides sen'ing with zeal in still more exposed locaHties. Earl}' in 1755, Maj. Williams was commissioned colonel of one of the three regiments raised bj' order of Gov. Shirley for the expedition against Crown Point. On the 7th of Septemljcr, when near the head of Lake George, Sir William Johnson, who was in com- mand, received information that a French and Indian arm}', which proved afterwards to be Baron Dieskau's famous corps, was approaching. Col. "SMlliams, with 1,000 white men and 200 Mohawks, was detailed for a reconnoisance. As they passed up a steep ravine, it was discovered that they were within an ambuscade. Col. WiUiams soon fell, mortally wounded, and Col. Whiting, with all his courage and skill, was onl}' able to save a remnant of the command. All the way from his home in Deerfield to Albany, he was stronglj' impressed with the dut}' of making his with notable speeches and sentiments. Interspersed throughout were poems and other literary contributions from men and women of note ; among them Miss Catherine M. Sedgwick, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Rev. Dr. Orville Dewey, Mrs. Frances Ann Kcmblc, Macready, the English tragedian, and Jlrs. Lydia H. Sigoumcy. But it w.is not en- tirely due to the part taken in the jubilee by these distinguished persons that the jubilee took such a peculiar hold upon the fancy of the people, far and wide. It was its unique character and grand proportions as a social gathering, entirely original in its design, and entered into with all their hearts by the people of an entire county, which constituted its peculi.ir charm ; a charm like that which in the popular mind invests the first cattle-show. A truism became a happy rhetorical expression when one of the spcalters said : " There will bo other Berkshire Jubilees in coming years, but there can never again be a firtt one." MASSACHUSETTS. ■will. Serious illness deepening this impression, he pro- ceeded, by bequest, to devote the bulk of his property for the support of a free school in the township west of Fort Massachusetts, provided it should fiill within the jurisdiction of the Province of Massachusetts, and be named Williamstown. The free school was incorporated in 1785. In 1790, the building now known as the "West College was erected. The free ' school was opened Oct. 20, 1791 ; the principal being Ebenezer Fitch, a graduate of Yale College. The school prospered. Young men from Massachu- setts and the neighboring States resorted to it in con- siderable numbers, and a disposition, natural to those ambitious days, to convert it into a college, soon arose. In 1792, the trustees petitioned the legislature that it might so be established and suitably endowed. In accordance with this petition, Williams College was established by an act of the legislature, approved June 22, 1793. Rev. Mr. Fitch, who, in 1800, received the degree of D. D. from Harvard University, was made president, and the first commencement was held Sept. 2, 1795, when four persons were graduated. The succeeding presidents have been Rev. Zephaniah Swift Moore, Rev. Edward D. Griffin, D. D.,* Rev. Mark Hopkins, D. D., and Rev. Paul A. Chadbourne, D. D. The growing interest of the alumni in the college, has of late years manifested itself in liberal contribu- tions, and this mountain Alma Mater has reason to rejoice in her children. The Berkshire ^Medical College, established at Pitts- field in 1823, after an existence of fortj'-f our years, grad- uating 1,138 doctors in medicine, was discontinued. Prof. Chester Dewey, the distinguished naturalist, established at Pittsfield, in 1826, the Berkshire G3'mna- sium, a school of high grade for young men, which flourished until Prof Dewej' was made president of the Rochester Collegiate Institute in 1836. In 1841, Rev. W. II. Tyler founded the Pittsfield Young Ladies' Institute, a seminarj- of high rank, and now known as the Maplewood Young Ladies' Institute. The first newspaper of Berkshire County, the "Ameri- can Centinel," was published in Pittsfield, in 1787, b}' E. Russel-t It was succeeded, after a brief existence, by the "Berkshire Chronicle," an able paper published by Roger StoiTS. The latter was followed, in 1790, bj' the "Berkshire Gazette." In 1799, the printing-office and materials of this paper were transferred to the " Pittsfield Sun," which was first issued by Phinehas • A clear and vigorous writer, and an able and exceedingly eloquent preacher. t Tte " Berkshire Star," long a leading county paper, was established at Stockbridgc, in 1788. Allen in 1800. This paper was conducted by Mr. Allen until his death in 1861, when he was succeeded by his son. Since 1872, it has been in charge of Hon. II. J. Canfield, and is the only organ of the Democratic partj' in Western Massachusetts. The "Berkshire Count3- Eagle," at present published by Henry Chickering and "William D. Axtell, is a flourishing and popular local paper. Other influential papers in the county are the " North Adams Transcript," published by Judge James T. Robinson ; the " News," also of North Adams, published by James C. Angell & Co.; "Berkshire Courier," of Great Barrington, now owned b}' Clark "W. Bryan ; and the " Valley Gleaner," of Lee. A dozen or more other papers have from time to time had an ephemeral existence in the county. In the war of the Rebellion, the county of Berkshire did its full duty. The Allen Guard of Pittsfield, com- manded by Captain, afterwards Brigadier-General, Henry S. Briggs, was attached to the Eighth Regiment, at the request of its commander, and formed part of the first contingent sent by Massachusetts to the support of the government ; being the first company called from western Massachusetts. In 1861, under authoritj' from the Secretarj' of "War, Major-General Butler, began the organization of two regiments in Massachusetts. One of these was organ- ized in Pittsfield, on the grounds of the Agricultural Society whose hall was used as barracks. This regiment, known as the Thirtj'-first Massachusetts, with officers commissioned by Gov. Andrew, was the first to enter the city of New Orleans after its surrender. In August, 1862, a camp of instruction was established at Pittsfield, under the name of Camp Briggs. The first regiment organized here was the Thirt}--seventh, Col. Oliver Edwards of Springfield. It was raised in the four western counties of the State, and left Pittsfield Sept. 7, 1862. The organization of the Fort^'-ninth, an exclusively Berkshire regiment, was commenced at once, Capt., since Gen., William F. Bartlett being soon placed in command. This officer, who afterwards became famous both for his gallantry in war, and his generous and honest states- manship in peace, was born at Haverhill, June 6, 1840, being the son of Charles Leonard Bartlett. "When the rebellion broke out he was a student of Han'ard Univer- sity, with strong Southern proclivities ; but in April, 1861, he enlisted in the twentieth Massachusetts regi- ment, and in Julj' was commissioned captain. He lost a leg at Yorktown ; but was so conspicuous for efficiency in command of the camp at Pittsfield, that he was elected coloucl of the forty-ninth, and led the regiment to the HISTORY OF ^BVr ENGLAND. field ; his youtliful appearance, and his crutch strapped to his back as he rode at the head of his men, making him an object of achnii-ation at all points. The Hcutcn- ant-colonel of this regiment was Samuel B. .Sumner, an able lawj-er and poet of Great Barrington, and the major, Charles T. Plunkctt, of Pittsfield, After the fortj-uinth was disbanded, Col. Bartlett was assigned to the fiftj'-sevcutfi, and led it through several notable battles in the cnnpiijin of the Aini^ of the Po- THE COUHT HOrSE, PITTSFIELD. tomac in 1864. In June of that year he was promoted brigadier-general, and commanded a division of the ninth corps. In 1805 he was breveted mnjor-gcncral. In October, 1865, he married Agnes, daughter of Eobcrt Pomeroy of Pittsfield, and became a citizen of that town. In the efforts of the party knowTi as the Lib- eral Eepublicans, to secure a generous treatment of the States formerly in rebellion, and also a retrench- ment of national exjjenditui'e, Gen, Bartlett became a conspicuous leader and speaker. He died Dec. 17, 1876. His life has been written by his Mend, Gen. F. W. Palfrey, of Boston. Besides the thirty-first, thirtj--seventh, and forty-ninth regiments, whose camps of recruiting and instruction were at Pittsfield, Berkshire sent companies to the eighth, tenth, twentieth, twenty-fourth, twenty-seventh, fifty- seventh, and many recruits to other regiments ; a resort to di afting being so rare as to be of httle account. Descriptive. Berkshire County, it needs hardly be said, is a region of exquisite natural beauty, con- Mbtmg, as it does, in infinite and deUghtful \ iiiety of combination of hiU and valley, lake .lud stream, rock and waterfall, farm and field. • The deUcious surprises of Berkshire," was one of the happiest phrases of the poetic Gov. Andiew. Wherever you go j-ou meet con- st mt changes "which at once charm the eye, nul dehght the heart. At eveiy turn of the road. " You stand suddenly astonished, You are gladdened unaware." The beauty of Berkshire is world-renowned ; ioi \\ illiani Cullen Bryant and Catherine Sedg- \Mck early made it their favorite theme, and HI later days. Holmes, Longfellow, Hawthorne, md a host of others loved to celebrate it. There are thi-ee irregular ranges of towns extending fift}' miles from north to south. Two of these lie along the mountain ranges respectively on the east and west; the thu-d stutches along the valley which is cradled v\een them. The unequal distribution of the himdred 1 ikelcts of the county creates another dis- tinction between two classes of towns, the ii-tamed beauty of Stoekbridge, Lenox and Pittsfield, being derived in no small degree from the number and grace of outUne of the romantic sheets of water wliich lie wholly or in part within them. Towns. Pittsfield, the shire town since 1868, is very nearly the geographical centre of the county, and veiy emphat- ically its centre as regards intercommunication, owing to the peculiar conformation of the hills and valleys, which almost compels all traffic between the different sections to pass through it. The Boston and Albany, Housatonic MASSACHUSETTS. and Pittsfiold, and North Adams railroads all connect here in a union station house. The House of Mercj-, a cottage hospital, is the result of the benevolent labors of an association of ladies, who opened it in a hired house in 187G, and erected in 1877 the present buOding, a handsome and convenient edifice of two stories. The Academy of Music is one of the most beautiful and commodious theatres in the country, out- side of the larger cities. The Berkshire Life Insurance Company, with assets of $3,276,000, now the most wealthy and prosperous business institution of the county, was organized in December, 1851, with Gov. George N. Briggs as president. The company has erected, at a cost of $180,000, a noble building of Nova Scotia freestone. The water works, which have been built at a cost of $195,000, were commenced in 1855. The water is as nearly pure as can be found in nature, the sources of supply being Lake Ashley, which lies on a mountain summit seven hundred feet high, and seven miles from the park, and two streams in the same silicious region. The reservoir, which has a capacity of over 1,000,000 gallons, lies three and a half miles from the park, and one hundred and thirty-six feet above it. There are eleven religious parishes in town — three Congi-cgational (one colored), two Catholic (one French) , and one each of Bap- tist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Lutheran (Ger- man) , Jewish (German) , and Shakers. The finest church edifices are the First Congre- gational, St. Joseph's (R. C), St. Stephen's (P. E ), of graj- limestone, and the Methodist and Baptist, of brick. The first settlers of the town were all Congregationalists. The first Baptist church was organized in 1772; but the present oi^nization dates from 1801. Shakerism came in 1779 ; the first Methodist class was formed in 1789 ; the first Episcopal parish in 1835; the first mass was said in 1835 j the first Catholic church built in 1844. I There are forty-one public schools well graded, in- cluding a high school and four grammar schools. The Berkshire Athenteum, for the promotion of litera- ture, science and art, was mcorporated in 1871, and I immediatelj' received from various sources an excellent brick library building and some valuable libraries and cabinets. In 1872 the library was made free to all citi- zens of the town. In 1872 Phinehas Allen died, lea%'ing the AthenaBum his re.siduar}- legatee, so that at the ter- iidnation of some life interests it will receive $50,000. In 1873 the town voted $2,000, annually, for the sup- port of the institution until l^Ir. Allen's bequest becomes available ; and, mostly at the expense of the town, the site was enlarged to a frontage of 144 feet on Park Square at a cost of $27,000. On this, in 1875-76, THE EERKSUIUE ,EUM, PITTSFIELD. and Thomas Allen of St. Louis — a summer resident of the town and grandson of " The Parson of Bennington Field" — erected for it a beautiful edifice. Forty thousand volumes were loaned last j'ear from the free library. The Pittsfield Rural Cemetery, one of the most beau- tiful in the country, consists of about 131 acres of wood and lawn, in wliich are a small lakelet and a large brook — Onota. MASSACHUSETTS. Pittsfield enjojs a fine reputation as a manufacturing citj'.* Among the many distinguished citizens of Pittsfield, in addition to those alrcad}' mentioned, are : Ezekiel Bacon, a gi-aduate of Yale, a prominent law3-er and member of Congress (177G-1870) ; John W. Hurlburt, the leader of the Federal, as Mr. Bacon was of the Democratic part}', an able lawj-er and member of Con- gress, who died in 1831 ; Eev. William Allen, D. D., son of the first minister, a graduate of Harvard, profes- sor at Dartmouth, president of Bowdoin College, and author of the first American Dictiouaiy of Biographj' (1794-18G8) ; Rev. Ileman Humphrey, D. D., a gradu- ate of Yale, author and president of the collegiate insti- stitute, which afterwards became Amherst College (1779 -1861) ; George Nixon Briggs, congressman, judge, and governor of Massachusetts (1796-1861), and Rev. John Todd, D. D., graduate of Y''ale and Andover, author, and the well-known pastor of the First Church in Pitts- field for moi-e than a quarter of a century (1800-1873). Other i^rominent citizens of the town have been Dr. Timothy Childs, the Revolutionar}' patriot and surgeon ; Dr. Ilenrj- II. Childs, president and principal founder of the Medical College ; Colonel Oliver Root, a Revolu- tionary officer ; Maj. Thomas Melville ; Henry Clinton Brown, high sheriff; Lemuel Pomeroj-, manufacturer and a public-spirited citizen ; Henry Hubbard, lawyer, politician and editor ; Thomas F. Plunkett, manufac- turer, financier and politician ; Rev. Samuel Harris, D. D., since president of Bowdoin College ; Rev, George T. Chapman, a distinguished Episcopalian divine ; Julius Rockwell (afterwards of Lenox) , for fourteen years rep- resentative in Congress, United States senator and judge of the Superior Court ; Henry L. Dawes, United States senator, and James D. Colt, judge of the Supreme Court. Adams, the chief town in Northern Berkshire, and one of the most interesting in New England, is situated on the Hoosac River, where it bends from its northward course, and passing north of Grcylock, flows westward to the Hudson. At this point is some of the best water- power in Berkshire, and more than is to be found in anj' other portion of the county of the same extent. Before the division of the town in 1878, it included thi-ee flour- ishing manufacturing villages built upon this stream, Adams, North Adams, and Blackintou, with a popu- lation of 15,000. The southern portion retained the old town name, and is a busy little manufacturing place, famous chiefly on account of its large paper manufactorj-. • The Pontoosuc Woollen Company now employs 250 hands. The Bel Air Jlill, and several other corporations manufacture cotton and It has several churches, and a good system of public schools, establishments for the manufacture of paper, warps, cassimeres, ginghams, dress goods, &c. North Adams, including Blackintou, is now a town of 10,000 inhabitants. Alwaj-s enterprising and pros- perous, the building of the Hoosac Tunnel, whose ex- istence is largely due to the energy, persistence, and liberality of its citizens, has brought to it largely in- creased population, wealth, and fame. North Adams is eminently a manufactin'ing town. The leading establish- ment is the Arnold Print "Works, employing two hundred and fiftj- hands. The weekly capacity is 750,000 3-ards. Other companies manufacture ginghams, fancy cassi- meres, prints, shoes, lumber, &c. There are seven churches and three banks. Some of the churches are the finest public buildings in town. The public schools stand among the first in the State. Besides numerous primary schools, there are in Drury Academy thirteen departments, illustrating the graded system, and giving systematic and thorough instruction. The scene-ry in the vicinity of both North and South Adams is wild and picturesque. The most interesting spots are Grcylock, the recesses of Saddle Mountain, and the Natural Bridge. The latter is one of the most strange and beautiful of natural curiosities in the State, The water of a wild mountain stream has here cut " a channel in the white marble, some fifteen feet wide, from thirty to sixty feet deep, and thirty rods long, over which extends an arch of solid rock. In the Notch Brook there is a very beautiful cascade, which attracts the at- tention of the traveller. The water plunges down a pre- cipice about forty feet, affording a vision of beauty, heightened by the loneliness of the wooded glen through which the stream pursues its way." Great Barrington, the central market-town of South- ern Berkshire, owes its prosperity, in about equal pro- portions, to its facilities for manufacturing by water- power, its position in a rich farming region, and its natural and ^■illage beauties, which render it one of the most delightful of homes. Its broad and irregular street, in wliich quaint old houses mingle with elegant modern buildings, gives it an aspect somewhat difl"erent from other Berkshire villages. In and close around it are Monument Mountain, the Dome of the Taconics, Mt. Washington, Green River, Bash Bish Falls, a' half-score of romantic lakelets, and a host of other scenes of nature's loveliness or grandeur. woollen goods, employing each from fifty to two hundred and fifty per- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. The finest public building is the town hall, built joint- I3' bj- the town and coiuity. The square in front of the hall is ornamented with a soldiers' monument, sunnounted by a bronze statue of Victory. The Epis- copal and Congregational churches arc also of creditable architecture. There are in the village, besides these, Methodist and Catholic churches. The amount of manufacturing in Great Barrington is considerable, but much of it is carried on in the flour- ishing outlying villages of Housatonic and Van Deusen- ville. In the village of Groat Barrington, the Berkshire Woollen Company has a large and well-furnished mill for the manufacture of at 13,000 pounds, and most American marbles at 12,000. This, with other qualities, proved by the severest tests which the chemist or engineer can apply, caused the com- mission to select it as the material for the extension of the National Capitol. The paper manufacture, now the leading interest of the town, was begun at South Lee, in 1806, b}- Samuel Church, who removed from East Hartford. In 1851, the town had twenty-five paper mills, producing 25,000 pounds of paper dailj^, or over $2,000,000 worth an- nually. This industry is still in a flourishing condition. f Harrison Garfield, now the oldest active paper manufac- turer in the countv, huv- woollcn goods, and also one of the best flouiing mills in the county-. At Housatonic, Mr. Henry D, Cone has the old Hou- satonic Mill of the Owen Paper Companj-, which is 320 feet long, and is capable of making $250,000 worth of paper yearly. A half mile be- lowthis mill, and just op- posite the famous Monu- ment Mountain of Bry- ant's poem, Mr. Cone has recently built the Monument Mill, which surpasses anything of the kind, in Berkshire at least. It is 500 feet long, four stories high, and has a lean-to 400 feet long, and a wing of 200 feet. It is capable of making eight tons of fine paper daily. There is also at Housatonic a cotton-warp mill ; at Van Dcusenville there is a cotton factory, and also extensive iron-works belonging to the Richmond Iron Works Company. Lee,* the fourth town in the countj- in point of popu- lation, is, perhaps, as widelj' known as any other for its mineral and manufacturing products. The Lee marble has a very high reputation, is easilj- accessible, and of inexhaustible quantities. A commission appointed by Congress found that it would sustain a weight of 26,000 pounds to the square inch, while Italian marble crushes * Named in honor of Gen. Lee of the Revolution. ing been forty years in the busmess, owns the two Foiest Mills, which ha\e an aggregate ca- pacity of 1,800 pounds. Other paper mills, with a dailj capacity of 1,000 pounds and upwards, are 1( Hated here. Prentiss C Baud, the only man- ulactui er of collar paper, can make 3,500 pounds daily. The extent of the de- votion of Lee to the pro- duction of paper maj- be infeiied from the facts that, by the census of 1875, out of a popula- tion of 3,900, only 285 aie reported as engaged ui agriculture, while 687 J\LL LEL , , . were emplojed in man- ufactures, almost entirely of paper; and the value of agricultural products was only $116,682 to $1,616,760 of manufactures. The first white man who settled in town was Mr. Isaac Davis, in 1760, in the south part of the town, near Hop Brook. Most of the early inhabitants were from Tol- land, Conn., and eastern Massachusetts. The Congre- gational Church was organized, ^lay 25, 1780, by Rev. Dauiel Collins of Lanesborough, consisting of thii-ty members. On the 3d of July, 1783, Mr. ElishaParm- lee, a graduate of Harvard, was ordained pastor. t The Smith Paper Company— the successor of the firm of Platner & Smith, once the greatest paper-making concern in the county — has now four mills. Elizur Smith is the founder and president of the company. JIASSACHUSETTS. There are two principal villages, South Lee, a neat and thriving manufacturing place, and North Lee — com- monly called simply Lee — in which most of the wealth and business of the town are collected. The latter has many fine residences and some handsome public edifices, the most striking being the Congregational and Episco- pal churches and Memorial Hall. The latter is a beau- tiful structure of brick, erected at a cost of $29,000 to the memory of Lee's soldiers in the C'i\il War. It con- tains a large public hall, librar}-, town offices, &c. There are sis churches, and a high school. Rev. Alvan Hyde, D. D., a graduate of Dartmouth, and honored in all the churches of his daj-, became pas- tor of the church at Lee in 1792. His son, Hon. Alex- ander Hyde, a well-known -writer for the press, has written an ex- cellent historj^ of Lee, from which we derive most of tlie information given above. Rev. Nahum Gale, born at Au- burn, Mass., graduated at Amherst in 1837 ; professor at the East Windsor Theological Seminary in 1851 ; became pastor of the Con- gregational Church at Lee in 1853, and died in September of that 3'ear. * Stockbridge. — North of Great Barrington lies this old his- toric town, whose central village, " Old Stockbridge- on -the-Plain," is luiown everj'where as the model ~ village of New England. In its historical character, its superior natural surroundings, and as the home of genius, taste, culture, and vu-tue, it is indeed unsuipassed. The -village on the plain consists principally of one long, broad street, elm-shaded, and bordered with pleas- ant residences, manj' of antique character. In the main street and on the central square, churches, stores, a bank and library building are interspersed among the dwellings, and elegant summer residences dot the neighboring hillsides. Hon. David Dudley Field has recently given to tlie town a bell-tower of stone, sur- mounted by a chime of bolls, and a town clock, and at various points are monuments to Jonathan Edwards, the • In Septcmhcr, 1824, a scone of most appalling desolation was ex- hibited in tliis town, occasioned by the explosion of .in extensive pow- der factory, containing, at the time, it was estimated, not less than five tons of powder. Several workmen were insUntly killed. The works were never rebuilt. Mohegan Indians, and the fallen heroes of Stockbridge in the -war of the Rebellion. Among the many points of romantic interest in Stockbridge are the Icy Glen, the Stockbridge Bowl, and other beautiful lakes, and Laurel Hill. To the liberality, energy, and above all, the good taste, of the Laurel Hill Association, the village owes much of its .attractiveness. The most conspicuous pub- lic building is tlie handsome public library of stone, the gift of Hon. John Z. Goodrich to the town. There are Congregational, Methodist, Episcopalian, and Catholic churches. The cemetery is of great interest on account of the many persons of historic note interred in it. In the vUlage of Glendale is a prosperous woollen factory. From its earliest days, Stock- bridge has been the home of dis- tinguished persons. Among those not alicady mentioned are Cather- ine M. Sedgwick, the celebrated iiithoress, with whose fame the II line of Stockbridge is intimatelj' unnectcd (born at Stockbridge, in 1789, and dying at Roxbury, in 1*^07) ; Theodore Sedgwick, son e>f tlio judge, a leader in the move- iiK lit which resulted in the build- ing of tlie Boston and Albany R ulroad ; John Bacon, a graduate of Princeton College, associate pas- tor of the Old South Church from 1771 to 1775, subsequently a ma- gistrate in Stockbridge, State sen- ator, and member of Congress, (died in 1820) ; Barnabas Bidwell, Henry W. Dwight, and John Z. Goodrich, able repre- sentatives in Congress ; Judge Horatio Byington, and Rev. David Dudley Field, the first historian of the countj", and pastor of the Congregational chin-ch. The three sons of the latter have all attained distinction — David Dudlcj-, as a lawyer and politician ; C3rus W. , as the originator of the Atlantic telegraph cable ; and Henry M., as a clergyman, an author and editor. Lenox, formerly the shire town of the county, lies next north of Stockbridge, and comprises two villages of widely dili'ercnt character — ■ Lenox-on-the-IIeights, a fashionable summer resort ; and Lenox Furnace, con- sisting of the iron and glass works, with the dwellings connected with them. Lcnox-on-the-Heights is the rival — or, perhaps, rather the companion — of Stockbridge, as a summer resort. 'NT, STOCKBRIDGE. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Both are thronged every season with visitors, and both have manj' elegant villas. The connection of the two towns is so close that their summer social life is ver^- intimate and friendly. One of the most conspicuous objects in the village is the fine old Congregational church which overlooks it, and has an excellent town clock, presented by Mrs. Frances Anne Kemble, an ardent lover of Lenox, where she owns a villa. The only otlier notable public build- ing is the Charles Sedgwick Memorial Ilall, formerly the court-house, but now remodelled as a public hall. Tliere are also Methodist, Episcopalian, and Catholic churches. Lenox-on-the-IIeights is two miles from the Housatonie Railroad. Lenox-Furnace village lies upon the road, and has extensive manufactures of plate and cjdinder glass, and an iron blast furnace of high repute, dating from the times of the Revolution. Hon. William Walker, a meritorious officer in the Rev- olution, and in the suppression of Shays' Rebellion, was for 29 years judge of probate for Berkshire. He was succeeded by his son, William Pcrrin Walker, a grad- uate of Williams, at different periods a member of every branch of the State government, and chief justice of the Berkshire Court of Sessions. He died at Lenox, in 1848. Judge Henry Walker Bishop, a graduate of Williams, born in 1796, died in 1871, was long a resident of this town. WiLLiAMSTOWN, long known as the seat of Williams College, has for some j-ears been growing in favor as a summer resort, chiefly of the educated and perhaps more sedate classes of society. Situated upon the Troy and Boston Railroad, five miles west of North Adams, the opening of tliat road has brought it into easy communi- cation with the world beyond the mountains by which it is surrounded. Lying in a romantic valley, in the angle fonned by the boundaries of New York and Vermont, with Greylock's grand group of peaks and valleys in the south-west, there are few localities in Berkshire which present so many points of interest. The college village, always picturesque and beautiful, has of late been rendered more so by the efforts of the citizens, and in 1878-9 by the expenditure of $10,000 given by Cjtus W. Field for that purpose. The same gentleman also gave $.5,000 to prepare a boating course near the village, on the Hoosac River. The broad street and the college grounds now form a combination of atI- lage and park which is wonderfully beautiful. There is in the village a soldiers' monument, and another marks the spot where, in 1806, Samuel J. IMills, James Rich- ards, Francis L. Robbins, Harv-ey Loomis, and Byram Green, students of the college, held, under a haystack, a prayer-meeting, which in time led to the establishment of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The seat of a college like Williams, must, necessarily, in the course of a century, have been the home of many able, and some distinguished men. Daniel Dewey, born at Sheffield in 176.5, and a gradu- ate of Yale, was a member of the thirteenth Congress, and one of the justices of the Supreme Court of Massa- chusetts in 1814. He died in the following year. Charles A. Dewey, son of Judge Dcwej', and grand- son of Judge David Noble, was born at Willi.amstown in 1793. He was attornej--gencral and a justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, and died in 1866. Rev. Mark Hopkins, D. D., the most celebrated of all Williams's presidents, — a grandson of Col. Mark Hopkins of Revolutionary fame, was born at Stock- bridge Feb. 4, 1802 ; graduated at Williams in 1824, and in medicine at Pittsficld in 1829 ; served for sever.al j'cars as professor of rhetoric and moral philosophy at Williams College ; president of the same institution from 18.36 to 1872. He has been president of the A. B. C. F. M. since 1857. He still retains his connection with Williams College, as president emeritua, and pro- fessor of theology-, moral philosophj', and metaphj-sics. Dr. Hopkins is distinguished not loss as a philanthropist and Christian reformer, than as a thinker, author, and educator. Dalton. — Paper-making was first introduced into Berkshire, in the town of Dalton, — which lies next east of Pittsfield, on the Boston and Albany Railroad, — by Zenas Crane, whose descendants still carry on the business there. This was in 1801, when WiswcU, Crane & Willard built the first mill, having announced it in the "Pittsfield Sun," by an advertisement headed: "Americans, encourage your own manufactures, and thej- will improve. Ladies, save your rags ! " Dalton has the further distinction of having, in the late season of general business depression, increased more rapidly in wealth and population than an^- other town in the county.* * Crane & Co. manufacture bond, bank-note, and parchment papers, to an amount said to exceed in value foOO.OOO annually. B^Ton Weston, in two mills, employs 250 hands, and has a product, in fine papers, of $500,000 annually. Carson & Brown employ 200 hands, and make $400,000 yearly of fine first-class papers. Zcnas Crane, Jr., employs 80 hands, and makes $300,000 yearly of Bristol-board, and other " wedding goods." West & Glennon employ 120 hands, and make annually fine cassi- meres to the value of $250,000. MASSACHUSETTS. Hinsdale , on the Boston and Albanj- Eailroacl , next east of Dalton, is a good agricultural town, and is also the seat of extensive woollen mills. The stone mill of the Hins- dale Brothers jields an annual product of fancy cassi- mcres to the value of $.396,000. The Plunkett Woollen Company has three mills, and employs 2'jO hands. Annual product 8400,000. Hinsdale has a handsome librarj- building of stone and brick, in the Swiss stj-le, the foundation gift being a bequest of 85,000 from Mrs. Mary R. Twining, daughter of Hon. Charles H. Plunkett. This was supplemented b3- contributions from other members of the Plunkett family, by Mr. Twining and Hon. C. J. Kittredge, until the amount reached 830,000. CuESHiKE, on the Pittsfield and North Adams Railroad, is the seat of a valuable iron furnace, and of a large trade in the purest granular quartz, a silicious sand, which is sent to the glass manufactories in eastern Massachusetts and elsewhere. It is famous for the unanimity of its people as Democrats, from the earliest days of the party nearly to 1848.* The inhabitants of Cheshire were as unanimously Baptists, as thej' were Democrats. Elder Jolni Leland, one of the most noted Baptist clergjTnen of his day, was distinguished for eccentricitj', slirewdness, and rude but stout logic. Sheffield, the oldest town in the county, is a rich and level agricultural district, and has some popularity as a summer resort. It has. no water-power except Ashley Falls, which, although valuable, and near the Housatonic Railroad, is the onlj' power of the kind in the county which is unemployed. Chester Dewey, the eminent naturalist and educator, born at Sheffield in 1784, was the earliest competent and thorough investigator of the natural historj' of • It is famous also for the mammoth cheese, weighing 1,450 pounds, which they sent to President Jefferson in 1802. On an appointed day, all the farmers' wives sent their curds to one place, and the quantity was so great that it could not all he pressed even in a cider-mill, and three additional cheeses were made, of 70 pounds each. The huge cheese was conveyed to Washington in charge of the minister, Elder Berkshire, and especiallj- its geology and mineralogy. He received doctorates in law, divinity, and medicine, from Williams, Union, and Yale colleges, respectively, and died in Rochester, N . Y., Dec. !■>, 18C7. Rev. 0^^•ille Dewey, the eloquent Unitarian divine and author, was bom at Sheffield, March 28, 1794, graduated at Williams in 1814, and at Andover in 1810. He early became a Unitarian, and, for two years, was a colleague of Dr. William Ellcr^' Channing at Boston. For several years he occupied, with eminent al)ility, some of the leading pulpits of his denomination. When compelled by ill-health to abandon the pulpit, he retired to Sheffield. The other towns in the coimt}' are mostly of an agri- cultural character, and of the extent indicated in the table which follows. Tliere are, however, important iron works in Lanesborougli, Richmond, and West Stock- bridge, each of which has also valuable marble quarries. Towxs. Settled. Inoorpo- Popntatlon, 1875. Sheffield, . 1725, . . 1733, 2,233 Egremont, . (about) 1730, . . 1760, 890 Mt. Wasbinston, . . 1753-54, . 1779, 182 Great Barrington, . (about) 1730, . . 1761, 4,385 Alford. . . (about) i74o: . . 1773, Stockbridee, . 1734-36, . 1739 2,089 West Stockhridge, 1766, . . 1774, 1,981 Tvrindiam, . ^ . 1739, . . 1762, 517 New Marlborough, 1759, 2,037 Sandisfield, . 17.50, . 1762, 1.172 Beeket, . . 1755, . . 176.5, 1,329 1750-60, . 1773, 855 Richmond, . 1700, . . 1765, 1,141 Lenox, . . 1750, . 1767, 1,845 Pittsfield, . 1752, . 1761, 12.267 Dalton, . (about) 1755, . . 1784, 1700, . . 1777, 603 Lee, . '. . 1760, . 1777, 3.900 L.anesborongh, 1752-59, . 1765, 1,357 Cheshire, 1767, . . 1793, New Ashford, . (aljout) 1702, . 1801, 160 AVilliamstowu, . 1751-52, . 176.5, Hancock, . 1702, . 1776, '730 Peru, . . 1764, . 443 Windsor, . . (alxiut; 1767 . . 1771, 624 Hinsdale, . 1762-63, . 1804, 1,.571 Adams, . (about) 1764, . . 1778. 15,760 1777, . . 1797, Clarksburg, . 17C9, . 1798, 670 Florida, . . . (about) 1783. . . 1805, 572 Monterey, 1S47, 703 63,270 HISTORY OF SFM ENCxLAND. BRISTOL COUKTY. BY F. E. GALLIGAN, M. D. Di-RiNG the first sixty-five years of the Plymouth patent, all that portion of south-eastern Massachusetts and western Rhode Ihland embraced within its jurisdic- tion was known as I'lymouth Colony. With the increase of population, however, came a desire for better fiicilities of governing, and, in accordance with that want, the Colony, in 1G85, was divided into the counties of Plym- outh, Barnstable, and Bristol. The towns composing the latter county were Taunton, Rehoboth, Dartmouth, Swansea, Bristol, Tiverton, Little Compton, and Free- town, and the plantations of Cumberland Gore and Attleborough. As thus constituted, Bristol Count}- presented an area of about six hundred square miles, bounded on the north by that part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony's possessions now known as Norfolk County ; on the east by the newly formed county of Plymouth ; and on the south and west by Buzzard's, Mount Hope, and Narra- gansctt bays, and the plantation of Roger Williams. The people inhabiting all this territory' previous to its settlement were : (1) the Massachusetts tribe of Indians, some tliree thousand in number, whose domain extended from Duxbury to Titicut near Taunton, and to Kippi- nicket Pond in Eridgcwater, thence in a straight line to Whiting's Pond in Wrentham ; (2) tlie !Narragansetts, numbering five thousand braves, who dwelt in the further part of Rhode Island and upon the western shore of Narragansctt Bay ; (3) the Wampanoags, whose chief was Massasoit, who, with three thousand warriors, ruled over all the land from Cape Cod to Narragansctt Baj'. ■RTien the novelty of their situation had begun to wear away, Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins, of the party who had landed from the " Mayflower " in the preceding December, actuated hj a desire for the welfare of the little Colony, coupled with that love of daring adventure so characteristic of all English-speaking peoples, started upon what was then a long journey, from Plymouth to the shores of Mount Hope Bay. Thej^ set out in July, 1C21, and, though the beautj' of a • The city of Taunton has perpetuated the memory of the deed on her coat of arms in the words, " Dux ftemina facti." New England summer was full in the heavens above and upon the earth below, j-et desolation reigned tln-oughout the land. Nine years before a great pestilence had swept over the country, and vast numbers of the natives having disappeared under its touch, their fields were still untillcd and the villages iminhabited. Their voyage was made under the guidance of one Tisquantum, a friendlj' Indian, possessing a knowledge of the English language, and had for its object a treatj- with Massasoit, the chief who ruled over this section. Thej' found the Indians in general peaceabl}' inclined, and met with no opposition until the}- attempted to cross Tetiquet (Taunton) River at a point where the village of Squabetty (East Taunton) now stands. Here, two Indians, mistrusting the object of the strangers, disputed the passage of the river. The matter was finallj- settled amicably and the party proceeded, following the course of the stream to the termination of their journey at Pokanokct. This is the first authentic information we have of the visit of white men to the country' of Cohannet. The greater part of the land which thej- traversed was claimed by the sachem of Tetiquet ; and, though except in a small portion of Raynham, there wore no settlements, 3ct the ruined wigwams, the cleared places, and the unburicd remains of man)' who had probal )ly died during the pestilence, showed plainl}- that the place had pre- viously been thickly inhabited. In 1023, Winslow, in companj' with John Hampden, the regicide, again visited this section of the Colony, and from that time until 1G37, its name passes out of history. In that j'car Elizabeth Pool, an English lady of family and fortune, who had at first settled in Dorchester, conceived the strangely bold design of occupying tliis wilderness. It is onl}' when the location and the dangers bj' which it was surrounded are understood, that any idea of the hazardousness of ; the enterprise can be entertained.* The dealings of Miss Pool,t as a settler, were characterized hy the strict- I est sense of honesty and faithfulness. According to the t Elizabeth Pool died in Taunton in 1654, in the sixty-sixth year of her blameless virginity. Her remains were first laid in a plot of giound MASSACHUSETTS. torm3 of her bargain, the First or Tctiquet Purchase included the present towns of Rajnham, Berkley, and Taunton, and as thus defined, the plantation of Cohan- not was incorporated on the 3d of March, 1G39. In 1G68, was made the North Purchase, which embraced Norton, Mansfield, and Easton. In 1G72, the South Purchase, now called Dighton, was added to the town, while still later, in 1080, Assonet Neck was annexed to the jurisdiction of Cohannet. Elizabeth Pool was hardlj- the founder of Cohannet. At the time of her advent to these parts, she found Rieh- ai'd AVilliams, Joseph Williams, Plenrj- UxW, Benja- min Wilson, Wilham Coy, George Hall, George Macy, Francis Doty, and some others here before her ; and it maj- he added, that while none of her name or blood remained long upon the lands she purchased, the progenj- of the others have continued, some of them, even to this day, in possession of the very farms on which their ancestors first located. Concerning Henry Uxle}-, one of the original proprie- tors of Taunton, but verj' Uttle is known. His farm was sold to Richard Williams, who is considered the father of Taunton. The latter was a descendant of a WiUiams family in Glanmorganshire in Wales, but at what precise time he emigrated to America cannot be ascertained. * He scr\'ed as deput3' from Taunton at Plymouth for manj' years, and died in 1692 aged ninet3'-three years. A prominent man of the earlj' settlers was Mr. John Gilbert, Sen. He came originallj' from Devonshire, at the south-cast extremity of Main Street, but afterwards, in 1771, they 1VC1-0 removed to " The Plain " (a burial-ground lying between Washington Street and Broadway), and her liinsman, John Borland, Esq., erected to her memory a stone bearing the following inscription, written by the Hon. Robert Treat Paine, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence : — Here lies the remains of Miss Elizabeth Pool, a native of old England, of good Family, Friends, and Prospects, All which she left, in the Prime of her Life, to enjoy the Religion of her conscience in this distant wilderness ; A great Proprietor in the Township of Taunton ; A chief promoter of its Settlement, and its Incorporation, 1G39-40, abont which time she Settled near this spot ; And, having employed the opportunity of her Virgin state, in Piety, Liberality, and Sanctity of Manners, Died, May 21st, A. D. 1G54, aged Lxv. To whoso memory this Monument is gratefully erected by her next of kin, John Borland, Esquire, A. D. 1771. Eng., and settled in Taunton at a somewhat advanced period of his Ufe. For services in attending court, lajung out land, and perfoniiing other public offices, he, together with Mr. WilUam Pool, and five others, received a grant of forty acres. Henry Andrews was another man who enjoj-ed the esteem of the ancient settlers of Cohannet. He built the first meeting-house in Taunton, and obtained, in 1G47, " the Calf- Pasture Neck," in compensation for his labor. In lGo9, in company with John Macomber, one of the holders in the North Purchase, he was permitted to erect a saw-mill on Mill River, " if it be not found hurtful to the grist-mill." One of his sons was killed in King Philip's war. He was frequently a deputj' to the Plymouth Court. Two of the earl^' settlers in this town, whose descend- ants are numerous, were John and Walter Deane. John Deane, the father of the first white child born in Taunton, was born in England, in IGOO, and, after securing his proprietorship, located his farm on the west bank of Taunton River. The road passing bj' his farm was at that time, and has ever since been called Deane Street. He was a frugal man, possessed of a brave spirit and strong religious convictions. At his death (in April, IGGO), his estate inventoried £334 18s., quite a snug little sum in the olden time. AValtcr Deane, a jounger brother of John, was born between 1G15 and 1G20, at a place called Chard, near Taunton, Eng. He was selectman of Taunton from 1G79 to 1G8G. By trade a tanner, he married Elleanor, a sister of John Strong. One of his descendants was John G. Deane, Esq., a prominent writer on the north- eastern boundarj' question. About the location of the first church in Taunton noth- ing definite is known ; but concerning its earliest pastor, Rev. William Ilooke, much information remains. Bom in Southampton, Eng., in IGOl, he graduated at Trinity College, Oxford, in 1G20. Having been ordained in the Church of England, he preached for seven j'ears at Ox- mouth, in Devonshire ; but, experiencing a change in his religious belief, his sentiments became obnoxious to the dominant party, and, for the sake of that freedom denied him at home, he emigrated to the New World. At what precise period Mr. Ilooke came to Taunton cannot be de- termined, but it comes down to us that the distinguished AVilson of Boston and Mather of Dorchester, inducted * Mr. Baylies conjectures that he was a relative of Oliver Cromwell, while another opinion has been advanced that he was a brother of Roger AVilliams. " Richard Williams married Frances Dighton, sister of Catherine Dighton, who was married to Gov. Thom.as Dudley,— the said Catherine Dighton being the mother of Gov. Joseph Dudley, and grandmother of Paul Dudley, Esq., one of the judges of the circuit." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. him into office. Mr. Ilooke dwelt in Taunton seven years, when he accepted a call to New Haven, where he became the associate of the famous Davenport. The same day on which Mv. Ilooke was ordained pastor, Master Nicholas Street was installed teacher. Upon the removal of Mr. Ilooke to New Ilavcn, he assumed the duties of the vacant office, and fulilUed them with great acceptance for more than twenty years. His death occurred April 22, 1674. Mr. Street's first wife was a sister of Elizabeth Pool, and his second, the widow of Gov. Newman. Throughout the greater part of these years peace smiled upon the little settlement, and its fortunes bloomed like a garden. With the accession of new members, freemanchip was extended to those possessing the proper qualifications, lands were divided, and other boundaries established. In 1G52, James Leonard, Henrj' Leonard, and Ralph Russell erected at Taunton (now Raynham) the first extensive ii-on-works in North America. This part}- came originally from I'ontypool, in Wales, and first settled in Brain tree. Their euteiiJrise continued a suc- cess through manj- j-ears. But a change was soon to come over this prosperous people. Philip, son of Massasoit, jealous of English power, began to excite discontent among his savage brethren. Quick to take alarm, Ph-mouth Court demanded assur- ances of friendship, which Philip was slow to give. Massachusetts, anxious to avert the impending conflict, sent William Davis, William Hudson, and Thomas Brattle to reconcile the opposing people. The commissioners arrived at Taunton, April 13, 1C71, where they met Gov. Prince, Josias Winslow, and Constant Southworth, of Plj-mouth. News being received that Philip was at Three-Mile River, Gov. Prince sent messengers to him, inciting him to a conference. After some little diplomacy (in which Philip was the equal, if not the superior, of the English) , a meeting was held, and documents were ikawn up and signed. His signature, however, did not insure on the part of Philip the fidfilment of its terms. When, at length, tlis- simulation would no more avail, he threw aside the cow- *The kindness of an inhabitant of this town is said to have developed one of the nobler qualities of Philip's nature, and saved the settlement from the ruin that befell the neighboring places. AVhen the chief went hunting in this locality, if his guns needed repairing, James Leonard, of Raynham, cheerfully obliged him. If he wanted iron, or such other trifles as most dehght the savage, the same generous hand was open to him. When the war broke out, the gratitude of the Indian displayed itself. In a general attack upon the to\™, it would be impossible to distinguish between friend and foe, and this Philip must have well knoira, when, at the commencement of hostilities, ho gave his strictest orders that not a Leonard should be injured. Thus Taunton escaped ardice which had so long masked his character, and placing himself at the head of his people, pushed for- ward (June, IGTJ), not simply as their chieftain alone, but, as is commonly supposed, as the leader of the con- solidated New England tribes. From Taunton went forth the information that Sausaman, whose death was at first supposed to be accidental, had been foully dealt with. Then followed, in quick succession, the inquest, the arrest, trial, conviction, and execution of the mur- derers, and King Philip's war. Taunton, though not destined to suffer as much as did other towns in this struggle, * yet was often the theatre of warUke scenes. Companies recruiting, soldiers marching to and from the town, and its proximity to places of slaughter, all con- spired to give Cohannet something of more than slight historic interest. Bradford's armj- was stationed here for quite a while, and this was the town in which twenty men, leaving their employment, shouldered their musk- ets, marched into the forest, captured twenty-six of the enemy, — the cntu-e number at that place, — and then returned to their labors. It was here that Church met with an enthusiastic reception after his captiu'e of Annawan. The destruction of tliis place was often threatened. On one of these occasions, when the towns of Cape Cod had, by special invitation, offered the people a refuge from danger, thej-, through their committee, politclj' declined the invitation, and nobly declared their intention to stand or fall b}' their firesides, At the close of the war, Taunton received £10 as her share of the sum sent over to the distressed people of Ph-mouth bj- the citizens of Dublin, t With the return of peace came an increase of population to the settlements, and the consequent occasion for the enactment of new laws, looking to the pubUc weal. I Nothing, however, either of general or local interest, occurred during the seven j-ears succeed- ing, at the end of which period Taunton became a part of the county of Bristol. Rehoboth. — The original limits of Rehoboth com- prised the present towns of Seekonk, Rehoboth, Paw- tucket, Attleborough (first called the North Purchase), with the loss of but few of its inhabitants, only fifteen of the entire num- ber being killed in that terrible war. t Mr. BayUcs remarks that Ireland -was the only place in the British European dominions that offered any succor to the suffering colonists. The total amount contributed was £124 10s. X In this connection it may be pleasing to some to leant that as early as 1678, Taunton had a liquor law, with a seizure clause attached. Thus we read from the record of that year that James Walker, James Wilbore and Increase Robinson were "appointed and established by the Court to take notice of such liquors as are brought into the town of Taunton, and to make seizure thereof according to order." MASSACHUSETTS. Cumberland, and that part of Swansea known as Wan- namoisett. The first settler was the celebrated William Blackstone, who removed to Cumberland in 1G35, after the sale of his lands at Shawmut Neck in Boston. In this quiet retreat, on the banks of the Blackstone River, he remained until his death. May 2G, 1675. Roger Williams was the next of the English who visited this part of Bristol County-. In 1G36 he fixed his dwelling in that part of Scekonk called Nauton's Neclc, but this territor}' being -within the PljTnouth Patent, he was ad^•iscd b}^ Gov. "Winslow to move across the river, which he accordingly did, and afterwards founded the town of Providence. The real founder of Rehoboth was Rev. Samuel New- man, a minister of We3Tnouth. Not satisQed with his situation, he and a number of his charge, together with some from Hingham, determined to remove, and fixed upon Seekonk as the site of the new settlement. The place chosen was an open plain, alreadj' cleared of forest trees, and in everj- waj- apparently well adapted for the cultivation of Indian corn. The laud having been purchased of Plj-mouth Court, the first meeting of the proprietors was held at WejTnouth, Aug. 24, 1G43. On Oct. 10, 1643, at a final meeting held in Weymouth, Richard Wright was employed to build a saw-mill. The first purchase was a tract of land about ten miles square, embracing the present towns of Pawtucket, See- konk, and Rehoboth. To this purchase the name of Rehoboth was given by the pastor, " for," said he, "the Lord hath made room for us." * In IGCG, Thomas Willet bargained with Wamsitta, alias Wamsetta, alias Alexander, elder brother of King Philip, for the land known as the North Purchase. This territor3' included the present towns of Attleborough, Iilass., and Cumberland, f R- 1- Three j-ears previous to the annexation of the North Purchase, Mr. Newman died, t It was during the ministry of Mr. Newman that Obadiah Holmes, one of the original settlers of Rehoboth, introduced there the first schism that appeared in " Plym- outh Colony-." § In 1G75 the Indian war broke out, •After they h.id bought their lands, the proprietors deemed them- selves an independent body, but were claimed by the governments of Massachusetts and Plymouth, to the latter of which they were assigned by the Commissioners in 1G45. t Cumberland passed under the jurisdiction of Rhode Island in 1741. % JlcT. Samuel Nc-nman, bom in England in ICOO, was educated at Oxford University, and came to New England in 1C36. He was subse- quently pastor in Dochestcr and 'Weymouth, and finally settled in Hcho- both. He was the author of the celebrated " Cambridge Concordance." i The doctrines embraced by Mr. Holmes and his followers were those of the Baptists, and occasioned Qpnsiderable excitement. The trouble commenced as early us 1G49. II One rather notable struggle took place here early in August, 1675. and Rehoboth, located in the very heart of the enemy's country, could not escape being the witness of scenes of strife. II One affair with the Indians, which occurred in this town, had, in particular, so sad an ending, as to cast a gloom over the whole Colon)-. On the 17th of March, 1676, the greater portion of Warwick, R. I., was destroyed, and Capt. Pierce, with 50 Englishmen and 20 friendly Indians, marched forth to take revenge for the injury. The two forces came together near Blackstone's house in Pawtucket, and it was not until after the battle had commenced, that Pierce ascertained the vast supcriorit)' of the enemy in point of numbers. Entirel}- surrounded in the early part of the engagement, with no chance of escape, the Englislimen fought long and bravely. When night set- tled down upon the surrounding woodlands, Capt. Pierce and his 50 brethren, together with 12 of their allies, lay dead on the field. Of the opposing savages, 140 were slain. While the conflict was raging, the people of Rehoboth learning of Pierce's peril, marched forth to his assistance, but arrived too late. The dead bodies of their friends were strewn about the ground, and those, having gathered up, they buried, and then returned to their homes. The Indians, elated with their victory, proceeded to ravage the surrounding countrj'. Within three daj'S after Pierce's disaster, 30 houses and 40 bams were burned in Rehoboth. 1[ Dartmouth. — The old town of Dartmouth originally comprised the present towns of Dartmouth, Acushnet, Fairhaven, and Westport, and the citj* of New Bedford. In 1G02 Bartholomew Gosnold visited the place, and named a round hill, situated between the Apooneganset and Pascamansett rivers. Heap's Hill. Nov. 8, 1052, a party of 36 persons met at Plj-mouth, and hav- ing purchased the title, made an equal division of the lands by joint consent. But ver^' few of the original proprietors occupied the soil, which was taken up mostly 1)}' Quakers, and men whose religious tenets were at -\ariance with those of the Puritans. Anthony Slocima, Philip, forced out of Pocassct swamp, had crossed Taunton River, and was pushing his way towards Taunton. The country through which he had fled was a level plain, and soon his dusky warriors were perceived by tlio people of Rehoboth. These, animated and led on by their minister. Rev. Mr. Newman, pursued the flying savages with such vigor that 12 of them were slain. Not one of the English was injured. % In the southeastern part of the town, near the Dighton line, is the famous " Annawan's Rock," a huge m.".ss of stone of almost precipitous descent, surrounded, at the time of which we write, by a dense growth of woodland. 'Within the shelter thus atTorded Annawan, the greatest of Philip's generals, had formed his camp, and he was surprised and captured by the redoubtable Church, with a handful of men, on the evening of Aug. 28, 1C76. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. and Ealph Russcl, t^vo of the earlj- settlers of Taunton, •ncre among the first occupants of Dartmouth. Some came also from Plj-mouth, and some from Duxbury. The ancient names of Dartmouth were Accushcna and Coakset. It is beautifully situated on Buzzard's Baj-, in the south-eastern portion of the county*. The town ivas incorporated June 8, 1GC4, but -was not thoroughly or- ganized until near the commencement of King Philip's war. During that conflict, the exposed situation of Dartmouth seemed to in\-ite the presence of the enemj-, who, in Julj-, 1G76, descended upon the town, destroying it utterly, and killing many of the people.* The progress of this town was remarkably slow, for even as late as 1C92 there was no Congregational church in Dartmouth. Swansea, formerly embraced within its limits the present town of that name, besides Somerset in Massa- chusetts, Barrington, and the greater part of Warren, in Rhode Inland. On their journey to Sowams in 1621, Winslow and Hopkins passed through here, and found the ten-itory had escaped the ravages of the pestilence, which had visited other parts of the countr}' some j'ears before. Winslow, in 1623, accompanied by John Hampden, came again into this neighborhood, this time to visit the sick Maosa- soit. While making this journey they were hospitably' entertained by Corbitant, a follower of Massasoit, and sachem of the Pocasscts. Ancient Swansea was pur- chased from the natives, and the title confirmed bj- l"lj-mouth Court. The town was duly incoqoorated in 1GG7, though quite a number of English and their de- scendants had arrived there some years previous. Mr. Mylcs, pastor of the church, and Capt. Thomas Willet, a wealthy and prominent citizen, and the last of the Loj-den company who came to this countrj', are considered the fathers of Swansea. This town will be ever memorable as the place in which King PhiHp's war began. The Indians com- menced hostilities by plundering houses and killing cattle. Their unpunished insolence at last became so intolerable, that an Englishman, under a sudden impulse of anger, fired upon one of them, wounding him sc- vcrclj'. News of this occurrence was instantly sent to PljTnouth, and assistance requested. Twenty horsemen from Bridgewater answered the summons. At Meta- • Shortly after this occurrence the Plymouth forces were ordered there, and, having induced all the Dartmouth Indians who were not concerned in this outrage, to surrender as prisoners of war, marched them off to Plymouth. Despite tlie remonstrances of Ralph Earle, Capts. Eels and Church, the warriors who were conspicuous in securing the surrender, the colonial government basely betrayed the confidence poisett, the house of one Bourne, had ah'eady been gar- risoned, within which were collected 70 persons, only 16 of whom were men. Thither the cavalry proceeded. Two days after their arrival, a party which had been sent out from the garri- son to bring in a quantity of com from a deserted house, were surprised by the enemy, and six of their number killed. The noise of the firing was heard at Bourne's, but before the soldiers could reach the scene the afiair was over. Shortly afterwards the troops were reinforced, and the inmates having been sent over in safety to Rhode Island, the garrison was abandoned. Sundaj', the 24th of June, was a day of fasting and humiliation. That daj-, as the people of Swansea were returning from pubUc worship, they were fired upon bj' the Indians, and one of their number was killed and two were wounded. Of tlio party which had been sent for a surgeon, two were shot dead on their mission of mere}-. On the same daj- the savages attacked a house in another part of the town, and six men were murdered. In the meantime the torch had been applied to houses and barns, and before manj' days one-half the town was destroyed. Massachusetts promptly responded to the appeal of the distressed set- tlers, and a company of infantr}- under Capt. Henchman, and a company of cavalry under Capt. Prentice, together with 110 volunteers, amongst whom were 12 privateers- men, with dogs, under charge of Capt. Moselej-, an old buccaneer, were sent to Swansea, where thej' arrived on the 28th of June. At length, in April, 1676, the conflict had grown to such alarming proportions, and so feeble was the sup- port th.at could be given to the dilTerent settlements, that most of the inhabitants of Swansea fled to the more thickly populated districts for protection. Later in the year, twenty of Philip's party was captured at Meta- poisctt, t and the chief himself made a narrow escape into Pocasset. Among the last of the captives taken by Church, was one, quite an old man, named Conscience, who belonged in Swansea. Thither he was led, while bitterly lament- ing the fate of his people, and sold to a master of his own choosing. As the towns of Bristol, Little Compton and Tiverton are now included in Rhode Island, their history properly- belongs to that State. reposed in its honor, and ordered the whole party to the nnmlxir of IGO to be sold as slaves and transported out of the country. t It was at Metapoisett, also, now kno\\-n as Gardner's Neck, that the body of Weetamoe, the squaw sachem of Pocasset, was found floating in the water. Her head was cut off and set on a pole at Taunton, to the great grief of many of her subjects, who were there as prisoners. MASSACHUSETTS. Freetown, the present city of Fall Eiver, the villages of Assonct and Freetown, were originally embraced uithin the territory of Freetown, then known as Asso- nct. These lands Tvere obtained by the -nhite people through a regular purchase. * Although this territor}' was purchased at so earlj' a date, yet Freetown was not incorporated until 1G83. The first settlers were principally from Scituate, Marsh- field, and Plj-mouth. The early names were Cudworth, Winslow, Morton, Eeed, Ilathawaj', and Tcny. There was no church organization there at the termination of the colonial government. Organization or the County. From the termination of King Philip's war to the divi- sion of Plymouth Colonj- into counties, the condition of society was in some sections very deplorable. In no partof the Colony had the ravages of war been so severely felt as in that part afterwards known as Bristol Count}'. Within this territory was the stronghold of the Wam- panoags, and here, when the struggle commenced, the torch of destruction was lighted, nor did its flame die out till the head of Philip was brought in triumph to Raynham. As a result of that contest many families were broken up, some towns were utterly ruined, and their local gov- ernments disorganized. Added to this, the great debt created by the war weighed heavily upon the whole peo- ple, and constantly harassed them in their eflforts to re- store former prosperity. But the characteristic energy of the early settlers, many of whom were yet living, was transmitted to their offspring, and at the formation of the county judiciary in 1G85, many of the greatest ob- stacles to success had been surmounted. Although education had received some encouragement, yet only two schools were established in the county ; one of these was at Taunton, the other at Rchoboth. Com- ing as they did from the finest institutions of learning in the Old "World, it is not remarkable that we find, under this order of things, the ministry embodj'ing nearly all the higher intelligence of the community, f In 1G85, Nicholas Peck, Thomas Leonard, and Joseph Church were appointed to hold, in Bristol Count}', courts somewhat similar to the ancient court of Common Pleas. The first term of the court holden in Bristol Count}', of which there is any record, coromenced Oct. 13, 1702, and the last term in June, 1774. A royal decree, which was brought over in the autumn of 1746, fixed new boundar}* lines for the Provinces of • The deed, bearing date April 2, 1659, was duly attested by Wam- sitta and Tattapanuin. t Ilcnce we are not surprised that, at this period, parties were hon- Massachusetts and Rhode Island. By that decree Bris- tol, Tiverton, Saconct and a part of Rchoboth and Swan- sea passed under the juriodiction of the latter Pro\'ince. An act of the Massachusetts General Court, enacted in November, 1740, made Taunton the shire town of Bristol County. The first court opened, under the new order of affairs, was holden at Taunton, Dec. 9, 1740- During all these year's a military organization was in existence in the county. The war of 1C90 was con- ducted by Col. Church. At the capture of the fortress of Louisburg, June 17,1745, Joseph Hodges of Free- town, who was major of the Bristol County regiment, lost his life. His son, Capt. Joseph Hodges, was killed in 1756, in the French and Indian war. In 17G2 there was also a militia regiment in the county, composed of com- panies from Taunton, Raynham, Easton, Norton, Mans- field, and Attlcborough. March 25 of that year, Samuel Wilde of Taunton was appointed colonel, superseded in 1774 by George Godfrey of Taunton. This organization continued until the Revolution. In the distribution of honors that was made at that period. Col. GodCrcy was raised to the rank of brigadier-general, and was the first citizen of Bristol County to whom such a commission was granted. His rank gave him the command of all the militia in the county. In October, 177G, a "Train of Artillery" was organ- ized, known as the Norton Artillery, an organization which performed invaluable seiwice in the Revolution. Taunton has the honor of having passed, early in the Independence agitation, most eloquently patriotic and ringing resolutions in favor of colonial independence of Great Britain ; while, on the other hand, Freetown en- jo}'s the reputation of having been, during that memor- able struggle, the stronghold of the Tories in Bristol County. At a town meeting, held there in 17G8, to send delegates to a convention in Boston, called for the pur- pose of condemning the measures of the king, 33 votes were cast, of which 23 were Tory. In 1775, Gov. Gage, at the request of Col. Thomas Gilbert, sent arms to Freetown, whereupon a company of royalist militia was mustered in with the avowed intention of putting down the Whigs of the town. Their actions at length aroused the anger of the "rebels" in the remainder of the county, and Gilbert was compelled to fly to Boston. Towns. Fall River. — This important manufacturing city is situated on somewhat elevated ground at the ored yrith a seat upon the bench, not so much for their legal attainments as for their good judgment and sound sense, and their unquestioned probity. HISTOKY OF NEW ENGLAND. mouth of Taunton Eivcr, and near the head of Mt. Hope Bay. The harbor is safe and commo- dious, affording anchorage for vessels of the largest size. The town was incorjjorated under its present name, Feb. 26, 1803. The next j-ear the name was changed to Troy, but in 1834 the original name was re- sumed. This latter is derived from the Indian word Quequechan, meaning Falling Water, and designating a small stream which takes its rise in a chain of long i and narrow ponds known as Watuppa, or Place of Boats. These ponds are fed by perpetual springs, and afford a volume of water that is ever constant, never liable to ex- cess, and of sufficient power for the largest manufacto- ries. The Quequechan derives additional force from its rapid descent, which, in the course of half a mile, amounts to 132 feet. In 1803, there were eighteen dwelling-houses and one hundred persons in Fall River. The first building of any note erected in the new cor- poration was the town house, completed in 1805. It was built at Steep Brook, then the centre of business, and served its purpose imtil 1825, when a new one was erect- ed on the land now occupied by the North Cemetery. The first regular mail was received Feb. 12, 1811, and the same j^ear Col. Jos. Durfee, in companj' with others, liuilt a cotton mill in Globe Village. This mill was a small wooden structure, and stood on the ground which is now the corner of Main and Globe streets. In October, 1813, a structure three stories in height? CO feet in length, and 40 feet in breadth, known as the Fall Eiver Mill, was erected on the Quequechan at the head of the third falls from tide water, and manufactur- ing was begun the following year. The dressing of yarn for the looms was, at first, the source of much annoj'- ance, and it was some years before the present satisfac- torj' method was obtained. The total number of per- sons employed in this mill in 1819, did not exceed 35. It was not until 1820 that the enterprise began to yield any appreciable gains to the stockholders ; but after that time the results were ver}' satisfactorj'. Successive en- largements became necessary in 1827 and in 1839. In 1868 the factory was burned to the ground, and in the succeeding year the present mill was erected. This structure is of stone, five stories high, 275 feet long, 73 feet wide, and contains 600 looms and 25,992 spindles, operated by two turbine wheels of 140 horse power, and a Corliss engine of 300 horse power. For a number of j-ears the company has placed 7,000,000 j-ards of cloth on the market annually. The Troy Cotton and Woollen Manufactory, another of the older establishments in Fall Eiver, contains 932 looms, 38,928 spindles, producing more than 10,000,000 yards of print cloth annually. From the time of the incorporation of the above men- tioned mills, great changes have taken place in Fall River. Between 1820 and 1830, several large corpora- tions were organized. By the tariff bill of 1824, a new stimulus was given to the energies of the people, and the whole count}' rejoiced over its beneficial effects.* While in 1820 the population of the town was but 1,594, in 1830 it had risen to 4,159. The first newspaper printed in Troy, as the town was then called, was issued Jan. 6, 1826, by Nathan Hall, and called the " Fall River Monitor." At that date, but four churches were in existence here. The Congrega- tionalists, with Re^■. Mr. Read pastor, worshipped in a house on the site of the present Annawan Street school- house. The Baptists still worshipped in the old meeting- house near the buttonwood tree, with Rev. Job Borden as pastor. The Methodists held meetings in the old school-house at the comer of South Main and Annawan streets. Of the places of worship of other denomina- tions we are not advised. That the Catholics, who now form so large a portion of the population, had no church here, we are positive, as, for many years subsequent, they were obliged to seek spiritual advice and consola- tion from a priest in Taunton, nearlj' twenty miles awaj-. At the present time the Catholics have six chm-ehes in Fall River. The number of churches and missions, of all denominations, is twenty-nine. A writer, who sailed up the river to Somerset, speaks of Fall River as being at this time ' ' a city of the wilderness rising in the midst of trees, hills, waterfalls, and rural sceneiy." It then contained 36 stores, a tavern, with a stone post 36 feet high, three physicians, one lawyer, and a bank, with a capital of $100,000. Previous to 1825, the only means of communication between Fall River and the neighboring towns was by means of private carriages, but in that year a stage line was established froni Pro^ddence and New Bedford, and had its tci-minus at Slade's Ferry. There was also another line which ran to Boston, Bristol, and Newport via Bristol Fcrr}-. In 1826, a horse boat was put on at Slade's FciTy, and by this means the stages crossed to Fall River. This primitive transfer boat was superseded in 1847, by the steam ferry-boat " Faith." In 1827, the steamer "Hancock" commenced running regularly be- tween this place and Providence. On May 19th, the * There are now nearly thirty manufactories in Fall River, devoted to the production of cotton, linen and woollen goods, and prints. Besides these, there are numerous machine shops, a bleachery, a lai-go iron and nail works, cooper shops, a carriage factory, marble works, &c. Good outlets for the products of these varied industries are afforded by a railroad to Providence, another to Boston, and by a fine steamboat line to New York. MASSACHUSETTS. steamer " Marco Bozzaris" was advertised to run be- tween Dighton and New York, stopping at Fall River, passengers to be taken b}' stage from Dighton to Boston. Slany prosperous dajs had shone through long jcars upon Fall River ; but at length a severe blow was given its interests bj' the conflagration which occurred in the summer of 1843. The fire, the origin of which was acci- dental, broke out in a carpenter's shop on the north side of Borden Street, on the afternoon of Sunday, Julj- 2, of the j-ear above named. The flames, aided by a strong south wind, spread rapidl}- in a northerly direction, and, in the course of seven hours burned over twenty acres in the very heart of the village. The value of the propert}' destroyed was estimated at over half a million of dollars. This disaster to the town, however, served but to stimu- late the inherent energies of the people, and not a great while elapsed ere beautiful edifices adorned the scene of desolation. The very latest, and, in some of its aspects, by far the heaviest and saddest blow that has ever befallen Fall River — still fresh in the memory- of all — is, it were hardly necessary to mention, the stupendous defalcations of three men, occupjing at the time of their fall, promi- nent and highly responsible official and social positions — S. Angier Chace, George F. Hathaway, and Charles V. Stickney ; all of whom arc now, as convicted felons, pa3'ing the penalt}- of their ill-judged acts. In 1854, Fall River was incorporated as a city, and May 6th of that year, James Buffinton was elected maj-or. In the dark hours of the Rebellion, which came on dur- ing the next decade, the people of the new cit^' were unsurpassed in their devotion to the cause of freedom. Promptly her sons responded to their countr3''s call, and many a battle-field was consecrated with the blood of her sons. At the conclusion of the late war the population of this place had risen to 17,525, and, in the next twelve 3'ears, the census rose to 45,113. Of public buildings in Fall River, those that present the most pleasing appearance are the new Central Con- gregational Church, erected in 1875, and built of brick and sandstone in the early English Gothic style ; the Episcopal Church, Borden's Block, and the city hall. The Public Library and Reading-room is located on the lower floor of the city hall, and contains upwards of 15,000 volumes. There are two public parks in Fall River, one located in the north-east and the other in the southern part of the city. The latter, overlooking as it does Mt. Hope Bay, and afl!br(ling a splendid view of the surrounding coun- try, promises to be, when the newly planted trees and shrubbery shall have attained a sturdj' growth, one of the most dehghtful spots in New England. Oak Grove Cemetery, comprising seventj-five acres of land, is situated in the north-easterlj- part of the city. It is, indeed, a beautiful resting-place for the dead. The ground, somewhat elevated, is well laid out with grav- elled roadways and wallcs, mai-ked by manj' monuments of a high order of artisUc merit. The splendid water-works system with which this city is supplied, went into operation Jan. 5, 1874, and the first water was supplied to the citj- on January- 8th of the same j-ear. Biorjraphical Sketches. — Hon. James Buffinton, the first maj-or of Fall River, was born in that city March 16, 1817. He received manj- honors from his fellow- citizens, and held eminent positions in the service of the government. He was for mauj- j-cars a member of Congress ; general ti-easury agent under President John- son, and revenue collector for the First Massachusetts District from 1864 to 1870. He died while a member of the lower house of Congress, March 6, 1874. Hon. Edward P. Buffinton, for some years mayor of Fall River, and one of the leading business men of that citj-, was born in Westport, Mass., Sept. 16, 1814. His death occurred Oct. 2, 1871. Xew Bedford. — This beautiful and prosperous city is situated on the westerly side of Acushnet River, a small estuar}-, near the western end of Buzzard's Baj-. It was originally a part of Dartmouth, from which it was set ofi", and, including the present town of Fairhaven, was incor- porated in 1787. Bedford, the earl3- name of the old village, was given it in honor of Joseph Russel, who bore the family name of the Duke of Bedford. Jlr. Russel was a descendant, in the fourth generation, of Ralph Russel, who earl^' came to Taunton, and helped establish an iron forge there, but subsequently came to Dartmouth, where he became engaged in the same busi- ness at a place now known as Russcl's Mills. After- ward, when it was ascertained that there was another village of Bedford in the State, the present city of New Bedford took the name by which it is now designated. New Bedford is 55 miles south-east from Boston, and 228 north-cast from New York. The land rises grad- ually from the river, and, as the streets are well laid out, and some of the buildings quite handsome, an excellent view is afforded from the harbor. Although continuing to be a part of the ancient Dartmouth until after the Revolution, jet the village of Bedford was as distinctly' known through a long number of years prior to the pas- sage of the act of incorporation, as if it were a place HISTOKY OF NEW ENGLAND. enjojing its own municipal privileges. Therefore manj' of the important events which have occurred in this neighborhood will be given as part of the history of the present city. The struggles for existence of the first settlers in this section of the Old Colony were manifold and bitter. Being for the most part Quakers, their religious views were at variance with those of Pl^-mouth Court, and earned for them the distrust of the greater portion of their Puritan brethren. The rockj' nature of the land obliged them to locate only in those places which ad- mitted of casj- cultivation, so that the commencement of King Philip's war found the homes of the people scat- tered at long intervals one from the other, and an easy proy to the Indians. Yet, in the harvest of their sor- rows were sown the seeds of future prosperitj-. The unjielding character of the soil, together with the recol- lection of their fonner labors, and their almost barren results, at length compelled the inhabitants of this por- tion of Dartmouth to seek other modes of living. The whale fishery, with its large profits, had for man}- j-ears attracted the attention of maritime countries, and into this enteqirise the people of Bedford entered with a spirit worthj- of their progenitors. The first ship launched was the "Dartmouth," in the 3'ear 17G7. She made her first voyage to London with a cargo of whale oil.* The early ventures of the Xcw Bedford people in the whaling business were necessarily- small, but success crowning their first etforts, other and larger vessels were put into the business. The wars of the Revolution and 1812,1 however, brought ruin to many whose wealth was principally in marine property ; but, notwithstanding these obstacles, the prudence, skill, and daring of Xew Bedford sailors triumphed, and in the end achieved for their native city the honor, -which she wears to-day, of being the largest whaling port in the world. During the struggle for independence, the harbors of Buzzard's Baj- were not alone resorts for whaling vessels ; thej- were also ren- dezvous for privateersmen and prizes taken from the enem\-. This fact coming to the knowledge of Sir Henry Clinton, he dispatched, in 1778, a fleet imder command of Maj. Gen. Charles Earle Gre}-, for the destruction of property- in that part of the New England coast. I The good people of Bedford village were f * This ship afterwards came into Boston freighted with tea, which historians say was disposed of in rather a peculiar manner. t " It (the v.ar of 1S12) was a sad war for our little commnnitr," remarks Mr. Crapo, " for the commerce of the country was swept from tlie ocean, and it was on the ocean alone that the inhabitants of New Bedford depended for their support.' It was tliis disagi-ecablc fact, of the first naval battle of the Revolution. " On the otli of Ma3' (1775), Capt. Linzee, of the ' Falcon,' captured two provincial sloops at Bedford. He intended to send : them to Martha's Mneyard, and freight sheep to Boston ; but the Bedford people fitted out two sloops, with thirty i men, and retook the captured vessels, with fifteen men on ' board. In the action three of the ' Falcon's ' crew were wounded, and one of them mortally. Thirteen prisoners were sent to Cambridge." — Frothingham's Siege of Boston. The command in this gallant action was divided be- [ tween Capt. Egery and Nathaniel Pope. As manj- of the people of Bedford had at that time conscientious scruples about throwing otf their allegiance to George j III., the prisoners were hastily sent to Taunton, in order to pat them beyond the reach of a writ of habeas corpus. While these noble exploits were being performed at home, there were those who, in divers places, reflected honor on their native town, and the records at the State House point to the names of manj- of the sous of ancient Dartmouth, who made a cheerful oflTcring of their lives for the freedom of their countrv. It has before been intimated that at the cessation of hostilities the whahng business, with the progress of which the histoiy of New Bedford is so intimately connected, was almost prostrate. Y'et it is impossible, at this date, to fully rcahze the deplorable condition of affairs that then existed. Manj- merchants were bankrupt ; others had all their vessels destroved ; while those more fortunate were seriouslj' cmban-assed bj- the duty imposed hy the British govern- ment on oils shipped from foreign ports. Though sadly crippled, yet it was with stout hearts these merchants bent themselves to the work of rcpaii-ing their fortunes. As an evidence of their enterprise and energy we will instance the fact that the ship " Rebecca," of New Bed- ford, Joseph Kearslej' master, was the first American vessel that doubled Cape Horn, and obtained a cargo of oil in the Pacific Ocean. The number of dwelling-houses in the village of Bed- ford in 1801 was 185. The public builliiigs were a meeting-house for Friends, one for Congicgationahsts, two large school-houses, — one for each of these soci- eties, — ■ an almshouse, and a small market-house. In 1803, there were owned in New Bedford, 32 ships and 31 brigs. House lots sold at from S500 to $2,000 each, according to location. , as much as the " peace " proclivities of the people, that led to their decidedly unpatriotic deliverances, July '21, 1814, in town meet- ing, unquaUfiedly disappro\-ing, by formal vote, of the war then in progress. X The loss of property by this visit of the British has been pretty generally estimated at £20,000. MASSACHUSETTS. Among those who took a prominent part in the ad- vancement of the affairs of the town at this period none labored more earnestly than the Eotch famih-. Their efforts were characterized by a spirit and zeal truly admirable. On Tuesday, Nov. 27, 1792, was issued the first newspaper published in Kcw Bedford. It was entitled "The Medley, or New Bedford Marine Jour- nal," and was "printed and published bj' John Rotch, at his office near Eotch's Wharf." How, or when, its existence terminated, we cannot determine. The suc- cessor of "The Medley" was "The Columbian Courier," edited by Abraham Sherman, at the Four Comers. It, like its predecessor, was a weekly paper, and continued a little more than five years. The first number appeared Dec. 8, 1799. In 1803, to meet the pressing wants of business, the first banking institution of the village was incorporated. It was styled " The Bedford Bank," and started with a capital of $G0,000, which was subse- quently increased to $160,000. Thomas Howland, president. The " Bedford Marine Insurance Companj- " was established in 1805, with a capital of $150,000. In 1847, New Bedford received its city charter.* With their advancement in wealth the merchants of New Bedford have evinced a spirit of enterprise commendable to other localities in the county. Taught b3' sad experi- ence the folly of placing their reliance on one industry alone, they have, with an increase of money-power, built up around them manufactories of various kinds, f Of that class of sterling men, men of clear heads, stout hearts, and strong arms, to whom New Bedford is indebted for her present proud position, there is, per- haps, no better example tlian Cornelius Grinnell. His ancestors came over from England in 1710 and settled in Little Compton, R. I., where Capt. Grinnell was born Feb. 11, 1758. At an earlj' age he removed to New Bedford, and served his time at the hatter's trade with • Its population was then, exclusive of Fairhaven, 15,000. Three years previous, the value of oil and bone brought into the toivn was $3,003,324. In 1S.33, the products of tlie whale fishery realized gllO,- 703,107.83; but it was in 1Sj7 that this Industry reached its highest point in capital, vcss-cls, and tonnage. During the latter year the New Bedford whaling fleet of 329 ships and outfits was worth more than $12,000,000, and requured the services of 10,000 seamen. In the w.ar for secession the ships and outfits belonging to this port, destroyed by Confederate privateers, amounted in value to about $1 ,300,000. In Sep- tember, 1871, thirty-three ships had to be abandoned in the ice of the Arctic Ocean. Twenty-nvo of the numljcr belonged in New Bed- ford, and were valued, regardless of the oil and bone on board, at $1,090,000. t Beside the manufacture of the products of the whale fishery, there are at present two shipyards, five boat-building establishments, three matt and spar yards, and a cordage factory in the city. There is also a rolling, slit:ing. and nail mill, two hollow ware and casting fur- naces; establishments for the manufacture of steam-engines, iron rail- his brother-in-law, Joseph Austin. At the termination of his apprenticeship he started in business for himself, but was left bankrupt by the burning of the town by the British in 1778. Being a person of great determination of character he soon sought other methods to mend his circumstances, and shortly we find him, yet a young man, acting in the capacitj' of shipmaster. From the time that he obtained command of a vessel fortune seemed to smile upon his labors, and ere long he became the possessor of ample means and a wide reputation. He died in the cit3' of his adoption April 19, 1850, leav- ing to posteritj^, besides his large wealth, an unsullied name. J A noted merchant of New Bedford was George Howland, for manj- years president of the Bedford Com- mercial Bank. He died the possessor of great wealth. May 21, 1852, at the age of seventj-. Among his be- quests were $15,000 to a Friends' School at Ilaverford, Pa. ; $5,000 for a school in North Carolina ; and $50,000 in trust for a school for young females. Throughout a great portion of the last century New Bedford was the home of the celebrated Dr. Samuel West. He was born at Yarmouth, March 4, 1730; graduated from Harvard College in 1754, and was ordained as a minister in 17G1. Four j-ears later, hav- ing become a strong Whig partisan, he was chosen a member of the convention for framing the Constitution of Massachusetts, and subsequently a member of the con- vention for the adoption of the Constitution of the United States. Dr. West was the author of several books, and was a memljor of the Academy of Science at Philadel- phia and Boston. He died Sept. 24, 1807. Hon. Jabez D. Hammond, LL. D., a distinguished jurist and author, member of Congress from New York, and also State senator and county- judge, was born in New Bedford Aug. 2, 1778, and died Aug. 18, 1855. Hon. John Hem'y Clifford, whom Massachusetts hon- ing, and fence, chemical preparations, metal sheathing for vessels, yel- low sheathing, a copper manufactory, and two brass foundries. Added to these is a large establishment for the manufacture of linEced oil, and carriage-shops that turned out $183,100 worth of work in 1875. There is also an immense amount of work done in flouring mills, copper-bolt factories, boot and shoe shops, looking-glass and pictm-e-frame estal>- lishments. In 1S75, the amount of capital invested in the manufacture of cotton cloth was $3,100,000, and the value of goods made and work done the same year was $2,836,703. tilis son, Joseph Grinnell, bora in 1788, became a distinguished merchant, and represented his district in Congress from 1844-52. Another son was Moses H. Grinnell, born in New Bedford Nov. 3, 1803. After finishing his studies at a " Friends' Academy " he be- came engaged in mercantile affairs, and was frequently sent abroad as supercargo. He was elected a member of Congress in 1839-41. In 18G9, Mr. Grinnell was appointed collector of the port of New York ; but it was as a promoter of Dr. Kane's Arctic Expedition that he was most distinguished. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. ored-n-iththeLighcst office in ber gift, was for the greater ancient iion-workers, engaged, under the firm-name of portion of his lile a resident of New Bedford. Leonard & Crockers, in a branch of the favorite industrj' New Bedford has a population of ^^,,.^=___^^ of their forefathers, in the village of 26,000. Manj' of the private resi- ^^ ^~"\ Hopewell, in the northern part of dences are quite beautiful, while ^^ N. the town. The slitting and nail some of the public buildings evi- ^^p -X mills of these parties not only fur- dence a fine architectural taste. ^ ^^-- I \ ^^'^^'^^^ employment to hundreds of The custom-house, city hnll, and ^^^^ l,. \ finniUes in this vicinity, but also post-office are imposing structuns j \ gave to the products of Taunton of native granite. Tlie latter build- -. manufacture a repute which justly ing was erected in 1836, at a cost increased in succeeding years, of $31,700. The customs huildiii- In 1807, after the death of Samuel was completed in 1830, at an ex- ^ Leonard and "VTilliam A. Crocker, pense of $00,000. New Bedford, A V ' Samuel Crocker having associated while earnest in trying to satisfv ^XM. "itb himself Thomas Bu3h and the material aspirations of her peo- ^J^Wj^ ^ -■)««»*,"«'• 'St^-SaSfifR-J ^^^"''^''^ Richmond, the business was pie, has not been negligent of their ^^|ig^»,iB j^ ^^^jfej^nw ^ continued under their management intellectual needs. Under the will bfllnS tH I^^^^^^BhH for a number of years. At a sub- of Sylvia Ann Howlnnd, the city of R-i^||^^H^LLa|H^^HB sequent period, on the decease of New Bedford was b'^queathcd tlie ^^^^^^^^^^KUKK/Kk ^^'■- ■^'^^'^' ^'^'^ business was con- sum of $100,000 " for the promo- Te^||l|^^^^^lf-1PHPriHESS^ ducted by the remaining members tion and support, within the city, (n , ^^^^ ; / lijabi*.' ^ j gf t^g gj-m. liberal education and the oilargc- ^^^^^^^-^ J IMessrs. Crocker & Richmond not ment, from time to time, of the Free ^^S^^^^^'^^^'**' < only engaged in the manufacture of PubUc Library." The latter build- c . . . ii m i , m n bi di oi , copper and iron, but, in 1823, they, ing was completed in 1857, at a co^t of $10,000. It l T\ithotlui>, Mcie empowered "tocarry on the businessof contains 33,000 volumes, besides numerous pamphlets, bleaching and printing cottons, mushns, and silks." By and has an annual income from trust funds of $3.1.56. | their enterprise, many foreign mechanics, mostly EngUsh, New Bedford was made a shire town for holding courts in 1827. Most of the religious denominations have erect^^ 1 edifices in New Bedford , 1 ut those alone worthy of spc( mention are the Lnitiii Congregational, Fpiscoj and Roman Catholic churc Ii The Methodist and Bi ti t denominations are not TMth out a fair representation in this thriving city by the s°a Taiinton. — The iion en- terprise, initiated by the Leonards in 1652, was des tined to be the basis of the wealth and world-^ ide celeb- rity of the present city of Taunton. About the begin- ning of the present century, Samuel Leonard, Samuel I parts. The copper-works and William A. Crocker, all lineal descendants of the | Brothers in 1825, and incorporated with were called to the place, and Taunton acquired the reputa- tion of being one of the larg- est mnnufacturirg towns in the State. Wlien W. A. Crocker died, in 1807, he bequeathed to his j sons, Samuel L., William A. and George A. Crocker, be- sides a goodly share of wealth, not a little of the character- istic tact and energy of his progenitors. It is not surprising, there- fore, that these young men should be found devoting themselves with all their in- | hcritcd vigor to the develop- 1 ment of an industry which had received, as yet, but in- j different attention in these was originated bj-the Crocker | capital of i MASSACHUSETTS. $200,000 the following j'ear. The machinery of the company was located in Norton, but the office was on irain Street, in Taunton, in rooms over the Taunton Bank. From the start the enterprise was a positive suc- cess. Besides manufacturing a large amount of other copper material for the General Government, Crocker Bros., from 1830 to 1853, furnished coin to the United States Mint of the value of $75,000 annually. The immense increase in their business, and the better facili- ties for transportation afforded by Taunton, at length determined the companj' to remove the greater part of their works to the latter place, where they are now in operation. From time to time, other stockholders have bought in, and the capital stock increased, until it is at present $900,000. The onlj' surviving member of tlie Crocker Bros., is the Hon. Samuel L. Crocker, now in his 75th year. He represented his district two terms in Congress. In 1827, Albert Field, then a j'oung man of thirty, constructed his first machine for the manufacture of brads. His place of business was on the east side of Spring Street, near the site of the present extensive works of A. Field & Sons. Three years later, he purchased one of Reed's tack-machincs, and employed E. S. Caswell to take charge of it. Under the combined inventive genius of employer and employee, and the judicious management of the former, the business prospered. One machine after another was built, the buildings were enlarged, im- provements in the methods of manufacturing were origi- nated or adopted, until now the tack-works, started by Albert Field in 1827, is th^ leading concern of its kind on the Western Continent. Another local industry merits particular notice in the history of Taunton. This is the manufacture of britannia, introduced b3' Isaac Babbitt in 1824. Six j-ears later the Taunton Britannia Manufacturing Company was organ- ized, and commenced operations on the present site of Reed & Barton's works. From this beginning has grown the present establishment for the manufacture of britannia, albata, silver and silver-plated ware, conducted by Messrs. Reed & Barton, the oldest and largest in the United States. In good times, about 500 hands are employed. William Mason, whose splendid mechanical genius has made him conspicuous in the business annals of our country, came to Taunton from Connecticut, when Crocker, Richmond & Co. were at the height of their prosperity. It was while employed in the machine- shop of Messrs. Leach & Keith that he brought to per- fection the great invention of his life. This was the " self-acting mule," the manufacture of which has added greatly to the material prosperity of his adopted city. Mr. Mason began, in 1845, the erection of Mason's Machine Works. The main shop was 315 feet long and three stories high, but a rapidly increasing business has compelled the erection of building after building, until now the works cover an area of sis acres. At first, Mr. Mason confined himself to the production of cotton and woollen machinery, in the manufacture of which he was eminently successful. Subsequently he modified and enlarged his plans, and, in 1853, brought out his first locomotive, which immediately elicited warmest praise from mechanics for its beauty and remarkalile s\imnctry of design. During the Rebellion, Mr. Mason did quite a business in the manufacture of firearms for the govern- ment, producing, for a short period, as many as 600 Springfield rifles per week. Some years ago he made an improvement in car wheels, and erected a foun- dry for their production. In prosperous seasons, ]\Iason's Machine Works give employment to 700 men. Mr. Mason's locomotive, meanwhile, was not the first produced in Taunton. This piece of mechanism came from the shops of the Taunton Locomotive Company, incorporated in 1847. This company sent out the first locomotive that ran west of the Mississippi. Their loco- motives have been so distinguished for speed and pov.cr as to attract attention in England. Two hundred and fifty hands are usually emploj'ed at this establishment. The Taunton Paper fllauufacturing Company was in- corporated in 1847. Other corporations, of which space forbids a more extended account, ai-e the Dean Cotton Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1815 ; Dean Cotton and Machine Company (1848) ; Taunton Cotton and Machine Company (1874) ; Bristol Print Works (1833) ; Crocker Manufacturing Compan}- ( ) ; Taun- ton Iron Company (1837) ; Old Colony Iron Company (1844) ; Phenix Manufacturing Company (1850) ; Taun- ton Iron Works Company (1854) ; Taunton Tack Com- pany (1854) ; and Stearns, Son & Hall Silver-Plate Company (1879). Beside these there are many com- panies manufacturing cotton fabrics, machinists' tools, stove linings, stoves, hollow ware, print rolls, stationary' engines, &c. Another industrj' of Taunton towards the close of the last century was the manufacture of brick. * The first banking institution known in Taunton was incorporated June 23, 1812. It was located in the lower part of the building on Main Street, now used for a shoe store bj' II. L. Peck. It was called the Taunton Bank. Judge Samuel Fales was the first president. • That this hnsiness was carried on to a considerable extent is appar- ent from the foct that not less than ten sloops, of thirty tons each, were employed in the exportation of this article. HISTORY OF NEW EXGLAN'D. The first savings bank in Taunton ivas organized Feb. 6, 1827. It was styled tlie Trovident Institu- tion for Savings, and was located in a room of the late William Crandall'a house, comer of Howard Street and City Square. This institution, in 1840, passed into the hands of receivers. Jacob Chapin was editor of the first newspaper pub- lished in Taunton. This was a weekly sheet, whose earliest number appeared in 1821. The " Old Colony Journal and Columbian Reporter," as the paper was styled, has been continued, under several names, to the present time, and has absorbed several other papers. It is now the " Bristol Count}' Republican," published by the Hon. Ezra Davol. Other newspapers are the "Daily Gazette," started by Edmund An- thony in 1849, and the "Household Gazette." The Taimton Police Court was organized March 21, 1834, and James EUis was the first judge. In 1853, gas was in- troduced into the city by the Taunton Gaslight Compan}', incorporated FebS-uarj- 11th of that year. Taunton was incorpo- rated a city in 1SG4, and in Januarj' of the ensu- ing year, the municipal government was inaugurated as mayor. Public Binlding.f, ScJiools, &c. — In 1854, this town was selected as the one in which the second State Lunatic Hospital should be erected. This is an impos- ing structure, built much in the style of similar institu- tions, is beautifully bordered by river, farming-grounds, and woodlands, and is considered one of the best man- aged asjlums in the countiy. Beyond this and the Epis- copal, St. Mary's (Catholic) , and the Unitarian churches, tliere are no buildings in Taunton deserving particular notice. Attention is called to the two former, on account of their architectur.al beauty, and to the latter because of the associations with which its history is interwoven, — for this church has come down to us through a long • Mr. Baylies savs that Henry Uxley was the first schoolmaster in Taunton, but gives no further information al)out hlin. h H lUnnctt avenue of years as the representative of that other church in which worshipped the early settlers of ancient Cohannet. The first schoolmaster in Taunton,* of whom any mention is made, was one Master Bishop, who probably came here with some of the proprietors in the original or Tetiquet Purchase. Very little is known concerning him, yet that he was a person of no mean ability, is made manifest by Lechford, who states that he assisted at the ordination of Rev. William Hooke. A school which man}- in this and neighboring places regard with a respect approaching veneration, is the Bristol Academy. This institution was incorporated May 30, 1792, "for the promotion of piety, moralitj-aud patriotism." The act of incorporation, obtained through the in- strumentality of Gen. Cobb, was accompanied b}^ a grant of a town- ship, six miles square, in the district of Maine. The academy was opened with an address by the first principal. Rev. Wil- liam Daggett, July 18, 1706. The present school system embraces twcnt}-- eight schools, including one high and five gram- mar schools. The Taun- ton Public Library was estabhshed in 18G6, It contains over 15,000 vol- umes, pamphlets, &.c Mr. S. B. King, at his death, kit m trust to the city the sum of $1,000, the interest of which is applied, as was designed it should be, to the purchase of books for this library. In the western part of the city proper is situated Mount Pleasant Cemetery, incorporated in 1836. The grounds cover an area of about twelve acres, traversed by beautiful avenues, shaded by wide-spreading trees. Within this cemeterj- stands the monument erected by the ladies of Taunton to the memory of Elizabeth Poole. The churches of Taunton j are seventeen in number. The Unitarian is the oldest, being organized in 1G37. Biographical Notes. — Judge Thomas Leonard, son of James Leonard, one of those who established the t Of these, five are Congregationalis hrcc Catholic, and one Episcopal. four Methodist, two Baptist, MASSACHUSETTS. iron worlis at Taunton, was the first phjsician in that town of whom we have any record. He was a native of "Wales, but came to this countrj- while quite 3"0ung. He held several positions of honor, and died in 1713, in the enjoj-ment of universal esteem. Gen. David Cobb, son of Thomas Cobb and Ljdia Leonard of Taunton, was born while his mother was visiting some friends in Attleborough, Sept. 14, 1748. His i^arents were wealthy for those days, and he was reared in accordance with their circumstances. Edu- cated at Harvard University, and studying medicine with Dr. Perkins, a celebrated physician of Boston, ho began the practice of the medical profession in that city, where his great talents won him distinction. Returning to Taunton at the urgent request of his father, he con- tinued in practice there with marked success. But, in the early days of the Revolution, he espoused the patriot cause, and, as a soldier, achieved distinction. He was the confidential friend of Knox, Greene, Lincoln, and Hamilton, and aid-de-camp to Washington. He sub- sequently served in the legislature of his native State, in the National Congress, as judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and major-general in the Massachusetts militia. In 1795 he removed to Maine, and, in 1802, was cliosen president of the State Senate. He was afterwards a member of the governor's council, lieuten- ant-governor, chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and major-general of the militia. He returned to Taunton in 1815, and died April 17, 1830.* Hon. Samuel White, the first lawyer in Taunton, was born in Braintree in 1710. During the days of the " Stamp Act," while speaker of the Massachusetts House, he signed the circular which called together the first Amciican Congress. He died in Taunton in 1769. Robert Treat Paine, one of the signers of the Decla- ration of Independence, was for many years a resident of Taunton. Born in Boston, in 1731, and educated at Harvard University, he became an able and successful advocate. As speaker of the Jlassachusetts House, attorney-general, and judge of the Supreme Court, he fulfilled the high promise of his earlier j'ears. His death occurred May 11, 1814. Thomas Paine, son of the above, born in Taunton, • While judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Bristol County, an incident occurred wliich displays an element of his character in its strongest light. Tlie event transpired during Shays' Rebellion in 1780. Suits had been entered in the previous couit, and when the time anivcd for recording the judgments in the cases, much excitement arose in Taun- ton, where court was to bo convened. On one side of " the Green," armed men thronged the streets declaring their intention to resist the law. When the situation was made known to Gen. Cobb, he arrayed himself in his uniform of major-general, and stepping into the street, Dec. 9, 1773, was a man of splendid talents, but of rather erratic habits. Upon the death of his brother, Robert Treat Paine, Jr., he, with the authority of the Massachusetts legislatm-e, assumed that person's name, desiring, as he expressed it, to have a " Chi-istian name." He was in mercantile business, and afterwards a lawyer in Boston, and died in that citj* Nov. 13, 1811. He was the author of the famous song, " Adams and Liberty," and other poems. Gen. James Williams, son of Judge James Williams, was born in Taunton in 1741. Y or fifty-six years he was register of deeds for Bristol Count}-, a position which his father had previously held. He commanded a company of minute-men at the beginning of the Revolution. In 1778, when the British landed on Rhode Island, he was in command of a Taunton companj', and took part in the battle that ensued. After the war he was activclj- interested in the cause of education. He died in Taun- ton in 1826. His son Alfred succeeded him in the office of the registry of deeds, and held that position for twenty years. Thus it will be seen that, for ninet3--five j-ears, the office of register in this county remained in the Williams family. Hon. John Mason Williams, LL. D., son of Gen. James Williams, born in Taunton in 1780, and a grad- uate of Brown Universitj-, was a prominent lawyer in his native town, and in New Bedford. He was after- wards associate justice and chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and died in 1808. Hon. Henry Williams has long been a prominent and influential citizen of Taunton. He is a native of the citj-, and about 73 j-ears of age. Graduating from Brown Universitj-, he chose the profession of law, and rapidly rose to distinction. As a member of both branches of the State government, representative to Congress, and in other important official positions, he has reflected honor upon his constituents. Throughout his life-time he has taken an active interest in the growth and prosperity' of Taunton. He is a direct descendant, by his father and mother, of Richard Williams, the "father of Taunton." Hon. Marcus Morton, LL. D., born in Freetown, Feb. 19, 1784, was for a long period a resident of Taunton. formed what militia he could muster into line, with cannon in front of them, on the opposite side of tlio square. Then, sword in hand, ho advanced into the common and drew a line upon the gicen- swai-d, saying to the leader of the mob, "Pass that lino and I fiic; the blood be upon your own head." His bravery was well known to them, for they had served under him, and realized the terril>le consequence of trifling with such a man at such an hour. The mob quietly withdrew, court was held, and the dignity of the l;'.w maintained. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. He gi-adiiated from Brown University, and was admitted to the bar in 1807. He was subsequently clcrli of tlie Massachusetts Senate, member of Congress, lieutenant- governor, Supreme Court judge for fourteen years, gov- ernor of Massachusetts, collector of the port of Boston, and a leader in the Free-soil movement. He died in Taunton in 1864. Hon. Francis Baylies, bom in Dighton, Oct. 16, 1783, achieved special distinction in literary pursuits. He was at one time a member of Congress, and subse- quently United States Cliarcje cT Affaires to Brazil. His " Memoir of Plymouth Colony." published in 1828, and republished with notes and additions, by Drake, in 18G6, is pronounced one of the best works of its kind extant. Mr. Baylies died in Taunton, Oct. 28, 1852. Attlebokough, * formerly a part of Rehoboth, and having at present a population of 9,224, was set oflT and incorporated Oct. 19, 1694. It was named from a mar- ket town in the county of Norfolk, Eng. The fii'st minister was Matthew Short, settled in 1712 ; the sec- ond, Ebenezer White, in 1715 ; the third, Habijah Weld, in 1726. The last-named gentleman preached here fiftj- years. The principal industry of Attleborough has been for many j-ears the manufacture of jewelry, as manj' as thLrt3'-six establishments, with a million and a half of capital, being engaged in this branch of trade alone. Among the distinguished men bom in this town, was Rev. Napthali Daggett, D.D., a graduate of Yale Col- lege, and subsequently professor of divinity and acting president of that institution. When the British attacked New Haven, in 1779, he shouldered his fowling-piece and joined in the fight. Being taken piisoner, he was compelled to act as guide to his captors, and, while per- forming this reluctant service, received wounds from the bayonets of the bi^utal soldierj' from which he never recovered. He died Nov. 25, 1780, at the age of 53. His son Hcnrj' was an officer in the patriot army. Hon. David Daggett, LL. D., an eminent jurist, born in this town in 1764, was at one time a member of the United States Senate. He was also maj'or of New Haven, and died in that city in 1851. Other noted men, natives of this town, were Jonathan • In 1875 print-cloth sheeting to the value of §695,000 was made. The total value of the goods made in this town, the same year, was $3,485,018. There are in Attleborongh eight churches, one national and one savings bank, and one weelily newspaper. An agricultural society, recently formed, holds yearly meetings here, and has built a hall in the town at an expense of §25,000. t Upon the easterly bank of Taunton River, about seven miles from the present city of Taunton, stands a rock measuring some nine or ten feet at its base, and about four feet in height, on whose face are graven characters which have proved to antiquarians a subject of deepest inter- Maxcey, D. D., an eloquent divine, president succes- sively of Brown University, Union College, and Columbia College, S. C. (died in 1820) ; andEzekielG. Robinson, president of Brown University. Berkley, originally a part of Taunton, and afterwards of Dighton, was incorporated April 18, 1735, and named in honor of Bishop Berkeley. The famous Dighton Rock t is located here. The first minister of this town was Rev. Samuel Tobey, settled in 1737. Rev. William ]\Iason Cornell, LL. D., author of A^arious works, was born in Berkley Oct. 16, 1802. Some shipbuilding was formerh' can-ied on in this place, but the people are now princi- ' pallj' engaged in fishing and agriculture. Population, 781. Dabtmouth. — The present village of Dartmouth comprises but a smaU portion of the territorj- embraced by the ancient town. The principal products of industry are oil, spermaceti, whalebone, lumber, Indian com, &c. Population, 3,434. Henrj- H. Crapo, govemor of Jliehigan, from 1865 to 1869, was born in Dartmouth, ' May 24, 1804, and died in Flint, Mich., July 23, 1869. Dighton, a town of 1,755 inhabitants, lies in the central part of Bristol County, on the western bank of Taunton River. It was embraced in the South j Purchase of Taunton, and was named in honor of Frances Dighton, wife of Richard Williams, the father [ of that town. Dighton was incorporated Ma}- 30, 1712. William Baylies, M. D., born in Uxbridge, Mass., Dec. 5, 1743, died here June 17, 1826. He earlj' came to Dighton, and was a successful practitioner there. A man of rare mental endowments, he was a member of the Academj' of Arts and Sciences, of Massachusetts i Historical Societj-, and a founder of Massachusetts j Medical Society. He was also a member of Congress from 1805 to 1809. Easton, population 3,898, the Indian name of which was Hockamock, was also a part of Taunton until 1725, when it was incorporated. The town was named in honor of John Easton, who was govemor of Rhode Island from 1690 to 1694. A weekly paper is '' est for nearly two centuries. As a result of their studies, some of the savans have maintained that the inscription was traced by a party of Phoenicians who, diiven by stress of weather to our shores, w.andercd up this quiet river to lay by and repair damages. Again, there are those who assert that the hieroglyphics arc the work of some ancient Indian tribe who formerly dwelt hero, and who removed, or were destroyed at some remote period by the ravages of war, pestilence, or famine. If the first of these conjectures be correct, then, as Baylies aptly remarks, Dighton Rock, as it is called, has a greater antiquity than anv similar rehc in Europe. MASSACHUSETTS. published here. Easton manufactures one-half the shovels made in all the world. Eev. David Reed, editor and founder of " The Cliristian Register," was born here in 1790. His death occurred June 7, 1870. Oakes Ames, M. C, was born in Easton Jan. 10, 1804, and died May 8, 1873. Fairhaven, originally a part of Dartmouth, and afterwards of New Bedford, was incorporated in 1812. The village was laid out in 17C4 on Acushnet River, which here forms a beautiful harbor, or " fair haven," of nearly a mile in breadth. Formerlj', Fairhaven was much interested in the whale fishery ; but of late the attention of the inhabitants has been turned more towards manufacturing. Tlie value of goods made, and work done in 1875 was 8387,000 There are fi-\e churches here, besides a beautiful resting-place for the dead, called Riverside C(-meterv, dedicated in 18.-30. Population, 2,768. R A Y N n A M , population 1,687, a part of the ancient Tetiquet Purchase, was in- corporated in 1731. In this town, the first iron forge in America was built. Here, also, was Fowling Pond, a favorite resort of King Philip, and here was kept under a doorstep for sev- eral weeks the head of that famous chief. The first minis- ter settled in this place was Rev. John Wales, in 1731. For some time preceding the Revolution, Raynham was the home of Benjamin Church, M. D., great-grandson of Col. Benjamin Church. Dr. Church was born in Newport, R. I., in 1734. He came to Raynham about 1768, whore he built an elegant mansion, and led an extrav- agant and licentious life. An ardent Whig in the years prior to the struggle for independence, his eminent abilities won for him a place in the Provincial Congress, and the office of phj'sicinn-general to the patriot armj-. Subsequently, having been detected in treasonable cor- respondence with the enemy, he was expelled from Congress and imprisoned. Ho died in England in 1788. Rehoboth. — The ancient town of Rehoboth, on account of subdivisions, has lost much of its original territory. The population is 1,827. The eminent p-r- sons born here were Benjamin West, LL. D. (1700- 1810), famous as an astronomer; Daniel Reed (1757- 1836), a musical composer, author of "Greenwich," "Windham," and other popular tunes; Nathan Smith (1762-1820), a distinguished surgeon; and George W. Peck (1817-1859), an author and editor. Freetown. — The early history of this ancient town has already boon given. The present inhabitants are chiefly' emplo3ed at farming. The population is 1,396. Noted persons born here : Rev. William R. Alger (1822) , a distinguished author and divine ; Gen. Ebenezer Pierce (1822), soldier, historian, and genealogist; and Gov. Marcus Morton. IMansfield, originall}- a part of Taunton North Pur- chase, an 1 latci a portion of Norton, was incorporated in 1770. There was a coal mine opened here in 1836, but the yield not proving profitable, the enteqorise was alsandoncd. Recently a deposit of ochre has boon discovered, which promises rich results. Mansfield has nine public schools, inclu- ding a high school ; four churches, and a Society of Friends. The population is 2,656, and the value of manufactured products, $555,159. Tlie following eminent persons were born in this town : — Asa Clapp, a benevolent merchant (1762-184t;) ; Rev. Samuel Deane, historian and poet (1784-1834) ; William Reade Deane, scholar and anti- quary (1807-1871). Somerset. — The Indian name of Somerset was Shew- amet, and the lands which it embraced were known as tlie " Shewamet Purchase." It continued a pa:t of Swan- sea until Fob. 28, 1790, when it obtained its own mu- nicipal rights. Somerset contains large iron works, ami a population of 1,940. Norton, population 1,595, obtains its name from Norton in England. The town was a part of Taunton North Purchase until, 1711, when it acquired its own municipal privileges. William Wetherell, who located near the outlet of Winnecunnct Pond, in 1669, was probably- the first settler here. A forge and bloomaiy were erected in this town by the Leonard family as early HISTORY OF NEV/ ENGLAND. as 1G96. The first minister settled in Norton was Rev. Joseph Averj-, in 1714. The Wheaton Female Scminar3', founded bj' Hon. Laban Wheaton in 1834, is located here. Distinguished men : Hon. George Leonard. Hon. L.aban AVheaton (1754-1846) ; Rev. Gardner Perry, D. D. (1783-1869). Swansea. — Ycry little, comparativel3' speaking, re- mains of the ancient territory of Swansea. Shipbuilding was at one lime carried on here, but the inhabitants are now principally engaged in agriculture. Population, 1,308. Nathaniel Paine came from Swansea to Bristol, of which he was one of the first settlers. He succeeded Judge B3"ficld as judge of probate in 1710, and was made a judge of the court of common pleas. Judge Paine was greatlj- identified with the politics of his time, and among the offices he held was that of counsellor of the Province. He was the ancestor of the Paine fam- ilies in Worcester. Westport. — (Acoakset.) The early history of this town is connected with that of Dartmouth. It was in- corporated July 2, 1787. The largest number of sheep of any town in Bristol County is raised by Westport. The population is 2,912. Seekonk. — The early history of Seekonk is identified with that of Rohoboth, of which it continued a part until 1812. The population is 1,167. AcusHNET, formerly' a part of Fairhaven, was incoqio- rated in 1860. It took its name from the Acushnct River, which flows through the town. The population is 1,059. DUKES COUl^TY. BY HEBRON VINCEXT, A. M. Few sections, if any, along the New England coast, with the exception of the great emporiums of business, have been regarded as of greater importance, real and historical, than the island of Jlartha's Vineyard and its environs. The discovery of this island antedated the landing of the Pilgrims bj'^ some eighteen or nineteen years, and Edgartown was settled b3' white men, as we think, but a few years later than that first landing upon the " rock-bound coast." The reminiscences of the first centurj' of civilization on this sea-girt isle would afford descriptions quite as pleasurable to tJie antiquarian, the philologist, and the Christian, as most of those relating to the localit}' named. These headlands and harbors have almost a world-wide notoriety-. There is but one " Gay Head" in America. Our island was discovered by Capt. Bartholomew Gosnold on the same voyage with, and immediately after, the discovery of " Capo Cod," in the jcar 1602. It is said that ho first espied the little island of "Neman's Land," about four miles from Chilmark beach, and gave to that the name of Jlartha's Vineyard, which name was afterwards transferred to the main island, the Indian name of which was Nop", or Capawock. Wh^- either should have been denominated a vineyard is not quite apparent. It could not, in its rude and uncultivated state, have borne much resemblance to the vineyards of the East, ancient or modern ; although it may have been, and doubtless was, aliundantly more prolific in the growth of the wild grape then than now. There are some representations of a fabulous kind as to the origin of the names of this and neighboring islands, in which, romantic as thej' may bo, we have no confidence. It is suflTicicnt to say that this island was -at one time called Martin's Vineyard, probably from Ma\- tin Pring, who made a vo3-age hither the next year after the discover}- by Gosnold. The name was soon changed to Martha's Vineyard. Gosnold landed at Cuttyhuuk, which he named "Elizabeth Island," which name was subsequently transferred to the whole group, and they have ever since been called the " Elizabeth Islands." The name was undoubtedlj- given cut of respect to the reigning queen. On Cuttj-hunk, which was the most western of the group, Gosnold, finding the soil fertiL\ built a little fort and a store-house, designed for such of his company as should remain. The store-house is said to have been the first English house known to have been built in New England. Differences arising among the MASSACHUSETTS. companj- from some cause, thej- broke up, and all re- turned to England. The main island, Martha's Vineyard, is tiventy-one miles long, and has an average width of aliout six miles, although in one part it is nine miles or more. Its trend is from east to west. The eastern part is quite level, while the western, as we approach it, becomes hillj' and rock}', some of the elevations being some 1 JO feet above the level of the sea. It has the broad Atlantic Ocean on the south, and the Vineyard Sound, which separates it from the Elizabeth Islands and the main land, on the north. Its nearest approach to the main land, at Wood's Holl, is about four miles, and the distance from Boston, from which it lies in a south-south-easterlj' direction, is about eight} -five miles. Within the memory of the writer there remained evi- dences that, on this island, now mostly- given to the oak, pines prevailed to a very considerable extent ; and in his j-outh, the old men of that time were accustomed to relate that such had been the fact. It may have been so on Xau- shon, but of later years there has been a variety in the growth. Bordering the south side of this, the main island, are large ponds, which, in the long past, were undoubtedl^- fiords of the sea, although now separated from it by a long beach. The evidence that they were such is, that when, by some great outbreak liy the forces of nature, or work by the hands of men, channels are opened through the beach to the sea, so that the accumulations of fresh water run off, reducing these ponds to the ocean level, the heads of the coves around them are laid bare, disclosing to the view numerous stiunps of trees in their normal positions, which trees never could ha\e grown under water, but must have grown above the wash of the sea-water in such localities. As the result of long centuries of the deposition of vegetable gi-owths in swamps and low lands, especially' in the western part, extensive beds of peat have been found to exist, which tlie inhabitants have been accus- tomed to utihzQ, to some extent, for fuel. Another of the native resources of the western and north-western parts of the island, which, in the later years, has been made available, is the extensive fields of various clays, assuming different colors, especially- in the cliffs of Gaj- Head. Soon after the discovery of those islands, the}' became noted, among other things, for the growth of sassafras — great quantities of which were said to have been gathered and shipped to the mother country. It is averred that this article formed the chief part of the first cargo transported from the '• Xew World" to the "Old." These islands, at the time of their discovery, were, like other portions of this western wild, inhabited by Indian tribes, usually more or less warlike. Here they had their settlements, as a general thing, near the neighboring waters, as the immense beds of shells in the uplands in- dicate, but roamed the forests at will. At the time of the settlement by white men, the Indian population of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket was estimated at 3,000. It is said that near " Great Harbor," now Edgar- town hai'bor, the Indians were friendly, but that at Cai)e Poge, they were verj- savage ; which, if a fact, with re- gard to the latter, suggests that it was probablj- there that in 1619, Capt. Thomas Dermer and his men, on land- ing, were attacked by the natives ; and where, after a gallant defence with tlieir swords, they escaped, leaving " several Indians killed in the fray." At first, this and the neighboring islands, including Nantucket, were not under the jurisdiction of any of the New England governments. In those early years, the changes transpn-ing in the government of the mother couutrv, caused things to be a little" mixed here. The claim of the Maj-hews over the native rights of the Ind- ians was, as in other cases, based on the right of the British crown, which, in turn, was based on the fact of discovery. On the score of this right, William, Earl of Sterhng, laid claim, under a grant from the cruwn, not only to these islands, but to all the islands between Cape Cod and the Hudson River. Of the grounds on winch Sir Ferdinanurchasc and settlement b3' Thomas Ma^'hew and his sons " and their associates." f •There are traces of aro-id, — andinparts the road still exists,— now, as from time immemori-il, called " Pease's Point Eoad," which led from a point or headland, near the village, — where it is understood the first four landed, — to lands by the Great Pond, some Uvo or three miles distant. t Though we are not without material eridcnce of this earlier settle- ment, yet the more important portion of the history of this county mani- festly begins wiih the advent of the Mayhews. MASSACHUSETTS. The purchase of the British right by virtue of dis- coyer3', made by Thomas Mayhew, then of "VVatertown, formerly a merchant of Southampton, Eng., and his son Thomas, to be enjojcd by them " and tlioir associates," which purchase occurred in 1G41, and their subsequent removal hither, with others, in 1G42, and that tlie said Thomaa Majhew, senior, became governor of these islands, are all universally accredited and undisputed facts. While the father thus became the ruler, the son, being pious and well educated, officiated as preacher to and pastor of the settlers, and soon extended his labors among the Indians, as a missionarj-. These people were, of course, in the darkness of heathenism, given to the worship of demons. It is well attested, that the labors of this youthful minister among these children of nature, while seeking to win them to the tnifh of ilio Gospel, and to the profession and practice of true pietj', were very effective. His useful life, however, early terminated. After a service here of about fifteen years, having a desire to visit En- gland, he started on the toj-- age in 1C57, much to the re- gret of the natives, who had become greatly attached to him. Ofthis attachment they gave very strong demonstra- tions. The voyage proved to be a fatal one, the ship oldest huisk being lost with all on board. Some time subsequent to this event, the father. Gov. Jlnyhew, took up the work left by the son, and became preacher and missionary as well as ruler.* Edgartown, incorporated in 1671, and the shire town of the county, is on the east coast of the island. Its harbor, called Whitson's Bay by IMartin Pring, is safe and commodious. The wlmling business was at one time a verj' important interest, and four ships are still • There were in the list of the men of this name of Mayhew five in all, coming down through as many generations. The son of the younger Thomas, the first missionary, was the Rev. John Mayhew, bom in 1G.52, settled in Tislmry. Rev. Experience Mayliew w.as the oldest son of tlie preceding, somewhat of a writer, and an energetic worker in his chosen vocation. Rev. Zachariah Mayhew, youngest son of the last named, was also a zealous, devoted minister, who died in 1805, aged eighty-nine years. There have been, later, two others who have become preachers, but of less note. The people of the name, as those of some other names, have become quite numerous. The Christian efforts of these devoted ministers, especially among the Indians, were crowned with great success. Quite a number of the emploj-cd in that capacitj'. Large numbers of the men of this, and of the other towns on the island, formerly sailed in Nantucket and New Bedford ships, — mainly the latter, — making some of the most successful ship- masters. The name of Clement Norton, the rapidity and success of whose voj-ages on the Brazil Banks were a marvel, and of many others contributing by their very valuable voyages to enrich their owners, will long be remembered. The famous IMartha's Vineyard Camp Ground and Meetings, with Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Highlands, and vi- cinity, being all within the limits of the township, attract large numbers of visitors during the siunmer months. Among the reminiscences of the past of tliis com- paratively ancient town, is the fact, recently tmeed b}' Richard L. Pease, Esq., of this place, that a man by the name of Birchard, an early resident here, was an ances- tor of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, President of the United States. A small church was founded here in 1G42. Although it appears that there was but little, if any, recorded e-v-idonce of its existence until in 1717, there can yet be little doubt of the fact. After the missionary Majhew left for England, it is said that Peter Folger, who, with his father, John Folger, came to this coimtry from England, and, soon after arriving in Portsmouth, settled here, and who, afterwards, with his father, removed to Nantucket, and there became the ancestor of Benjamin Franklin, made himself useful here for some time by his teaching, and by his Christian labors. The first Methodists on the island, so far as known, were John Sanders and his wife, who, having been slaves in Virginia, succeeded in purchasing their freedom, and native converts became preachers, the first and foremost of whom was Iliacoomes. Great numbers of others were exemplary and useful Christians. It should be added that the early ministers extended their laliors into other parts of the island, and probably also to other islands. Tlie history of those early times informs us, " such had been the sue cess of the missionaries, aided by the countenance and support of tlie government, and blessed by Providence," that " in 1G9.5 there were not less than three thousand adult Indian converts in the islands of Mar- tha's Vineyard and Nantucket." Probably, however, very many « ho were reckoned in the above number were but nominally Christian. The present remains of those tribes, we may add, afford but slight characteristics of the erect and agile red man of other days. IN EDGAllTOWN. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. came north in a vessel. Thej' landed at Holmes's Hole, — now Vineyard Haven, — in 1787. They afterwards settled at a place called " Farm Neck," near where the Camp Ground now is, where was a small neighborhood of colored people, to whom John preached, ha-\-ing been a preacher among the slaves, but he formed no society. In 1795, the celebrated Jesse Lee, the pioneer of Meth- odism in New England, visited the island, and preached a few times. In 1835, while Methodism on the island was in its dajs of strength, the Martha's Vineyard camp-meeting, the germ of what is now called the Cottage City, came into existence. This now celebrated camp-meeting sprang from most humble be ginnings. The pastor of the W Edgartown cimrch and a few others, at the suggestion ol Jeremiah Pease, Esq., visit- ed a beautiful oak-grove, six miles north-west of the vil- lage, and decided on a site for a minister's stand and seats for the people. The gathering was at first small, only nine tents gracing the circle, but it increased in number from year to year, and in course of time, clergymen, and members of other denominations, lent it their aid and influence. Noth- ing beyond a camp of tents was originally contemplated, but these finally increased to several hundreds. In due time, and after manj' improve- ments had been made upon the grounds, the era of cottage-building commenced, at first on the camp-ground, but afterwards at the Bluffs, the Highlands, and elsewhere. A summer house of worship was built on the Bluffs- side called "Union Chapel," where service was held during the season of rustication, including camp-meeting week. AVithin a j-ear or two last past, there have been built the Baptist chapel, already named, on the Bluffs ; the Methodist chapel, a fine structure, in the Camp Circle ; and on the Highlands, where the Baptist denom- ination now annually hold a meeting similar to that of the Methodists, a spacious wooden tabernacle has re- cently been erected. The Methodists who, since the failing of the shade by the oak-trees, have worshipped under a tabernacle of canvas, have in contemplation, as they have had for some time past, the erection of one similar to that of the Baptists. The two chapels lately built are suited to winter as well as summer, — being in part for people who reside here, and in the vicinity, through the year. Thus the place, where once was a comjjarativcly small gathering of people for purel}' re- ligious services, — living in a sort of primitive waj', in tents, under the shade of the oak foliage, — has become, in addition, one of the greatest watering-places in the country,* and the parent of cottage camps ; the religious element and the religious senices exerting their salutary influences, to a good extent, upon the masses. Many summer visitors also find homes at Edgartown village, _ _ Katama, Vinej-ard Haven, i and elsewhere. I In the summer of 1878, there was organized at this new settlement, by Col. Hom- I er B. Sprague of Boston, and others, the Martha's Vine- yard Summer Institute, a school for literary and scien- tific purposes, with lectures ; which proved to be such a success that it is to be re- peated, and will, doubtless, iK'Comea permanent annual. There is now a narrow-gauge railroad between Oak Bluffs wharf and the South Beach, via Edgartown village and Katama. It is mainly- for the summer travel, and affords a fine opportunity for visitors to come to the points named. Edgartown has good schools, partially graded, a lyceum, and other literary means, including a weekly newspaper, the " Vineyard Gazette," established thirty-two years since by the late, Edgar Marchant, Esq., a native of the town. A custom-house, court-house, jail, and national bank are also located here. This is the terminus of the route of tlie New Bedford and Martha's Vineyard line of steamers. The population of the town is 1,707. TisBURT, the central town on the island, includes Vine- yard Haven, West and North Tisbury. The sm-face on *This place boasts one of the largest and best summer hotels to be found in the countiy, also tlie most superb of concrete drives in all directions ; while its cottages of almost every conceivable device, rival quite, for grace, beauty, and all charming appointments, the creations of fancy in the most ingenious of fairy tales. — Ed. ION CHAPEL. MASSACHUSETTS. the north-westerly side is undulating, hillj', and rocky. It has much good farming land. Ponds, as in Edgar- town, border the southern side, a beach forming the outer limit. The town was earlj' settled by the whites. Its inhabitants have been very enterprising, a part of them as cultivators of the soil, and a part on the sea, either in the mercantile marine or in the whaling business ; the thrift of the latter centering at what was Holmes's Hole, now Vineyard Haven. This village is very eligibly loca- ted on an ascent of ground, affording a fine ^■iew of the harbor and of the neighboring waters. It has communi- cation with the main-land by steamers. About two miles distant from the head of the harbor is the well-known "West Chop Light-house." This harbor has become increasingly' a " waiting place" for vessels of all kinds and drafts, for winds and tides, when making passages either way on the Vineyard Sound. The village con- tains excellent schools, a reading-room for seamen and three churches. In "West Tisbury is a woollen factory ; a flour mill, built and owned b}' the late Dr. Daniel Fisher ; the Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society's hall and grounds, and the Dukes County Academj'. This part of the town, as well as North Tisbury, is largely a farming district. The pond and pound fisheries are sources of revenue. The earliest records of the first church organization in this town, in West Tisbury, have been lost. The Rev. John Maj'hew, not then ordained, began to preach here in 1673. He was followed by Rev. Josiah Torrey in 1701, and by Rev. Nathaniel Hancock (nephew of the celebrated Gov. John Hancock), iu 1727. Chilmakk adjoins Tisbury, and includes all the remain- ing part of Martha's Vineyard, with the exception of Gay Head. The central and northern parts are hilly and rock^-. It has some of the best grazing and farming lands in the county, and the inhabitants are usually large owners of stock — especially neat cattle and sheep- There are also fishing interests here, largely connected with the small island of Neman's Land, which forms a part of this town. In this township, also, are the hard}- and successful sons of the ocean, many of whom have risen on their own merits to the first place on the ship's "quarter-deck," and have accumulated a comfortable competency. On the north side of the town, near the Sound, is an extensive section embedding useful clays,* large quanti- • Scientific men tell ns that this is a part of a bed that runs through Long Isl.and and into New Jersey, and which, in a remote age, was the front ridge of the Continent. ties of which have been exported. In the vicinity are the Vineyard Brick and Tile Works, owned hy Hon. Nathaniel Harris of Brookline, and costing $55,000. Not far distant is a large paint mill. A church, with a settled pastor, was early established in this town. Among the strong men of the town in- tellectuallj-, fifty j-ears ago, was John Hancock, Esq. — not the Governor John, of course, but another, prob- ablj- a relative. Still earlier was Hon. Benjamin Bas- sett, one of the justices of the county couit. The town was incorporated in 1714, and has a population of 508. Gay Head, in the exti-eme western part of the island, acquired its name from the gay cliffs in that section. It is a promontorj' some four to five miles in length, having the water on nearly all sides. The lands, which are quite fertile, are undulating, ending in the beautiful, variegated cliffs of gorgeous colors, some parts rising to the height of about one hundred and fifty feet. Gosnold, when he discovered these cliffs, called them "Dover Cliffs." on account of their resemblance to the cliffs of that name in England. They were undoubtedly an upheaval at some remote period ; and the marine fossils they unbosom to the view, especially after a heavy rain in spring has washed their sloping sides, render the place a great attraction to scientific men. The sunset and earl}- morning views are admired by mariners and all others enjoying them. The people of this town constitute the largest settle- ment of the remains of the Indian tribes once so numer- ous on this island. There is a small number on Chappa- quiddic, and another small settlement at a place called Chi-istiantown, in Tisbury. They have, bj- immigrations of persons of the negro race, and bj' intennarriages, become far more characterized bj' other bloods than bj- that of the aborigines. The reriinant of the three tribes named were formerly wards of the State, under appointed guardians. Gay Head was some time a " District," but was incorporated as a town in 1870. It has a popula- tion of 216. A good highway has been constructed at the State's expense, through this town to the " Head." On this elevation stands a government light-house, one of the finest as well as one of the most important on the coast. The inhabitants till their lands to some extent, having, as others, cattle and sheep. Some of the j'ounger men, as in other localities, go out on sea voyages. A good school is maintained here, by a State provision, and at the State's expense. A church of the Baptist denomina- tion has existed here from an early date. HISTOET OF NEW ENGLAND. GosNOLD, composed of the Elizabeth Islands, is a re- centlj- incorporated town, bearing the name of the first discoverer of all these islands. They were formerl}- included in the township of Chilmark, but were set apart as a town in the yeai- 1864. Commencing at the eastern end of the town, which forais the western side of the water passage, or gate, called "Wood's IIoU," it extends westerly to Cuttyhunk.* At the west end of Naushon, which is the largest island of the group, we come to a shallow passage of water, separating it from the island of Pasque, between which and Nashawena, is a wide and deep ship-channel, " Quick's Hole," through which both outward and inward bound Xew Bedford ships not un- frequently pass. On Penikese, it will be recollected, was established by Prof. Agassiz, the famed summer school for young men. On Cuttyhunk, the most western island of the group, and the one on which the great discoverer first landed, has long stood a government hght-house. Naushon is well wooded, and, like most of the other islands, has fine pasturage for sheep, cattle, and horses. Wild deer are still found there. About five or sis miles from Wood's HoU, on the south side of this island, is the well-known " Tarpaulin Cove," at which vessels, passing through the Sound, often have occasion to stop. Naushon has been called " Bowdoin's Island," it hav- ing been for many j-ears in the possession of men bear- ing the name of Bowdoin. It is now the property of R. B. Forbes, Esq., of Boston, who makes it a summer home. The population of the town is 115. General Remakks. All the older towns in this county have long been dis- tinguished for their adventurous and eflfective men, both those employed in the merchant marine, and those engaged in the whaling business. There being within the limits of the county, along the coast, many places of great hazard to vessels coming in, manj' of our men, ac- quiring experience, and accurateness of knowledge of reefs, rocks, and shoals, as well as the safe entrances into harbors, have obtained a deserved reputation as pilots. The people of Martha's Vineyard suffered much during the Revolution. Two thousand cattle were taken from them at one time by the British war-ships. Some of the inhabitants of this island, moreover, were captm-ed bj- • On Cuttyhunk are located the lands and buildings of the " Neiv York Club," of seventy-five gentlemen, who spend several months of the year there in rel.ixation firom active business. Ou this island also reside a majoritj- of the fixed population of the town. They have here a school nine months of the year. Although they have the services of a clergyman but part of the time, religious meetings and a Saljbath school are maintained through the year. the enemy, taken to England, and incarcerated in the loathsome " Dartmoor Prison." The agricultiu-al interests of the county have been < greatly promoted bj' the formation of the Martha's Vine- yard Agricultural Society- some twenty years since, antl the encouragement given by the State bounty. The rais- ! ing of grains, roots, bulbs, hay, &c., have been more sue- j cessfullj" accomplished, and breeds of cattle and sheep have been improved ; although, owing to the fact that the work of the team is now done more by horses, there has been somewhat of a decrease in the number of working oxen. The " clip" of wool is about the same as formerly, but of far better quality. The cultivated lauds have been better cared for and managed, and the growing of nice orchard and garden fruit greatly increased. The cultiva- tion of the cranberry has also received considerable attention. From very early times, great attention has been paid in this county to education. In addition to the ordinary facilities for its promotion in the earlier stages of its progress, a county educational association, formed some thirty j-cars since under a law of the State, still retains its freshness and vigor, and is doing good work by its annual sessions, conducted somewhat after the manner of the teachers' institute. The county has been marked for the raising-up of pro- fessional men — clergymen, lawyers, physicians, teachers, limners, and others. It can boast of its Spaulding, for man^- years a representative in Congress from a western State ; of its Walter Hiliman, Jr., LL. D., late president of a college in Mississippi ; and of its Maj.-Gen. Worth, the hero in command at the taking of the city of Mexico. U. S. Senator Dawes claims to have had a maternal an- cestor on this island. Many of less distinction, but still successful and of good repute, might be named. The greatest population of the county, so far as the authorized census shows, was in the year 1850, at which time the business enterprises of the people were pros- perous. It was then 4,540. Within the recollections of men now living, this island of Martha's Vineyard, Mith its surroundings, has been undergoing great changes physically. While the south- eastern portions seem to have been formed in a remote antiquity by the wash of the ocean that bounded them, and bj- its tides, it is believed that the north-western p.irts were, at some period in the distant past, severed from the continent, having from that time been subject to the ever-wearing tides, winds, and waves, which have contributed to the formation of the great marine high- way-, the Vinej'ard Somid, upon and through which a large share of the w^ealth of the Atlantic States is MASSACHUSETTS. annually borne. The south-eastern parts, also, singularly enough, are manifestly being worn away, their limits contracted, and the separated debris and sands thrown into neighboring bars and shoals. Within a compar- ativelj' recent period, something like a quarter of a mile in width for a distance of nearly twelve miles on this southerly side, has been lost to the island. Small ponds have been annihilated, larger ones very much lessened in size, while arable lauds and meadows have been either covered with beach-sand, or submerged under the dash- ing waves. Near the south shore of Chappaquiddic — ■ in the same range — where once were meadows, there is now a depth of water sufficient to float a ship. Still the island stands, and will doubtless long contuaue to stand — probably as long as time itself shall endure. The rolling in of the waves upon the " South Beach," — which, with the view of the open, unbounded expanse of the ocean, Edward Everett pronounced as exceeding, in interest, a sight of the Falls of Niagara, — and the ever- flowing tide of the Vine^-ard Sound on the north will still sweep on, bearing upon its bosom its freights of wealth and of human beings ; and so will the tide of time, the march of human thought, and the activities of human life, move on to the end. ESSEX COUNTY.* BY CYRUS M. TRACY, ESQ. t The history of Essex County is that of small begin- nings and great ends. One of the smallest counties in the State, it nestles, isolated and alone, in its north- easternmost corner. More densely populated than any other county, full of thrift and industry, it has a some- what famous record, both mercantile and historical; embracing, as it does, some of the largest and oldest cities and towns in the State. Its topograjihy has noth- ing remarkable or very picturesque about it ; the plains being low, level, and sandy, and the elevations only moderate, though often rock}'. Yet, even in this respect, it does not lack interest. Its southern border, resting on Massachusetts Bay, though irregular, exhibits much of beauty. From the north of the Merrimac to the rocky promontorj' of Cape Ann, the encroachments of the sea are compai-atively few ; but from that point to its south- ernmost limit, the irregularity is very marked. Scattered along the coast are harbors which, with the exception of that of Nuwburyport, are noticeable rather for their depth than for their commodiousness. Bays, inlets, and harbors of various degrees of importance are found along the coast, together with numerous sandy beaches, which add mirch to its beauty. Plum Island, a narrow strip of land about seven miles in length, stretches, like • Essex is largely a manufacturing county. The total value of the goods made, and work done in 1875 was $93,482,744, and the amount of invested capital ^3,785,188. t Tlie aiulior acknowledges his obligation to Frederick B. Graves, Esq., of Lynn, for valuable assistance. a huge thing of the sea, from Great Neck in Ipswich, to the mouth of the Merrimac River at Newburjioort. The pretty peninsula of Nahant extends into the bay near the southern border, and is connected with the city of Lynn by a hard, sandy beach two miles in length. Other islands and peninsulas, of less importance and significance, lie along the coast, particularly south of Cape Ann. Away from the coast, the surface of the county is very diversified, and shoots up to the summit elevation in the town of Boxford, where eight or ten small lakes give origin to many streams. In the large vaUey, which extends across the northern part of the county, courses the Merrimac River, the greatest stream in the county, and in the State, with the exception of the Connecticut. The small valley, a few minutes south, bears the Ips- wich River; and one smaller still between these two, carries the small stream known as the Parker River. In the north-western part of the county, in a peculiar, diagonal vallej', runs the Shawshine River, a small con- fluent of the Merrimac. There are other rivers, better designated, however, as streams. Bass River, of some historical notoriety, rises in the north parish of Beverly, and empties into the North River at Salem. Chebacco River, starting on the boundary of Hamilton and Essex, falls into Chebacco Bay. Spicket River and Little River both flow south into the Merrimac, the first in the town of Methiien, and the other in Haverhill. There are five lakes Ijing in the northern and western portions HISTOKY OF NEW ENGLAND. of the county which connect with the Merrimac River, — Great Pond in North Andover, Kunball's Pond in Ames- burv, Kenoza Lake in Haverhill, Haggett's Pond in Andover, and Johnson's Pond in Groveland ; while uniting to swell the modest flow of the Ipswich River aie AVenham Lake in Wenham, Middleton Pond in Jliddleton, and Suntaug Lake in Lynufield, Pilhngs' Pond in Lynufield, and Fkx Pond in Lynn, find their way ultimately to the Saugus River. Essex County, like some others in the State, can boast of no large mountains within its limits. Never- theless, there are manj' pleasant and picturesque hills, serving to relieve the dreariness of the plain, though they cannot be dignified hy the name of mountain. Holt's Hill in Andover attains an elevation of 423 feet. Such is the topogi-aphy of Essex County, and such, in general, it will always be. Civilization may build roads and highways, and industry maj- dot its landscapes with well-tilled farms, yet it will always be substantially the same as when, in 1611, Edward Hai'lie and Nicholas Hobson landed at Ipswich, the fii-st Europeans who set foot on the soil of Essex County. This region was discovered by Europeans in the year 1602. It was not, however, until nine years afterwards that other men than the natives trod its soil. During the subsequent thirteen years, frequent visits were made to the region, but no settlement was attempted. The earliest settlers of this county were the Cape Ann colonists, sent out in 1624, under the auspices of the so-called Dorchester Adventurers, and organized, a little later, under the efBcient direction of the valiant and faithful Roger Conant. Endicott's Colony, sent out hy the Massachusetts Company, to carry on the planta- tion alreadj- successfullj- initiated bj- Conant at Naum- keag, or Salem, arrived Sept. 6, 1628. The Colony of Gov. Winthi-op, consisting of 900 persons, reached these shores June 12, 1630. Amid the many trials and adversities naturally inci- dent to a new settlement, the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, of which the towns embraced in Essex County, at its incorporation, constituted an important part, con- tinued, from the first, to enjoy a very fair measure of prosperity. Not a little annoj-ance, however, was occasioned, from time to time, by Indian raids. The murder of the Indian trader, Oldham, by the Pequots, especially, roused the whole settlement. In consequence, in 1636, Gov. Vane, sent 99 men, under Endicott and the famous Capt. Uuderhill, to retaliate upon the Pe- quots. The expedition, though sanguinary, was yet comparatively inelfectual, its only eflect, apparently, being to incite the brief (though in its effects on the hostile tribes, finally-exterminating) Pequot war. In this war, Essex County generously participated, furnish- ing her full quota of the 190 men levied (April, 1651) by the General Court to assist in the prosecution of the same. In 1643, eight towns; viz., Salem, Lynn, Wenham, Ipswich, Rowley. Newbury, Gloucester, and Andover, were set apart and incorporated as Essex Count}'. There had been over a score and a half of years of partial peace, when Philip, the intrepid and powerful sachem of the Pokanokets, engaged in his unprovoked, fierce, and well-nigh successful struggle with the whites for supremacy on this continent. During this war, Essex County enlisted brave soldiers, and provided able and gallant leaders, — men who distinguished themselves at Deerfield, Hatfield, and at other points. Theirs were the troops so mercilessly slaughtered at " Bloodj' Brook," — a body of ninety picked, well disciplined, coui-ageous soldiers, known as "the Flower of Essex." under the laoiented Capt. Lothrop of Ipswich, * having been sur- prised by the treacherous savages, and almost utterly cut to pieces. When Sir William Phips, the first governor of the Massachustts Colony under the new or provincial char- ter, ai-rived in New England, in May, 1692, he found the public mind in the greater part of Essex County in a fear-fully distracted condition on account of the preva- lence of that woful delusion known as the Salem Witch- craft. During the same j-ear certain members of the family of the Rev. Samuel Parris, the minister of Salem Village, now Dan vers Centre, were believed to be aflSicted by witches. t His little daughter, Elizabeth, scarcely- nine years of age, and his niece, Abigail Williams, eleven, acted ver^- strangely at times. Other children in the neighborhood presently caught the contagion. These finally complained of being tormented by certain indi- %iduals, whom, in due tune, they were encouraged for- mally to accuse. One of the first specifically charged with this misdemeanor was one Tituba, an Indian woman, and a servant in the family of Mr. Parris. It would seem that she had been trying, by her Indian incanta- tions, to relieve the chUdi-en of theu- ti-ouble, and so, not-unnaturaUy, became a subject of suspicion. Others were soon accused, among the earliest being two friend- less, hag-like women, one actually insane, and the other bed-ridden ; fit targets, truly, of such a cruelly helUsh craze. The excitement spread, and at length, adults, as well as children, complained of being bewitched or tor- • Some authorities place him at Beverly. t A witch was one who, throngh collusion, or a compact, with evil 5puits, was held to be able thus to torment others. MASSACHUSETTS. mented, — accusing those against whom they chanced to have some pique. Meanwhile, Cotton Mather, Judge Stoughton, and Rev. Mr. Noj'es of Salem, and Increase Mather, president of Hansard College, as well as many others of culture and position, encouraged the arrests, and gave to the prosecutions the benefit of the whole weight of their great influence.* The result was, that in one short year, not only had the frightful delusion been communicated to, and had involved all the surrounding towns in its consuming flame, but not less than twenty had been actually exe- cuted ; nineteen b^' hanging (on " Witch "or " Gallows Ilill ") , and one by pressing, t Among the more notable of these victims were Rebecca Nourse, { a venerable and most excellent woman, mother of a large and respectable family, an exemplary church-member, and residing in what is known as the " Witch House " § at Danvers (Taple3•^^lle) ; Sarah Good, who, when Rev. Mr. Noyes attempted, even at the gallows, to persuade her to con- fess her guilt and so save her life, witli commendalilc spirit replied, "You are a liar. I am no more a witch * These men londly announced that this commotion was the reenlt of an effort on the part of the powers of darkness to gain the victory over the saints. The first settlers of this country bronght with them from Europe a belief in witchcraft ; and between 1648 and 1655 six or eight witches had been I already executed. Agreeable to what was supposed to be Scripture precept, — that a witch ought not to be permitted to live, — the statntcs of Christendom very generally recognized witchcraft as a capital offence; albeit, by confessing their guilt the offenders were allowed usually to escape the fearful penalty of their crime. t Giles Corey, whose wife Martha had been torn from his side, and, as he firmly beUcved, and fearlessly declared, judicially murdered, having been himself, doubtless on account of these very denunciations, accused, determined to meet his fate in a way to proclaim at once his utter abhorrence and defiance of the prosecutions. Eefasing to plead, ! and so to put himself on trial, tradition says that he was laid naked upon the bare floor of his prison and gradually crushed by huge weights placed upon bis breast. I t By night, and stealthily, her body was snatched, by members of her I family, from its shallow grave on Gallows Hill, and, on horseback, conveyed to her late home, and furtively buried, It is supposed, in some part of the old family burial lot. § Originally built by Townsend Bishop, in 1635 ; hence, one of the oldest, if not the oldest, occupied houses on the continent. It was quite a mansion in its day, and together with the adjacent farm, was bought by Gov. Endicott for his son John. II Tradition says that the uncanny prophecy was fulfilled, inasmuch as Mr. Noyes' death was occasioned by the bursting of a blood vessel. 11 His own wife baring been accused, and finally conricted. Proctor spoke his mmd with au energy inspired by affection, as well as convic- tion. Indeed, armed with a sense of the awfully cruel outrage inflicted upon him, he entered upon the defence of his nife with a manly earn- estness and downrightness that soon brought down upon his own de- voted head the avenging i^Tath of the whole church and prosecuting party. And so, though the wife finally escaped, as b.v the skin of her teeth, the noble husband paid for his temerity by his life. •• After the trial and condemnation. Burroughs was driven in a cart through the streets of Salem to the place of execution. Arrived at the than you are a wizard, and if you take my life God will yet give you blood to drink " ; || John Proctor, a leading citizen, a man of great probity' and intelligence, and whose \igorous understanding led him at once, and almost alone, clearly to perceive the unsubstantial and delusive character of the mania, and accordingly to denounce it in unmeasured terms as utterly, unpardon- ably cruel and wicked ; % a clergyman named George Burrotighs, a former pastor of the Salem Village church, a man of unusual phj^sical strength, of many odd fan- cies and eccentric habits, but of undeniable scholarship and piety ; * * Elizabeth How f f of Topsfield, a woman of great loveliness of character, and whose own heroic qualities shone out amid the darkness of her times with a resplendence equalled onlj- bj' the unexampled devo- tion, during this season of trial, of the members of her own family ; and an old man by the name of Jacobs. I J At the time this maniacal furor reached its height, and the tide of public sentiment began to turn against it, § § besides those actuall)' executed, eight had been con- •50 persons were still in prison awaiting trial ; scaffold, he mounted the ladder with a firm step, and proceeded to make a pathetic and stirring appeal to the gathered multitude. In the fulness of his faith he was powerful, and boldly declared his innocence, closing his appeal by offering a simple and fervid petition to God, repeating, solemnly and reverently, the Lord's Prayer. Some of the spectators wept; others loudly protested their belief in his innocence, and the ofliccrs and executioners grew afraid that the multitude would prevent the execution by force. But just then came forward, riding amid the crowd on a spirited steed, the well-known figure of Cotton Mather. In front of the scaffold he stayed and addressed the people, asserting his belief that Burroughs was guilty, declaring him an unordained minis- ter, and with a sophistry fitted to the prevalent superstitious feeling aflirmed that the devil oftentimes appears as an angel of light. The excitement subsided. The innocent Burroughs was swung off, and the hypocritical Mather went away satisfied. It is asserted, that, as if these things were not enough, the body was cut down and shamefully mal- treated by the improvised grave-diggers. 1 1 Greatly as we are amazed at the credulity of the public at this time, we cannot be less so in view, not only of the heartless recklessness with which accusations were made — knowing, as the accusers did, that to accuse was to convict and destroy — but of the remorselessness with which even families and friends usually turned against the accused. Reference has already been made to a few noble exceptions to this rule. Meantime, what scene more touching than that of the blind husband of Elizabeth How, accompanied by his two young daughters, journeying on horseback, twice a week, along narrow, difficult, and sometimes dangerous roads, all the way from Topsfield to Boston, to visit and to minister to the comfort of the wife and mother in her prison cell. tt It is said that the grave of Jacobs, located on the old homestead, near Salem (the old house is still standing), is the only one of all those of the witchcraft victims that has ever been positively identified. There is, in the Salem Athenseum, a painting, said to be intended to represent the trial of this man Jacobs. § § It is an interesting and significant fact that it was not until the finger of suspicion and of accusation came finally strangely to be pointed at members of the families of the prosecutors themselves that the eyes of the latter worthies got suddenly and wonderfully opened to the atroci- ties of the practices in progress ; and that hence this tempest of mad- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. 200 othi'is Imcl been accused, while a considerable num- ber of the suspected, including some of the most reputable members of the communit}-, had fled the country. Nor do these statistics by any means ade- quately indicate the full extent of the disaster. In con- sequence of expensive trials, rapacious confiscations, and the utter prostration of business, scores, not to say hundreds, were utterlj' impoverished. Farms were for- saken, business was neglected, while most of the churches were in a sadlj-, and even hopelessly, distracted condition. Long years of toil and sorrow and sacrifice followed ere Essex Coimty recovered fully from the elTects of this terrible blow. During the Revolution Essex County did her full and earnest dut}-. ■\Mien the spirited letter was sent out to the towns in the Colony, calling for an open and sincere expression of their opinions as to the course that should be pursued towards the British government, as to whether thej- should submit or resist, all the towns, both large and small, within her borders, replied with one patriotic voice against the usurpations of the crown. The feehng was spontaneous and heartfelt. "Gloucester, Salem, Newbury, Newburj'port, and Ipswich gave their power- ful support to the determination to resist to the last; while Salisbury, Beverl}', Lynn, Danvers, and Rowley re-echoed the sentiment. The hardy fishermen of Mar- blehead declared themselves ready to unite for the re- covery of their -siolated rights." The soul of the county was fired ; the universal desire of her towns was for a solid and permanent union, a closing up of the ranks of the Colonies against a most cruel, unjust, and \indictive oppression. Towns. Lawkence was chartered as a city in 1853. It was ness, passion, and superstitious terror began sensibly to abate. No sooner had suspicion been cast on the wife of Rev. Mr. Hale of Bev- erly, and on the lady of Gov. Phips, than very naturally the cry went up, " Hang the girls," it apparently m.iking an important difference in the logical and theological perceptions of these august personages whose was the ox that was gored. Some of tlie judges and ministers, having been brought to see their error, humbly and publicly made due acknowledgment of the same. Judge Sewall rose before the congrega- tion in the Old South at Boston, and asked the prayers of God's people that the guilt of the errors he had committed at Salem might not fall on his country, his family, and himself Others, like Mather and Stoughton, with an insanely contemptuous disregard of facts, and of public sentiment, continued, even to the lai-t, to cling to their fanatical folly, and, though secured in defiance of all ordinary established rnlcs of evidence — the simple charge of the accuser sufficing beyond all con- troversy, to convict— nevertheless persistently justified the executions. Among those who, in the height of the excitement, on the other hand maintained " level " heads, and, though at the imminent peril of their lives, resisted the demand for the execution of the alleged witches, and are hence descrying of all honor, were the Rev. Samuel Willard, Rev. Mr. Jloody, ex-Gov. Bradstreet, Thomas Danforth, and especially Robert Calef of Boston. originall}' a part of Andover and Methuen, but by an act of the legislature in 18-17, it was set off from these towns, and made one by itself. When it became a city, the name of Lawrence was selected in honor of Hon. Abbott Lawrence and other members of that family. The natural attractiveness of the "New City" as a fa- vorable location for immense industries was not great ; it required the powerful assistance of art to utilize all the means, and draw hither an industrious, laboring pop- ulation. In olden time, eel-fishing was almost the only industry that yielded a good revenue at this place. In 1845, a company was formed known as the Essex Com- pany, which was authorized by legislative enactment to '> construct and maintain a dam across the Merrimac j River, either at " Deer-Jimip," or " Bodwell's Falls," or at any point between these falls. This company was to remove obstructions from the river, and create a water- power, to use, sell, or lease to other corporations or persons for manufacturing or mechanical purposes. Abbott Lawrence, Nathan Appleton, and others were appointed directors, and Charles S. Storrow was chosen treasurer. The dam was commenced in September, 1845. It is fortj' feet in height at the maximum, and is one of the most substantial structures in the countrj-. North of the river is a canal, a trifle more than one mile in length, running parallel with the river, and about four hundred feet distant from it. It is between the river and this canal that those busj' hives of industry and labor are located. From this company starts the spirit which has ever characterized the life of this enterprising and prosperous city.* • Lawrence possesses all the advantages of a great city ; such as parks, banks, railroads, churches, soci- eties, an excellent fire department, and well-managed It will always, of course, be a matter of profound amazement that so many of the best minds of an intelligent community, including repre- sentatives of all the learned professions, could ever have been so de- luded, and have been led so far astray, as in this case. This can be understood only when it is considered, not only that in all ages the public mind is susceptible to such sudden and fatal crazes as this, but that this delusion occurred, not simply in a period when a belief in witchcraft was an established doctrine of orthodoxy, but in an utterly unscientific age ; and when, moreover, the very newness of the country, the vast solitudes of the forests, and the perils and alarms to which, because of prowling s.avagcs and wild beasts, the people were con- stantly liable, conspired to engender a popular mood clearly, eminently favorable for just such a destructive moral epidemic. | * The most notable mills in the city are the Pacific, Atlantic Cotton, "Washington, and Everett Mills, and the famous Pembeiton Mill. All of these have a large capital invested, and employ many oper- atives. The aggregate wealth of these corporations is very large, amounting to ahput eight and a half millions. The other and smaller companies nmning arc the Lawrence Duck Company, Arlington Woollen Mills, Lawrence Woollen Company, Russell Paper Com. pany, Lawrence Flyer and Spindle Works, and the Lawrence lumber companies. MASSACHUSETTS. and economical civil departments. Its population is 34,916. Historically, this citj' is noted for the terrible calamity' of Jan. 10, 18C0, when the -n-hole structiu'e of the Pem- berton MiU fell down in a minute, as it were, burning between 700 and 800 persons in the burning ruins, of whom about 100 perished. Lynx is, with one exception, the oldest town in Essex j County, the settle- ment having been _ ^ commenced in 1629. In the following year, its freemen were ad- mitted as members of the General Court, which privilege incor- porated it a town. Until 16.37 it was called S august, but in that year, perhaps in compliment to Mr. Whiting, who had lived a little whUe in Lynn Eegis, Eng., it was changed. As the record of the General Court reads: " /Saw- gust is called Lin." Before the settlement of LjTin, the Indians dwelt there in large numbers. Monto- wampate was the sa- chem of LjTin, and lived on what is now known as Sagamore Hill. In 1644, the first iron foundry in the United States was established in Lynn, at a spot now included in Saugus. Ten years afterwards, the selectmen of Boston contracted with Mr. Joseph Jenks, • "About the year 1670," says Lewis, "shoes began to be cnt with broad straps, for buckles, which were worn by women as well as by men. In 1727, square toed shoes, and buckles for latlics, went out of fashion; though buckles continued to be worn by men till after the Revolution. The sole leather was all worked with the flesh side out. In 17 JO, John Adam D,ig>-r, a Welshman, gave gieat unpulse and noto- riety to the business by producing shoes equal to the best made in Eng- land. From that time the craft con.-inued to flourish, unlil it became the principal business of the tovrn. Fathers, sons, journeymen, and apprentices worked together, in a shop of one story in height, twelve feet or so square, with a fiieplace in one comer, and a cutting-board in OLD TUNNEL CHUKCH, LTNN. of the Iron Works, "for an Ingine to carry water in case of fire." This was the first fire-engine con- structed in the United States. In 1652, a mint was established at Boston, and the dies for coinage were made at the Iron Works in Ljom by the same Joseph Jenks. Slioemaking, for which Lynn is so famous, began as early as 1636. The first shoemakers known in Lynn were Philip Kertland and Ecbnund Biidges, both of whom came over in 1635. In the begin- ning, the shoes were made of woollen cloth , or neats' leather. A nicer shoe of white silk was made for special occasions, such as a wedding. * From ISOO this in- dustrj- has gradual- ly but steadily in- creased, t The population of the city in 1875 was 32,600, and its total valuation was $28,- 077,793, the largest of anj- city or town in the county. Since its incoipo- ration, Lynn has lost territorj- by the sepa- ration of Lynnfield, Saugus, and Swamp- scott, and Nahant. It was organized as a city May 14, 1850. The patriotic char- acter of Lynn is wide- ly known, and to her honor she had 170 men in the Revolution, four being killed at Lexington. She fitted out one privateer in the war of 1812, which did good another. The finer quality of shoes were made with white and msset rands, stitched very fine, with white waxed thread. They were made with very sharp toes, and had wooden heels, covered with leather, from half an inch to two inches in height, called cross-cut, common court, and "Wuitemburg heels. About the year 1800, wooden heels were dis- contiiiucd, and lca;::cr heels were nsed instead." t In 1S75 there were 151 establishments engaged in the manufacture of bij< ts, shoes, and slippers, with an 'aggregate capital of 82,712,300. Tlie value of the leather nsed annually amounts to about $7,000,000. The whole nuiulicr of employes in 1875, for whom wages were returned, was 10,838, with wages amounting to #5,287, 1C5. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. service. Whou the Rebellion burst on the country, she had the first men in the field after Marblehead; and her memo- rable response to the call : " Wo have more men than guns 1 "What shall we do ? " -will never pass out of patriotic history. Salem, incorporated as a town June 24, 1629, is ihe chief historic city in the county. The first permanent settlement in the old Massa- chusetts Colony was at Salem. The chief por- tion of the city rests on a long narrow peninsu- la, which extends towards the sea, and termiuatesiu two headlands, which are divid- ed by Collins's Cove. On the north, the North River divides the city proper from North Salem and Beverly, and on the other side, South River di- vides South Sa- lem from the city proper. It has l)een more exten- sive, but towns have been set oil from the original territorJ^ Aug. 6, 1629, O. S., a Congre- gational Church was organized in Salem, and was undoubtedly the first Protestant church farmed in America. The NEW CITY HAI-L, LYNN. pastors previous to 1640 were, Francis Iliggiuson (1629), Sam- uel Skelton, Roger WilUams, and Hugh Peters. The latter did not confine his attention to the ministry, but directed his great powers, with zeal, to na- tional afl'airs, being one of the ' ' Regicide Judges." Returning to England after the restoration of the monarchy, he was tried and executed in 1660, aged 61 years. Strange!}' this parent Puritan church of Sakiu, this church, that, in the beginning, had had such a horror of heresy, is to-day, and for manj' j-ears has been, a church not indeed of the " orthodox," but | of the Unitarian order. It is a somewhat signif- icant fact that the first actual conflict of the Revolution after the arrival of Gage, took place at Salem in Feb- ruary, 1775, in the famous en- counter with Col. Leslie. The first congress to con- sider the ques- tion of indepen- dence also met here. In 1740, Whitefield, the celebrated Meth- odist evangelist, preached to an audience of near- ly 6,000 people on the Common. MASSACHUSETTS. The first printing office established at Salem was in 17G8 by Samuel Ilall, and on the 2d of August of the same year the publication of the "Essex Gazette," a weeklj- paper, began. An important feature of this city is its fine cemetery, " Hannonj- Grove," lying between Salem and Peabody. George Peabody, the eminent banker, is interred here. The churches of the city are numerous, and the various civil departments of the municipalitj* are excellent. * An United States custom-bouse is located here. The popu- lation of the city has been steadily on the increase. In 1790 it was 7,921 ; and 1875, 25,958. Tlje valuation in 1875 was 826,312,272. Hon. Nathaniel Bowditch, LL. D., F. R. S., one of the most celebrated mathematicians of the age, was a native of Salem. He was born March 26, 1773. In 1823, he removed to Boston, where he continued to reside until his death on the IGth of March, 1838. Dr. Bowditch stood at the head of the scientific men of this countrj', and no man has contributed more to his coun- tiy's reputation. His fame, resting on the union of the highest genius with the most practical tulent, and the ap- plication of both to the good of mankind, is of the most durable kind. Everj- American ship crosses the ocean more safely for his labors, and the most eminent mathe- maticians of Europe have acknowledged him their equal in the highest walks of their science. — Barber' s Historical Collections. Gloucester,! was the first place occupied by the English north of Massachusetts Baj-. The topograph}' of Gloucester is bold, rock}- and uneven, occasiunall}- re- lieved b}- small tracts of level land. Indomitable indus- try has, to some extent, changed this barrenness into fertility. Previous to the incorj^oration of Rockport in 1840, Gloucester embraced the whole promontory of Cape Ann. In Maj-, 1642, it was incorporated as a plan- tation, and named Gloucester, a name attached at the request of some of the inhabitants who came from • The following are the principal societies of Salem, with their several dates of incorporation. The Social Library- was formed in 1760; the S.-ilem Evangelical Library was formed in 1818, with 600 volumes; on March 3, 1801, the East India Marine Museum was incorporated; this museum in 1867 was united with the Peabody Academy of Science, an institution founded by the munificence of George Peabody. He donated 8140,000, of which §40,000 was to be used to purchase the East India Marine Hall, and properly fit it up ; $100,000 was to be a permanent fund, the interest of which was to be used for the advancement of science and useful knowledge in the county of Essex ; the Essex His- torical Society was incorporated June 11, 1821 ; on Feb. 12, 1836, the Essex County Natural History Society was incorporated ; the Athe- nxum, March 12, 1810, and Mechanics' Hall, March 7, 1839; the Salem Marine was instituted in 1766, and incorporated, 1772 ; it has a fund of 815,000, and the income of Franklin building, bequeathed in 1831, by Gloucester, England. The interests of Gloucester are almost wholly commercial. It has a greater amount of tonnage engaged in domestic fisheries than any other town in the United States, and ranks third in foreign commerce in l^Iassachusctts, being surpassed onl}' b}- Boston and Salem. It is, indeed, asserted to be tlie largest fishing port at present in the world. It imports sugar, molasse^, &c., from Surinam ; and coal, wood, salt, and lumber from the British Pro\'inces. For over one hundred years, tlie cod fishery has been carried on successful!}-. The annual fleet sent out from 1 7G5 to 1775 was 146 vessels, employing nearly 900 men. In 1865, Gloucester had 358 vessels engaged in commerce, with an aggregate tonnage of 25,670. The harbor of Gloucester is spacious and deep. The town is beauti- fully situated, and the views of the sea are magnificent. In the "West Parish of the town there is an old church, standing like a grim sentinel on the summit of a high hill. It is one of the oldest in New England. During both the Revolutionary War, and the war of 1812, Gloucester was attacked by the enemy. % In all the wars it has contributed largely to the navy of the United States. A city charter was granted to this place. May 26, 1871 ; but not being accepted by the town, a second was afterwards obtained, under which she became in- corporated as the sixth city in the county. The popula- tion is 16,754. Haverhill (Pentuckett) was settled in 1640 by twelve men from Newbury and Ipswich. They settled without a title. It was not until 1642 that the deed was negotiated with the Indians. The new settlement was called Haverhill in honor of the English birthplace of Mr. Ward, who was the master-spirit of the enterprise. Two years after the settlement, there were 32 land-hold- ers in Haverhill. The first regular town meeting was held in 1643, and two years afterwards the first church assembled, and IMr. AVard was ordained the pastor. In the autumn of 1648 the first meeting-house was erected ; Thomas Perkins, a merchant ; the Salem East India Marine was founded in 1799, and incorporated in 1801 ; and the East India Marine Hall Cor- poration was chartered in 1821 ; the Salem Seamen's Orphans' and Children's Friend Society was formed in 1839, and incorporated in 1841; in 1823 the Charitable Marine was formed; and in 1844 com- menced the Ladies' Seamen's Friend Society. + It has been, from time to time, but especially within the past few years, subjected to very disastrous losses from the wreck and de- struction of many of its fishing fleets.— Ed. t On the 8th of August, 1775, the British ship.of-war "Falcon "bom- barded it for several hours. The people offered a gallant resistance, and nearly half of the crew of the "Falcon" were either killed, wounded or captured. The British frigate " Tenedos," on Sept 8, 1814, also at- tacked the town, but did no serious damage, though the frigate suffered much, losing a barge and 13 men. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. and in the same 3"ear a fcny was established at the place still called the "old ferrj'-waj'," a little east of the foot of Kent Street. In 1660 the first public school was es- tablished. In 1697, was enacted that fearful tragedy of which Mrs. Dustin of Haverhill was the heroine. The details may be found in any history of the town. When the Colonies were divided into four counties in 1643, Haverhill was included in Norfolk County, but in 1676, with Amesbury and Salisburj', it was transferred into Essex County. The salmon fisheries were at one time an important industry of Haverhill. It is recorded that, in 17G0, bj-one draught of the net, 2,500 shad were di'awn. Washington, in 1789, visited this place, and was received with a hearty welcome. HaverhiE is a large manufacturing place, and annually increasing in importance. It was incorpo- ^ ^^^^ rated as a city, Mar. 10, 1869. J^^I^ Population, 14,628. ^ =^e- Newbuktport, in the matter of trade and business, was once the glory of Essex. It was settled in 1635, when it formed a part of the town of Newburj'. But in 1764, one square mile of Newbmy, 640 acres, was set off, and incorjiorated with the nameof Newburyport. Thister- ritorj- has since been increased, in 1851, when, also, a city charter was obtained. From the j^ear 1764 up to 1775, the growth of Newburyport was marvellous. Shipbuilding was the principal industry- ; vessels being constructed here as early as 1680. During periods of prosperity, as many as ninety vessels have been on the ways at one time. In a large and enthusiastic town meeting, Newburj-port, anticipating the Declaration of Indepen- dence, resolved "that if the Honorable Congress should, for the safety of the United Colonies, declare themselves independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, this town will, with their lives and fortunes, support them in the measure." * For eight years, Mr. Tracey was the principal owner of 110 mer- chantmen, which had an aggregate tonnage of 15,660, and were valued, wiih their cargoes, at $2,733,000. Of these, but 13 were left at the end of the Revolution; the remainder being either captm-ed by the enemy or lost. Mr. Tracey owned also 24 cruiser.'!, carrying 340 guns, and navigated by 2,800 seamen. All these, save one, were lost. These vessels did invaluable service to the struggling government- They captured property from the British that sold for $3,9.50,000 in gold. PIBLIC LIBRARY, NEVBCRYPOHT In August, 1775, the first privateer fitted out in the United States, owned bj' Nathaniel Tracey, sailed from this port. * The first vessel that flung the American flag from her peak in the Thames was from Newbury- port ; t and this town despatched the first vessel to Labrador. The commerce of Newburyport flourished amazingly from the close of the Revolution until 1807. Wealth seemed to rise trom the sea, and fall spontaneously into her ready lap. But the heavy embargo crushed her prosperity, though not the spirit of the people. Then came a local calamity, the great fire of 1811, which destroyed a million and a half of property in a few hours. Last of all, the Middlesex Canal, which was built soon after, paralyzed her prosperitj-, by diverting her traflic, and made the vital thrust at her enterprise. Newburyport to-day is one of the most beautiful, but hardlj' one of the most enterprising, cities in the count}'. | Its pop- ulation is 13,323. This place is remarkable for the number of noted people ^ ho have resided here : Jacob Perkins, the celebrated inven- tor ; Thcophilus Parsons, the jurist ; Edmund Blunt, the navi- gator ; George Lunt, the au- thor ; William Lloyd Garrison, the philanthropist ; Hannah F. Gould, the poetess ; and Har- iiet Prcscott Spofford, the au- thoress ; Hon. Caleb Cushing, the statesman; Rev. George Whitefield, the preacher, and many more. The remains of Mr. Whitefield rest under the Federal Street Church. Marblehead § is one of the choicest places of native seaside beauty in the county, if not in the State. Lying on a peninsula, it has a fine harbor, accessible at all times to vessels of the deepest draught. This town was detached from Salem, May 2, 1649. At that time there were only 44 families; to-day there are 1,881, with 7,677 inhabit- ants. The main portion of the town is situated at the t An honor also claimed by Nantucket. X There were four cotton factories there in 1875, with an invested capital of $1,200,000; making goods annually valued, with the work done, at $1,235,511. The capital invested in shipbuilding in that year was only $149,500; yet this is more than formerly ; $96,000 is invested in the manufacture of boots, shoes and slippers. § In 1837 the town manufactured over 1,000,000 pairs of shoes, em- ploying for it nearly 1,200 operatives. There are at present e.xtensivc shoe factories in the town. There are two national banks and one sav- MASSACHUSETTS. head of a short and narrow arm of the sea, while to the south hcs the peninsula known as the " Great Neck." This neck is a favorite summer resort, both on account of the beautj" of the scenery, and the coolness of the breezes that are constant!}' blowing from the sea. There are here two excellent hotels, and many pleasant and at- tractive cottages. The pursuits of the people are shoe manufacturing, market-gardening and Cshing. The latter was once tbe chief pursuit of the citizens of the town. Just pre-\-ious to the Kevolution, the vessels of INIar- blehoad rocked in nearl}' ever}' harbor, and sailed in almost every sea. The patriotic heroism, and almost reckless daring of the seamen, were the theme of univer- sal conversation. Marblehead was then the second town in the Colony. Particularly worthj' of men- tion is the patriotism of Mar- blehead. The old town is, and alwaj's was, " lo3'al to the core." During the Revolution, when she lost almost 1,000 men, the War of 1812, and the Rebellion, her great heart beat with loyal pulse. She spared neither men nor money for the honor and glory of the government ; both were freely given for its support. * Marblehead has produced more great men than most other cities or towns in the county. There was Gen. John Glover, who led that famous army across the Delaware, on the bitter night of Dec. 25, 177G. Gen. Glover also conducted the surrendered army of Burgoyne through New England. He was an able, brave soldier, and a friend of Washington. Hon. Elliridge Gerry is another of Marblehead's illustrious sons. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and a member of Congress. He was sent as ambassador to France, was Governor of Massa- chusetts, and flnall}' became Vice-President of the United States. Then there are others: Joseph Story, LL.D., ings hank in the to-rni; and also a high school, besides several inter- mediate and primary schools. An excellent newspaper, "The Mes- senger," is published here. There are eight chnrches of all denomi- nations. By the bcqnest of Benjamin Abbott, a beautiful public build- ing, called Abbott Hall, has been erected on the Common at a cost of #75,000. * Late one afternoon in 1861 , she received notice of the call for troops ; and at eight o'clock the next morning she had a company of men in Fancuil Hall. They were the first troops there. An hour later two John Gallison, Azor Ome, Edward A. Holyoke, Isaac Story, Rev. Samuel Sewall, and Samuel Hooper. Though no recognized poet seems native to Jlarble- head, yet she has not wanted pens to celebrate her beaut}' and her patriotism. Longfellow, on the beach near old Fort Sewall, wrote his "Fire of Driftwood." Lucy Larcom, with her characteristic tenderness, wrote " Hannah Binding Shoes," in Marblehead. The muses of Whittier and Holmes, and the genius of Hawthorne, have touched, as with fire, the old town, so rugged and rocky, that Whiteficld wondered where they buried their dead. There are many interesting landmarks in Marble- head. Among the more importnnt are the Old North Church, St. Michael's Church, built in 1714, the town- house erected in 1728, the old powder-house, and the house in which Elbridge Gerry was bom. Danvers, containing a pop- ulation of 6,024 persons, so called, it is said, from Earl D'Anvers, f a nobleman in the north of England, and fa- mous as being the town in which Gov. Endicott was the first landholder, — he having established himself there (at the " Port") as early as 1830, — was formerly a part of Sa- lem, and known as Salem Vil- lage. The settlement was incorporated as a district in 1752, and as a town June 16, 1757. It has at present six postal centres. The principal, though latest, settle- ment, Danvers Plains, is a large, thickly settled, and pleasant village, occupying, for the most part, a very cligibb plain from which it takes its name, which, on its rear, stretches away very picturesquely up on to the slopes of Lindall Hill. The to«ii is supphed with hotels, banks, and a newspaper office. Danversport, once called New Mills Village, the early home of Gov. Endicott, } situated at the head of naviga- other companies from Marblehead arrived. Likewise, in the war of Independence, she saw and did her duty. After its close, it was found that the tonnage of Marblehead had decreased from 12,000 to 1,500; from 1 ,200 voters she had declined to less than 500. Thus vi-as there left a sadly crippled industry, with more than 500 widows and more than 1,000 oqihans. t In honor, according to one account, of Sir Danvers Osbom. t It is said that a pear tree, planted by Gov. Endicott, m.ay still be seen, on the old Kudicott eslatc, 243 years old. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. tion on Porter River, in the north-eastern part of the township, was settled at a very early date. During the Revolutionary war, four twenty-gun ships, and eight or ten privateers were built here. It is, at present, the seat of quite a large lumber trade. Danvers Centre, formerly Salem Tillage proper, was the earliest settled portion of the town, and was the site of the first church edifice, a very humble structure, and built in 1C72, — noted as the building in which were held the preliminary hciiincs of the more important witch- cnft cises * A second chuich, located at the Plains, wj.a organized iii 1713, BIRTHPL.VCn OP ISr.AEL PI T>f AM, DANTEIIS. Rev. James Bailey was the first pastor of this historic colonial church. He was settled in 1671, and resigned 1G80. His successor was Rev. George Burroughs (1G80- 1G83), subsequently (Aug. 19, 1G92) executed for witch- craft on "Gallows Hill," Salem. He ^was succeeded by Rev. Dcodab Lawson (1683-1688). The next in order •was Rev. Samuel Parris (1G89-1696), in whose family-, • In 1701, a somewhat larger and more commodious structure was put up in its place ; constructed after the primitive colonial pattern, square, with pointed roof. Unpretentious as it was, this edifice yet answered the religious needs of the settlement for upwards of eighty- years ; when it, in turn, was superseded by a still larger ar.d more amhitions temple, having a very lofty steeple. This li.ing burned in ISOG, a brick church was erected, which, in 1S39, gave place, finally, to the pi'esent commanding structure. + One of the old Revolutionary landmarks of Danvers, the " Collins House " (now the beautiful summer residence of Mr. Peabody of Bos- ton), is a memorial of the patriotic zeal of the fathers. At one time, this house was the headquarters of Gcii. Gage. as elsewhere stated, the witchcraft excitement first made its appearance. The first town meeting in Danvers was held March 4, 1752, the population at the time being 400. The town was divided into Danvers and South Danvers Maj' 18, 1855. The principal industry is the boot and shoe manufacture, though brick-making has, in times past, been a lucrative and thriving business. Danvers Ceme- tery can hardly be surpassed for taste and rural beautj-. The town has an abundant water-supply, with its sources in Middleton Pond " Thv, mil iliitants of Danvers," saj's Mr. Barber, " hnve always been distinguished for thi ir patriotism, and its citizens bore their full share in the great contest of the Revolution."! Gen. Israel Putnam, so celebrated for his courage, and his important services in the Ficnch, Indian, and Revolutionaiy wais ; Col. Hutchinson, another Revo- lutionary commander, and who re- ceived the marked approbation of "\\ ishington for his ser\-ices in cros- sing the Delaware ; I Capt. Samuel and Jeremiah Page, both of whom fought at Lexington, and were com- m mders of companies in the Revo- lutionary army, were from this town. Of those who fell at Lexing:on, one- '.ixth p.art were inhabitants of this to^^n. § In 1861, Danvers enlisted 800 soldiers. A noble granite monument be irs the names of those who were slain. Among the noted men in Danvers, besides those already named, maj- be mentioned Nathan Reed, Judge Samuel Hoiten, and Samuel P. King, all former members of Congress. Rev. Dr. Putnam (eminently a town name), a distinguished divine of Brooklyn, N. Y., is a native of this town. John G. Whittier is at present a resident of this place. % He also commanded a company at the siege and capture of Quebec, and was at Lake George, and at the defeat of Ticonderoga with Gtu. Abcrcrombie. At Lexington he commanded a company of miuute- § A monument to their memory, standing, it is claimed, on the identi- cal spot, — at the junction of Main and Wiishingtj.'U sti-ccts, Peabody, — where the young patriots rallied, and whence they mai-ched to Lex- ington, w.as erected in 1835. Gen. Gideon Foster, one of the snrvivors of that battle, delivering the address upon the occasion. The religious scriices on this occasion were held in the same old church in which, sixty years before, funeral services had been held over the remains of the slain. — Ed. f}JS^M{' MASSACHUSETTS. The Pcabod3- Institute contains, hesidos a fine hall, a ■well-choson library of 8,3.j0 volumes. The now State Lunatic Asylum, on Hawthorne Hill, and visible from a great distance, is the largest building in Essex County, and is 2o7 feet above the sea level. Andover is situated on the south-east side of the IMcrrimac Eiver, about sixteen miles north-west of Salem. Along its whole north-west side flows the Merrimac. Its agriculture is important, one writer reckoning it as "one of the best fanning towns in Massachusetts." The exact date of the settlement of it is difficult to determine. It is known, however, that the land was purchased of Cutsham- aehe, the sagamore of Massachu- setts, for £6 and a coat. Mr. "Woodbridge made the bargain in Dchalf of the inhabitants of Coch- icowick, the Indian name of An- dover. The court ratified this pur- chase in 1G4:6, and Incorporated the town with the name of Ando- ver, after the old English town bjr that name in Hampshire, from which a large number of the set- tlors came. The first settlements were on the pleasant tract of laud near Cochicewick. Among the early settlers were Mr. Bradstreet, John Osgood, and Joseph Parker. In 1G44, Simon Bradstreet, after- wards deputy-governor, erected the first mill in the town. The first disturbance from the Indians oc- curred as late as 1076, v.Iicu they killed Joseph Abbott, to jk Timothy Abbott, his brother, prisoner, and burned Mr. Faulkner's house to the ground. In 1G98, a party of thirty or forty Indians "surprised the town, killed fi\'e persons, burnt two houses and two barns, with the cattle in them, and set another dwelling- house and the mccting-house on fire." The first town meeting was hold in IG06, at the house of John Osgood. Fifty sons of Andover fought at the battle of Bunker Hill. There were, in 1777, four militia companies in the town, numbering", with what was called the alarm- list, a muster-roll of 670 men. Andover is the seat of many worthy institutions of learning. Phillips Academy, instituted in 1778, and, * In 1S7.5 there were ten carriase e.stablishmcnts, with an invested cnpitiil of $!163,0nn ; tlic value of goods made and work done amounted to §393,200. There was only one establishment which manufac- consequently, the oldest academy in the State, is here. The Andover Theological Seminar^', founded in 1807, does its modest but gi-eat work here also. In 1829 another school was established here, called the Abbot Female Acadoni}-. Twenty-seven j-oars afterwards, in 1856, the Punchard Free School was founded ; but, shortly afterwards, it was destroyed by fire. There are two large and valuable libraries in the town ; the Ando- ver Theological Seminary Library, and the Old South Sab- bath-school Library. The population of Andover is 5,097. Boots, shoes and slippers arc the principal mapufactures. Amesbuhy* was once a part of the town of Salisburj-. ^TiiLiip^ \ciDFJfY, \vno-\Tr M a t(j\vu meeting of the inhabitants of SaU=buiy in lG-12, it was ordered that thirty families remove to the west side of the Pow-wow River before 1643. This was the territory of Amosburj'. In 1664, the population on this spot had become so large that a vote was passed to Imild a meeting-house, and a committee appointed to choose a minister. Eight j-ears afti^rwards this committee were successful in securing the services of Rev. Thomas Wells. In 1666 the inhabitants petitioned the General Court for the grant of a township. It was not until 1668, however, that the General Court granted leave to name the town "Amesbury." In 1725 the town was divided into the West and East Parishes. During the tured woollen goods proper, but that had §1,000,000 of invested cap- ital, and the value of g(K)ds made and the work done amounted to $1,432,512. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Revolution the feeling of patriotism and devotion to the colonial cause was universal throughout the town. In March, 1775, the town voted to raise fifty able-bodied men, to serve one year. They were eommandod bj- Capt. John Currier, and fought at the battle of Bunker Hill. Josiah Bartlett, one of the signers of the Declara- tion of Independence, was born in this town. After the close of the war of 1812, in which the town seems to have taken no deep interest, the industry became largelj- manufacturing; whereas, heretofore, it had been agri- cultural. Woollen and carriage manufactures are the principal industries. As early as April, 1861, a compan}- was already organized and drilling. In the following July it was mustered into sendee under the command of Capt. Jos. W. Sargent. The Soldiers' Record contains tlie names of 342 citizens of Amesbury, who " served their country well." This town has the distinction of being, for manj' years, the home of the delightful poet, John G. Whittier. Its population is 3,816. Beverly,* situated north of Salem, and an offshoot of that city, is separated from the latter b3' a part of the North River wliich forms the harbor of the town. The soil is rather thin, and not over-productive, and the land is hill3' and rocky. John and William Woodliury, with other companions of the famous Roger Conant, having removed hither from Salem, and being soon followed by Conant himself in 1630, the settlement was incorpo- rated as a distinct township with the name of Beverly, in 1668; but it was not until 1753 that a small tract of territorj" Ipng between Danvers and Beverly was annexed to the latter. This tract was known by the romantic title of " Ryallside." The first town meeting was held Nov. 23, 1668. The first cotton-mill in the United States was erected in Bevcrl3' in 1 778. It was built of brick, and was locat- ed in North Beverly, near Baker's Comer. A periodi- cal describing this saj's : "An experiment made with a complete set of machinery for carding and spinning cotton met with the warmest expectations of the proprie- tors." In his tour through the countrjMn 1789, Wash- ington visited this mill. • Beverly has a capable fire department, one military company, a tiank of discount, a public library, a lyceum, farmer's club, an excel- lent system of public schools, and a weekly journal called " The Bev- cily Citizen." The population is 7,271. t This section of the town is largely devoted to country-seats on the part of the citizens of Salem and Boston. These estates, Including mansions and grounds, are often superb, while the ocean scenery from these points is probably quite unsurpassed. X At this place there is an old church in which Rev. John Chipman prcacned for nearly 60 years, and in which George Whitefield is said also From the date of tlie settlement of Beverlj-, until 1649, its inhalntants worshipped with the First Church in Salem. The first meeting-house was erected in 1656 on the site of the present Old South Meeting-house, at the comer of Cabot and Hale streets. The first minister was Rev. John Hale. There are churches here now of almost all the usual denominations. The military record of the town is patriotic. During the wars against the savages, the Revolution, the war of 1812, and especially during the Rebellion (when the town enlisted 988 men, of which number over 100 were lost), it was ever on the alert and contributed its full share of soldiers and money. The cod-fisher3' was carried on with great success from 1789 up to the beginning of the Rebellion. It was seriously, though temporarily, affected 1)3' the embargo, and injured by the war of 1812. Tanning, and the manufactiu-e of pottery, were among the earl3' industries of Beverly. There is now but one establishment for the manufacture of pottery in the town. Beverly has three postal centres — Beverh', Beverh' Farms f and North Beverl3' J — and a population of 7,241. The most thickl3-- settled portion is nearest to Salem, supported largely by boot and shoe manufactories. The town hall, and Odd Fellows' hall, and Briscoe school-house, the powder-house and common, are the principal points of interest. One of the most prominent and sightl3- elevations in town is Cherry HiU, North Bcverl3-, crowned by the estate § and elegant mansion of Richard Palmer Waters, Esq. Rev. John Chipman, a graduate of Harvard College, 1711, was ordained over the church at North Beverly (which had been constituted the same day) Dec. 28, 1 715, and continued pastor until his death, in 1775, aged 85 years. His colleague, Rev. Enos Hitchcock, (ordained Ma3' 1, 1771), some four years subsequent to his settle- ment, received an appointment as chaplain in a Massachu- setts regiment — continuing with the same, for the most part, during the whole Revolutionarj' War — not having been dismissed from his pastorate, meantime, until 1780. His regiment was at West Point, Yalle3- Forge, and at other equall3' memorable and historic points. Essex was one of the junior members of the famil3' of the parent count3' from which it has its name, not having to have discoursed. The old Chipman manse, a building of good, old- f.ishioncd proportions, though now sadly dilapidated, is yet standing, and occupied by descendants of the venerable pastor. In this building is a portrait, in oil, of Whitefield, said to be authentic. } This estate is memorable as having been the property of Mr. Joseph White, of Salem, murdered by Crowningshield, through the instigation of the Knapps (of Wenham), and on the occasion of whose tiial Daniel Webster made the famous plea, familiar to every school-boy. Mr. Waters well remembers this Mr. White, having seen him as he lay in his bed the morning after the murder. — Ed. MASSACHUSETTS. had an incorporation till Feb. 18, 1819. Before that time it had reckoned as Ipswich Second Parish, or more commonly as (by its Indian name) " Chebacco." It is a lovely place, but in a secluded position, partly on which account it had had no railroad till within a very few years. It lies on the sea-coast, immediately north of Cape Ann. By means of several deep creeks and estuaries, it has good communication with navigable waters, and has for years been noted for its enter- prise in shipbuilding, for which its situation is well adapted. In the western part lies Chebacco Pond, a charming lake of 260 acres, from which flows Esses River, giving fine variety and much convenience to the town. In some directions, the village is hidden by deep forests ; in others, concealed among numerous and picturesque hills. Bumham's, "White's and Perkins' Hills, may be taken as specimens, affording fine ^aews. Agriculture is good here, but does not lead. Salt hay is largely cut on the marshes, and the gardens are pro- ductive, but the land is better for pasturage than tillage. Clams are abundant, and form a valuable article of trade. Shoes are extensively made ; also shingles, and some other similar products. But the shipbuilding of Essex has made her reputation. Dr. Kane made an Arctic voyage in a vessel built here. Essex had 200 soldiers in the war of the Rebellion, of whom she lost 30. Her record is also honored by the nativity of Hon. Rufus Choate, born Oct. 1, 1799 ; also his brother, David Choate, a man of different tastes, but hardly less ability. Several churches are found here, the oldest being the Congregational, where Rev. John Wise was ordained in 1682. Population, 1,713. Peabodt,* (population, 8,066), previous to 1855, was embraced in Danvers. The town was named in honor of George Peabody, the philanthropic London banker, who established in the town an institute in 1852, with an endowment of $200,000. The institute provides for an annual course of free lectures, and a free librarj'. Peabody is closely alhed to Salem. It is largely engaged in the manufacture of leather ; indeed, its annual pro- duction is larger than that of Salem. In 1875, the value of leather manufactured in Peabody was S3, 345, 618. The town contains a large bleacherj' and extensive glue manufactories. • In the old burial-ground of this place, it is said, lies buried the remains of the woman — Elizal)cth Whitman — a temporary resident of tliis town, whose singular and rather melancholy history constituted the foundation of the story which, in other days, has excited so much interest with readers of romance, and is called " Eliza Wliarton." Grovelaxd is one of the beautiful towns of the lower Meri'lmac series, and almost the latest one in municipal existence, having been incorporated so latel}- as JNIarch 8, 1850. Its surface is prettily diversified, with many bits of choice woodland, interspersed with ponds and streams that add much attractiveness to the scene. This town, whose euphonious name is neither imitated from an Ind- ian barbarism, nor copied in servility from the English, lies with its north-west side along the Men-imac River. The eastern section is watered bj' Parker River, and the west by Johnson's Pond, with its brisk outlet stream falling into the Merrimac. Water-power is abundantly furnished, and fishery, as of bass, salmon, shad and the like, is profitably carried on. Until its incorporation this was the East Precinct of Bradford. It had a church as early as June 7, 1727, when Rev. William Balch was pastor ; and at the pres- ent time there are Baptist, Methodist, and Episcopal societies as well. The industry is first, agriculture, and after that, boots and shoes. Woollen goods are likewise largely' made, there being three factories in the place. A remarkably fine iron bridge spans the Merrimack here, taking the place of an ancient ferrj-, and connecting with Haverhill on the north bank. The Newburj-port branch of the B. & M. R. R. assists communication. A tasteful monument commemorates the fact that 117 sol- diers went from here to help subdue the Rebellion, of whom 24 never returned. The population is 2,084. Salisbukt is the most northerly town in Essex Countj', and is indeed the most northerly town in Mas- sachusetts, finding that extremity in Grape Hill, on the New Hampshire line. This is one of the oldest of the towns ; the first grant of the town was made in 1638, to Daniel Dennison and others, and it was called " Merri- mac." A j'ear after, it had a new name, and was en- titled "Colchester;" and by another year, Oct. 7, 1640, it arrived at an incorporation, and still another name, to wit, that of " Salisbury." Prior to the definition of the State Une with New Hampshire, Salisbury was associated with Hampton, Portsmouth, Exeter and Dover, which, with Haverhill, made the county of ' ' Norfolk." This was set aside afterward, and the line of the Rosewell Patent confirmed, running parallel to the Merrimac, and three miles to the north of it. These limits became settled in 1679. The first church was organized here at the original set- tlement, in 1638, with Rev. William Worcester as pastor. This town has a peculiarly mixed topograph)' ; all the eastern part being marked with every character of the seaside, while the remainder is equally well seen to be- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. long to a river town onl_y. One of the most peculiar beaches in the State forms the whole eastern line, three miles long, yellow, and hard as a floor. It is a great resort in the summer, and is built along its whole length with cottages. Behind it are extensive tracts of salt marsh ; and these graduall}- harden into sandy plains, which again rise, in the west, into man^' hills, some of large elevation. The tallest is Powwow Hill, close to the western boundary, and 323 feet in height. A slow stream, called Heale3-'s Canal, or Dead Creek, runs behind the beach, into the Memmac. The west- ern boundary is formed by the Powwow Elver. This, flowing soutli-eastcrh' from New Hampshire, has a sud- den fall of about 70 feet in a distance of some 50 rods, just before reaching tide water, which has been converted into valuable water-power, and has furnished a location for the chief village, that of Salisburj- Mills. Here are six or eight valuable wooUen factories, formerlj- in high activit}-, but of late mostlj' out of employ. Another important village is at the mouth of the Powwow, and is called Salisbury Point ; and East Salisburj' is a postal centre in the seaward part of the town, of a more scat- tered character than either. The industry of the town is mostly given to farming ; but the importance of cottons and woollens has been considerable, and caniage-building continues to be prof- itable. Besides, fishing, coasting, and ship-building have always had good attention, and some other branches are well followed. The tovra has a national and a sav- ings bank, an insurance ofl3ce, and a weekly newspaper. Seven churches are found here. Railroad facilities are afforded by the Salisbury Branch of the Eastern Rail- road, and by the Newburyport Street Railroad. The Merrimac is spanned by three bridges : one of which, at Deer Island, is the first chain suspension bridge built in America. The Salisbury end, however, is a pier bridge, with a draw. The industrial statistics are verj' interesting, there being fourteen leading manufactures in a town having only 4,078 inhabitants. Ipswich (population, 3,674) was settled in 1633 by John "Winthrop, Jr., and was called Agawam until 1634, when it was incorporated. A body of freemen, known as Commoners, owned the land, and thej- gianted lots to those who wished to settle. In 1788, the Com- moners made a grant of all their personal and real proi> ertj' to the town for the purpose of pajing its debts. Hamilton and Essex were foimerlj' included in Ipswich. Until 18.50 it was a shire town. In 1771, a post-office was established, and in 1642, free schools were created. The Ipswich Female Seminary was established in 1828, by Miss Zilpah P. Grant and Miss Marj- Lyon. A grist- mill wae built in 1635, and a saw-mill in 1656. In 1827, a cotton factory was erected, and it; 1864, a woollen miU. Ship-building was commenced in 1668, and was, for a short time, a leading industr3-. The manufacture of hosiery is the industry in which the most capital is at present invested. The first meeting-house was erected, in all probability, soon after the settlement of the town ; and the first church was organized in 1653. Manchester, a town of 1,560 inhabitants, lies about eight miles north-east of Salem, and is 25 miles distant from Boston on the Gloucester Branch of the Eastern Railroad. It was originally known as Jeffrey's Creek, in honor of William Jeffreys, its first settler ; and it was separated from Salem, May 14, 1G45. For many years it was a large, if not the largest, fishing-port in the coun- ty. The principal industry to-day is the manufacture of cabinet furniture, and in this branch it has no superior. There are 13 establishments for this purpose in the town. There is one tannery in the village ; and market- gardening is made quite a profitable pursuit. Three churches, eight schools, and two hotels are in the town. Manchester is a favorite summer resort ; its natural beautj- being almost uiisuipassed. It has latterl}' been termed " Manchester-bj--the-Sea." There are ample fa- cilities for bathing, boating, and fishing. Among those who have summer residences in Manchester, are Rev. C. A. Bartol, D.D., of Boston ; James T. Fields ; Richard H. Dana, Jr. ; J. B. Booth, the tragedian ; Russell Stur- gis ; R. G. Boardman ; Dana Boardman ; Dr. O. S. Fowler ; E. E. Rice, and Walter Cabot. Satjgus, formerly an important part of L3-nn, was set off and separately incorporated, Feb. 17, 1815. Some of the most interesting antiquities of Lynn now lie in this town, where the first iron works in America were established in 1642 ; the first tavern between Salem and Boston in 1635, or thereabout ; and almost the first river fisheries, as of alewives and bass, taken at the head of tide-water and dried, as early as 1633. The southerly part of the town is formed of broad, salt marshes, through which the Saugus River, running southerlj' from Wake- field Pond, bj- the middle of the town, at last finds exit. The town lies in four principal \'illages, in which the making of shoes and cigars form the leading indus- tries, both graduall3' increasing. The shoe business had invested in it in 1875 $25,000, producing goods worth §152,000. The population at the same date was 2,578. MASSACHUSETTS. SwAMPScoTT -was a part of Lynn until March 21, 1852, when it was incorporated as a separate town, retaining its Indian name. It is one of the most beautiful places on the New England coast. There are three fine beaches in the town, — Phillips' Beach, one mile in length; AVhale Beach ; and Blane3-'s Beach. It has some of the best farms to be found any where, and is a famous sum- mer resort for the wealthy, particularly Bostonians. The first tannery ever erected in New England was built here, in 1629, by Francis Ingalls ; the old vats remained until 1825. The population is 2,128. A large business has long been done here in shore-fishing, A'ast quantities of cod, and other fish, being taken within sight of land. These are mostly sold fresh. Lobster-catching is also largely followed. Nahant, in territory, is the smallest town in Essex Count}' ; otherwise it is one of the most remarkable. It consists of three small islands, connected together, and with the main land, by a curious series of le\el sandy beaches, which form delightful drives. The famous Capt. John Smith discovered Nahant, or " The Nahants," on one of his voyages along the coast, and he named them on his map " The FuUerton Islands." This was in 1G14 ; and in 1G24 the Council of New England granted these "islands" to Eobert Gorges; but that he ever visited his possession is doubtful. In 1G29 it was still occupied by the Indians. The second settler on Nahant was James Mills. In 1088, Edward Randolph, Secretary of State for Massachusetts, petitioned Gov. Andios for a grant of the whole peninsula. It was complied with, but the real proprietors, to whom had been granted the land bj- a vote of the town of L3-nn, resisted. Andros was deposed and imprisoned, and Randolph jielded his claim. Until 1 706 there was peace ; but in that j'ear, the old grants of 1657 were annulled, and the land was re-granted. Nahant is verj' famous as a watering-place, and has the siunmer residences of a great many distin- guished persons. It was set off from Lj-nn, March 29, 1853, and has since then enjoyed the reputation of as- sessing the lightest taxes in Massachusetts. RocKPORT, a town of 4,480 inhabitants, was incor- porated and set off from Gloucester in 1840. Its princi- pal industry is the quarrj-ing of granite. Very beautiful sea-side locations are here found, furnishing an open view of the Atlantic. A more sterile or rockj' ground for inhabitation can hardly any where be found, yet these stern rocks are the wealth of the place. Fishery is largely and profitably followed, and a steam cotton-mill has long been in successful operation. Methuen, population 4,205, was incoqjorated a town in 1725. A school-house was erected in 1742, though the town had supported schools for a period of 11 years. Valuable water-power is afforded bj' tlie Spicket River, a tributary' of the Mcrrimac, which runs south-easterly from New Hampshire through the middle of the town. The stream has a fall of some 50 feet in the midst of the village, a feature of much beauty in wet seasons. It is called Spicket Falls, and is the only cataract in Essex County. Rowley, a town of 1,162 inhabitants, was settled in 1639 by Mr, Ezekiel Rogers. In his honor it was originally called " Rogers' Plantation," but it was sub- sequently changed to Rowlej', the name of the town in Yorkshire, Eng., where Mr. Rogers had resided. The act of incorporation occurred July 7, 1639. In his " Wonder-working Providence," Johnson sajs, speaking of the old settlers: "They consisted of about three- score families. Their people being very industrious every waj', soon built as many houses, and were the first people that set upon making cloth in this western world, for which end they built a fulling-mill, and caused their little ones to be very diligent in spinning cotton-wool, many of them having been clothiers in England." The original territory has been materially diminished by the separation of Boxford, Bradford and Georgetown from it. The scenerj' is much diversified by the remarkably extensive salt marshes that form all the eastern section. TopsFiELD. — This town, incorporated in 1650, was originally known as New Meadow ; but it was afterward named Topsfield from a town in England. It is said that the name is eight hundred years old. In 1663 the first church was regularly constituted in the town, and Rev. Thomas Gilbert was ordained the pastor. The father of the founder of the Mormon faith, Joe Smith, was a native of Topsfield. It is a most excellent farm- ing town, lying in a valley with beautiful hills rising around it, with the Ipswich River winding about their northern base. Its population is 1,221. It has always shown gi'eat interest in education, long had a famous and very flourishing academy, and sent out more school teachers than any town in the region. Newbttky, the oldest town on the Merrimac, was set- tled and incorporated in the spring of 1635, and contained about 30,000 acres. When the terrible witchcraft delu- sion spread so rapidly in 1692, Newbury was not in the least affected by it. In 1764, "that part of Newbury now called Newburyport," was set off and incorporated. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Following this incorporation of Newbur^-port, in 1819, West Newburj- iras set apart as a distinct municipalitj-. The honor of building the first chain-suspension bridge in America, crossing the Merriniac about three miles above Newbur^-port, belongs to Newburj". On Slarch 2, 1762, was begun the erection of Dummer Academ}-, located in Byfield parish, an institution of great worth, and one of the oldest in the State.* This old town is not without its mineral wealth. f The population of Newburj' is 1,426. West Newbury. — When this town was set apart from Newburj-, it was incoi-porated under the name of Par- sons ; but, soon after, the name was changed to West Newbury. The town has manj- beautiful prospects, and, in its vicinity, are some of the most pleasant drives in the county. An excellent bridge connects the town with East Haverhill, which has been called, ever since it was built in 1795, "The Rock's Bridge." It was 1,000 ft. in length, and the longest bridge across the Merrimac. It was swept away by ice in 1818, but rebuilt in 1828. Population, 2,021. Bradford was incorporated a town in 1673, and, in 1682, the first Congregational Church was organized, Rev. Zachariah Sj-mmes, pastor. During the great freshet in 1818 this town sustained great loss. Bradford is near to Haverhill, and connected with it by a bridge. The town is beautifully located on the south bank of the Merrimac ; its surface is pleasantly diversified. Population, 2,014. Georgetown, like Boxford, was originally a part of the town of Rowley. It was not incorporated until 1833. The topograph}' of the town is equal, in general beauty, to any in the countj'. It boasts the highest elevation in the county, Bald-pate Hill, situated in the south-western part of the town. The boot and shoe business is a growing industry- here, and farming is car- ried on quite extensively. Parker's River affords good water-power. During the Rebellion, Georgetown lost 49 men. It is said that she was represented on twelve battle-fields. Population, 2,214. North Andover, originallj- a part of Andover, and known as the North Parish, was separated and incorpo- rated as a town in 18.55. It is one of the best agricul- • This institution was founded by Lieat. Gov. Dummer in 1756, though not incorporated till October, 1782. t About 1875, a reraarliable discovery of silver ore was made in this town, not far from the famous mineral locality of the "Devil's Den." tural towns in the county ; everything in the form of! field products, from potatoes to mangoes, being produced. I East of the village lies Great Pond, the largest sheet of water in the county, whose outlet into the Merrimac affords excellent mill facilities. Population, 2,981. I Lynnfield, formerly called Lynn End, was incorpo- rated as a district July 3, 1782 ; obtained full incorpora- tion, Feb. 28, 1814. A church was jjlanted there, under charge of Rev. Nathaniel Sparhawk, Aug. 17, 1720, and has continued to prosper ever since. Abundant water suppl}- is had from the Ipswich River on the north, the Saugus River on the west, and Suntaug Lake in the eastern part. The last is a lovely expanse } of water, almost circular, and covering 210 acres. Ex- '' tensive forests are here ; and peat is cut in the meadows to a depth of fifteen feet. ! A more perfectly quiet and rural town than Lynnfield were hard to find. The lover of solitude will have noth- ing here to disturb him ; and to the invalid the salubrit}- of the air is found often quite as beneficial as that of the distant interior. Farming is the chief industr\', but something is done in ice, granite, and ground dyewoods. There is a development of fine serpentine rock here, wliich at one time was hoped to be profitable for work- ing. South Lynnfield was the outgrowth of the famous Newburyport Turnpike enterprise. A large -hotel was erected in connection with it, but was never successful. Daniel Townsend, killed at Lexington, belonged here. His grave is shown in the old bur^-ing ground, with a poetic epitaph, often quoted. Merrimac, the West Parish of Amesbury, which had had a separate organization to a certain extent for manj- years, was set off and incorporated as a distinct town, April 11, 1876. The new town took the name of Merri- , mac, and was made to include almost one-half the orig- i inal area of the town of Amesbury. Two important ! villages were comprised in the new municipality ; that of "West Amesbur}'," and that known as the '• River Vil- lage." The former place is the special seat of the car- riage manufacture, and both are notable for entei-prise and thrift. It is understood that about 2,500inhabitants went with the new town. The villages are supplied with water facilities by a fine little stream called Cobbler's Brook, and are places of much attractiveness. At first it was largely accompanied by lead ; but, latterly, it appears purer and better for working. Several mines are now successfully worked. The ore is quite rich, and the discovery is one of the most remarkable ever made in New England. MASSACHUSETTS. Wenham has the name of being tkc first town set off from Salem, the date being Mar. 10, 1G43. Its old name ; Tvas Enon, but it was changed to Wenham, in memorj- of j the town of Wenham, SuffoUc County, Eng. The cele- brated Hugh Peters was the first preacher here in 1G36 ; and he spoke from a small knoll by the pond side, his text being "At Enon, near to Salem, because there was much water there." At present there are two churches in the town. Con- gregational and Baptist. Farming is the principal in- dustry', but some are engaged in the manufacture of shoes. An important industry- of this town is the ice business. The population is 911. The topography of Wenham is beautiful. Wenham Lake, one of the largest sheets of water in the countj', is the source of water suppl}- to Salem and Beverly-. Ipswich Eiver touches its northern boundary, and Miles Iviver flows from the lake, along the southern. Hamilton, consisting of the south-western angle of old Ipswich, formerljr calbd the " Hamlets," incorporated June 21, 1793, is named after the statesman, Alexander Hamilton. It is a ver}' quiet, pleasant, rural place, well built, and of the highest respectability. The surface occasionally rises into a tall elevation, as Brown's Ilill, or Sagamore Hill. A considerable share of Chebacco Pond lies in this town. ]\Iuch attention is given to this place by summer resi- dents and pleasui-e-seekers, who have here two attractive picnic groves and summer hotels, and also the celebrated Abbur}' Grove, the location of the annual camp-meeting of the Methodist people, where many of them also dwell all through the warm season. The old church, or "Third Church of Ipswich," was founded here Oct. 27, 1714. Its most noted pastors have been Rev. Manasseh Cutler, perhaps the earliest botanist of New England, and Rev. Joseph B. Felt, an historian and annalist of great breadth of research. Little is done here save in agriculture, though there is a manufactory of woollen cloths. Total population, 797. BoxFORD, a town of 834 inhabitants, was originally a p.art of the town of Rowley, but, in 1685, it was incor- porated under the name it now bears. The industry of the town is mainly agricultural. In 1680, the manufac- ture of iron was commenced in this town. At the battle of Bunker Hill, eight Boxford men fell. This town occupies the highest land in the countj', and is full of ponds, from which many important streams descend. ]MiDDLETON is pleasantly situated on the Ipswich River. Its principal manufactures are shoe knives, soap, glue and starch. The town was originally a part of Salem, Boxford and Andover, from which it was separated in 1 728. In olden times, the people of Middleton were called " Will's Hill Men," from an eminence in the central portion of the settlement. The population is 1,092. A beautiful pond lies near the village, and an enterprising paper-mill is found at the southern boundarv. FKANKLIN COUNTY, BY WM. E. GRAVES, ESQ. Franklik ComrrT is the home of a generally peaceful and prosperous people, who seem by their varied indus- trial pursuits well worth}' to share the fame of the im- mortal statesman and sage in honor of whom it received its name. The county occupies an important position in the northern and western centre of the State, with New Hampshire and Vermont on its northern boundary, the county of Hampshire — of which it was formerly a part — lying directly south, Worcester County bordering it on the east, and Berkshire County on the west. Its superficial area of 650 square miles embraces 26 towns. The total valuation of the county is $16,579,435. Its act of incorporation bears date June 24, 1811. A quiet glance over its territory shows how much grandeur and beauty the Green Mountain range and the Connecticut — or "Long River," as its Indian name impUes, — have imparted to the section which they trav- erse. Hill, valley and river ; these broad meadows and those rapid tributary streams have evidently shaped the labor of the county, and determined its industrial char- acter. In the language of Dr. Holland, " there is hardly a farm or a workshop, a dwelling or a church, a HISTORY OF SEW ENGLAND. road or a mill, but is connected in some waj- with Con- necticut Eivcr. The streams that gather on the moun- tain-sides turn the wheels of lonely or clustered manu- factories, herds and flocks feed upon the sweet grasses that grow among the rocks and upon the smoother slopes, while many a favored home-lot nestles down upon a broad inten'al, watered by a stream that has found a smooth path, and shut out from bleak winds by the elevations that rise on every side." Originally the northern portion of the largest count}' in the State, and generally mountainous in its aspect, more particularly in the western sections, where, amid rude Alpine sccnerj' rises many a lofty elevation covered from base to summit with a hcavv growth of timber, it is nevertheless a somewhat remarkable feature of this county that every town within its borders, almost without exception, is well watered. Various objects of curiosity abound in the hilly, broken lands where spring the sources of its never-failing brooks and streams. Its picturesque elevations comprise conical hills of red sandstone as well as wood-crowned heights ; and the eye wearied with gazing on rude ledges of trap rock turns with relief to the softer cornelian, or the more brilliant specimens of agate and amethyst found in its geological formation. The banks of the broad and beautiful Connecticut River, which first enters the State of Massachusetts in this county, and flowing southerly with an average width of an eighth of a mile, divides the county into nearly equal p.^irts, arc adorned with fertile mcadou s and rich alluvial lands bordering well- cultivated farms dotted here and there with graceful elms. Fine grazing grounds are also found on the hilly ridges rising above the luxuriant Deerficld meadows, forming the productive basin of that romantic river. Here abound all sorts of grain and grasses, the moun- tain sides yielding rich pasture for flocks and herds. The wild Deerfield, with its powerful volume of water pouring in from the west, and Miller's River, with its rapid current from the east, swell the noble Connecticut, joining it near the heart of the count}' and passing on to the ocean, produce a gigantic motive-power whose extent and value are almost illimitable, and whose complete utilization would nearlj- revolutionize the industrial inter- • The rude fortifications of this frontier town were built of squared timber, laid horizontnlly, interlocked at the angles, and with loopholes pierced on every side for firing on an enemy. The walls of framed houses were lined with brick, the upper story projeetlnj;, with open spaces here and there to annoy or wound assailants ; and " mounts," or elevated block-houses, affording a view of the neighboring country, wcro erected at exposed points, while sentry-ljoxcs for a similar pur- pose were sometimes placed on roofs. The fort itself was a large enclosure, — sometimes embracing the chin-ch and several dwelling- houses,— and was surrounded by palisades of cleft or hewn timber ests of this section of the State. Affluents of these rivers, including manj- rapid streams running circuitousl}' through narrow valleys flanked bj' rocky and wooded eminences abound, almost in the rude state of lGG-2, when this territory, inhabited onlj' b}' wild beasts and Indians, was incorporated as a part of Hampshire County. Here a continuation of the Green Mountain range presents some of the wildest and most picturesque scenery in Massachusetts. But the romance and the loneliness of nature in these western soUludes are sur- passed by her lovehness in the gentler grass-lands of this favored Franklin Count}-, where gi-acefully-winding streams gleam through green meadows like silver threads in the sunshine. The first settlement made in this county, the first church formed, and the first minister ordained, were in its oldest town, Dccrfiold. * The place was called " Po- cumtuck " by the Indians, who dwelt peaceably with the whites till King Philip's war in 1G75, when, — the fidelity of the Indians being suspected, — they were ordered to deliver up their arms, which they promised to do, but secretly fled. They were piursucd and twenty- six of their number were killed near Sugar Loaf Hill, the remainder joining Philip. Six days afterward, Sept. 1, 1675, the Indians captured Deerfield, killed one per- son and burned nearly the whole village, leaving a large amount of grain which had escaped the conflagration stacked in the fields. Capt. Thomas Lothrop, with eighty-four soldiers, guarding men and teams, was de- tailed to secure these stores for the use of the garrison in the neighboring town of Hadlcy, where a fort was maintained to protect Deerfield and other frontier settle- ments from Indian outrage and atrocity. On returning with his convoy, while crossing a small stream bordered by swamp laud thickly covered with brush, in which a body of more than seven hundred Indians lay in ambus- cade, he was suddenly surrounded, overpowered by the relentless savages, and mercilesGly slain with nearly his whole force. The blood of the wounded and dying stained the wet earth, and dyed the surrounding waters. Only seven or eight of the settlers escaped ; and, as the massacre of Bloody Brook, Sept. 18, 1675, the fatal attack will ever be known in history. A marble monu- planted perpendicularly in the ground, and without ditches. Single dwellings were sometimes protected by stockades, which proved of ser- vice against slight attacks. But the settlers, harassed by calls for mili- tary serrice, and the incnrsions of the Indians, found it hard work to clear land enough for their own support, and the former sought his field with a gun in one hand and some implement of husbandry in the other. Like the Pilgrims at Plymouth, and the early Bay colonists, these hardy men of the frontier literally lived by faith, where, it has been often said, a less fearless and persevering race would have yielded to despau- and abandoned the contest. MASSACHUSETTS. ment in memorj' of Capt. Lothrop • and his men was erected near the south point of Sugar Loaf Hill, Deer- field, in 1838. John P)-nchon, Esq., of Springfield, received a deed of this territorj- from the Indians, Feb. 21, 1665. The document was witnessed by Wequonock, who " helped the Sachem in making the bargain," and, as usual in all Indian transfers of land, reserved to them " the right of fishing in the rivers and waters ; hunting deer or other wild animals ; the gathering of walnuts, chestnuts, and other nuts and things on the commons." The legisla- ture, or General Court of the Province of Massachu- setts, in 1669, sanctioned this grant of land to Ensign Daniel Fisher and others of Dedham, for whom the deed was originally secured. Deerfield Ijegan to be settled by white people in 1670-71, and was incorporated May 24, 1682. The slaughter of 300 Indians during the famous " Falls Fight," May 18, 1676, by the brave soldier Capt. Turner, — • whose name has since been given to the falls, — and who lost only 37 of 1.50 men, was a serious blow to Philip, because it broke up the fisheries on which he had largely depended for supplies, and cost him the lives of many important sachems and able warriors. En- feebled by previous sickness, Capt. Turner lost his own life during the retreat across Greenfield meadows. Philip had before this dealt treacherousl}' with the Mohawks ; ! and when Capt. Turner at early morning surprised the j Indians, they supposed the Mohawks were upon them. Some were killed in their cabins, others were cut down under the shelving rocks of the river's bank, where thej^ had fled for shelter ; while many leaped into canoes, for- getting their paddles, and 140 passed over the falls, but one of whom escaped drowning. Turner's Falls are situated between Greenfield, Gill, and Montague. The ! dam constructed here for the canal is at a point where ! its upper locks were stationed in 1793-5, and was origi- nallj' erected in part by capitalists from Holland. " It is about 1,000 feet long, resting near the centre upon two small islands. Over the dam the water leaps more I than thirty feet perpendicular, and for a mile continues descending rapidly, and foaming along its course. A thousand rods below, the stream strikes directlj' against a lofty greenstone ridge, when it changes its course towards the south nearly a quarter of a circle." From the elevated ground on the Gill shore the cataract may be seen to good advantage. Sixtj- years elapsed after the fight in this vicinity before the General Court of Massa- chusetts, in 1736, granted to the sunivors and their descendants the whole of the present town of Bernards- ton, elsewhere mentioned. During the year following the death of Philip the farmers of Deei-field were annoyed by straggling parties of Indians emigrating from the East, and crossing the Connecticut Valley on their way to the West ; and bj' a few plundering squads who came from their northern abodes to wreak vengeance upon the holders of their old homes and hunting-grounds. It was suspected that the French in Canada were aiding the Indians. This after- wards proved correct. Attacks and repulses frequently occurred, and the settlers became discouraged. A tem- porary peace ensued, and the people prospered. Deer- field sufiered throughout "King William's War," and during the reign of Anne, who succeeded William at his death in 1702, it encountered still severer hardships. Dur- ing the so-called ^' Queen Anne's War" the unfortunate settlers learned that the French people in Canada in- tended to destroy Deerfield, and thus annoy England through her Colonies. In the cold night of Feb. 29, 1704, the town being then guarded mainly by four feet of snow, drifted in some places over the tops of the palisades suiTounding the fort, Maj. De Rouville, with a force of 342 French and Indians, scaled the stockade over the deep snow, capturing or massacreing all within the enclosure, which embraced the church and several dwelling-houses. Forty- seven persons were killed, and 112 taken prisoners, — most of whom were marched to Canada. Among these was the Rev. John Williams, born in Roxbury. At the age of nineteen, he had graduated at Harvard College, in 1683, and, three years later, was settled as the first minister in Deei-field. Two of his children and a ser- vant were murdered at the door. His wife, who was in feeble health, and unable to keep up with the Indians, was tomahawked two days afterwards, in Greenfield. A similar fate befell all who were unable to follow their forced march. A touching account of his sufferings was published in a book called the " Redeemed Captive," soon after his return, in 1706, to Boston, where a flag- ship, sent to Quebec for that purpose, landed himself and fifty-six others who had been carried into captivity, includuig four of his children, two of whom, at a later period, became ministers of the gospel. His daughter, Eunice, remained in Canada, where she became the bride of an Indian, — once or twice afterwards visiting Deerfield, but always returning to her Canadian homo. Many years after, a descendant of hers, the Rev. Eleazer Williams, caused great excitement in the community, by the senseless supposition that he was the son of Louis XVI. of France. During this attack on Deerfield, the shot from a mus- ket pushed through a hole made by tomahawks in the 1 HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. door of Capt. SheWon's house, killed Mrs. Sheldon while rising from her bed. Failing to break in the door, the Indians set fire to the house ; but the flames Tvere afterwards extinguished. The door, still carefully pre- served as a relic, now hangs in the hall of the "Pocura- tuck House" in that town. The Rev. John Williams resumed his foi-mer charge, and died at the mature age of sLstj'-four, while pastor of the church at Deerfleld. A year pre^•ious (1728), he preached the convention ser- mon in Boston. His successor, the Rev. Jonathan Ashley, a graduate of Yale, was a tall, well-proportioned specimen of the old-time clergy. During his fortj--eight years' ministiy at Deerfield, he officiated at 2 JO marriages, and at more than a thousand baptisms. On account of his supposed " Torjism," or undue sympathy with English interests, the meeting-house in Greenfield was once closed against him, for an afternoon sen-ice. At another time, the door of his own pulpit in Deerfield was shut against him, and fastened with spikes. One of his deacons, a blacksmith, being asked to aid in opening the door, quietly replied that he " never used tools on the Sabbath ! " whereupon Mr. Ashley sent for an axe, with which he spht down the door of the pulpit before the eyes of the congregation, and held the sen-ice. During his last sickness, occurred the memorable " dark day," Maj' 19, 1780. He died, pastor of the church, in the following August, and was buried in Deerfield. On a monument in the old burj-ing-ground in that town is recorded the death of Lieut. Hinsdell, who was the first male child born in Deerfield, and was " twice captivated by Indian Salvages." Lieut. Hinsdell was probably a descendant of Robert Hinsdale, who, with Sampson Fi-ary and Godfrey Nims, were known as settlers there when the town plot was laid out. The grant was made to Dedham, it is sup- posed, as a compensation for the lands conveyed to the Apostle Eliot. For half a century, Deerfield was the leading town in northern Hampshire. South Deei-field began to be settled about 1750 ; and, three years later, Greenfield, foiTQerly a part of Deerfield, being then called Green River, was incorporated in 1753. The limits, or boundaries, of the " twent3'-acre tracts of land," at first laid out in this place, many years before, had been very carelessly defined. Among the owners of these lots, appear the names of John Allyn, Joseph and Robert Goddard,' Jeremiah Hull, Ebenezer Wells, Sam- j uel Smead, Nathaniel Brooks, Philip Mattoon, Nathaniel ] Cooke, and Edward Allyn, who appears to have been one of the principal men, and kept the first records of the town. Some of these town lots were afterwards for- feited for non-pa3-ment of taxes, and other causes, — the town rates, in 1G95, being pajable in "good merchant- able pork and com." Afterwards, all who had property were assessed in monej-. Land was regarded as worth, then, about ten dollars an acre. A cow was valued at about ten dollars ; a horse, fifteen dollars ; and an ex, thirty dollars. Every householder was also required to kill a certain number of crows and blackbirds, under a penalty-. If he killed more than twelve in a season, he was allowed for it in his taxes ; if he killed less, he was charged for the deficiency. Finallj-, the village lots became smaller, comprising but a few acres. Many of the old deeds describe these lands as bounded by the comer of a barn, bj' a big tree, or by somebodj-'s water- ing-trough ; and one ancient deed limits the propertj* to "so far round as the good land goeth," — a better description, of course, than could be de\-ised of certain kinds of land, of which the more a man has, the poorer he is. There was a fort at Adams ; one on the highlands, now Rowe, called Fort Pclham ; and another at Heath, called Fort Shirlej-. Several houses were stockaded at Coh-ain, Bernardston, Norlhfield, Deerfield and in other parts of the county. For years pre-\-ious to the "Falls Fight," parties kept ranging from Fort Dummer to Adams, on the lookout for Indians, and to discover their trails. Companies of large dogs were emploj-ed in this sen'ice, so that Indians could not well pass the line without dis- cover}-. Although different statements have been made, the records of Dedham show that the Indian titles to the lands in Greenfield and Deerfield were extinguished by purchase. The first legal town meeting in Greenfield was held July 3, 1753, at which Benjamin Hastings was chosen moderator, town clerk, constable, and sealer of leather. The Rev. Edward Billings, a native of Sunderland, and a graduate of Har\'ard College, in 1731, was selected and settled as the first minister of the town in 1754. He died, while pastor, in 1760, but no stone marks the spot where he lies in the old burial-gi-ound. In the north bur3-ing-ground is a monument to the memor}- of Jlrs. Jlary Neweomb, "last surviving child of Gen. Joseph Warren." The town was always patriotic. When the news of the battle of Lexington, — or, as Bancroft calls it, "the Lexington murder, and the Concord fight," — reached Greenfield, on the aftemoon of the same day, a company of volunteers enUstcd in less than half an hour, and marched to the scene of conflict the next morning before sunrise ! Its chosen captain, Benjamin Hastings, at once yielded the office to Capt. Timothy Child, who, he modestl}- said, was a man of greater experience, while he himself became second in command. During the MASSACHUSETTS. whole war of the Eevolution, the people of Greenfield took an active interest. In the Eebellion, Greenfield was eminently patriotic, — furnishing more than her quota, in all, upwards of 600 soldiers, of whom sixty were lost. At cue time, a portion of the town's people — in all other respects patriotic — sj-mpathized with the insurrec- tion known as Shays' Rebellion. It is a remarkable fact that all those killed and wounded in connection with that famous, but disgraceful fiasco, came from Franklin County. EeUgious controversies have not greatly prevailed in this count}'. Fifty years ago, there were some discus- sions between the Orthodox and Unitarians respecting their religious systems, — nearly all previous difficulties being in regard to terms of admission to the church. Those were times when the long-drawn blowing of a conch, or the stirring drum-beat summoned the pious settlers from their log-houses to the place of worship, and when the big wig of the parson — nodding forcibly, or impressively — was as good as a gospel mandate to eager Ksteners seated in church, by " age, dignity, or estate." Many curious facts are recorded in connection with the earh- ministry. The He v. Jacob Sherman, a Yale graduate, was ordained pastor of the First Con- gregational Church in Aslifield, in 1763. Next to its former Indian owners, Capt. Ephraim Hunt was the original proprietor of all the territorj' in this town, hav- ing received it as a gift for his sen-ices in the Canada expedition of 1G90. The property- was actually con- veyed to his heirs in 1736, and was for many years known as " Hunt's Town," until 1765, when, as a mark of respect, probably for Lord Thurlow of Ashfield, and of the king's council, it was incorporated under its jjresent name. Richard Ellis, a native of Ireland, was the first settler, followed by Thomas Phillips, his brother- in-law, about 1745, Small military garrisons were stationed here in 1750, but, on account of the French and Indian wars, were abandoned for a season in 1755. The Baptists, then called "Separatists," organized a church here in 1761, and the Congregationalists in 1763. After Mr. Sherman's ordination, both societies claimed a lot of land of several hundred acres, which was to accrue to the one who first settled a pastor. A lawsuit followed, and the case was decided in favor of the Con- gregationalists, causing great conflict of opinion, and much hard feeUng. Mr. Sherman's successor in Ashfield, Rev. Nehemiah Porter, who was a chaplain in the American army at the surrender of Burgoyne, lived till 1820, and, at the time of his death, lacked 22 days only of completing his 100th J'ear. The Rev. Jonathan Lea^itt, a graduate of Yale in 1758, who was theologically sound, but whose prayers — incredible as it may seem — were often "more than an hour long," was settled and preached for many years in ' that part of Charlemont, now included in Heath. Buck- i land, formerly called " Xo Town," was also once a part ] of Charlemont, and was incorporated in 1779. A j Mr. "White and Capt. Nahum "Ward were among the first ] settlers. Its first meeting-house was built in 1793, pre- vious to which the congregation met in a barn. This territory was on the frontier during the French and Indian wars ; and, in the limits of Charlemont were three garrisons, projected by Col. "Williams in 1754. In June of the next year, while at work in the meadow near Rice's fort, Capt. Moses Rice and Phineas Rice were killed by the Indians. A monument has been erected to their memor)'. In honor of James Caulfield, created Earl of Charlemont a j-ear or two previous, the town received its present name, and was incorporated in 1765. From Charlemont to Cokain was then a wilderness. The town last named was settled about 1740, by emi- grants from Londonderry, X. H., — supposed to be part of the 100 families who had come there from the Prov- ince of Ulster, in Ireland, in 1719. They first intro- duced the spinning-wheel and the culture of potatoes. Deacon Thomas McGee, a Protestant from Ireland; James Steward, afterwards town clerk ; Hugh McClellan, its first magistrate ; John Cochran, from Pelham ; John Clark, of Irish descent, whose father was killed in one of the French and Indian wars ; and Hugh Morrison, after- wards captain of one of the four garrisoned forts main- tained in the town, were among the first comers, and Capt. John "^"ood, from South Hadley, kept the first tavern. The first meeting-house commenced was never completed, on account of its location. The first minister. Rev. Alexander McDowell, bom in Ireland, but a graduate of Harvard, was settled in 1753. Rev. Daniel McClellan, bom in Pennsylvania, but educated in Edinburgh, Scot- land, afterwards came back to this country, and the church in Colrain twice sent to Philadelphia to obtain his services. He had two calls at this time, and decided the doubt by setting up a stick of wood perpendicularly, and letting it fall. It fell towards Colrain, and he went there. He was an excellent Hebrew scholar — something extraor- dinary for the ministers of that day, — and his Hebrew Bible, pubUshed in 1609, is still prescned by his descend- ants. This territorj- was called ' ' Boston Township " till in- corporated in 1 76 1 , and received its present name in honor of Lord Colrain, created a Baron in that year, — or, as some suppose, from Colrain, a seaport town in Ireland. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. CoNWAT, SO named from Heniy Sej-mour Conway, a secretaiy of state in England, was originallj'^ the south- west part of Deerfield, and was incorporated in 1767. Tsvo years later, the Kev. John Emerson, a Harvard j graduate, was settled as its first minister. He preached his first sermon iu Conway in a bam, — jocosely saying I it was literally " John preaching in the wilderness." j His ministry lasted fiftj'-seven years. He died in 1826, aged 80. At a town meeting in Conway, in "Revolu- tionary times," Aug. 1777, a few people appeared dis- affected to the American cause. It was voted to "set a gard over those enemical persons." Subsequentlj- thej- were warned out of town l^y the constable, who had a warrant from the selectmen to bring them before a justice of the peace. This officer in " ye oldenne tj-me," was a terror to evil-doers, as well as an oracle of information on all subjects. Whenever and wherever he moved, people gazed upon the great man with a respect amount- ing to reverence. Though the early ministers in Franklin Count}' were well educated, and men of eminent virtues, yet thej- were not all perfect. Some were unworth}' pretenders. A notable example of the latter class was William Dor- rell, founder of the fanatical sect called " Dorrellites." * The town of Orange had for its first minister, in 1782, the Rev. Emerson Foster, f The first settler in this town was Jacob Hutchins, who sold out to Abner Morton ; and Benjamin Dexter began to build on the hill west in 1770. At that time, there was no other house between this and the Connecticut River. Samuel Ruggles came in 1776, and Leonard Ruggles soon after, in 1780. The town was not incorporated till 1810. In the town of Warwick, about the period of the Revo- lution, appeared one Elder Hicks. For a considerable time, he created a wide-spread religious excitement. This town was named in honor of the Earl of Warwick, and was incorporated in 1763. Of 39 soldiers who went • He lived in Lcyden, a to-mi set off as a dish-ict of Bemardston, in 1784, and incorporated in 1809. Dorrcll, the son of a Yorkshire farmer, came to America as a soldier, and was captured with Burgoync ; after- wards removing to Leydcn. He was illiterate, and could neither read nor write, hzt had a retentive memory. He had committed a large por- tion of the Bible by hearing it read by his wife. In his habits he was far from temperate. He began to have followers in 1794, and, at one time, twenty- or more families — some as respectable as any in town— joined him. His doctrines were non-resistance ; abstinence from animal food ; that life should never be taken under any cu-cumstances ; that all days were alike ; that there was a Messiah for every generation, and that ho was the Messiah of his ; and that no arm of flesh could hurt him. The ceremonies to be obseri'cd were drinking, dancing, and listening to his lectures. All property was held in common, and he was the self-con- stituted treasurer. His sect was at last suddenly brought to an end. " At one of the meetings," says Dr. HoUiind, " Ezekiel Foster of Lcy- den attended as a spectator, and when Dorrell, in his harangues, dwelt from Roxbury and Brookline, under Capt. Gardner, in the expedition to Canada, in 1690, aU but one, named Ewing, perished. As a partial recompense for this ser- vice, the town of Warwick was given to their descend- ants in 1736, and, for many years, bore the name of " Roxbur3--Canada." Its old Indian name was " Shao- met." Among the earliest white settlers in 1744, were Joseph Goodell, Moses Leonard, Samuel Bennett, Deacon James Ball, Amos Marsh, Solomon Enger, Thomas Rich, and Capt. John Goldsmith. Near the centre of the town rises a beautiful elevation, known as " Mount Grace." The origin of the name is thus given : After the destruction of Lancaster by the savages, Mrs. Rov.- landson and her child were carried into captivity by the retreating Indians. Little Grace Rowlandson died on the march, and her mother carried the dead bod}' of her infant until she reached the base of this mountain, when, compelled b}' fatigue, she reluctantly consigned the child to its grave. The mountain has ever since borne the name of Mount Grace. The Rev. Rufus Wells, a Harvard gi-aduate, was settled as the first minister in the town of Whately, in 1771, at which time it was incorporated, and named in honor of Thomas Whately, a friend of Thomas Hutchinson. It was originally a part of Hadlej-, from which it was sepa- rated with Hatfield, remaining for a hundred years the north part of the last-named town. A part of Deerfield was annexed to Whately in 1810. Lieut. Ebenczer Bardwell, Sergt. John Wait, Benjamin Scott, Joseph Belding, and David Graves, were known as the first set- tlers, about 1735. Although a church had been organ- ized, no meeting-house was opened for worship till 1773. It remained unfinished for many years, and was not publicly dedicated till 1797. The town went early into the movement for the Revolution, sending Oliver Graves as its representative to the first Pro\'incial Congress. upon his mysterious powers, and stated that no arm of flesh could hurt him, Foster, a man of giant frame, disgusted with his imposture, stepped up to him, and knocked him down. Dorrell, almost senseless, attempted to rise, but received a second blow, at which he cried for mercy. Foster promised forbearance on condition that he would re- nounce his doctrines in the hearing of his dupes, which he immediately did." t About twenty years after the Rev. Mr. Foster's first settlement, his health failed, and he felt compelled to use opium for his " stomach's sake and his often infirmities." In short, he was unable to preach a sermon without it. On a certain occasion, when he was expected to | deliver a discourse, he found that his faculties had failed him for want of his usual stimulant. Ensign Tnthill immediately mounted a horse, and rode over to the neighboring village. Soon after his return with a satisfactory supply, Mr. Foster, it is said, preached one of his smartest sermons. It cost his parish so much to furnish him with opium, that they afterwards felt a degree of relief when released from their engagement. MASSACHUSETTS. Wendell was incorporated in 1781, and named from Oliver Wendell, Esq., of Boston, for many j'ears presi- dent of the Union Bank, the second institution of the kind in Massachusetts. The first church was organized in 1 774. Eight j'ears afterwards, the first meeting-house was built. After a ministry of thirty-two years, the Rev. Jos. Kilburn died, while pastor of the church, in 1816, aged 61. The Rev. Joseph Willard was the first minister settled (Jan. 1, 1718) in the town of Sunderland, formerly a part of Hadley, and called " Swampfield." This town was first settled in 1673, by farmers from Hadley and Hatfield. These settlements were broken up during King Philip's war, when the houses were plundered and the buildings given to the flames. Fortj' 3-ears after- wards, the former clearings were found overgrown with brush, and large trees were seen forcing their way through the charred roofs and walls of ruined homes. The town was incorporated in 1714, and named in honor of Charles Spencer, Earl of Sunderland, and prime minister of Eng- land. Three years later, a meeting-house was built, a church organized, and its pastor ordained. Accounts vary in describing later periods in the life of the Rev. Joseph Willard * — • his name having been erroneously written " Josiah " in the town records of Sunderland, in the "American Quarterlj' Review," and in " Barber's Historical Collections," where the impression is given that he lived till near the close of the last centurj", and died at the age of 90. Deerfield was the onlj- town in the countj- incorpo- rated in the seventeenth century, all others having come into legislative existence during the eighteenth, except- ing the comparatively new towns of Erving, Loyden, Orange and Monroe. Greenfield was the scene of many savage horrors, and Northflcld suffered most severel}' during the French and Indian wars. This town, the Indian " Squakeag," was first settled in 1673, by a few people from Northampton, Hadley and Hat- field, the names of Lieut. William Clark, Wilham Hol- ton, Lieut. Samuel Smith, Cornet William Allys and Isaac Graves appearing on the records as those of per- sons who " laid out the plantation." To avoid attacks • The closing scene in his life furnishes a sad picture of the perils of the early ministi-y. Unanimously chosen as the pastor of the Rutland church, his installation was deferred on account of Indian hostilities in the neighborhood. Before the day for his ordination arrived, a savage foray was made upon the town, and, during the onslaught, he fought with great bravery for his life. Being attacked by two Indians, — one of whom he wounded, — he closed with the other, and had nearly over- powered him, when three more of the enemy rushed to the rescue of their companion. After a protracted struggle, Mr. Willard was killed, and his scalp was carried to Canada. His death occurred when about 31 years of age. from the French and Indians during " King William's War," in 1689, and "Queen Anne's War," which soon followed, the settlers buried their goods in wells, and weut to Hadley. The northern boundary of Massachu- setts being then unknown, Korthfield's original area of six miles b3' twelve extended into New Hampshire and Vermont. When the true line wa,s run in 1740, the town lost more than a third of its territory. Fourteen years ailer its first settlement, the Indians sold their title for "two hundred fathoms of wampum, and fifty-seven pounds' worth of trading-goods." Then "the planters built small huts, and covered them with thatch ; made a place for pubUc worship ; and built a storehouse and fort." The first child born in the town was Lj'dia, daughter of Remembrance Wright. Her birth occurred in 1713. A few j-ears after its first settlement, the town was laid waste. The inhabitants returned in 1685, and five years later the place was again destro^-ed. It lay waste manj' years, when, in 1713, after the erection of Fort Dummer, the inhabitants again returned and rebuilt the town. Its first preacher was Elder Janes, ancestor of Bishop Janes, — the audience gathering under an oak ; and the first settled minister was Rev. Benj.amin Doolittle, in 1718. His grandfather, Abraham Doolittle who came from England, to New Haven, Conn., in 1640-42, is supposed to be progenitor of all bj^ the name of Doo- little in this country-. Beers' Mountain, in this town, marks the spot where fell, mortally wounded, in 1675, Capt. Richard Beers, fighting bravely on his retreat, with thirtj^-six men, from an Indian ambuscade in the swamp below, still known as Beers' Plain. Of a com- pan}' of thirty-six, only sixteen men escaped. The heads of the slain were elevated on poles ; and, as a sample of Indian atrocitj-, one man was suspended to the limb of a tree by a chain hooked to his under jaw, — probably when he was alive ! The daj' before, nine or ten of the inhabitants were massacred in the woods. Subsequent slaughters and depredations occurred ; and as late as 1748, Aaron Belding was killed in the village by the Indians. The town was incorporated in 1713, the jear in which its first minister was settled. He was an excellent physician, as well as pastor, and died, greatlj- revered, in 1 748. On account of the " unsettled state of the times," — or, in other words, because the people were unable to pay him his saLir\-, — the Rev. John Norton, first minister of the church in Bcniardston, after a four years' settle- ment, was dismissed, in 1745. He was afterwards chaplain at the Massachusetts Fort. Bernardston — so named in honor of Gov. Bernard, the provincial governor of Massachusetts — was incor- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. porated into a township in 17G2. Originally including what is now Bcrnardston, Leydcn, and a part of Col- rain, it was granted, in 1735 or 1736, to the officers and soldiers who were in the " Fall Fight" at Turner's Falls, in the town of Gill, in 1G76. Hence the town, for twenty years, was called '' Fall Town." Atherton, Lyman, Smead, Wells, and other names, appear among those of the original proprietors, who numbered 97. The town began to be settled in 1738, — Slajor John Burke,* S.amuel Connable, Deacon Sheldon, and Lieut. Ebenezer Sheldon building the first four houses of logs, with port-holes through the sides for defence against the Indians. The first meeting-house was built on Huckle Hill, about 1740, when a committee was appointed "to cut and burn the brush about 10 rods round the meeting- house." Near the site of Fort Shirlej-, built and garrisoned in 1774, in the town of Heath, as a defence against the Indians, is still to be seen the grave of a young girl who died there while the fort was occupied. Jonathan Taylor was the first settler in Heath, then a part of Charlemont. The Rerolutionary period came on soon after settlements were commenced, but through the in- fluence of Col. Maxwell, a prominent and patriotic townsman, who was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill, it is said there was not a single Tor^- in the town during the Revolutionarj- war. The nortli-east part of Charlemont, including some wild forest-land known as the " Green and Walker Tract," was incorporated as the town of Heath in 1785, and named from Gen. William Heath of Roxbury, then an influential member of the General Court. The first town meeting was held in March, and a church was organized in April, of the same year. The first physician in the town was Dr. Joseph Lothrop, and its first minister was the Rev. Joseph Strong, settled five j-ears later, in 1790. The absence of Torj-ism assumed a different fonn in Northfield, where, in 1770, this town voted almost unanimously " to use no more tea." In Shutesbur\-, the feeling was still more marked. The Rev. Abraham Hillf was ordained pastor of the church in that town in 1742, a meeting- house having been commenced about two years before, upon a tract of land known as the Government Farm. This building was never thoroughlj- finished, and after standing eighty years was demolished. Most of the earl}- settlers came from Sudbury in 1738, and the place was known as "Road Town" till 1761, when it was incorporated, and named Shutesburj', in honor of Gov. • Major John Burke participated in Johnson's expedition to Lalce George. He died in 17S4. t Near the close of a ministry of thirtj--five years, Mr. Hill was dis- Shute, who gave the town an elegant Bible, which is still preserved. Among the ardent patriots and champions of colonial rights stands prominent the name of Joseph Hawley, a leading lawyer of Northampton, whose fame is perpet- uated in an honored town in the western part of Frank- lin County. In the words of Dr. Holland, "his name will descend to posterity in most honored companionship with those of James Otis, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Josiah Quinc}-, and Samuel Dexter." The town of Haw- ley, formerly known as "Plantation No. 7," welcomed its first settlers in 1770; formed its first church eight years afterward ; was incorporated four j-ears later, in 1792, and in two jxars from that time, built its first meeting-house. The Rev. Jacob Sherwin was the first preacher, and the Rev. Jonathan Grout its first settled minister. MoNTAGTiE deserves honorable mention for the part she bore in the struggle of the Revolution. The names of Marsh and Taylor appear as its first settlers in 1726. Dr. Moses Gnnn, a prominent townsman in Revolution- ary times, drafted all the resolutions and documents now on record. The town was first called " Hunting Hills"; was originally the north parish of Sunderland; and, when incorporated in 1753, was named in honor of Capt. Montague, commander of the " Merm.aid " at the taking of Cape Breton. He brought home news of the victor}- of Louisburg. Montague abounds in Indian relics, and the neighborhood of Turner's Falls in that town was once the gi-and fishing-ground of the Indians, and the fields around were much frequented by moose and deer, as well as by bears and wolves. An act in force in early days proviiled that two sufficient " woulfe trapps should be constantly bay ted and daily attended, in every township, under the penaltie of five pounds." There was a bounty of twenty dollars on wolves, and the olden-time exploits of James Corss, a famous hunter, are worthy of mention. He destroyed hundreds of wolves, and realized a snug fortune for those da}s. A monument in the old burial-ground at Greenfield bears his name, and date of death in 1783, at the age of 90 years. Martin Gnnn was Montague's first postmaster, and the Rev. Judah Nash its first minister, settled in 1752. For several years the customary shell, blown on Sabbath days, called the communicants to church. Monroe, situated on the high lands north of the Hoo- sac River, and formed from a part of the territory of missed from the pastorate, in 1738, " in consequence of imbibing senti- ments hostile to American liberty." At the period of his dismissal, the church had become reduced to one member ! MASSACHUSETTS. j Rowe, including a "gore" of unincorijorated land north of the town of Florida, was named in honor of President James Monroe, and incorporated in 1822. A settle- ment was commenced here in the year 1800, by Daniel j C'aneda}- of Colrain. The onl}- meeting-house in the place is the town-house, a far better building than the town of Rowe could claim in 1770, when the Rev. Cor- nelius Jones preached in a small building made of split planks, in Myrifield, — as he then called the tract of wild land, four miles square, which he had bought and paid for, and which included most of what is now Rowe, and a part of Monroe.* The ruins of old Fort Pelham, which was one in the line of fortifications put up for protection against the French and Indians, in 1774, are still to be seen on Pelham Brook, the only stream pass- ing through the town. In the following year, almost every man in town went to Cambridge ; and, during the battle of Bunker Hill, the first wounded man brought into Cambridge was Aaron Barr of Myrifield. It was a patriotic place, — the Rev. Mr. Jones bearing arms till Burgoyne's surrender. In 1779, Mr. Jones sold all the property he owned for about S.50,000, receiving his pay in Continental monej-, which the government never re- deemed, and he died a poor man. Myrifield became Rowe bj' act of incorporation in 1 785 ; and, two years later, the Rev. Preserved Smith, a Baptist preacher, was settled as its first minister, f Before settlements commenced in Shelbume it was famiUarly called " Deerfield Pasture," — the land being then so rocky and poor it was deemed uninhabitable, and thought to be fit only for fuel and pasture. "When it grew to be a small village it became known as " Deer- field North-west," its territorj' being a part of Deerfield for fifty-six years. The place began to be settled near Shelburne Falls, in 1756, the first two families coming from Deerfield. These settlements were abandoned early in the French and Indian wars. Six years after its first settlement, there were fourteen families in the place. The legality of slavery was unquestioned at this period in the Province of Massachusetts, and a few of these families held slaves ; as did also several of the early ministers in Franklin County. The Shakers came here in 1782, remaining about three 3-ears, when they removed to New Lebanon. A Mr. Wood was their elder, or leader. The town was incorporated in 1708, and named • Part of Zoar, in Berkshire County, was annexed to Rowe, and part to Charlcmont, in 183S. t Of bis wedding it is told, when the nnptial day arrived, he tooli his bride behind him on horscljacli, travelling from Ashficld (then Hunt's Town) to Deerfield, where the ceremony was performed, — no minister or magistrate being nearer, — his father riding another horse before them, with his gun, to guard them from the Indians. Shelbume, in honor of Lord Shelbume of England. The first town meeting was held the last day of October, the same year, at the house of Daniel Nims. The first meeting-house in the place was built of logs, in 1769. In the following year, the town " voted to pla.ster up the cracks with mortar, to obtain three windows and a door for the meeting-house, and to get a pulpit made " The first church was organized the same year ; and the Rev. Robert Hubbard, the first minister, was ordained in 1773. Another town whose territory originally belonged to old Deerfield, and afterwards formed the easterly part of Greenfield, was — with a portion of Northfield known as "Grass Hill"- — -incorporated in 1793, and named in honor of Lieut. Gov. Moses Gill. The date of its first settlement is not known, but it was probably prior to the famous "Fall Fight" on the Gill shore of the river, in 1G76. On account of Indian hostilities, there was no permanent settlement till nearlj^ a centurj^ afterward ; and, for several years, religious meetings were held in private houses and in barns. The first house of worship was not occupied till 1798, when the Rev. John Jack- son, its first minister, was settled ; but the meeting- house remained unfinished, and was not completed till 1805. [Goat Island was annexed to the town in the same year. A part of Northfield had been joined to it in 1795.] Gill was a favorite resort of the Indians, who called it the best fishing-place on the Connecticut River. The town abounds in Indian reUcs, and is a place of great interest to geologists. Shays' Rebellion found manj- sympathizers here. Like many other towns trul3- patriotic during the Rev- olution, the town of Leverett was also in favor of the insurgents in Shays' Rebellion. Joseph Hubbard was probably the first settler in this place. The town was originally a part of Sunderland. It was incorporated March 5, 1774, and named from John Leverett, presi- dent of Harvard College. The Rev. Henry WilUams was ordained as the first pastor in the town. His twen- ty-seven years of faithful ministerial service were ended at last by his death in 1811. The dangers incurred by worshippers in the olden time must have seemed serious to the inhabitants of New Salem, when building their first meeting-house in 1738-9. It was a period of Indian troubles; and with other precautions, the walls of the church were hea\-il_y planked to render them impervious to musket-balls. The original owners of this territory lived in Salem. They were sixty in number — according to one account — and obtained a grant of the township in 1734. The first settler was Jeremiah Meacham, who received a bounty of HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. fift3- dollars in 1737, for assuming the hanlships of a pioneer. Others from the eastern part of the Province came soon after. The first minister was the Rev. Sam- uel Kendall, who died in 1792. The place was named from Salem, in Essex Count\-. and incorporated June 15, 1753. Nearlj' all the territor3- now known as the town of Er- ving, and for manj' j'ears called " Erving's Grant," was purchased in 1751 hy individuals who sold it to John Er%-ing of Boston, to whom the grant was confirmed bj' the General Court. The territory- was incorporated as a town April 17, 1838. A part of Nortlifield, known as "Hack's Grant," was annexed to it Feb. 10, ISCO. The first settler in Erving-shire was Col. Asaph White, from Heath. For a residence, in 1802, he built a log-house, which was used as a public house till 1819. Besides "keeping a hotel," Col. White erected a dam and a saw- mill in 1803 ; and, as contractor, built the fifth Massa- chusetts turnpike. There was preaching bj- the Bajj- tists, occasionallj-, from 1818 to 1830 ; but no religious organization previous to 1832, when a Congregational church was formed. The limits of a brief compilation preclude special notice of manj" choice spirits of the Revolution, who were alwaj-s activeh' engaged in suppressing Tor}ism, directing popular opinion, and leading the patriot cause. These were times when labor wrought from sun to sun ; when a substantial tavern dinner and a good night's lodg- ing could be had for the price of a mug of flip or toddy "made from New England rum ! " Alas, for the good old da3-s whose evenings, at the close of village toil, were passed in simple neighborl}- exchanges of good feeling and quiet mirth. Yet, whenever the Committee of Safety called for their services, the men of Franklin County' wore on the march before dajbreak. Thus they moved one bright morning in September, 1777, and par- ticipated in the capture of Burgoyne. In 1778, the inhabitants of Greenfield, in town meet- ing assembled, " voted to approve the confederation of the United States." The "hard winter" of 1780, and the 19th of ;Maj- in the same year — memorable in the annals of New England as the " dark day," — followed in regular order. The lading out of a road "from Smead's inn, north," in 1 788 ; petitions for a lottery for building a bridge over Deei-field River in 1 790 ; and the efforts for a free bridge in '95, were exciting periods in the history of Greenfield. The smaU-i>ox prevailed in '02 ; and in '9G a hospital for inoculation was licensed. During this j'car, also, a peti- tion was forwarded to the General Court for an act to incorporate Daniel Wells, Elicl Gilbert and Abner Smead as a company to introduce good and wholesome water into the "town street," by pipes. The "great sickness of 1802," attributed to a scarcity of fruit, and defying the power of medicine, caused another season of excite- ment. Some families lost five of their number ; others, three ; and several lost all of their children. Every in- habited house in the place had one or more sick or dead. In 1808, a long memorial for the suspension or repeal of the Embartro Law was forwarded to Congress ; and, in 1811, the county was divided, and Greenfield became the shire town. In 1816 came the " cold summer," when there was frost every month, and few fields of com ripened ; and, in due time, followed the very " remarkable winter of 1819," when lands were ploughed in January, and when flies and grasshoppers were seen abroad, and ever3thing had the appearance of spring. Another remarkable pe- riod was the dry summer and drought of 1S20, when grasshoppers ate the standing corn, and farmers were compelled to feed their cattle with hay to keep them alive. Since then, the inhabitants of the count3' have periodically experienced similar sudden and extreme changes of temperature, which are now summarily dis- posed of as marked characteristics of our peculiar New England climate ! The later history of the count3- is more familiar. IMainly an agricultural people, many are engaged in man- ufacturing ; but the hope of the count3' rests on the success of the farmer. His work must ever be the basis of its prosperity. Hitherto the immense water-power of the county' has been but partl3' improved. In connec- tion with its industries may bo mentioned the six reser- voirs in the count3', for manufacturing purposes, having a total acreage of 2G0 ; its 24 paper engines and four papor-machincs ; the 45 runs of stone in its grist and flouring mills ; the 67 vats in its tanneries ; and the 318 saws in its lumber-miUs. Pertaining to agricultural in- terests are about 75,000 acres of woodland, and nearl3' 80,000 acres of cultivated land. There arc about 4,000 farms in Franklin Count3-, with an average value of a little less than $3,000. A general air of thrift and pro?perit3- characterizes the county. Within the borders of its picturesque and pleas- ant towns, are found comfortable hotels, commodious churches and convenient town halls. One of these, in Greenfield, is a noble structure built of brick. The peo- ple gcnerall3- enjoy the advantages of public libraries. The private collections in the county- show an aggregate of more than 20.000 volumes. In the various towns and villages the dwelling-houses wear a neat look, with an air of comfort in their surroundings, often extending to MASSACHUSETTS. broad meadows and well-tillcd farms. la many of the village streets are seen elegant private residences peer- ing through the dense summer foliage of loft^' elms and maples. Many of these have been cultivated with great care.* The local papers have proved valuable aids to the edu- cational interests of the count}'. Its first newspaper was established in Greenfield by Thomas Diekman, a native of Boston, in February-, 1793. He served his time with Benjamin Edes & Son. It was called the "Impartial In- tcUigoneer." The name was soon after changed to that of "Greenfield Gazette." The facilities by mails and stages in 1 792 were limited to once a week, provided the weather was not unfavorable, and some improvement on this was realized in 1796; but for some years previous to 1809, the mail from Boston was brought once a week, on horseback, and in 1810 in a covered carriage. There are 219 public, and seven incorporated private schools within the county. Excepting these private in- stitutions, the public district-school is evidentl}' the main edueator. While no claim is made that the inhabitants of Franldin County lead in literary culture, in general industry and purity of character, in honesty of purpose and patriotic impulse, their record is as unimpeachable as it is exemplaiy. Towns. Greenfield, the shire town of Franklin Count}', is one of the most delightful towns in the Connecticut Valley. Traces of a continuation of the Deerfleld mountains are seen in some of the beautiful eminences in the eastern part of the town ; but generally the land is level, and the soil, especially in the intervals of Green River, rich and productive. The farmers are intelligent, thrifty and independent. The water-power is supplied by Green River, which winds through the town to the Deerfield River ; by Fall River, which separates it from Gill on the east ; and by the Connecticut River, which washes its southern border. In connection with its motive-power the town has eight steam-engines, a larger number than is found in any other town in the county. F(jur establishments are engaged in printing and pnb- hshing, — the capital invested being about $43,500 ; and there are six manufactories of metals and metallic goods, with a capital of $71,000. Here is also a gas company, with a capital stock of $50,000. The town contains 3.540 inhabitants. The " Gazette and Courier," a weekly journal established in 1782 ; and the '• Franklin County • According to " Willard's History of Greenfield," several of the tall and beautiful elms which are now the pride and onianicnt of that place, " were planted and watered by the hand of William Coleman, a native Times," also a weekly, established in 1872, are the local papers. The village of Greenfield is built on two picturesque streets, flanked by many elegant buildings, and orna- mented with elm, maple, and other shade trees. On the north side of the public square stands the new Congre- gational chiu'ch, built of red sandstone ; near it, the court-house ; and, just below the square, the substantial structure known as the town hall. The high school was established in 1856, and its building erected in 1857. The churches are the Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist, Congregational, Roman Catholic, and Unitarian. Eastward from the village rises Rocky Mountain, from whose summit may be seen Mt. Grace, in Warwick, the hills of Leyden and Shelburne, and " Old Deerfield hid- den among its elms." The Bear's Den is a romantic spot in the southern part of this rocky ridge. In memory of her soldiers who fell in the late war, the town erected, in 1870, a beautiful monument upon the common, in the centre of the village, at a cost of $7,000. Upon it is the following appropriate inscription : — "Greenfield erects this Monument in grateful honor to licr Patriotic Sons who offered their lives in suppressiug the Great Rebellion, aud for the Preservation of the National Union." George Ripley, a distinguished scholar and critic, is v native of Greenfield. Ho was born here in 1802. Ex- Gov. W. B. Washburn of Massachusetts is a resident of this beautiful town. Deerfield, the oldest town in the county, is one of the most fertile and beautiful. Its broad meadows and rich alluvial intervals rise here and there into picturesque eminences, while Pocomtuck Rock, near the geographical centre of the town, overlooks both the valley aud the village. The Deerfleld River gracefully pursues its wind- ing way through the centre of the town, and the Con- necticut River Railroad, running parallel with the river, divides the place into nearly ctjual sections, and crosses the Deerfield River by a bridge 750 feet in length, and 90 feet above the water. The Troy and Greenfield Railroad follows the course of the Deerfield River to its junction with the Connecticut River road near the Greenfield line. Some of the best farms in the county are in Deer- field, where its annual tobacco crop exceeds half a millon pounds ; the value of its hay crop alone exceeds $100,000. The total value of its farm property is more than a million and a half of dollars ; and for a Western Massa- of Boston, who studied law at Worcester with Judge Paine. He after- wards went to New York, was the partner of Aaron Purr, and the intimate friend of Alexander Hamilton." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. chusetts town, many of its farmers are wealthy. Large establishments in the town of Montague have temporarily affected the manufacture of cutlery in Deerfield, where it was formerly the principal manufacturing interest, — amounting in some years to more than $400,000. The town has 3,414: inhabitants; two post-offices, — one at Deerfield, the other at South Deerfield ; sis churches ; a good hotel, — the Pocomtuck House ; an incorporated academy ; two high schools, and other graded schools ; two public libraries ; a lyceum, called " The Adelphi" ; two farmers' clubs ; and a memorial association (incor- porated 1870, Mr. George Sheldon, president), for the purpose of preserving the local relics of the aborigines and the early settlers. Deerfield furnished for the Grand Army of the Republic 320 soldiers ; and to perpetuate the memory of those who were lost, it erected, of Port- land sandstone, a beautiful monument. Gen. Hoyt, the historian, author of " Hoyt's Indian Wars," was born here in 1765. His death occurred in 1850. The Rev. Dr. Hitchcock, an eminent clergj-man and geologist, who died in 1864, was born in Deerfield in 1793. Richard Hildreth, journalist and author, was also a native of this town. He was born in 1807, and died in 1865. JIoNTAGUE, the busiest and most iirosperous town in the county, is on the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad, and contains 3,380 inhabitants, and five postal villages, — Montague Centre, Montague City, Lock's Village, Tur- ner's Falls, and the rapidly-growing village of Miller's Falls (known also as '• Grout's Corner"). Willis' Hill and Chestnut Hill, are conspicuous eminences in the easterly part of the place. Lake Pleasant, a beautiful sheet of water, near the centre of the town, has an inviting gi-ove, well fitted with buildings for pleasure- parties, and attracts man^- visitors. Besides the numer- ous active industries in its various villages, the farmers are bj' no means idle. Heavy crops of Indian corn, grain, broom-corn, and tobacco, are raised from the rich soil of Montague, and its timber-growth is rapid. The company of capitalists, — including Thomas Talbot, Benjamin F. Butler, and others,- — who, a few years since, purchased 1,200 acres of land at Turner's Falls, in this town, and caused it to be surveyed and laid out for a new city, have hopes that in time it maj- become " the Lowell of Franklin County." Its manufacturing interests are already large. The John Russell Cutlerj- Comijan}- have the largest and best arranged establish- ment of the kind in this country. When running at its full capacity, it gives employment to .ibout 1,200 jiorsons. Small concerns in adjoining towns have removed here and consolidated. A pnlp-mill, in which poplar-wood is reduced to a clear, white pulp, for the manufacture of paper, is in active operation, and 20 paper-engines (the only ones in the county), with a capacity of 10,400 pounds, and four Foudrinier paper-machines are required in its large mills, where 304 persons are employed in the various manufactures of paper and paper goods. As motive-power, besides three steam-engines, Montague has 28 water-wheels, with a nominal horse-power of 2,820. Here are annually made lumber and bricks, wood-pulp, writing-paper, printing-paper, and cutlery. The town has a bank of discount, and one for savings ; a good town hall, and a public library ; a high school, and 12 school districts ; a lively public journal, called " The Turner's Falls Reporter," established in 1872, and five churches. The New London Northern Railroad passes centrally through the town. Montague's gain of 1,806 since the pre\-ious census, gives it the largest in- crease in population of any town in the county. Luther Severance, a noted politician and journalist, born here in 1797, died at Augusta, Me., in 1855. He was a member of Congress from 1843 to 1847. Hon. Jonathan Hartwell, who settled in Montague in 1817, as its first lawyer, is said to have originated the system of school-district libraries now adopted throughout the Commonwealth. Orange, a sprightly manufacturing and farming town, has 2,497 inhabitants. Miller's River, — here a swift and valuable stream, with the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad following its course. — intersects the town, which has a post-office at the Centre and at North Orange ; five churches ; a public library ; 15 schools, including a high school; and a good newspaper, "The Journal of Industry," established in 1872. Few villages in Massa- chusetts present a more picturesque appearance thcin Orange Centre, with its white clustering cottages and its pleasant gardens rising from the banks of Miller's River, ha^•ing the wooded hills fur a background. Three est.ab- lishmcnts for making furnitui'e, machinery, and sewing- machines, are located here. The whole capital invested in these manufacluring interests is $355,000, and the value of goods made is more than half a million doUurs. Since the last census, the town has gained 588, in popu- lation, by development of manufactin-es. A soldiers' monument, erected by the town at a cost of $4,000, commemorates the heroism of her sons who fell during the late war. NoRTHFiELT) is a rich agricultural town, whose prin- cipal street, adorned with neat buildings, and bordered MASSACHUSETTS. by ornamental trees, rans along an elevated plain, par- allel with the river, presenting in earlj' summer a scene of quiet beauty almost unsurpassed. The town has 1 ,G41 inhabitants, ^dth postal facilities at Northficld, Northfield Farms, and West Northfield. It has a town hall, two churches, and ten school districts. There is also an Indian burial-place in the town. The institution of the Social Library in 1813, and the planting of a beautiful avenue of trees in the \'illage, are worthy mementos of tlie taste, enterprise, and public spirit of Thomas Power, afterwards for many j'ears clerk of the Police Court of Boston. Some of the best farms of the county are found in Northfield, and Indian com and tobacco are prominent products. The patriotism of the people was manifest in the Eebellion of 1861 ; and, during the war of 1812, the town sent a company of artillery for the defence of Bos- ton. Joel Munsell, historian, and publisher of antiquarian works, was born here in 1808. CoLRAiN (so spelled by State and United States officials, but formerly known as "Coleraine") is a mountainous town of 1,699 inhabitants, and five postal villages; 418 persons find emplo3-ment in the manufacture of cotton goods, in which this town excels. It has three churches, none of whose communicants now approve the act of their predecessors, who, in 1764, voted to " color the meeting- house blue ! " Dr. Deane, the naturalist, who discovered fossil foot- prints in the red sandstones of the Connecticut Vallej-, was a native of this town. The Rev. Samuel Taggard, its third minister, settled in 1777, was a member of Con- gress from 1804, for 14 j-ears. occupies a central position in Franklin Countj% and has four postal villages, — Shelburne Cen- tre, Shelbume Falls, East Shelburne and Bardwell's Ferr}-. Of these Shelburne Falls is the most flourishing, and is one of the leading villages of the county. Its rapid growth and prosperity are mainly due to its water- power, — the village hing in a vaUey and upon its slop- ing hillsides, near a point where the Deerfield River plunges over a precipice more than fortj' feet in depth, forming one of the most beautiful cataracts in the State. The town contains 1,590 inhabitants. The industries of Shelbume are various. In the manufacture of tobacco and smokers' supplies, of millstones, marble and other stone goods, Shelbume has no superior in the count)'. The town has four churches ; one national, and one sa^nngs bank ; the Arms public libraiy, and the Arms ministers' library, and abundant school pri\'ilegcs. The Rev. Theophilus Packard, Jr., who pultlished a history of the " Churches and Ministers of Franklin Count3'," in 1854, was born in Shelbume in 1802. The Rev. PUny Fisk, missionarj' to Palestine, was born here in 1792. He died at Beirout, Syria, in 1825. CoNWAT is a hilly town of 1,452 inhabitants, accom- modated by the Troy and Greenfield Railroad which winds along the left bank of the Deerfield River on its north- eastern border. The village is beautifully situated in a valley, and several powerful mill-streams furnish valu- able manufacturing privileges, — more than half a million dollars' worth of woollen and cotton goods being made here annually. The town has three churches, a national bank, one high school, and twelve district schools. Chester Harding, a distinguished portrait-painter, who died in 1866, was born here in 1792. This town was also the birth-place in 1803 of Rev. Dr. Dwight, mis- sionarj' to Constantinople, whose death occurred in 1862. BucKLAND is a picturesque farming town of three churches, and 1,921 inhabitants. Shelbume Falls are on the boundar}' line between this town and Shelbume, the village of that name lying partly in each town. Mary Lyon, afterwards a celelirated teacher, was bom in Buckland in 1 797. Dr. Holland speaks of her as a lady whose influence was " greater and better than that of any other woman who ever lived in AYestern Massachusetts." AsHFiELD has 1,190 inhabitants, two postal ■v'illages (Ashfield and South Ashfield), and owns more merino sheep than any other town in the count}'. Alvan Clark, — known as a telescope-maker the world over, — was born here in 1804. As a practical astrono- mer, in 1863, he discovered the " new star" near Sirius. Chaklemont. — Lumbering and farming are the prin- cipal occupations of the people of this town. The Deer- field River Agricultural Societj', in connection with which is a lyceum, has a large and convenient hall in the cen- tral village. The maple-sugar crop is one of the most important. In the number and value of its apple-trees it excels all other towns in the county. The highest point of Pocomtiick Mountain, in the extreme north- eastem part of the town is 1,888 feet above sea-level. Charlemont has 1,029 inhabitants, eight public schools, and throe church edifices. Work on the Troj' and Green- field Railroad has proved a material aid to the prosperity of the town. Bernakdston, whose principal settlement lies in the beautiful valley of Fall River, — a powerful mill-stream HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. running southerlj' through the centre of the town, — has 991 inhabitants, a good public library of 3,289 volumes, an excellent free academj- called Power's Institute, six school districts and five churches. The Connecticut River Railroad passes through the southern section of the town, opening a market for the wood and lumber of its forests. The Hon. Samuel C. Allen, an able politician, who died in Northfleld at the age of 70, was born here in 1772. He was formerly a member of Congress. The Hon. Henry W. Cushman, Lieutenant-Governor of Mas- sachusetts in 1851-52, was also a native of this town. He was born here in 1805, and died at Bernardston, Nov. 21, 1863. The remaining towns of Franklin County are : Erving (population 794), Gill (673), Hawley (588), Heath (545), Leverett (831), Leyden (524), Monroe (190), New Salem (923), Rowe (661), Shutesbury (558), Sun- derland (860), Warwick (744), Wendell (503), and Whately (958) . The most of the foregoing are moun- ' tain towns and devoted to agriculture. Leverett. how- I ever, Erving, Gill, Warwick, Ashfield and Wendell have important manufactures. Among the eminent personages native of the above towus are : Henry Kirke Brown, an eminent sculptor (Leyden, 1814); John L. RiddeU, M. D., inventor of the binocular microscope and magnifying glass (1807) ; Rev. Moses Ballon (Monroe), Hon. Paul Dillingham (Shutesbury), Rev. Jonas King, D. D.,* many jears a foreign missionary- (Hawley, 1792) ; Le^-i Hedge, LL. D., a successful teacher and writer (Warwick, 1776) ; Sum- ner Lincoln Fairfield, poet and teacher (1803), and Mrs. AnneT. (Wilbur) Wood, authoress (Wendell, 1817). Ephraim Pratt, a resident of Shutesbury, died in 1804, aged 116 years and 5 months. In Leyden is a remarkable natural curiosity known as " The Glen." Not far from its entrance, the place is pointed out where Mrs. Eunice Williams was murdered on the march to Canada. HAMPDEJs" C0U:N^TY. BY ROBERT O. MORRIS, ESQ. Hampden is the southernmost of the three counties which the Connecticut River bisects in its course through Massachusetts. The halves of this county are again divided by the Chicopee River which runs into the Con- necticut on the east side, and the Agawam, or Westfield River, which comes down from the Berkshire hills on the west. The valleys of these three rivers contain the richest farms, and also most of the manufacturing and commercial enterprises of the count}-. Railroad lines run by the side of the three streams, and form a junc- tion at Springfield, -which is the county seat. The earliest settlements in Western Massachusetts were made within the limits of this county, but the subsequent history is uneventful, except for the burning of the vil- lage of Springfield in 1675, and the Shays' Rebellion of 1785, until the introduction of- railroads, in 1839, gave a sudden and lasting impetus to the business growth of • In a brief sketch of his remarkable career, it is mentioned, as an interesting coincidence, that the three first American missionaries to Jerusalem were bom within twenty-five miles of each other ; in what was then the same county, and within thirty-five days of the same the section. The county is fifty-two miles long from east to west, and its width varies from nine to twenty- four miles. The first English settlement on the Connecticut River was a trading post at Windsor, Conn., in 1633, and two yenTS later, settlements were made simultaneously at Agawam, now Springfield, by a part}- from Roxbury ; at AVindsor bj- Dorchester people ; at AVethersfield by Watertown ; and at Hartford, by Cambridge people. The first settlers at Agawam, the only one of these places now within the bounds of Massachusetts, were William Pynchon, Nath. Mitchell, Henry Smith, Jehuc Burr, WiUiam Blake, Edmund Wood, Thomas UfTord, and John Cabel, with their families. Allotments of land were also made to Thomas Woodford, John Reader, Samuel Butterfield, and James Wood. It is a singular fact that none of the twelve died iu the hamlet which time, viz. : Kev. Pliny Fisk, bom in Shelbumc, June 24, 1792 ; Rev. Levi Parsons, bom in Goshen, July 18, 1792 ; Rev. Jonas King, horn in Hawley, July 29, 1792. He died at Athens, Greece, May 22, MASSACHUSETTS. they founded. Jlr. Pvnchon, the leader of the enter- prise, was a man of considerable education and influence. He had been one of the corporators of the Massachu- setts Colonj-, and afterwards its treasurer, was one of the founders of the town of Roxbur}', and probably removed to the Connecticut River in the hope of extend- ing the beaver trade in which he was engaged. He was elected magistrate of the new settlement, and exercised the office until his return to England, in 1652, with his son-in-law, Henry Smith, and was succeeded in the the magistracy by his son John. The name of the plantation was changed fi'om Agawam to Springfield in 1G40, as a compliment to Mr. Pynchon, who came from a place named Sijringfleld, near Chelmsford, in Essex, England. Massachusetts at first exercised jurisdiction as far south as Weathersfield, but, in 1638, the present boundary line at the Connecticut River was fixed. There was, also, in the first years of the settlement, a controvers}' between the two Colonies whether the Springfield people should paj' toll to the owners of the fort at Saybrook, for the privilege of bringing their goods up the river. The Connecticut authorities bought the fort and the claim for several j-ears' toll, in 1644. The Commissioners of the United Colonies decided that the claim was just. The Springfield people still refused to pay it. The Massachusetts authorities attcmptrd to retaliate bj' charging toll on all vessels entering Boston Harbor ; and the difficult}', which was never adjusted, might have caused a serious rupture between the Col- onies, but that thej' were threatened by a common danger. The first development of the new settlement was aided by forty years of peace. No fort was built at Spring- field until 1660, when John Pynchon built the first brick house in the village, which stood until 1831. The settle- ments in the neighborhood progressed rapidlj', particu- larly to the northward. Hampshire County, which then included all the Connecticut Valley, in Massachusetts, was established in 1662, courts being held, after a few years, at both Northampton and Springfield. The plantation of Woronoco was bought and settled in 1631, and incorporated, in 1669, as Westflcld, being at that time the westernmost settlement in the Colony. Japhet and Henry Chapiu settled within the present limits of Chicopee about 1640, being sons of Deacon Samuel Chapin of Springfield, from whom, it is thought, most, if not all, the Chapins in the United States are descended. A settlement was made at Masacksick, now Long- meadow, in 1644, bj' Benjamin Cooley, George Cotton, and John Keep, whose names still survive in many residents of the town. The settlement was at first made in the strip of bottom land, from the shape of which the town derived its present name ; but the annual inundations of the river drove the citizens to move their residences to the brow of the adjoining hill in 1703. Agawam contains the site of the first house in Western Massa- chusetts, which was built in 1634, or 1635, just south of the Agawam River, by John Cabel, or Cable, and one John Woodcock, in the expectation that the coming set- tlement would be made on that side of the Connecticut. The first permanent settlements on the west side of the river were made in 1654 and 1655, although land there had previously been cultivated. In these years, allot- ments in the present site of West Springfield, were made to Francis Pepper, Hugh Dudley, John Dumbleton, Miles Morgan, John Stewart, Obadiah Miller, and Simon Sackett. The first settlers below the Agawam were Thomas Cooper, Abel Leonard, and Tliomas Merrick. The first settlers of Springfield bought their land of the Indians, and lived peaceably with them for several years, the savages soon recognizing the authority of the magistrates over those of their own number that injured the settlers in person or property. King Philip's war began in 1675, and, instigated by that wily chieftain, without any sufficient cause for ill-feeling, the Imlians living near Springfield treacherously and cruellj' assisted in burning the village, and would have slain the inhab- itants but that they found shelter in fortified houses until troops arrived. The settlement at this time contained some forty-five dwellings, chiefly along the line of the present main street ; and although the Indians had already burned the village of Brookfleld to the east, had attacked Deerfield and Northfield, and were said to be hovering about Hadley on the north, no apprehension was felt for Springfield, and all the troops of the village and vicinity had been sent to Hadley, under command of Maj. John Pj-nchon, who was as much the leader of the people in civil as in military matters, having suc- ceeded to his father's iniluence and honors. Tlia plot of the Indians against the village was revealed on the night of the 4th of October (corresponding to the loth of the present calendar) , by an Indian living in the family of Mr. Wolcott at Windsor, and the messenger sent to alai-m the village arrived at about midnight. Word was at once sent to Maj. Pj-nchon, and the families, with their valuables, were gathered in the three fortified houses ; but no attack occurred during the night. Many of the people became confident that none was to be feared, and Rev. Pelatiah Glover, the pastor of the community, moved his library back to his study. Lieut. Cooper and Thomas Miller mounted their horses, and drove toward an Indian fort, at the south end of the HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. town, to reconnoitre, but rode into fin anibuscaile, and were fatally shot, Coojjer living barelj- long enough to drive back and give the alarm. The savages at once biu-st upon the town ; but the people had fled to the forts, and all escaped except one other man, who was fatally wounded, one woman who was killed outright, and three other persons who were wounded. There was nothing, however, to prevent the Indians from devastat- ing as much of the town as was beyond the reach of the muskets of the forts, and in a very short time they bui-ned thirty- two dwellings and twentj'-five bams, besides the house of correction, also Maj. Pynchon's grist-mill, saw-mill, and most of the com and gr.-iin that was stored up for consumption during the approaching winter. Some Connecticut troops, under Maj. Treat, an-ived on the opposite side of the river during the burning, and the beleaguered inhabitants managed to send them a boat; but the Indians gathered on the bank in such strength that the troops could not land. Finally, at about three o'clock in the afternoon, the two hundred soldiers, under Maj. Pynchon, arrived at their homes, after a hurried and anxious march, to find their village in ashes. The band of Indians, which probably con- sisted of about fifty Springfield Indians, with two hun- i dred of Philip's men, withdrew at the approach of Maj. I Pynchon's force, and retreated to the neighborhood of the present site of Indian Orchard and Jenksville. No pursuit was attempted, soldiers and citizens ha-vdng enough on their hands in repairing their desolate homes. King Philip's war lasted nearlj' a year longer, but scarcely any other important event in connection with it occurred within the present Hampden County. Groups of Indians hovered about the frightened settlements all the winter. Three j-oung men from Springfield were killed while prospecting for iron ore near Westfield. The settlers at Longmeadow were unable to attend church all winter, and when a band of eighteen, under a small guard, attempted to come to Springfield one Sun- day in March, they were waylaid near Pecowsic Brook, and John Keep, a prominent man of the town, was killed, with his wife and child.* One of the Springfield planters who crossed the river in the spring to look after his corn stored in a house there, was shot down and his house burned. Moses Cook, a Westfield planter, was also killed while out with a scouting partv. These assaults and assassinations, which were prevalent in the settlements farther up the river as well, seem to have impressed the Massachusetts council with the notion that • A waterfeU, on the Chicopee River at Ludlow, bears the name of Indian Leap, from a tradition bearing the date of King Philip's «ar, but probably without authority. It is to the effect that a camp of thej- were unable to protect so large a territor)'. They accordingly called upon the smaller settlements to retire into the larger ones, specifying particularly that the Westfield people should betake themselves to Spring- field. The order was received with indignation by the Westfield settlers, who refused to obey the command immediately, because several of their number were sick. They also presented considerations why the consolida- tion should not take place, to the efi"ect that Springfield, since its burning, did not have accommodations for more inhabitants, and the hand of Providence seemed, more- over, to be against the settlement on the Connecticut. There was also, in the remonstrance, a hint of securing reinforcements from Connecticut, and a vague intimation that the Hartford council would be glad to receive and shelter the settlement. This diplomatic threat of with- drawal seems to have accomplished its purpose, for Westfield and the other outlying towns were allowed to retain their own locations, and peace came within a jear, bringing prosperity with it. The settlements of this region contributed their quota of soldiers to the subse- quent Indian wars, but the scene of operations was gen- erally so far to the north that these towns were not molested. The one notable exception was in July, 1 70S, during Queen Anne's war, when a part}- of Indians attacked the house of Lieut. Wright at Skipmuck, near Chicopee Falls, and killed "old Mr. Wright," Aaron Parsons and Barijah Hubbard, a couple of soldiers, knocked two children on the head, one of whom after- wards died,»and took Henry Wright's wife captive, and probably killed her. There is another Ludlow tradition that the Indians killed a female captive at a place in that town called Facing Rocks, and the two events may have had some connection with each other. During the century that intervened between King Philip's war and the American Revolution, the progi-ess of the settlements in the vicinitj- of Springfield was that of peaceful development, although other communities in western Massachusetts were much of the time retarded in their growth by incursions of Indians. The colony on the west side of the river grew rapidly, and as early as 1673, they ijctitioucd for the establishment of a ferry. In the year 1695 they numbered 32 famihes and upwards of 200 persons, and asked for and obtained the privi- lege of settling a minister, all their church and municipal relations having before been on the east side of the river. The town was not incorporated until 1774, and then included the present territory of Holyoke and Indians, surprised by a company of white soldiers, escaped by jumping the river fiom the high overhanging rocks, the last to make the leap being the cliief, Koaring Thunder, with his child in his arms. MASSACHUSETTS. Agawam. Up to the time of the introduction of rail- roads, this town was, perhaps, the cliief town in the limits of the old Hampshire County-. Longmeadow was incorporated as a separate parish in 1713, having some 40 families. The town of Brimfield, including the [ present towns of Monson, Wales and Holland, was j laid out in 1701 by a committee of five Springfield men, I of whom Maj. John Pj-nchon was the chief, who were to have charge of the settlement for five j'ears. The enter- j prise progressed slowlj', however, from Indian troubles and other causes, and in 1723 the General Court declared the preceding grant void, and appointed another com- mittee to perfect the settlement of the town, who re- ported, in 1729, adversely to the first grants. The General Court settled the controvers3-, however, in 1731, ! by confirming the grants of the first committee, of 120 acres of land to some 55 persons. There were other special grants, and all the remaining lands were decreed to belong to the grantees, to be divided proportionately. ! Monson was set aside as a district, but still connected for representative purposes, in 1 7G0 ; and the same action I was taken, in 1762, in regard to Holland and South Wil- braham, now "Wales. The inhabitants of this town were at first troubled by Indians, but no notable conflicts took j place on its territoiy. The site of Wilbraham was divided into allotments as earl}' as 1685 under peculiar circumstances, the first settler not appearing until fort}-- five 3'ears later. It laj* in what was called the "out- ward commons " of Springfield, and was laid out to overreach the declaration of the English Court of Chan- cer}- that the Massachusetts charter was forfeited. The act of annulment contained, however, a provision that the rights of individuals should not be molested, and this territor}' was di\'ided among the inhabitants of the town to remove it from the operations of the act. It was, under these circumstances, laid out in narrow and inconvenient strips, that hindered its settlement. Na- thaniel Hitchcock, the first settler, sowed a couple of acres of land in 1 730, and built a cabin for his familj-, who moved thither the following J'ear. In 1741 there were 24 settlers, who were incoq^orated as the fourth parish of Springfield. Wilbraham was incorporated as a district in 1763, but did not have the privilege of send- ing a representative until 1780. The district was represented for three j-ears, from 1772, by John Bliss, who was elected on the ticket with Col. • The original name of the place was New Glasgow, but when it was incorporated in 1741 Gov. Shirley changed it to Blandford, in honor of the ship that brought hiin safely over the ocean. The place was also known as the Sufflcld equivalent, being confen-cd upon the inhabitants of that town by the Massachusetts legislature in 1732. Aftcrthe settlement John Worthington, by a coalition against the voters on the west side of the river, who proposed to drop Wor- thington. The setting off of V/est Springfield as a separate town, in 1774, put an end to such contests. The inhabitants of Wilbraham, at the time of its incor- poration, objected strenuously, but vainly, to the name attached to them, which has the significance of "Wild Boar's Home." Palmer was settled as early as 1727, b\- a considerable colony of emigi-ants who were descended from a colony of Protestants which migi-ated from Argyleshire in Scotland and settled in the north of Ireland about 1712. These were the first Presbj-terians in the country, and thej- were looked upon with disfavor bj' the Congregationalists. The place where thc}- settled was known as " the Elbows," from a curve in the Chico- pee Eiver, and their title was not at first good. The first saw-mill in the town began running in 1730, and the first grist-mill in 1737. This period of such active growth for the eastern half of the count}' was also an important era in the develop- ment of the western poilion. The first highway from Westfleld to the settlements in Berkshire County was built in 1735, and the first settlement was made at Bland- ford * in the same year. The site of this town was owned in undivided quarters by Christopher Jacob Lawton, Francis Wells, John Faye and Francis Brinlej', who in- duced a colon}' of families to settle upon it. The town being upon the frontier, suffered some by Indians in the French and Indian wars, and was the site of an impor- tant government fort. Granville was first called Bedford, and was bought of Toto, an Indian, by one Anthony Mather. The first settler was Samuel Bancroft of Springfield, who lived to represent the town in the legislatui-e in 1775. In the first half of the century as many as eighty-nine persons bearing the name of Bancroft lived in East Granville ; and the names of most of the other first settlers are still perpetuated. The town is a very healthy one, and it is claimed that one in thirty of the inhabitants reach the ' age of ninety years. Southmck, which was within the bounds of Westfleld j until 1770, was also first settled in 1734, Samuel Fowler being the first inhabitant. Tolland was at first the third parish of Granv-ille, and was settled in 1750. The town is said to contain the highest land of the latitude between the Connecticut and of the boundary line had thrown them into Connecticut, Christopher Jacob Lawton of Sufficid became purchaser of the tract, and afterwards sold undivided fourths to Francis 'Wells, John Faye, and Francis Brin- ley. They induced forty-live families from Ilopliinton to settle in the town. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Housatoiiic rivers, the C'atskill llouutains being visible from some points. Cliester was one of the ten towns sold at auction by order of the General Court in 17G2, and was bought bj- "William Williams for £1,500, the first settlement occur- ring about this time. The settlei's were mostlj- Irish. The place was incorporated under the name of Jliiira}'- field in 17G2, continuing under that name until 1783. At the time of the American Revolution the count3" com- prised, it will be seen, a dozen or more thriving agricul- tural communities, which were located too far inland to be the scene of any military movements, but which, with every other section of the C'olonj-, contributed frcclj' of men and means to secure the nation's independence. As early as 1 773 Brimficld town meetings passed patriotic resolutions of protest against the assumptions of power on the part of the Biitish government. Ludlow had a population of only about 200, but sent 29 recruits to the arm}'. All the other towns seem to have taxed them- selves very freely to equip and support those of their cit- izens who enlisted, and there was also little trouble in securing volunteers. There were some Tories in the count}-, the most prominent being Col. John "Worthing- ton of Springfield, a lawj-er of pre-eminent ability and standing, who would have been the most influential man of his daj' but for his political views. There were also adherents to the royal cause at Blandford, which was set- tled largely by British subjects ; and some of these were forbidden by the Committee of Safetj- to leave their farms. The safe location of Springfield at a distance from the active operations of the war, induced the government to establish a storehouse for munitions of war at that point, and afterwai'ds a shop for the manufacture of arms. * The close of the war left the county in an unhappy financial condition, through the excessive private debts under which almost everybod}' labored ; and also by the depreciation of the currenej-. This discontent culminated in the Shays Rebellion, which was very strong in some sections of the count}-, and which received its chief blow in an encounter with the State troops on Armory Hill in Springfield. The leader, from whom the insun-ection took its name, came from Pclham, but Luke Day of "West Springfield was as prominent in fomenting discontent, and about as influential in directing the demonstration. The first affront to the government occurred at Spring- field, in 1782, when a mob released from prison one * The works were removed from their first location on Main Street about 177S, to the place on the liill where the United States Armory is now such a prominent feature in the landscape, and an addition to the beauties of the city. During the late Civil war the capacity of the Samuel Ely, who had been guilty of disturbing the courts at Northampton. In the fall of 1786 a large mob gathered to prevent the holding of the Supreme Court at Springfield, September 26. The insiu-gents numbered about 1,200 men, about half of whom had muskets, while the court was protected by about 800 militia-nicn. The opposing hosts had camps about three-quarters of a mile apart, and for four days the inhabitants of the town were momentarily in fear of a collision that would result in death or wounds to many. The court went through the form of organizing, and adjourned after three days without transacting any busincss, and each party claimed to have accomplished its end. Luke Day had before this time been drilling a company of his followers on the West Springfield com- mon, and, in December, he led 100 men from Wcstfield, West Springfield and Longmeadow, to assist Sha} s in his schemes at AVorcester.- A company of 50 more who started to follow, were driven back by a snow-storm. Again in December the presence of a mob prevented the session of the court at Springfield, but without any vio- lent acts. To prevent a continuance of such outrages, the goA'ernment called for a force of 4,400 men, to be under the command of Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, and to rendezAous at Boston, Worcester and Springfield. A term of court was to be held at Worcester Jan. 22, 17S7 ; but the military force was so strong that the rebels could not hope to interfere successfully, and Shays accordingly determined to seize the United States Arsenal at Spring- field, if possible, before Lincoln and his troops could ar- rive from the east. Day had a force of 400 men, whom he had billeted on the citizens of West Springfield. A force of 400 Berkshire men, under Eli Parsons, was stationed at Chicopee, and Shays led a force of 1,100 from the east, it being his design to have the three forces attack the arsenal at once from diflTerent directions. Gen. William Shepard of Wcstfield, an able and successful ofljcer in the Revolutionary army, had command of the arsenal, with some 1 , 100 troops. Shays reached "U'ilbra- ham on the evening of January 25, and quartered his troops on the inhabitants over night. Several friends of the government in the village consulted together, and decided that the duty of conveying information to Gen. Shepard of the movements of the hostile force, belonged to the deputy sheriff, Asaph King. Accordingly when Shays set out the next morning for Springfield, this mes- senger outstripped him by a shorter course, and reached works was increased, so that 1,000 muskets were made daily, but only about 800 men are now employed, producing aljout 75 rifles a day. Tlie Springfield rifle, as perfected, is claimed by army officers to bo the best arm furnished to anv soldiers in the world. MASSACHUSETTS. the arsenal in forty-five minutes from the time he left ■ Wilbraham. Shays had sent a messenger to Day, ex- j plaining his plan, and Daj- had sent a reply, asking that the attack on the arsenal be postponed for a day for some unknown cause, but the messenger bearing this word was : intercepted, and the two leaders were thus acting on dif- ferent plans. Shays and his force did not appear before the arsenal until four o'clock. Gen. Shepard warned them not to advance ; but they persisted, and he then ordered his cannon to be discharged against the centre of the column, killing three of the insurgents and mor- tally wounding a fourth. The line was thrown into con- fusion. Shays tried in vain to rallj- his supporters, who turned and fled, resting only when the}- reached Ludlow, ten miles distant, where thej- slept that night. Lincoln's army was but a day's march distant, and on its arrival, the present territorj- of Hampden Count}' was speedily cleared of the insurgents, the union of Shaj's' forces being prevented by prompt measures, and Daj-'s force stampeding after a verj- sMght show of resistance. * The gradual return of prosperity stimulated the mate- rial development of the county, and several important public enterprises were carried through during the 3-ears immediatelj' following the suppression of the Shaj-s Rebellion. The chief of these was the construction of the canal and dam at South Iladley Falls, the original object of which was to render the Connecticut River na^-igable. The dam was built to supply the canal with water, and was rebuilt in 1803, the funds being raised bj- a lottery, and was strengthened and increased several times later. The growth of the region necessitated improved means of communication, and this period was accordingly' marked bj- the laying out of a large number of roads, particularly in the western part of the count}', connect- ing the towns with each other, and also with Berkshire Count}-. Bridges already existed over some of the smaller streams of the county, but they were now in- creased in number. The bridge between Springfield and "West Springfield was first built in 1805, but only lasted until 1814, and its successor only until 1818, after which the present structure was put up. The last two •were partly built by the proceeds of lotteries. The war of 181-2 did not profoundly stir the citizens of this region, as the fighting was at a distance. A regi- ment of infantr}', mostly from the present Hampden County, under command of Col. Enos Foot of South- • Alpheus Colton of Longmeadoiv, was one of those sentenced to death for his participation In the treason. All were suliscquently pardoned. + This is clearly illustrated by the fact thr.t, while the population of the county has gro»-n from 37,360 to 94,304 since 1840, there has during wick, and a company of artillery from Springfield, were among the troops called out by Gov. Strong, but they saw no fighting. From this time the growth of the county was peaceful, unmarked by any particular incident until the introduc- tion of railroads made new channels and centres for trade, gave an impetus to manufacturing, and revolution- ized the entire commercial interests of the county. The first railroad was the Western, which was a continuation of the Boston and "Worcester. This was opened as far as Springfield in 1800, and to the Hudson River in 1842, being now included in the Boston and Albany Railroad. Various schemes had been discussed during the twenty- five years preceding for building a canal, or a horse-power railroad, over this route, but when the feasibility of steam locomotion was proved, this, of several routes surve}'ed, was selected, largely through the enthusiastic advocacy of George Bliss of Springfield, a prominent lawyer, who gave up his practice to become the first general agent of the road. The Connecticut River Railroad was opened from Springfield, as far as Northampton, in 1845, and to Greenfield the following year. The Hartford and Spring- field Railroad, now a part of the Xew York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, was opened in 1844. The New London Northern Railroad, which crosses the eastern end of the county, was opened from New London to Palmer in 1850, and to Amherst in 1853, the two sections being at first under different managements. A canal was built for navigation from New Haven to "Westficld in 1830, which was continued to Northampton in 1834, but was not profitable, and the owners built a railroad in its place, which was opened in 185G. The "Ware River Railroad, a branch of the Boston and Albany road from Palmer to "Winchendon, was built in 1870, the Springfield, Athol and North-eastern from Springfield to Barrett's Junction in 1872, and the Connecticut Central from Springfield to Hartford and Rockville in 1875. The eflfcct of the intro- duction of railroads cannot be over-estimated. Once pojiular stage-routes were superseded, and river nsLviga- tion entirely suspended, although there is at present an eflfort being made to revive the latter. Towns which had formerly rivalled in size and importance the county-scat, found themselves away from the lines of traffic ; while new centres of trade and manufactures were opened. ■)• The largest water power in the State, if not in the world, is at Holyoke, where the Connecticut River is crossed by a dam 1,017 feet long. The Westfield and the same period been an actual decrease in the population of the towns of Bbndford, Bri:ulicld, Chester, Granville, Holland, Ludlow, Mont- gomery, Russell, Southwick and Tolland. Ludlow, however, is now increasing, through the growth of its manufacturing villages. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Chicopee rivers also run over several dams, In their respective courses through the county, and there are numerous water-powers on smaller streams, the number of water-wheels already existing being 285, with a total of 14,472 horse power, there being opportunit}' for the in- definite multiplication of these figures. There are in the county 633 manufacturing establishments, with an aggre- gate capital of $19,765,118, producing goods annually valued at 832,584,175. The county makes more paper than any other in the country, and Holyoke more than any other city, the yearly total for the county being §6,146,705, and for Holyoke, $3,199,407. The county is also the first in the State in the manufacture of tobacco, turning out $1,302,894 worth yearly, of which $854,416 comes from Westfield, this last being in excess of anj' other town. Aside from the product of the United States Armor}-, the county sends out arms and ammunition yearlj^ worth $670,141, Springfield leading all the towns and cities of the State in this item with $582,750. Of cotton goods, the county produces $8,296,112, being fourth in the State, of which Holyoke, the fifth place in the State, furnishes $3,039,050; Palmer, $1,320,017; and Springfield, $771,432, most of this last amount being produced at the village of Indian Orchard, in the outskirts of the city limits. Holyoke stands seventh in the State in the matter of woollen goods, producing them annually to the amount of $1,394,035, while Monson sends out goods worth $862,000. The value of the stone quan-ied in the connty j'early is $107,910, and Cliicopee alone makes agricultural implements valued at $80,000. There are in the count}- 3,736 farms, containing 316,015 acres, the total value of land and buildings being $14,496,445. The total value of the products is $2,774,297. Springfield, "Westfield, Holyoke, "West Springfield and Agawam are all supplied with water from aqueducts — the Springfield reservoir, which is the largest, being located in Ludlow, twelve miles distant, and covering 445 acres. Springfield, Holyoke, "Westfield and Chico- pee have public gas-works. Bridges stand prominent among the public improvements of the county ; and of the ten bridges that span the Connecticut in Massachu- setts, seven touch the banlts of Hampden County. Going back now, some facts remain to be stated con- cerning the settlement, division and incorporation of the towns. Monson, which was set aside as a district in 17G0, — "Wilbraham, which had likewise been incorpo- rated in 17C3, — and Southwick, which became a di.itrict in 1770, — became towns b}' the operation of a general law passed in 1786. Holland and "Wales, which, with Monson, were included in the original territory of Brim- field, became districts in 1762 and towns in 1796. The latter was first called South Brimfleld, and assumed its present name in 1828, it being the family name of a number of the inhabitants. Holland was settled as early as 1720, the prominent names of the first settlers being Lyon, Blodgett, HoUoway, Belknap, Cram, Nelson and Bond. Ludlow was incorporated in 1774, about twenty- five years after its first settlement. Montgomery was incorporated as a town in 1780, and Russell in 1792 — both having previously been included in "Westfield. "West Springfield, although settled about twenty years after Springfield, was not incorporated until 1774, the act then being the result of rivalry for political power between the inhabitants on opposite sides of the river. Holyoke was incorporated as the third parish of West Spring- field, in 1786, and became a city in 1873, most of its growth having occurred since 1850. This place was the scene of the disastrous burning of a French Catholic church, in 1875, by which eighty persons lost their lives. The second parish, at the south end of the town, was divided in 1800 into the two parishes of Agawam and Feeding Hills, and in 1855 these two were together in- corporated as the town of Agawam. Some Stockbridge Indians lived in West Springfield as late as 1783, and were the last of their tribe. Tolland, which had pre- viousl}' been a parish of Granville, was incorporated as a town in 1810. Hampden County itself was incorpo- rated in 1812, being the last to be set off from the old Hampshire County, which formeriy covered the present four western counties of the State. The villages of Cabofriille, "Willimansett, Chicopee Falls and Chicopee Street were set off from Springfield as the town of Chico- pee, in 1848, and finally the town of Hampden was sep- arated from the mother town of "Wilbraham in 1878. "Wilbraham celebrated its centennial in 1863, and Lud- low and West Springfield theirs in 1874. Westfield cel- ebrated its bi-ccntennial in 1869 ; and the two hundredth anniversar}- of the burning of Springfield was commemo- rated by an historical address by Judge Hemy Morris, formerly of the Court of Common Pleas. During the late Civil war the spirit of patriotism ran high in Hampden County, as in all other parts of the Commonwealth. Out of a population of about 60,000, some 6,239 men are recorded as having entered the anny of the Union, while the number was doubtless much larger. This, however, was a surplus of 486 over the number required. Among them were 222 commissioned officers. The tenth, twenty-seventh and forty-sixth regiments were recruited in this immediate locality, being in camp first at Springfield. These regiments were in active ser\ice in all the armies and in almost MASSACHUSETTS. every campaign of the war, and iniiforml}- ccndncted themselves crcditaljl}-, many of the officers winning pro- motion. They were sustained by patriotic utterances from their friends at home, every town in the county offering a bountj' for recruits, and agreeing to look after, and, if necessar}', minister to the wants of their families. The county spent $G30,031 for the prosecution of the war, besides $34,851 raised by private contributions. A " Soldiers' Rest" was maintained at Springfield, and the sanitary commissions of the county united in a very successful and profitable fair at Springfield in 18G4. Several of the towns have memorial monuments for those of their sons who fell during the war. The countj-, although it is the seat of no college or theological seminarj', has plaj'ed an important part in the theological development of New England, its doc- trinal dissensions being confined to no one communitj' or generation. The first pastor at Springfield, Rev. Mr. Moxon, had a well-defined case of witchcraft in his own family in 164.5, which was the first to occur in New England. He is suspected of having left for his home in England in disgust, because the alleged witch, one Goody Parsons, was acquitted on her trial at Boston. "William P3"nchon also, the founder of the settlement, was driven out of the Colonj' because of the heretical notions of a book he published. The General Court deposed him from the magistracj-, ordered the book to be publicly burned, and appointed a divine to write a replj' to it. After he had returned to England, Mr. P3-nchon published another edition of his book, which seems to have been quite an able production. A still greater stir was caused in the years from 1734 to 1736, concerning the installation over the Springfield parish of Rev. Robert Brcck, whom some of the ministers considered unorthodox. One council refused to ordain him, and another, called for the purpose, was broken up hy the sheriff", who arrested LIr. Breck on a warrant for heresy, which required him to appear at New London for trial. He was, however, admitted to bail ; was afterwards acquitted on the trial, and installed in 1736, when the excitement had quieted down. His lovable disposition, and wise management, soon united the church in his favor, and he remained in the pastorate fort3--nine years, or until his death. In the present centurj' the same church was shaken by the Unitarian controversy, which resulted in the withdrawal of a large colony to found the present Church of the Unity. The Baptist Church in Gran\-ille is due to a split in the Congregational Church of the town, in the middle of the last centurj', in regard to " Stoddardeanism," or the question whether the sacra- ment of the Lord's Supper was a converting ordinance. An Episcopal Church was organized at Blandford, about 1795, bj- a faction of the Congregationalists who differed from the pastor's views on the subject of unconditional election. The Ludlow churches were for many years involved in a lawsuit concerning the disposition of cer- tain funds for the support of preaching, all of which goes to the Congregationalists. The discussion of the subject of eternal punishment which extended through the whole countrj- in the winter of 1877-8 originated in the refusal of a Congregational council to instal a pastor over a church at Indian Orchard in Springfield, whose views on this subject did not meet their approval. The first churches in the county were, of course, of the Puritan, or Congregational faith ; but all denominations are now represented. The first settlers at Palmer were Prcsbj-terians, and established a church of that sect there in 1730, which, however, became Congregational about 1806. Most of the church-goers in Wales are Baptists. The church is still standing on Beech Hill, in the south part of Blandford, in which the first ]Mcthodist conference east of the Hudson was held. Springfield is the episcopal residence for the large Roman Catholic diocese of Western Massachusetts. Christ Episcopal Church in Springfield has had no less than three rectors who have afterwards become bishops: Henry W. Lee, A. N. Littlcjohn, and Alexander Burgess. Hampden County contains no institutions of learning of the highest grade, but it furnishes unsurpassed facili- ties for obtaining a common, or preparatory education All of the towns support the common schools, and mos of them high schools as well, Southwick and AVest Springfield having funds for the support of their schools, The Roman Catholics maintain separate denominational schools at Springfield, Holyoke and Chicopee. West- field had an academy from 1800 to 1857, which was .started by a town appropriation of $2,000, a subscrip. tion of $1,000, and a legislative grant of half a town- ship in Maine. It was an important factor in the intel- lectual training of most of the towns in the western part of the county, and was discontinued because of the proximity of other more generously endowed institu- tions. Its funds arc accumulating interest, and may yet be found useful. The State Normal School at Westfield was established there in 1844, having been located for five years at Barre, and was the second school of the kind in the State. A school of observation is maintained in connection with it, and the recent erection of a new boarding-hall furnishes the school with an excellent set of buildings. Monson Academy was incorporated in 1804, and the building erected in 1806 by contributions of the citizens of the town. This also received a half HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. township of Maine land from the legislature, and is well equipped with libraiy, observatory and laboratory. There is a fund to aid students preparing for the min- istry, and a large number of its graduates have entered that calling. The State Primary School is also in the northern part of Monson, not far from the Palmer depot, and is designed for the education and training of the children of State paupers. It has about 500 inmates, and a large farm is nm in connection with the school. The Hitchcock Free High School at Brimfield was estab- lished in 18.55, being endowed by the late Samuel A- Hitchcock to the amount of $80,000. The school is free to all, including non-residents. Wesleyan Academy, at ■Wilbraham, claims to be the oldest existing literaiy in- stitution under the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America, being established by the New Eng- land Conference at New Market, N. H., in 1818, and transferred to Wilbraham in 1823. The first principal was Rev. Wilbur Fisk, D. D. Both sexes are admitted to the benefits of the school, and the institution holds a verj' warm place in the hearts of Methodists over a large region. The large boarding-hall was twice burned down, in 1856 and 1857. There are 214 public schools in the county, with buildings valued at $1,119,787. Besides the numerous church and school and private circulating libraries, there are public libraries at Springfield, Chico- pee, Holj-oke, Monson, Palmer, Wilbraham, West Springfield and Westfield, containing, altogether, 51,5G8 volumes and 1,750 pamphlets, and having a 3'earl3' circulation of 69,822 books. Two dailj' newspapers are published at Springfield, the ' ' Republican " and the " Union," the former of which has a national reputation. Holj-oke supports two semi- weekUes, the "Transcript" and the "News" ; Westfield two weeklies, the "Times" and the "Advertiser," and Palmer also has a weekly, the " Journal." A weekly agricultural paper, the " New England Homestead," is published at Springfield, where also are issued the "Fancier's Jomiial," and " Sundaj- Afternoon," both monthly. The list of distinguished men who have originated in Hampden County, or have been closely connected with its historj-, is a long and brilliant one, beginning with the first settlers. William Pynchon, the leader of the Colony, has been already alluded to as a man of educa- tion and ability. His son John, who was called "The worshipful Major Pynchon," had even more stiiking talents in some respects than his father. He was re- spected as a magistrate, and was a man of remarkable business energ}-, being connected prominently with all the schemes of his daj- for the development of the region. Dea. Samuel Chapin, one of the earl}' settlers, is notable, if for nothing else, by the fact that he is supposed to be the ancestor of all in America bearing his name. A large reunion of the family was held at Springfield in 1802. The county has been paiticularly fortunate in se- curing clergj-men of high ability. Besides Mr. Moxon and Mr. Breck, the Springfield Church had Pelatiah Grover, Daniel Brewer, and Bezaleel Howard, all of whom stood high among their clerical brethren ; and these were succeeded by Rev. Dr. Samuel Osgood, — their sis pastorates reaching to 1854, or 218 years from the founding of the church. Dr. Osgood was possessed of great energy, and conducted his church through the trying days of the Unitarian controversy and the Anti- Slavery agitation, being himself an ardent Abolitionist. Rev. W. B. O. Peabody, the first pastor of the Unitarian Church in Springfield, to which he preached for 27 years, had rare poetic ability, and left a lasting memorial in the beautiful cemeter}', which was secured through his efforts. The South Congregational Church, of Springfield, had, for its first pastor. Rev. Dr. Noah Porter, now president of Yale College, and his successor. Rev. Dr. S. G. Buck- ingham, is still serving after a term of more than 30 jxars. Dr. Stephen Williams, the first minister of Long- meadow, was the son of Rev. John Williams of Deer- field, and was earned into capti^ity by the Indians when he was 11 j'cars old, and his sister, who was captured at the same time, became so enamored of the savage life that she could not be induced to return to civilization. He was settled at Longmcadow in 1716, and continued as pastor 66 years, when he died in his ninetieth year. He was succeeded hy Richard Salter StoiTS, whose pas- torate extended over the other third of a centurj-. His son was an eminent minister, and lived to an advanced age at Braintree, and his grandson is the present famous preacher of Brooklyn, New York, all three having the same name. Dr. Joseph Lathrop, of West Springfield, was one of the most remarkable divines that has lived in the Connecticut Valley, both in the quality and amount of his work. He was ordained over the church in 1754, and continued as pastor until 1818, when he asked for a colleague. He wrote 5,000 sermons, of which seven octavo volumes were published. He was succeeded for 10 3"ears bj' Rev. Dr. W. B. Sprague, afterwards of Al- bam-, who, besides the duties of a busy and fruitful ministerial life, performed a large amount of excellent literary work. * Rev. Dr. Timothy M. Coolcj-, a native of Granville, was pastor of the Congregational Church in that town from 1 795 to 1854. The same town also pro- duced Rev. Lemuel ILaj-nes, a colored preacher, who • Spraguc's Pulpit Annals are well kno-mi. MASSACHUSETTS. died in 1833, at the age of 80, and is said to have been marvellously- eloquent. Rev. Gordon Hall, one of the pioneers in American Foreign Missions, was born in the part of Granville that is now Tolland, and died in India in 182G, at the age of 42. His son has been a pastor at Northampton since 1852. Another eminent missionary was Rev. Justin Perkins, who was born in Ireland Parish, now a part of Holj'oke, in 1805, was ordained as a missionary in 1833, and spent 36 j-ears in the Nestorian field, where he translated the entire Bible into modern Syriac, and published a number of books. Among the preachers that have occupied the pulpit of the Ludlow Congregational Church was Elijah Iledding, afterwards senior bishop of the Methodist Chui'ch, who made his residence at Ludlow during the 3'ear 1811 while serving as presiding elder. N. E. Cob- leigh, afterwards president of Appleton University in Wisconsin, and editor of " Zion's Herald," organized the Methodist Chm-ch at Tliomdike, in Palmer, in 1847. Dr. Mark Trafton, a prominent Methodist preacher, has had a number of appointments in the count3-, and was once representative to Congress from the eleventh district. Rev. Dr. Emerson Davis of Westfield was an important figure in that vicinitj' for many years. He was connected with the Westfield Academy from 1824 to 1835, when he left to become the colleague of Mr. Knapp in the pas- torate of the First Congregational Church, in which posi- tion he continued until his sudden death in 1866, being always a prominent adviser in the cause of education.* The Hampden Count}' bar also presents a list of names that are justly a matter of pride. Col. John Woi-thing- ton has already' been mentioned, whose transcendent ability was counteracted by his Tor}' principles during the Revolution, in the estimation of his fellow-citizens. Isaac C. Bates was a native of Granville, and was a graceful, convincing orator, either before a jury or on the rostrum. He served several terms in the national House of Representatives, and five years in the Senate. While a member of the latter bod}-, in 1845, he delivered an impassioned address against the admission of Texas, then sank down, and lived but a few days. George Bliss was a native of Springfield, born in 1 764. He was a deeply studious lawj'er, served in both branches of the legislature, and was a member of the Hartford Convention of 1814. He left two valuable addresses on local his- tory. His son, of the same name, was largely instru- mental in getting the railroad route from Boston to Albany laid through Springfield. Oliver B. Morris was a native of Wilbraham and a graduate of Williams. He • In this list of Hampden County notables, it would seem that Dr. Ide, for many years the popular pastor of the First Baptist Church in was prosecuting attornej-, register of probate, and then, for more than a quarter of a century, judge of probate, in which office his fairness shone forth conspicuously. He was fond of antiquarian and literary pursuits, and devoted his closing years entirely to these, d^-iug in 1871, at the age of 88. John Mills, a native of Sandisfield, married a daughter of Col. Enos Foot of Southwick, and settled in that town, being admitted to the bar in 1815. He finally left his profession to engage in commercial pursuits. He was president of the State Senate, and was talked of for the United States Senate, being popularly known as " Honest John Mills." Pat- rick Boise, a native of Blandford, was a graduate of Williams, and was admitted to the bar in the same year with Mr. Mills. He served as sherifi", also in both branches of the legislature, and in the governor's coun- cil. He spent the last thirty years of his life at West- field, where he died in 1850. George Ashmun, who died at Springfield in 1870, was admitted to the bar in 1830. After a few years his attention was diverted from his practice by politics and other employments. He served several terms in Congress. He was chairman of the Republican n.ttional convention of 1860 which nominated Lincoln for the presidency ; and, curiously enough, Mr. Ashmun received from the President the last line that be wrote before leaving for the theatre where he was assas- sinated. Reuben Atwater Chapman was born at Rus- sell in 1801. With no more preparation than could be gained in the district schools, as pupil and teacher, and in a debating society, while clerk in a store at Bland- ford, he began the study of law, and was admitted to practice in 1825. After failing to get enough business at either Westfield or Monson, he moved to Ware in 1829, but went to Springfield a year later to enter into a partnership with George Ashmun, which lasted until 1850. Mr. Chapman became a judge of the Supreme Court in 1860, and chief justice in 1868, d3'ing in 1873 at Lake Luzerne, Switzerland, having shown by his career the splendid results attainable b}' industry' and perseverance. Caleb Rice, admitted to the bar in 1819, settled in West Springfield, represented the town in both houses of the legislature, was sheriff from 1831 to 1851, and then moved to Springfield, where he was elected the first mayor under the city charter. WUliam B. Calhoun was also drawn from the practice of the law by a love of politics. He was a representative in Congress for many years, was speaker of the State House of Representa- tives from 1828 to 1835, was president of the Senate for two years, and was mayor of Springfield. John Wells, Springfield, should he mentioned. He wag a prominent man in his denomination, and an exceptionably able and eloquent preacher. — Ed. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. a graduate ofWilliams College, settled in Chicopee in 1841. For twentj'-five years he was a prominent member of the Hampden Count}' bar, and judge of probate and insolvencj' from 1858 to 1866, when he was appointed a justice of the Supreme Judicial Court. He was a man of great kindness, well-digested learning, and fearless independence. He died in 1871, at the age of 56. Gen. William Shepard of Westfield, who acted so creditably in crushing the Shays Rebellion, showed ad- mirable qualities as a soldier and citizen. He ser\-ed six years under Gen. Abercrombie, and, at the breaking out of the Revolution, was commissioned as lieutenant- colonel. He was wounded at the battle of Long Island, and went through twenty-two battles during the war. He was afterwards a State representative, senator, and councillor, and several times a member of Congress, and a commissioner to treat with the Penobscot Indians. Notwithstanding the many offices he held, his honesty was incorruptible, and he lived, and died, in moderate circumstances. Oliver Phelps a native of Granville, and at first a servant boy, became a commissary in the Revolutionary army, and rendered seridces of which Washington made distinct acknowledgment. Mr. Phelps afterwards, with Nathaniel Gorham, bought the county of Genesee in New York State, opened it up for settle- ment, and represented the district in Congress. Another pioneer enterprise from Gran-Nalle was the settling of Granville, O., by a colony under the leadership of Timothy Rose. The western namesake of the Hampden County hill-town contains a college and two academies, and is an unusually intelligent and well-behaved com- munity'. Gen. William Eaton of Brimfield filled a large portion of the public eye in his day, being a verj- bril- liant but eccentric militarj' hero. After serving in the army sis years, he resigned his commission, and was appointed consul to Tunis in 1798, where he remained for four years, conducting negotiations for the protection of commerce on the Mediterranean, and receiving a tribute from the King of Denmark for services rendered that country. When war was declared against Tripoli, he returned to Africa in 1805, and organized an expedi- tion in the interest of Hemet Bashaw, the rightful sov- ereign of Tripoli, which involved a march of 600 miles across the the desert of Barca. By the co-operation of the fleet, the city of Deme was taken, and the American consul made use of the panic which followed to conclude a treaty with the Bashaw, much to Eaton's disgust, who wanted to see Hemet restored to the throne. On his return to this countrj' Aaron Burr offered Eaton the second post in his projected kingdom, which offer he dis- closed, and was a witness for the government at the trial for treason. John Brown, the anti-slaverj' martjT, was a resident of Springfield from 1846 to 1849, being engaged in the wool business, and also doing consider- able work on the underground railway. Dea. A. W. Porter of Monson, who died in 1877, was a life-long friend of abolitionism, and also of education. He contributed liberally to Mt. Holyoke Seminary, Monson Academy, and other institutions. Whiting Street, a miserly bache- lor of Holj'oke, who died in 1878, left a large sum of monej' to charities, $106,000 going to various towns for the benefit of the worthy poor. Perhaps the most emi- nent citizen that Springfield ever produced was Samuel Bowles, editor of the " RepubHoan," who died in 1878, at the age of fifty-two, having had charge of the dailypaper ever since its issue was begun, thirty -three years before. His father founded the weekly " Republican," and the chief part of his education was obtained in the news- paper office. He esteemed the position of journalist higher than any public honor. Bj- the almost universal testimonj' of his contemporaries at his death, he was the foi'emost journalist of his day, and did more to elevate the profession than an}' other man. Dr. J. G. Holland, the well-known writer, was associated with Mr. Bowles in the management of the " Republican," for manj' 3'ears. Chester W. Chapin, the millionaire, ex-president of the Boston and Albanj- Railroad, is a native of Ludlow. He began life bj' trading in a small way at Chicopee, and trucking at Springfield. He became interested in stage lines, and afterwards in steam-boat na^-igation between Springfield and Hartford, which business paid immense profits. When railroads were introduced he was one of the first to be interested. His profits have been invested in various directions, and he own shares in several transportation companies and manufacturing concerns. He was elected to Congress in 1874 at the age of seventy- six, and was the oldest member of the House. He held the presidency of the Western or Boston and Albany Railroad from 1854 to 1878. Towns. * Springfield, the capital of Hampden County, is a beautiful, industrial, and progressive cit}', ninety-eight miles south-west of Boston, by the Boston and Albany R.iilrond, having a population of 31,053. It is finely situated on the left bank of the Connecticut River, and embraces many elegant public buildings and private residences, together with the ample grounds and struct- ures of the United States Armory, established here in 1795. There are several handsome ponds at Indian •.The following description of the towns of Hampden County is talien from Nason's " Gazetteer of Massachusetts." — Ed. MASSACHUSETTS. Orchard, which find an outlet into Chicopee River ; and Mill River, with its branches, drains the central parts of the citj-, and furnishes important motive-power. Springfield is the grand railroad and commercial cen- tre for the western section of the State, and is admirably situated for the transaction of mercantile or industrial business. The Boston and Albanj-, the Hartford, New- Haven and Springfield, and the Connecticut River rail- roads, come together here, and give the citj' immediate and direct communication with every other city in the country-. An immense amount of freight and tra\-ol passes through or terminates at this central point. The principal avenue, and seat of business, is Main Street, which extends along the river to tlie distance of about three miles. It is a broad and beautiful ave- nue, shaded with trees, and flanked with hand- some buildings, generally of brick. In the centre of the cit}' there is a beau- tiful square for prome- nade, adorned with shade- trees, and with winding walks and alleys. Among the conspicuous buildings are the new court house (of granite) , the city hall, the city library (a hand- some structure, built of brick, with yellow-stone trimmings, and containing about 40,000 volumes), the Unitarian and Memo- rial churches, the vaiious school-houses, the Massasoit House, and the Ilaynes House, together with the solid brick structures of the Armory. The industries of the place are remarkably varied, almost every trade and mechanic art being represented. Among tlie manufactures may be men- tioned cotton and woollen goods (to a limited extent) , mechanics' tools, hollow-ware, hand-cards, steam-engines and boilers, railroad-coaches, locks, buttons, paper col- lars, jewelry, military goods, photographic albums, pis- tols and other fire-arms, cartridges, bricks in large quantities, boxes, sashes and blinds, India-rubber goods, and numerous other articles. The Smith & Wesson Pistol Company, and the N. E. Card and Paper Company, are very large establishments. The United States Arsenal and Armory-, situated on Arsenal Hill, PUBLIC LIBRARY, SPBlNGFIEI.l). about half a mile east of Main Street, is enclosed in a square of about 20 acres. The buildings are sub- stantially constructed of brick, and contain vast stores of fire-arms, arranged in perfect order, and ready for immediate use. From the tower of one of the buildings, a magnificent view of the city and the suburbs may be had. The workshops, comprising about 20 water- wheels and 30 forges, are on Miller's River, in the southern part of the cit^'. Springfield has an excellent sj'stem of public schools, now mider the superintendence of Mr. A. P. Stone. The city has seven banks for discount, two for savings, various civic and benevolent institutions, and two very ably conducted public journals — "The Repub- lican" and " The Union." Tlio churches, more than 20 iu number, are gener- ally well constructed and commodious. Among the eminent men, not previousl}' men- tioned, who have origi- nated in Springfield, are Enos Hitchcock, D. D. (1744-1803), an able di- vine and author ; Calvin Chapin, D. D. (17G3- 1851), an eloquent and j earnest preacher ; Wil- Uam Harris, D.D. (17C5- 1829), president of Col- umbia College for eighteen years ; Rev. Francis War- riner (1805-1S66,) an able writer ; "VVorthington Hooker, M. D. (1806-1867), an author ; David A. Wells ( 1828 ) , an editor and author ; and the late Hon. Benjamin F. Wade, a distinguished United States Senator. HoLYOKE is a new, enterprising, and rapidly-increasing city, lying on the right bank of the Connecticut River, in the extreme north-central part of Hampden County, and contains a population of 16,260 inhabitants. It was formerly the northern section of West Springfield, and was incorporated as a town March 11, 1850; and as a city Jlay 29, 1873. The remarkable growth and prosperity of this city are due almost wholly to the great hyckaulic power derived from the Coimccticut River. It is only within a few years that this power has been HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. controlled, and made subsenuent to the will of man. Until 1847, the fall of. the Connecticut at South Hadlcy, which is about sixtj' feet, was neglected. At that time a party of capitalists from Boston obtained the uicorpo- poration of the Hadley Falls Company, the purpose of which was to construct a dam across the river, and one or more locks and canals, by means of which a water- power might be created for the use of this company in the manufacture of articles from cotton, wool, iron, wood, and other materials, and for the purposes of na-\ngation. Four million dollars was the capital stock of this corpo- ration, divided into shares of $000 each. It also had authority to hold real estate not exceeding in value $500,000. This company bought the entire property and franchise of the Proprietois of the Locks and Canals on the Connecticut River, and purchased the fishing-rights above, and 1,100 acres of land where now stands the city of Holyoke. The dam was constructed in 1848, but in sucli an unsubstantial manner, that, in a few hours after the gates were shut, it was swept away. The next j'ear, the company, nothing daunted, con- structed the present dam, which is a grand triumph of skill and art in the control of a magnificent natural power. The length of this structure is 1,017 feet, or about one-fifth of a mile. The abutments at either end are of solid masonry, both together measuring 13,000 square rods. Four million feet of timber are contained in the structure ; all of which, being under water, is pro- tected from decaj'. During the construction of the dam, the water was allowed to flow through gates in it, 16 by 18 feet, of which there were 46 in all. When the work was finished, at twentj--two minutes before one o'clock in the afternoon of Oct. 22, 1849, the engineer gave the signal, and half the gates were closed. Another signal immediatel}' fol- lowed, and the alternate gutes were also closed. The river ceased its flow, until its waters, gradually collecting, rose upon the face of the dam, and finally fell in a broad sheet over its crest. Since the construction of this dam in 1849, the town and cit}- of Holyoke have come into existence ; and the cit}- is now one of our most important inland manufactur- ing centres, containing some of the largest, most costly, and well-arranged modern mill*, with the latest improved machinery, to be found in the country. From these busy • By the last statistical report on the industry of the State, this town had seven cotton-mills, with 114,208 spindles, employing 1,218 persons; one woollen-mill, with one set of machinery, and 23 persons ; one fiu- nace, cmployini? 40 persons ; two brass-foundiics, employing 400 per- sons ; one establishment for making military equipments, mail-ljags, &c., carried on by 250 hands ; one also for small-arms, giving employment to 2-50 persons; one lock manufactory, to 41 persons; aud four tin- ware workshops great quantities of cotton and woollen cloths, paper, thread, and other textile goods, are annually sent forth. The number of mills is five cotton, fifteen paper, three woollen, and two thread, affording steady employ- meat to a large number of male and female operatives. A writer sajs, " The city, celebrated for the fine paper made there, has fourteen paper mills, with a nominal capital of $1,500,000, which give employment to 2,000 opera! ives. Tliree large cotton factories, whose aggre- gate capital is $1,930,000, employ 1,900 hands ; and two threatl-mills, with $950,000 capital, employ 800 opera- tives. Three woollen mills, employ 450 men ; and the Holyoke Ma<-hine Works give work to 250 men. Tlio Holyoke Water-power Company also gives emplo^Tuent to many persons. The Holyoke Lumber Company is also in successful operation, its first drive of 15,000,000 logs having been brought down in July, 1872." The city has two national and two savings banks. The Hadley Falls National Bank and the Holyoke National Bank have each an aggregate capital of $400,- 000. There are nine religious societies having churches, many of them commodious and tasteful structures. Tiie city has a new and elegant city hall, one high school and thirty-two graded schools, a public library of 5,000 volumes, a lyceum, a farmers' club, and two newspapers. The Ingleside House, on the margin of the river, is a quiet retreat, which commands a \ievf of some very charming scenen,-. The railroad lines passing through the city are the Connecticut River, and the Holyoke and Weslfield. The water-supplj- is pure and abundant. CmcoPEE, one of the most important manufacturing towns of Hampden County, contains 10,335 inhabitants. The land is generally level, and the soil productive. The Chicopee River, which here unites with the Connecti- cut, affords a very superior hydraulic power, to which the town is mainly indebted for its prosperit}- and wealth. The manufacturing interests of this place are very important, and multitudes of people, among whom there is a strong foreign element, find emplo^-ment in the ex- tensive industrial establishments whoso varied machinery is driven by tiie motive-power of the Chicopee River.* The town has three postal centres, — Chicopee, Chico- establishmcnts, in which 11 hands were laboring; together with estab- lishments for making power-loom harnesses, boots and shoes, clothing, brooms, hair-pins, soap, and other articles. The Dwight Manufactming Company have now seven large cotton-mills ; the Ames Manufacturing Company make bronze statues of excellent quality ; and the Chicopee Manufacturing Company make cotton-flannels and other textile goods, which stand high in the market. MASSACHUSETTS. pee Falls, and Willimansctt, a thriving village opposite the eit3' of Holj-okc, — and is accommodated b^' the Con- necticut Eiver Railroad, -which runs along its western border, crossing the Connecticut at Willimansett ; and also bj' a branch railroad -which extends from C'hicopce along the left bank of Chicopee Eiver to Chicopce Falls. The vie-w of this village from the high bluffs on the right bank of the river is remarkably beautiful. A recentlj-- erectcd cotton-mill is the largest in the western part of the State. The structure is 425 feet long, 195 feet deep, and has a capacity of about 600 horse-po-wcr. The Belcher & Taylor Company, at the Falls, manufacture a remarkable variety of agricultural implements. The town has twent3"-flve public schools, of which two are high schools ; a bank of discount (with a capital of $150,000), a bank for savings, an efficient fire depart- ment, an elegant town hall, and nine churches. The first minister, Eev. John McKin- stry, ordained in 1752, sus- tained the relation of pastoi 61 3'ears. Westfield is a large and flourishing town, of 8,431 in- habitants, on Westfield Eiver. in tlie westerlj' part of Hamp- shire Count}-, 10 miles from Springfield. The Boston and Albany and the New Haven and Northampton railroads intersect each other at the Centre. The most prominent elevation is Pochassic Hill, a beautiful and sightl}' eminence north-west of the Centre. The Westfield Eiver, a clear and rapid stream, flows through tlie central section, giving valuable hydraulic power. The scenic aspect of the place is verj- beautiful. The Centre occupies a valley, or basin, encircled by wooded hills and bluffs, and is supposed to have been, in forni'-r times, the bed of a lake, whose waters broke through the IMount Tom range of highlands, and dis- charged themselves into the Connecticut Eiver. The abrupt declivit}', the forest-crowned heights, the river, and the glen, conspire to form a landscape of unusual beauty. There are seven saw-mills, which have prepared as many as 895,000 feet of timber and 475,000 shingles for market in a j-ear. The manufactures consist of wliips, organs, parts of piano-fortes, writing and wrap- ping papers, trunks, coaches, clothing, powder, brick, cigar-boxes, and many other articles. There are in this flourishing town two banks of discount and two banking-houses, a good town hall, a pubhc librarj-, and two well-edited public journals. The educational advantages of the place are excellent. The town is divided into twenty school districts, and sustains an efliciont high school. Oue of the State normal schools is established at this place. The town has five handsome church buildings. Many of the public and private edi- fices are of beautiful architectural design. The streets are ornamented with ancient trees, and the sidewalks paved with concrete. The water supply is excellent. A monument has been erected to the soldiers who lost their lives in the service of the countrj' during the late war. Edward Bancroft, a writer of considerable abilitj', was born in this place Jan. 9, 1744, and died in England, Sept. 8, 1820. Thomas Bangs Thorpe, a painter and author of some celebrit}', was born here March 1, 1815. W E 3T Speingfield extends nlong the right bank of the Connecticut Eiver, embracing a n< h alluvial valley, flanked b\ wild and wooded eminences on the west. A bridge over llip Connecticut River cou- nt cts the town with Spring- full on the east. BlackBrook, m outlet of Ashley's Pond in Hohokc, and on which there IS I paper-mill, drains the westerly section of the town. The number of inhabitants is 3,739. The culture of garden vegetables for market, and of tobacco, engrosses much attention. The town has one cotton mill of 20,000 spindles, employing about 300 persons, and two paper- mills, with an aggregate capital of $200,000. Wagons, sleighs, and carriages are also manufactured here. The town has a new town hall, a public library of 1,300 volumes, a good high school, and six church edifices. MoNSON is a verj' large and beautiful town, of 3,733 inhabitants, situated in the south-easterly part of Hamp- den Count}'. It is accommodated by the New London Northern Railroad, which passes through its centre. The [ Boston and Albany Riukoad runs tlirough its northern | section. Large quantities of gneiss, known as " gran- ite," are quarried here, and used for building purposes. The scenic aspect of the town is very fine. Moon Moun- tain, in the south-west, is a handsome eminence, and Peaked Mountain, in the same quarter, rising to the j ^^^^^M^^^^ HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. height of 1,239 feet, commands a prospect of great extent and bcaut3-. A narrow valley, abounding in rich meadows and streamlets, extends from north to south entirely through the township. A pleasant streamlet flows northerlj', draining the cen- tral part of the town, and allording good nnll ])ii\ lU ses. The Chicopee River, which wa^^lu ^ 1 w i 'i 'i n in border, is here a swift and valuable stream. In addition to agri- cultural, lumbering, and quarrying inter- ests, Monson has six woollen mills, having two sets of machinery each, and a verj' large hat and bonnet manu- factory. It has a national bank, three churches, a farmers' club, eleven public schools, and a first- class institution, known as " Monson Academy." * The State Primarj'' School, formerly the State Almshouse, is located in this pleasant town. Monson was a favorite resort of the Indians, and arrow-heads are fre- ^^ _ , _ _ ,-^^_ quently found. The remains of an Indian were exhumed sev- eral years ago in the valle3'on the left bank of the Chicopee River He was found in a sit ting position, with a gun and bottle by his side. James Lj-man Mer- rick, a missionarj and author, was born here Oct. 11, 1803, and died in Amherst, June 1.^, IsbO. This town was the residence of the late Chief Justice Reuben A. Chap- man, who died, greatly lamented, in 1873. Monson is noted as having been long the residence of Mrs. Phoebe Hinsdale Brown, author of the well-known sacred Ij-ric, « I love to steal awhile away," • This institution was long in charge of that eminent instructor, the late Rev. Charles Hammond, A. M. Mr. Hammond was bora in Union, Conn., June 15, 1813 ; was graduated from Yale in 1S39, and at once took charge of Monson Academy, where, excepting a few years BOABBQJQ-UOCaE, 1VXLBHAHASI ACADOIT, wtthraham and other hj-mns. A son is a missionary to Japan, and a translator of the Bible into the Japanese language. WiLBRAHAM lies in the south-eastern part of Hampden County, on the Boston and Albany Railroad. The local scenery is rtmaikably beautiful; the land ling glades and valleys, or rising into picturesque emi- ~ ncnces, from or near which small stream- lets flow in various di- rections through the territory. The Chic- opee River washes the entii-e northern border. Rattlesnake Hill, which has an altitude of 1.077 feet, rises grandly on the Connecticut line. A " range of hills extends | from this point north- erly and centrally nearly through the town. The number of inhabitants is 2,576. The principal business of the people is agriculture. There is a large paper-mill at Collins Depot. The Wesleyan Academy, a flourish- =_„,-_ -_.,„.„^_^„ . ing literary institu- tion, is located here. The Rev. Rufus P. Stebbins, D.D., adis- tinguished preacher, is a native of AVilbra- ham. John Stearns, \ M.D., a noted phy- sician, was bom here in 1770, and died March 18, 1848. Palmer is a pop- ulous and thriving town, occupjang the north-west extremity of Hampden County, and contain- ing 4, .572 inhabitants. Its form is quite irregular, and from this circumstance it originally bore the name of '•The Elbows." The New London and Northern, the Ware River, the Belchertow^n and Amherst, and the Boston and All^any railroads, meet at Palmer Depot, in passed at Andover in theological study, and eleven years devoted to the | cause of education as the principal of the Lawrence Academy at Groton, he continued successfully to labor until his death, which took place Nov. 7, 187S. MASSACHUSETTS. the southerly part, and afford unusual facilities for travel and the transportation of merchandise. There is a mineral spring of some celebritj' on the right bank of the Chicopoe River, in the easterlj' part of the town ; and Pattaquattic Ponds, on the left banks of "Ware River, are very beautiful. Colonel's Mountain rises to the height of 1 , 1 72 feet in the extreme north-east. Tlie water-power is vcrj- valuable, and well employed. It is formed by the Chieopee River (which sweeps for several miles around the southern border) and the Ware and Swift rivers (which meet the Chieopee at the village of Three Rivers on the western line). Few towns have such an affluence of river scenerj^ and water-power, and, as a result of it, pleasant manufacturing villages have sprung up in differ- ent localities through the town. Bj' the last statistical report, there were three cotton mills, having an aggre- gate of 40,128 spindles, and emplojing 411 persons ; one woollen miU, one scythe manufactorj-, one furnace for hollow ware, and four saw -mills. The other manufactures are clothing, coaches, medicines, boots and shoes, churns and reeds, and cabinet ware. Palmer has a public high school, and fifteen schools of a lower grade, a bank for savings, and a well-con- ducted newspaper. The Rev. Zephaniah Swift Moore, D. D., first presi- dent of Amherst College, was born here Nov. 20, 1770, and died at Amherst, June 30, 1823. Agawam, a very beautiful town of 2,248 inhabitants, lies in the southern part of Hampden County, on the B. and A. R. R. The land in the eastern part is level or undulating ; in the western, hilly and broken. Proven's Hill, rising to the height of 6G5 feet in the north-western section, affords a magnificent view of the valley of the Westfield River, of the city of Springfield, and the towns adjoining. An affluent of the Connecticut River, nui- ning through the central village, furnishes valuable mo- tive-power. The soil is rich, and of easy cultivation. Tobacco is one of the most valuable productions. The principal manufactures are paper and woollen goods. The town has eleven public schools and three churches. "Feeding Hills" is a pleasant village in the western part of the town. The other towns in the county are mainly agricultural, and are as follows: Longmeadow (population, 1,4G7), Ludlow (1,222), Granville (1,240), Chester (1,30G), Brimficld (1,201), Southwick (1,114), "Wales (1,020), Blandford (964), Russell (643), Tolland (4y2), Mont- gomery (304), and Holland (334). Hampden, formerly South Wilbraham, was set off from Wilbraham in 1878. It has a small population and some manufactures. Ludlow has important manufacturing establishments in the thriving village of Jenksville, on the Chieopee River. Among the eminent persons, natives of the above- named towns, are Col. Timothy Danielson, a Revolu- tionary officer (Brimficld, 1733-91) ; Hon. Eli P. Ash- mun, U. S. senator (Blandford, 1770-1819) ; Rufus P. Ranney (1813) ; and Gamaliel S. Olds, a scholar and divine (Granville, 1777-1848). HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. BY MRS. S. F. WHITE. Hampshire Codnty, named from Hampshire, Eng., when first organized, in 1662, included the whole of Western Massachusetts, embracing the Connecticut Val- ley—the Eden of New England — and the beautiful mountains which gird the western portion of the State. For many years its boundaries were very indefinite. In 1731 Worcester County was formed, taking a portion of Hampshire County on the east, and thenceforth giving it a definite eastern boundary. In May, 1761, the western part of Hampshire County was set off, and became Berkshire County. Again, in 1811, the dissecting- knife of State authority was applied to old Hampshire, and Hampden County was formed from its southern section. In 1812 Hampshire was divided yet a fourth time, and the northern portion was made Franklin Count}'. Hampshire is thus the honored mother of Worcester, Berkshu-c, Hampden, and Franklin. The hills which lie thickly scattered over the western half of the county seem like detached and broken links from the main Green Mountain chain, and, if less grand, are not infe- rior in rugged beauty to their more elevated northern HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. kindred. The most widelj' known, though not the highest within the county, are Mount Tom, west of the Connecticut, 1,214 feet high, and Jlount Ilol^okc, on tlie east side of the river, 1,120 feet high. The latter has been pronounced tlic gem of Massachusetts moun- tains. It has long been a favorite resort of excursion- ists, especiallj' of all lovers of nature. Conveyance up its steep ascent is provided bj' a kind of railway, and a hotel on its summit affords the numerous visitors rest and refreshment. These magnificent natural observa- tories overlook that whicli, to her myriad lovers, is " The sweetest stream that flows. Winding and willow-fringed Connecticut," its broad vallej' covered with thriving villages and culti- vated fields, and threaded with highways and railways. The first settlement in tlie present Hampshire Count}' was made at Northampton, in 1654. Eigliteen j-ears pre-saous, a little company from Roxbury, obtaining from the General Court permission to remove, took up their line of march for the "far west," then the rich vallej' of the Great River of New England. This Uttle band of adventurers made Springfield Iheir home, and became the nucleus of ci\dlized society in Western Mas- sachusetts. Northampton was the first outgrowth of its pioneer spiiit. The territory in which the new settle- ment was embraced was known as Nonotuck, and in- cluded the present towns of Northampton, Easthampton, Southampton, Westhampton, and a portion of Hatfield and Montgomer}'. According to the custom usually adopted by the earl}' settlers of New England, the Indian title was extin- guished by formal purchase. The deed was given in 1G58, by Wanhillona, Nenessahalant, Nassieochec, and four other Indians, to John Pynchon, Elizur Ilolj'oke, and Samuel Chapin, Springfield commissioners. The price paid for the entire territory' of Nonotuck was " one hundred fathoms of wampum, ten coats, some small gifts, and plowing up of sixteen acres of land on the east side of the river." It is supposed that Northampton was incorporated as a town in the first j'ear of its settlement, in 1654. The records show that in the following year, town officers were elected called " townsmen," — a board answering to our selectmen, though with larger powers and wider discretion. The settlement of Hadley was five j-ears later than that of Northampton, and was made by an organized body of men from Hartford, Conn., the special occasion • An instance is given of a good deacon who vigorously protested when arrangements were in process for warming the church, and not being able to convince his brethi-en of the absurdity of thcu: procedure, of tlicir removal being an unhappj- diflference as to the proper qualifications for the ordinance of baptism and church membership. For the sake of peace, one party to the controversy concluded to leave Hartford and plant themselves together in a new settlement. To this end, under the lead of John Webster, the governor of Con- necticut, and Rev. John Russel of Weathersfield, sixty persons resolved to remove from Connecticut to Massa- chusetts. The territorj' allotted to them by the General Court, all included in the original town of " Hadleigh," com- passed in its ample bounds the present towns of Hadley, Hatfield, South Hadley, Amherst, and Granbj'. The founders of the Hadley settlement were men of means, character, and exi^erience. They employed Capt. P3n- chon to complete their title to the plantation bj- purchase of the Indians. On the 9th of November, 1659, seven "townsmen," or selectmen, were chosen, — William Westwood, Na- thaniel Dickinson, Lemuel Smith, Thomas Studlej'. John White, Richard Goodman and Nathaniel Wai'd, — those of the companj- who had not then removed from Hartford, as well as the actual settlers, participating in the election. These worthy pioneers, though burdened with toil and surrounded by danger, were not forgetful to make earlj' provision for public worship. As thev were able, thej' began with little log meeting-houses, in which a fire was unknown, even in the coldest season, save onlj' in the foot-stoves of the more fortunate ladies. The poor men had no other escape from freezing than a resort to a general clatter of heavj' boots. * Rev. Sol- omon Williams, when pastor at Northampton, used sometimes to preach in a blue great-coat, with a ban- danna handkerchief about his neck, and woollen mittens on his hands. In 1655, a local government was established for Northampton, and Thomas Bascom, Edward Elmore, and William Holton were appointed to try the more common misdemeanors. In those times, the dut}' of a magistrate included not only the administration of civil law, but extended into the more minute details of pri- vate affairs, which, in later times, would be regarded as an infringement on personal liberty. Legislation often fixed the price of labor, as well as various kinds of produce. For nearly forty years after the first settlement of the Connecticut Valloj', the inhabitants lived in peace with the red men. The Indians were treated with justice and exclaimed, in righteous indignation, '" A fire in a church, a fire in a church ; if you had enough of tho lovo of God in your hearts, you wouldn't need any fire ! " MASSACHUSETTS. generosity, and wero allovred nianj- privileges. Tlicy had their villages of wigwams on land belonging to the towns, and set apart for theii- use, and liberties were granted them for hunting and fishing. The policy adopted by the settlers from the first was, to keep fire-arms and intoxicating drinks from the sav- ages. Laws were strict on the subject, and violations being numerous, hea\y fines were paid. Northampton formed its first regular corapanj- of militia in 16G1, seven j'ears after its settlement. The first military company at Hadlcy was formed fom- years after its settlement. The wisdom of these preparations and precautions be- came apparent on the bi-eaking out of King Philip's war. Hadlc}- was made the headquarters of the English forces on the Connecticut Eiver. In the fall of 1C75 an attack was made on Hatfield by several hundi'ed Indians. The town at this time was garrisoned by two com- panies, one commanded bj' Capt. Mosely, the other by Capt. Pool. Capt. Appleton, with his forces from Ilad- ley, soon appeared on the scene of conflict. The attack was made on all sides. The battle was desperate, but the superior numbers of the Indians proved no match for the militai-j' discipline and skill of the English. The loss of the Indians could not be estimated, as nightfall covered Iheir retreat, and the3- strictly adhered to their custom of carrying off their dead. On the 14th of March, 1C7G, a furious but unsuccessful attack was made on Northampton. During the ever- memorable Falls fight, wliich occurred May 19, 167G, near the place now known as Timier's Falls, Capt. John Turner, and 14 others from Northampton, were killed. During this war the Indians made a fierce and well- planned assault on Hadlcy, and succeeded in breaking through the palisades. At this crisis a stranger appeared in the midst of the affrighted villagers ; his manner gave evidence of practice in militarj' affairs; he rallied, ar- ranged, and, where it was necessarj-, commanded the English forces ; his presence was an inspiration, and • This stranger was subsequently believed to have been none other than Goffe, one of the twenty-eight resicido judges at the trial of Cliailes I. of England, -who, on the accession of Charles II., with Iiis father-in- law Whallcy, sought refuge in America. They are believed to have lived in concealment for m.iny years in the tamily of Mr. Rusccll, the minister. Goflo had formerly been an officer of liish rank in Cromwell's army, and he retained so much of tlio Cromwcllian spirit as to enable hi;ri, on this occasion, to change impending defeat into complete victory. The truthfulness of the statement that these distrnguishcd refugees were concealed in lladley, has been doubted. Ei;t in the present stage of inqnirj-, unquestionably Hadlcy has the first claim as having been their place of refuge. Chester Gaylord, who was born in 17S2, and lived for many years on the old Russell homestead, has left a desa-iption of when the enemy were thoroughly- routed, the stranger disappeared as mysteriously as he made his advent. The people were ready to regard him as an angel sent from Heaven, on that special occasion, for their rescue* After the excitement connected with Philip's war had subsided, the witchcraft mania reappeared in the Con- necticut Valley, although in a comparatively mild form. A poor woman in Hadlejs on being accused of torturing in various waj's a hj'pochondriac neighbor, was taken from her liouse bj' a fanatical mob, and hung on a tree till nearl3- dead, then rolled and buried in the snow ; but she finallj- escaped from her tormentors. Tliere is no evidence t!i.at the witchcraft persecution received the sanction of law in Massachusetts. In the early historj' of the count}', physicians were few, and their services seem to have been less required than at the present d.ay. A single fact will serve as an illus- tration of the times in this regard. George Filer ob- tained permission of the Count}' Court " to practice as a chirurgeon." He remained a short time, then removed to Westfield. Except this temporary residence of Mr. Filer, Northampton had no physician for 72 years after its settlement. One of the most thrilling events of later times within the bounds of Hampshire County, is the fatal calamity so widely known as the Mill Eiver disaster, which has left an almost irrecoverable blight upon the thriving villages through which the desolatmg deluge swept. Early on the morning of May 16, 1874, the ill-fated reservoir, located about three miles north of Williams- burg Village, covering an area of 111 acres, with an aver- age depth of 24 feet, broke from its insecure fastenings, and rushed, like an avalanche, upon the beautiful villages in the valley below. Words are inadequate to portray the disastrous consequences. Only an eye-witness could realize the fearful devastation that was wrought, t The State legislature, then in session, promptly voted an appropriation for rebuilding the roads, the sum ex- pended not to exceed $1.50,000. Only $92,000 were used. Of the principal villages devastated, Haydenville the southern portion of the house, which, in his childhood, remained in its original condition. Ho speaks of a dark under-closet, which Avas en- tered only by removing a board from the chamber-floor. This closet was in close proximity to the large old-fashioned chimney, and there is a tr.adition that it was the hiding-place of the judges when their pur- suers passed through the house. In rebuilding the house a portion of the cellar-wall was removed, and the worI;mcn discovered the grave of a man of large size, though only a few bones and teeth remained. This was confidently claimed as the grave of Gen. AVhalley. + The wasted and dcath-sWclccn villages were "Williamsburg, Skin- nervillc and Haydenville m the town of Williamsburg, and Leeds in Korthampton. It has been estimated that the lofscs in thore fov.r places alone amount to fully §1,000,000, without including damages to HISTORY OF KEW ENGLAND. and Leeds speedily regained their former prosperity. Williamsburg Village, though deprived of some of its thriving manufacturing interests, has j'ct also shown the vitality which even a great disaster cannot utterly de- stroj', and is now an enterprising place. Towns. Northampton was incorporated Oct. 18, 1654. A settlement was commenced a few months previous b}' twenty-one planters, principally from Springfield and Windsor. Tlie great event of the first year, at least to David Burt and Marj- Ilolton, the happj' pair, was the celebration of the first marriage. At that time, and for many years after, marriages were performed only b}' magistrates. In the following j-.ear (ICj,')) , occurred the first birth, Ebenczer Parsons being the name of the newly-arrived citizen. " Townsmen," or selectmen, were chosen ; and the first mecting-liouse was built. It was completed April loth, and served its original purpose till 1662, when it was converted into a school-house, and a more commodious house of worship was erected. Rev. Eleazer Mather, of Dorchester, a graduate of Harvard, was ordained as the first pastor in June, land and highways. The whole number of lives lost was 138. Be- yond Leeds, the on-rushing flood, though with abated fury, took in its path the ch.-irming village of Florence, destroying property to the amount of many thousand dollars. Kor had the angry tide so spent its force and fury when it reached Northampton, 11 miles from its source, but that it wrought sad h.ivoc even there. Georpre Cheney, the gate-keeper, living a short distance from the reservoir, on discov- ering the breaking away of the dam, rode in haste to Williamsburg Tillage, to report the fact to his employer, little realizing thiit the on- coming torrent was already at his heels. Collins Graves, amilk-pcd- dler, carried the half-credited report on his route from Williamsburg Village to Haydenville. When Graves turned about to return to the former place, he was confounded to find the flood close upon him, and he with difficulty escaped by climbing a bank. MjTon Day carried the tidings on to Leeds, barely reaching the village and gaining a place of safety before the arrival of the rushing waters. Robert Loud, of Wil- liamsburg, deserves honorable mention for his earnest and real sen-ice in rousing the people to a sense of their danger. Hearing the roaring flood, and comprehending at once the situation, he started on foot, and ran at his utmost speed a distance of two miles along the doomed pathway, warning all whom he could reach to flee to places of safety. It is known that many valuable lives were saved through his prompt, timely, and well-directed effort. Meantime many of the people could scarcely credit or comprehend the warning which they received. Some lost their lives through hesitation ; others escaped to the hillsides and became witnesses to the heart-rending scenes below. Children were seen at open windows crj'ing for help : friends who had gained a place of safety vainly called for others to join them. The seething mass of w.aters seemed a liquid mountain, rolling, roaring, gathering up everything it could reach in its merciless grasp. It was surrounded by a dense spray, thick and dark like smoke. An odor, like that emitted from stagnant pools, was perceived from a considerable distance. Trees were broken or nptom by its power, and those who sought refuge in their branches, perished in the waters. Scores of buildings were swept away like leaves before the wind. Some were groimd to atoms by the resistless tide, others were borne away like boats upon 1661, though he had ministered to the people for some time previous. He lived eight j-ears after his settlement, and was then succeeded by Rev. Solomon Stoddard, who served the people fifty-five j'oars, before he had a colleague. Mr. Stoddard is described as a man of great learning and influence, and a leader in the theological discussions of the daj'. * In 1854, the town celebrated its second centennial. The statement scarcel3- needs qualification, that each succeed- ing j-ear, since its incoiporation, has added to its culture and refinement. Even the financial reverses, which it has shared in common with other places, have proved but transient checks upon the steady' and healthful growth, insured bj- its abounding moral and intellectu.il vitalitj-. Visitors to this famous old town, the count}' capital, cannot fail to observe its varied attractions of location and natural scenerj', as well as of neatness, taste, and thrift evcrj-whcre manifest. The description is not overdrawn by the poet, who sajs : " Queen village of the meads, Fronting the 6unri.se, and in beauty throned ; With jewelled homes around her lifted brow, And coronal of ancient forest trees, — Northampton sits, and rules her pleasant realm." an ocean wave, and set down unbroken. A small house was taken up and caiTied some distance, then drifted over a dam in an erect position, and lodged a few rods below. When the water subsided, it was found to contain a small child unharmed. The accumulations of a lifetime were thus swept away in a single hour. Many of the once rich gardens and fertile meadows were left a sandy waste. In some cases, the boundaries of real estate were obliterated, homes vanished, and some survivors were scarcely able to locate their former homes. Of the heart-rending scenes that followed — the protracted and anxious search for the bodies of the dead, often, when found, mangled almost beyond recognition — the long march of funeral processions — the universal mourning, too deep to find expression in the loud lament — it is not in place here to speak. * Rev. Dr. Cuyler gives to the public an incident concerning the mar- riage of Mr. Stoddard's daughter. Rev. Stephen Mix made a journey to Northampton in 1796, in search of a wife. AiTiving at Mr. Stoddard's, he informed him at once of the object of his visit, and that his duties required the utmost dispatch. Mr. Stoddard took him into the room where his four daughters were, introduced him, and then retired. Mr. Mix, addressing Mary, the eldest daughter, said ho had lately been settled in Weathcrsficld, and was desirous of obtaining a wife, and conchided by offering her his hand. She blushingly replied that so important a proposition required time for consideration. He rejoined, that in order to afford her the needed opportunity to think of his propos.al, he would step into an adjoining room and smoke a pipe with her father. When he had fin- ished his pipe, he sent a message to Miss Mary that he was ready for her answer. She came in and asked for further time for consideration. He replied that she could reflect still longer, and send her answer to Weathersfield. In a few weeks he received her reply, which is probably the most laconic epistle of the kind ever penned. NOHTHAMPTON, 1T96. Rev. Stephen Mix : — Yes. Mart Stoddard. Dr. Cuyler adds that " the matrimonial Mix-ture took place soon after, and proved to be compounded of the most < MASSACHUSETTS. Mill River flows diagonally through the town, and enters the Connecticut at the Ox Bow. On this stream, two miles from Northampton Village, and connected with it by a horse-car railroad, is Florence, a village of taste and refinement, and the seat of extensive sewing- machine and silk manufacturing enterprises. In the north-west part of the town, on the same stream, is Leeds, successfully engaged in button and silk manufacture. Northampton publishes two weoklj' jour- nals, — the "Gazette and Courier," and the "Free Press." It has a population of 10,160; nine churches, three national and two sa%'ings banks, a high school, and fortj'-cight schools of lower grades. Memorial llall was erected at a cost of f 1G,000, and contains a library of 12,000 volumes. The Northampton bank robbery, which occurred Jan. 25, 1876, is without paral- lel in the country. The State Lunatic Asylum is located on Hospital Hill. The grounds are finely' laid out, and command a delightful view of the surrounding region. The institu- tion has been for many j-ears under the successful man- agement of Dr. Pliny Earlc, who has published valuable works on the treatment of the insane. Round Hill, * located a little distance westward from the business centre, is verj' attractive, and is occupied bj' numerous fine residences, surrounded b}' magnificent lawns and gardens. This eminence is the seat of the Clarke Institution for Deaf Mutes, erected in 1SC7. Smith College, one of the leading institutions in the countrj' for the higher education of women, was founded by Miss Sophia Smith of Hatfield, who bequeathed, for that purpose, property now amounting to over five hun- dred thousand dollars. In her will. Miss Smith expressed her design, in the establishment of the institution, of furnishing means and facilities for 3'oung women to pursue courses of study, as broad and complete as are aflbrded in the leading colleges for young men. Rev. L. Clark Seeley is the honored and noble president. Jonathan Edwards. — The life of Rev. Jonathan Edwards is so thoroughl}' identified with the earlier his- tory of Northampton as to justifj' a brief sketch in this connection. He was born Oct. 5. 1703, in East "Windsor, Conn., where his father. Rev. Timothy Ed- wards, a man of learning and talent, was pastor. He earlj- showed a remarkable fondness for books ; began the study of Latin wlien six 3-ears old, and graduated at » The site, formerly, of a famous school, of which, at one time, Bancroft, the historian, wo believe, was principal. t Calel) Strong, afterwards governor, who was his associate in the Provincial CongiTSS, returning from Boston at one time, fonnil tlie ni.njor at home, and greatly depressed in spirits from fear that the Yale College at seventeen. It is from about this time that he dates his conversion, though he had been the subject of deep religious impressions from childhood. He became the settled pastor in Northampton in 1727. After several years successful labor, he was dismissed, because of dissatisfaction occasioned by his efforts to secure a higher standard of Christian character, as the condition of admission to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. After his dismissal, he labored for a time as a missionary at Stockbridge, among the Housatonic Indians. In 1 757, he was appointed president of Prince- ton College, N. J., where he died in 1758. Mr. Edwards was one of the greatest theologians and metaphj'sicians of his time, as his published works abundantly testify. As a close and subtle, yet candid reasoner, he has no superior, and few equals ; and as an able, devout, and earnest Chiistian pastor and educator, no man of his generation has more stronglj' impressed his life on the generations that have followed him. Col. John Stoddard, son of Rev. Solomon Stod- dard, was bom in 1681. Gov. Hutchinson, in speaking of Col. Stoddard, says, "He shone only in great afl'airs, while inferior matters were often carried against his w-ill by the little arts and crafts of minute politicians which he disdained to defeat by counter-workings." He was a leader in all civil and militarj' aflTairs of the town and county. He died in Boston June 19, 1784. President Edwards, who preached his funer.al sermon, ascribed to him remarkable native gifts of mind, and expressed the opinion that no man in New England could more truly be called a great man. Maj. Joseph Hawley was born in 1724 ; graduated at Yale in 1742 ; studied divinity, and was a chaplain in the Provincial army, and afterwards became an eminent and conscientious lawyer. In the struggle with Great Britain, he was a leader in the American cause. Early in the conflict, he became afflicted with hypochondria,* and retired from public life. Judge Simeon Strong, born in 1736, was the son of Nehemiah Strong, the mathematician and preacher. lie became a lawj-er of great eminence, and for manj- years stood at the head of the Hampshire bar. In 1800 he was appointed judge of the Supreme Judicial Court. He died in 1805. Gov. Caleb Strong, LL. D., son of Lieut. Caleb Strong, was born in 1745 ; gr.aduated at Harvard in 1764 ; served American cause would fail, and he would be hung. " No," replied Strong, " the British would not hang more than forty men, and you and I would escape." Indignant at the low estimate thus expressed, of his position and influence, he exclaimed, " I would have you know, sir, that lam one of the first three! " HISTORY OF NEW EXGLAND. as count \-attomcy for twent3--four jears ; -was a delegate in the convention ■which framed the United States Constitu- tion in 1788 ; -was chosen United States senator in the first Congress, and again in 1793 ; and was first elected governor in 1800. Such was his popularity, where he was best known, that, in seven or eight towns, of which Northampton was the centre, not a single vote was cast against him. He first served as governor for seven successive years, and was chosen again in 1811, holding the office for a period of four j-ears more, at the close of which he retired from public life. He died in North- ampton in 1819. Rev. Timothy Dwight, D. D., LL. D., a grandson of Jonathan Edwards, was bom in 17j2. He graduated at Yale in 1 7G9 ; was a chaplain in the Revolutionary army ; afterwards pastor of a church in Greenfi'^ld ; and. in 1 795, was elected pres- ident and theological professor of Yale Col- lege. He remained in ^ _ ^- this position tUl his ^^^^^ death. He was an able Z'" theologian, and, byhib published works, as well as by his influence as a living teacher, he did much to guide the thought of his gen- eration. Theodore Dwight, a younger brother of the preceding, was born in 17G4. He was an able journaUst, an eminent lawyer, and a brilliant political writer. He was a member of Congress in 1806-7, and secretary of the Hartford Con- vention in 1814. He died in 1846. Amherst is first referred to as a town in 1776, although its incorporation as such did not take place till ten years later. The first church was located on the hill where the college buUdings now stand. The first pastor, Rev. David Parsons, Jr., was ordained in 1739, and continued in office till his death in 1781. His son, David Parsons, D. D., succeeded to the pastorate in 1782, and ministered to the people f r tliirtj-'Sevcn jxars, when he became professor of theology in Yale College. Amherst YUlage is situated on an elevation which affords a beautiful outlook in every direction. Various causes hr.ve contributed to the prosperity of the town, — the fertility of the soil, general healthfuhiess, rai'.road facOities, and the rare beauty of its natural scenery. JAiSACUUSETTt. S. I IC I Lll HAI COLL But the chief cause of its rapid growth, doubtless, is that it is the seat of one of the leading colleges in the country. Amherst College was established in 1821. At that date, the village had but twenty-five dwelUng-houses, one store, and 150 inhabitants. Now, within a radius of three-quarters of a mile from the Amherst House, there are 3G0 dwelling-houses and 40 stores, with a population, including students, of 2,500. The popula- tion of the entire town is 4,035. The town has nine churches, one national and one savings bank, and two newspapers. In 1867, new attractions and advantages were added to this already fa%-ored town, bj"^ making it the seat of the iNlassachusetts Agricultural College. The multiplied erhicational facilities, added to the natu- ral advantages of loca- tion and sceneiy, have "i made Amherst an at- tractive place CI resi- ^ deuce for families of wealth and culture. ', The town celebrated _'*''*j \ its first centennial in 1876. The two colleges lo- cated here claim each distinct notice. Amherst College. — The comer-stone of the first college build- ing was laid Aug. 9, 1820, the j-ear before the college went into operation, by Rev. Dr. Parsons, then president of the board of trustees. The address on the occasion was made by Noah Webster, the distinguished lexicographer, then a resident of the town, and a vigorous projector and generous benefactor of the institution. In May, 1821, Rev. Z. S. Moore, D. D., was elected president. He was inaugurated the September following, at the opening of the institution. The students then enrolled and arranged in the four regular classes numbered 53. After four years faithful service Dr. Moore was removed by death, — a loss severely felt bj' the infant college. His place was filled by Rev. Heman Humphrey, D. D. During Dr. Humphre3"'s successful presidenc}' of twenty-two years, the institution passed through its severest struggles aud greatest finan- cial depression ; but, at his retirement, he left it on the high road to success. Rev. Edward Hitchcock, D. D., MASSACHUSETTS. LL. D., -wlio had for many years been a distinguished professor in the college, succeeded Dr. Humplirey, and filled the office with honor, from 1845 to 1854. He was succeeded by Rev. Willi.am A. Stearns, D. D., LL. D., whose efficient administration continued till his death in 1876. Eev. Julius H. Seelye, LL, D., the present able and popular president, was then chosen. The founders of the institution had prominently in view the gi'atuitoiis education of J'oung men preparing for the ministry, and numbers annually receive benefit from a fund established for this purpose. * The Massachusetts Agricultural College, established in 18G7, has no corporate connection with the Amherst College, but was located near it that it might have the benefit of its seienlific treasures. The real estate belong- ing to the college cost $200,000. The farm contains 383^ acres. The insti- tution, besides the nee- _^^ essary farm -buildings, " — _ has three college -halls, two boarding-houses, the Durfee plant-house, and a botanical mu- seum, in which may be seen plants from every clime, representing al- most every botanical family. The graduation of the first class occurred in 1871. Among the earlier sons of Amherst who by their talents and public ser- vices became men of mark, were Ebenezer Mattoon, Jr., a graduate of Dartmouth, an officer of the Revolution, member of Congress, and major-general of the State miUtia; born in 1755, died in 1843. Solomon Strong, a graduate of Williams, State senator, member of Con- gress, and judge of the Court of Common Picas ; born in 1780, died in 1850 ; and Silas Wright, Jr., a graduate of Middleburj', senator in New York, his adopted State, member of Congress, comptroller of the State, United States senator, and governor of New York ; born in 1795, died in 1847. Wake. — The western part of the present town was • The Ecrai-centcniiial of tlic college was celebrated in 1871. The alumni then nuiiibeied 1,'J3G, of whom 1,450 were living. The whole property of the in^titlItion, including funds, professorships, &c., amounts to not less than one million dollars. This has been received largely in do- naiions from friends and patrons. The State lias appropriated $50)000. THE MOUNT-HOI.rOKE SEMINARy, SOUTH llADIXT. formerly known as " Equivalent Lands." It was con- veyed to John Reed by the State of Connecticut, about the year 1713. According to Trumbull it was estimated " at less than a farthing per acre." The value of the territory was decreased by its being burned over by the Indians for the purpose of securing game. The Brookfield settlers were accustomed to use the Ware lands for pasturage. A tract of five hundred acres in the south-east corner of the town, a part of which is now included in the village, was granted, in 1673, to Richard Hollingsworth, in consideration of the services of his father as the first shipbuilder in the county. The first settlement made on this grant was by Capt. John Olmstead, who went from Brookfield, prob- ably a3 early as 1729, and erected mills near the falls. He built a house, which was called the "great house," and was afterwards used as a tavern. The house was standing in 1813, when the first move- ment was made towards erecting factories. The Ware River affords fine water-power, wliich is well improved. At Ware village the stream falls seventy feet in less than seventy rods. It received its name from numerous weirs, con- structed in the stream for the purpose of tak- The orthography has since been changed ing salmon to Ware. No town m the county exceeds this in the extent of its manufactures. Its population is 4,259. The town has seven churches, two banks, two newspapers, five extensive factories, and a hbrary of 2,000 volumes. Aspen Grove is the name of its beautiful cemetery. SouTn Hadlet was made the second or south precinct of Hadley in 1720, and settlements were made upon its territory the following year. The first cltureh was completed in 1737, and contained nine pews in tiie body of the house. Rev. Grindall Raw- son, the first pastor, was settled in 1733. A spirit of Hon. Samuel AVilliston of Easthampton, and Dr. ■William Walker of Bo ton have been generous bcnel'aciurs. The annual income is now 8)50,00 "The Hitchcock Ichnological Cabinet, the Adams' collccliun : conchology, and the Shcpard mineralogical and meteoric collections a: known the world over as of unsurpassed value and excellence." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. strong opposition rose against him, and a committee was appointed to prevent bis entering the meeting-house un- less he -would desist from preaching. * South Hadley is the scat of Mt. Holj'oke Female Sem- inary, the earhest institution for the education of young ladies of so advanced a grade in the country. Foi-tunatelj- the pubUc are in possession of all needed information in regard to this institution. Miss Marj- Lyon, the eminent founder of Mt. Ilolyolce Seminary, was born in Buckland, Mass., Feb. 28, 1797. Her father died when she was five years of age, she be- ing the fifth of seven childi-en left in care of a mother with slender means of support. Her early educational advantages were verj' limited. When seventeen or eighteen years old she commenced teaching near Shel- burne Falls, rccei^-ing seventy-five cents per wcolv and board. At the age of twenty she attended Sanderson Academj' at Ashfiold, where, as her means would allow her to remain but a short time, she slept but four hours in the twent3--four, giving the remainder of the time to studj-. She became an eminent and successful educator. While engaged in teaching at Ipswich she matured the plan of establishing an institution for the education of women, " where expenses should be so moderate as not to debar those of limited means, and advantages so great that the wealth}- could find no superior elsewhere." The funds for the erection of the buildings were obtained chiefly by donations, and the rooms of the new school were ready to receive pupils in the autumn of 1837. Miss Lyon remained principal till her death — a period of twelve years. A prominent feature of the institution is, that it is a family school in which no domestics are employed, the labor of the establishment being divided among, and performed hy, the students. Previous to 18G2 the course of studj' occupied but three j-ears. Since that time it has been four } ears. The clioice librarj- of 10,000 volumes is the gift of jMrs. Henrj' Durant of Boston. The L3Tnan WilUston Hall, recently- erected, affords ample accommodations for the pursuit of art and science. The school has, from the first, been pervaded b}- much of Mary Lyou's deepl}' religious, and fervent, mission- ary spirit. Manj' of its graduates have become earnest and successful missionaries. • Tradition says that tlio committee stopiicJ his mouth with a hand- kerchief, and forcibly carried hint from the church. £ 10 were then raised to defend the committee, but as Mr. Rawson resorted to no legal meas- ures, the money was used in the settlement of his successor, Kev. John Woodbridge. Miss Julia E. Ward, the present principal, has suc- cessfullj- filled her position for many j-ears. Col. Euggles Woodbridge, the eldest son of Eev. John Woodbridge, was an officer in the Revolutionary arm}-, and became a man of wealth and great influence in this town. The village of South Hadley Falls had its origin in the building of the canal around the falls in the Connecticut River at that place. This was the first canal of its kind in this countrj-. It was built by Hollanders with foreign capital. B}' the construction of the canal the business of navigation was largely increased, and the Falls soon became a centre of trade. ; From 1815 to 1825 corn was brought here in great I quantities, dried in kilns, then sent to the West Indies and exchanged for intoxicating liquors. When this busi- ness ceased the kilns were used for drjing salt, which was brought in sloops from Fahnouth, Mass. The population of Hadley is 2,843. Easthajipton was originallj- included in Northamp- ton. John Webb erected a log-house in 1664, and lived for several j-ears, near the Indian fort at Pascommuck. But no permanent settlement seems to have been made till the year 1700, when five men, with their famihes, made for themselves homes near the foot of Mt. Tom. Their names were Moses Hutchinson, John Searl, Ben- oni Jones, Samuel Janes and Benjamin Janes. Four jxars after, their village was destroj-ed b}' the Indians, and twenty settlers were slain. The settlement of the west part of the present town began about 1732. Easthampton was incorporated as a district in 1785, and a church was organized the same year. Rev. Pay- son WiUiston, its first minister, was settled in 1789, and served the people as a faithful pastor for fortj'-four years. A second Congregational church was estabhshed in 1852. A Methodist chm'ch has also been erected. The birth in the home of Samuel WilUston of a new enteiprise — button manufacture — has proved the germ of the subsequent remarlrable growth and prosperitj- of the town. From that time the historj- of the town is largel}' the historj- of Samuel WiUiston. He was born in 1 795, and was the son of the esteemed pastor, Rev. Payson WiUiston. Reared m a home where econom}- was ruecessary, }"oung WUliston was earlj- put to work to help provide for the wants of the family-. He attended school summer and winter tUl he was ten years old ; then only in the winter tiU he was sixteen. When nineteen years old he went to Phillips Acadcmj', Andover, to avail himself of the privileges afltorded by MASSACHUSETTS. that institution to indigent j'oung men. He made part of tlic journey on foot, to save travelling expenses, car- r^'ing in his hand the bundle containing his outfit. In less than a j-ear he was obliged to abandon his hopes of a college education, on account of the partial failure of his ej'csight. For some j'ears after, his time was di\'ided between labor on a farm, clerkship in a store, and teach- ing school. In 1822 he married Miss Emilj- Graves, who afterward became a prominent actor in the enter- prise of button manufacture, which pelded such abun- dant returns to its projectors. Mr. Williston had not onlj' genius for business, but also that moral and Christian integrity which made all his personal successes at the same time substantial helps to those about him. For thirtj'-three years he was a trustee of Amherst CoUege ; and in the time of its great- est financial distress, he came to the rescue with a liber- alitj' that saved it from ruin. At different times he con- tributed to its funds at least $150,000. "Williston Seminary in Easthampton is a monimient to his memorj', having been built and endowed bj- him at an expenditure of $250,000. Its curriculum provides a thorough college preparatorj- course. The town has numerous manufacturing interests, and is quite a centre of tr.ade. It has 3,620 inhabitants, one national and one sa-v-ings bank, a public library, a fine town hall, and fifteen public schools. From the first the town has provided liberallj' for the education of her sons. Many of them have received the benefit of collegiate training, and in all the walks of act- ive and professional life thej' have done credit to their native town. Belchertown, formerlj' called Cold Spring, was incorijorated in 17G1, receiving its name in honor of Jonathan Belcher, an extensive land-owner in the town, and governor of Massachusetts from 1730 to 1740. In July, 1731, Samuel Bascom, Benjamin Stebbins, and Aaron Lj-man from Northampton, and John Bradwell and Jonathan Graves from Hatfield, removed to Cold Spring, receiving gratuitous grants of land on condition that they made permanent settlements. The earhest records refer to the settlement of the first pastor, Ecv. Edward Billings, who was ordained in 1739. Rev. Experience Porter served tlio people as pastor from 1812 to 1825. During this period of thirteen years, 315 were added to the church ; a number nearly as large as had united with it during the entire eightj' years of its pre-s-ious history. Carriages and sleighs have been ^extensively manufac- tured here for many years. Population, 2,315. IIadley, a town of 2,301 inhabitants, has a long and interesting histor}-, being the second settlement in Hamp- shire Count}', and the third in western Massachusetts. From the date of its first settlement, by an organized company from Hartford, it kept pace with the neighbor- ing towns, till Northampton, on one side, was made the county capital, and Amherst, on the other, became the honored seat of liberal learning. These towns, as a natural consequence, attracted trade and travel, and became business centres, while Hadley remained, as from the first, simply a wealthy agricultural town. A church appears to have been organized before the part}' left Hartford. Rev. John Russell, their minister, came with them. He had great influence among his people, and died after a ministry of 33 j-ears. * The raising of broom corn was for many j'ears an important industrj-. It was first cultivated in the garden of Le\i Dickinson, in the year 1797. Some thought him visionar}- in his project, but he predicted that the broom business would become the greatest in the region. Less than half a centurj' proved the wisdom of his sapng. The census of 1850 gave as the product of the industry in brooms and brushes, 845,700, valued at $124,448, and furnishing emplojTnent to nearly a thousand men. With the introduction of tobacco-raising, Hadley, in common with other vallej' towns, experienced a great financial impetus, which re-acted in even a greater busi- ness depression, from which it has never fullj' recovered. In matters of education Hadley holds an honorable position. In its earl}' historj- a gift was received from John Hopkins, which was enlarged bj' other donations, to be used for the promotion of education. Near the beginning of the present century, a fine brick building, three stories high, was erected on Russell Street. This was known as Hopkins' Academj-. It maintained a high character for many years and drew many students from abroad. The building was burned in 18G0. Since that time the fund has been appropriated to the use of public schools. Williamsburg. — The date of the fii-st settlement is not known. It probably took place a short time previ- ous to its incorporation as a district in April, 1771. At a meeting held the following year, it was voted to repair the school-house so that it might serve as a place of public worship. Lieut. Joshua Tha3-er was promoted to * It is not flattering, howcTcr, to the youth of the time to find, as an early recorded vote shows, that the eloquence of this godly minister had to be supplemented by " some sticks set up in the meeting-house in several places, with some fitt persons placed by them, and to use them as occasion shall rcquke, to keep the youth from disorder." HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. the honor of summoning the people to public worship bj- blowing a conch-shell, receiving an annual salarj' of 15s. The shell is still preserved as a time-honored relic. A church was organized In 1772, and Rev. Amos Butler was ordained pastor the following j-ear. In 1832, a Methodist church was organized. In 1850, it received the ministrations of Rev. Wm. Butler, since a distin- guished missionarj' to India and Mexico. A Congrega- tional church was formed at Haydenville in 1849. Hon. Joel Haydcn, afterwards lieutenant-governor of the State, was one of its members, and was a most generous contributor to all its interests. Previous to the great disaster in 1874, the town of Williamsbui-g contained numerous and extensive manufactures. It has a popula- tion of 2,159. The pul)lic schools of "Williamsburg village have been greatly improved by the legacy bequeathed bj- Dr. Collins, who was for many years a practicing physician in town. Hatfield. — Population, 1,594. The history of this town for the first six years is identified with that of Hadlej', of which it formed a part. Of the forty families who came from Connecticut in 1659, to establish a settlement at Iladlej', six took up their residence on the west side of the river. The incon- venience of crossing the river to attend business meet- ings and religious worship was severely felt from the first, and when, after a few years, as population increased, they petitioned to be made a distinct town, the people on the east side opposed the movement, and sharp contro- versies arose. The long struggle was ended in 1G70, when Hatfield was incorporated as a town. The same year Rev. Hope Atherton was settled as a pastor. The Smith Charity Fund, which has such peculiar specifications, and now holds over a million dollars, was established bj' Oliver Smith of Hatfield. He was born in January, 1776, and died in 1845. * Miss Sophia Smith, the founder of Smith College in Northampton, was born in Hatfield, Aug. 27, 1796, • He possessed a remarkable faculty for accumulating wealth. His will assigned tlie greater portion of his property to various charitable piii-poscs, and placed it under the control of a board of three trustees to be chosen by electors, themselves elected annually, one from each of the towns of Northampton, Hadlcy, Hatfield, Amherst, Williamsburg, Deerficld, Greenfield, and Whatoly. To this board was committed $200,000 to be held till it should amount to $400,000, when it should be divided into three funds. One of $30,000 for an agricultural school in Northampton, which was not to be established till the fund had accumulated for 60 years after his death. $10,000 was given to the American Colonization Society, the income to he paid over annually ; and a fund of $360,000 to be used for the benefit of indigent boys, guls, young women, and widows, under carefully guarded conditions. where she spent the greater part of her life. She was a niece of Oliver Smith, previously mentioned. Her school advantages were limited. She was a woman of tender sensibilities, and noble Christian endeavor. The death of her brother in 1861, left her, through his will, in possession of his estate, appraised at $200,000. She felt herself unequal to the responsibility of the trust so unexpectedly committed to her. Rev. John Green, at that time her pastor, was her chief adviser. She appro- priated $75,000 to an academy in her native town and gave liberallj- to other Christian and educational enter- prises. The greater part of her property was devoted to the founding of the college which bears hor name. In her will she defined the object and plan of the institution, appointed the trustees, and fixed its location. She died June 12, 1870, aged sixty years. Huntington is the old town of Norwich, which attained the right of representation in 1786. It was enlarged in 1853 by important additions from Chester and a tract from Blandford, more than doubling its wealth and pop- ulation. Ten years later it received its present name from Hon. Charles P. Huntington of Northampton, in consideration of his services in securing the desired enlargement. The town has extensive water-power and numerous manufacturing interests. This was the first town in the county benefited bj' a railroad. There are at present three churches. A public library was established b3' Hon. C. P. Huntington, whose con- tribution constituted one-half its value. It was destro^-ed by fire in 1865. The freshet of Dec. 10, 1878, did much damage to private property and highways. The water reached a higher mark than ever before known by the present inhabitants. Population, 1,156. Southampton was formerly a part of Northampton. A settlement was commenced in 1732 by Judah Hutch- inson and Thomas Porter. In 1748, Indian murders occasioned such alarm that the people forsook their homes and sought retreat with their friends in the sur- rounding settlements. Returning the following summer, thej' suffered severely- from sickness and the cutting off of their crops. In Revolutionary times prompt and heart}' responses were given to the call for recruits and supplies. In 1828, Sheldon Academ}- was established. It re- ceived its name from Silas Sheldon, who contributed liberally for its benefit. Between 1765 and 1845, forty- eight men belonging to the town received a college edu- cation. Rev. B. B. Edwards, a native of Southampton, MASSACHUSETTS. and for some j-ears professor in Andover Theological Seminarj', in speaking of the large number of educated and professional men the town has furnished to the countrj-, says : " It is the banner town, in the banner county, of the banner State." In the same connection he says, "the county of Hampshire has furnished more students for college, with perhaps a single exception, than other an}- county in the United States." Southampton has a population of 1,159. CuMMiNGTON, SO named from Col. John Cummings, the original proprietor, and which has just celebrated (June 23, 1879), with impressive ceremonies, its cen- tennial, if not important commercially, or on the score of its population (1,037), is yet deserving of special mention on account of its fruitfulness of great men. The sunlight was first let into the primeval forest which covered the Cummington hills and valleys, by the soldiers of the colonists, who cut a militarj' road through the south part of the town while forcing their wa}' to tlie north during the latter part of the French and Indian war.* It was then that the General Court, being much in need of funds, determined to sell a large tract of land belonging to the State in the western part of its bounda- ries. The details were left to a committee who had the territorj- auctioned off at the Eoyal Exchange tavern in Boston, June 2, 17G2. The land wasdiraled into 10 town- ships, and it now embraces the following towns : — Adams, Peru, Hinsdale, "Worthington, IVindsor, Cummington, Savoj', Ilawley, Lenox, Eichmond, Chester and Eowe. * Soon after tlie road was cut through settlers began to come in. Col. Samuel Brc\ycr was the first white man to press that sod and call it home. Ho located close by the road, a little east of where Hiram Steele now lives. Some authors say that he came as early as 1761. t The geogi'aphical centre of the town, where the Concord proprietors insisted the church should bo, was exceedingly high and rocky, and by no means an acceptable location to all the settlers who had come to oc- cupy the 60 or 70 hundred-acre lots which had been laid out. For a long time all the municipal meetings were hold at the house of Timothy Mower, who lived just across the road from the old grave-yard on the hill, where Dr. Bryant was buried. It is said that one faction would meet there in the morning and the other in the afternoon, each voting to do something contrary to the wish of the other. t Concerning the location of this there has been some controvers}-. Says a late writer in the " Springfield Republican : " " Dr. Peter Bry- ant was a native of Bridgewatcr, whence came many of Cummington's settlers, and after establishing himself in practice and marrying the daughter of Square SncU in 1792, he settled in a house opposite the cem- etery, which is located on the hillside a mile above the village and half a mile below the site of the old yellow meeting-house, which was for so long the church of the town. The traveller who, starting out from the east village, takes the first left-hand road, a little before coming to the Bryant library, and has the patience to climb the long, steep hill, will have no difficulty in locating the field of herd's-grass and clover, that is now ever waving in the June breeze, although there is nothing to mark the exact spot. The field is the one lying above and at the left of the cross-road which starts out opposite the cemetery and leads down the hill. At the auction sale alluded to above, Col. Cummings bid off township No. 5 (Cummington) for £1,800. After Mr. Cummings had bought the land he seems to have become associated with 27 other proprietors, so many of whom, meanwhile, had been residents of Concord, that their township was at first called New Concord. After a protracted controversy as to where their meeting house should be located, a church was finally organized, and the first minister, Eev. James Briggs, was ordained a few days after its incorporation, t On all these hills there is hardlj* a house or lot not worthy of mention because of its historic associations and interest. First of all there is the Bryant birth-place . X A little below the latter the visitor is pointed to the de- serted house of the second minister of the parish, Ecv. Eoswell Hawkes, who like his brethren of the time was a farmer as well as a minister. lie came in 1825, and stayed till '39, leaving here to help Mary Lj-on raise funds for Mt. Holyoke seminary. He was the best beg- gar of his time, and they travelled together in a carriage about the country, meeting with great success. Subse- quently he accepted the post of seminary steward at South Iladley, where he remained for a number of 3-ears. Continuing along the road which passes by the spot where the church referred to above stood before its re- moval, the visitor comes to a fork in the roads where the little red school-house used to stand that harbored so many of the Cummington boys who have been " heard from" in the battle of life. § " In the house which stood here, Dr. Bryant's oldest child, Col. Austin Bryant, was born, and then his second son, William Cullen, the latter on the 3d of Nov. 1794. While he w.is still a small boy his father left home for a considerable sojourn in the Isle of France. Then his grand- father. Square Snell, came and took the family to his home, the present lower Bryant place. " Probably it is known but to a few that William Cullen Bryant and Henry L. Dawes were born under the same roof. After Dr. Bryant quitted his first home, it came into the possession of the father of the Dawes family, who moved it half a mile up the hill, and placed it nearly opposite the front of the meeting-house, on the right of the road leading southward from the church. There it was that Senator Dawes was born, although his boyhood was largely passed in a red house which stands about a mile to the west and on still higher ground. After Fran- cis Dawes bcgiin life for himself, he took this house and built a new one for his parents, tearing down the birthplace of Bryant and his brother. Across the road from this house there used to stand a country store, having over it a hall in which Senator Dawes and the companions of his youth met often for debates." ^ We give the names of some of those who were bred in the neighbor- hood, all of whom are supposed to have attended that school. There was Luther Bradish, who lived a half mile or more up the hill, and be- came lieutenant-governor of New York. It is said that ho made the best presiding officer ever known in the legislative annals of the State. There was Theophihis Packard, who lived down in the valley, where the new Bryant road begins to descend toward the east village, and Thomas Snell, brother of Bryant's mother, both of whom became emment doc- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. WoRTHrNGTON was settled in 1765, and incoi-porated as a town three years later. It received its name from Col. TCorthington of Springfield, one of the proprietors of the plantation of which it was a part, and a liberal promoter of its interests. The town increased more rapidly in population than the majority of towns in its vicinity. Before the close of the last century it contained a larger population than at the last census. It now has 860 inhabitants, largely the descendants of early settlers. Many of the time-honored customs of the fathers are still retained by their sons, such as the neighborhood huskings, the boarding around of the school-teacher, and the reverent opening of town-meeting with prayer by the pastor. Houses erected a century ago are still standing, in •which the old-fashioned fire-places yet remain, and the large brick ovens, though no longer in common use, fail not to turn out their annual Thanksgiving dinner of good things. Agiiculture is the leading emplo3'ment of the people. Maple sugar and dair^- products are abundant. A Congregational church was erected at the centre in 17G4. A Methodist church was formed in the south-east part of the town in 1828. Prof. Harmon NUes is a native of the town. He was educated under Prof. Agassiz, and, in his special depart- ment, is well known as one of the foremost scholars and lecturers of his time. Hon. Elisha Brewster, whose counsel was long sought in all important town and personal matters, and who for several j-ears held divers important oflSces in the State, died Nov. 27, 1878, aged 69 years. Enfield is comparatively a new town, having been incorporated in 1816. It embraces the territory formerly tors of divinity. There were the brothers Cnllen and Charles Packard, living nearest to the school-house on the west, both brilliant scholars. Charles Packard, who is now a clergyman, is the man who Henry L. Dawes once predicted would make the most distinguished man of all Iiis school-mates. Then there were the three Trow brothers, who grew up on a cross-road a little south of the school-house, and who studied medicine, and are now practicing in Buckland, Sunderland and East- hampton. Then there was W. AV. Mitchell, who began to teach school at 15, and has never failed to teach during some part of every year since that time, save one, although he is now over 60. The exception was because of sickness. And there must be added to the list the name of one of our most honored citizens, E. A. Hubbard. The name of Shepherd Knapp ought not to be left out while recounting the natives. He went to New York early in life, and became a clerk for Gideon Lcc, and afterwards treasurer of Kings County, and the long-time president of the Mechanics' bank. Mr. Lee, who in early life travelled about in AVorthington and Cummington as a shoemaker, lived to be mavor of New York. known as the South Parish of Greenwich. This parish included not only the south part of Greenwich, but also portions of Bclchertown and Ware. A church was built in 1786. Rev. Joshua Crosby-, the first pastor, was set- tled in 17C9. A Methodist church was organized in 1847. For thirty j-ears previous to 1820, Quabbin whet- stones were the principal article of export. Cotton, woollen, and other manufactures have since been estab- lished. Population, 1,023. The remaining towns of this county, with their respec- tive populations and dates of incoi-poration, are Chester- field (a. d. 1762—746), Goshen (1781—349), Granby (1768—812), Greenwich (granted in 1732—606), Mid- dlefield (1780—603), Pelham (1743—633), Plainficld (1807 — 481), Prescott (1822 — 493), and Westhampton (1778—006). The first pastor of the church in the latter place was Rev. Enoch Hale, grandfather of Rev. Edward Everett Hale, D. D. He retained his connection with this church till his death, a period of 58 years. The ordination ser- ■vice was held in a bam. Mr. Hale, a man of Puritanic j tji^e of character, was proverbial for his promptness. It is said that the people of the neighborhood could regulate their clocks to a minute by the precision with which he ! met his appointments. * Caleb Strong, aftenvards, for several years, governor . of the State, was one of the first settlers of Westhampton. Pelham was, for a time, the pastorate of Stephen Bur- [ roughs, the notorious imposter and counterfeiter. Rev. Moses Hallock, the first pastor of Plainfield, and for 55 years the incumbent of this parish, was also a school- master, — WUliam Cullen Brj-ant, and several who after- wards became foreign missionaries, having been his pupils. Most of these men were students of Cummington Academy, and many of them went from it to college. The academy was opened in 1824 or 182.'), and continued in operation only 15 years ; but no one will dare to measure the influence it has exerted on the community and the world from the day of its establishment, an influence that will be felt, it may be, while time shall last. The teachers were Rev. Francis J. Vamer, an Episcopal clergyman who is buried in town, Rev. Oren Coolcy, Rev. Thomas Rawson, and Zalmon Richards. The building where the school was kept stands in the east village, and has been used for a dwelling almost 40 years. • At one time w hen his Association was held 75 miles from his home, and he had not reached the place five minutes before the meeting was to open, speculation became rife as to the probability of his arrival within the time. One clergyman, who knew him better than the rest, said if he was not there at the appointed time, it would prove that the town clock was wrong. As minutes and half-nrinutes wore away, curiosity became intense ; but, in the last half-minute, Mr. Hale drove up in his " One- Hoss Shay," entered the meeting-house, and called the meeting to order. MASSACHUSETTS. MIDDLESEX COUNTY. BY PROF. L. F. GRIFFIN. Middlesex County contains some of the oldest settle- ments in Massachusetts. Onh" Pl3-moiith Countj', and, perhaps, the city of Salem in Essex Count3', can boast settlements of an earlier date. The first division of the State into counties occurred in 1C43, and Middlesex -was one of the four then formed. Excepting Suffolk it is the most populous county of the old Bay State. It also contains within its limits the ear- liest battle-fields of the Revolution, though, by the annexation of Charlestown to Boston, Bunker Hill no longer belongs to it geographically ; yet it is still a por- tion of Middlesex in all its history. The first seat of learning in the Colonies, too, is in the countj*, and her manufactures have given American industry a world--nade reputation. The first permanent settlement of the county was at Watertown, and it was made hj a companj' of Puritans early in 1 C30. Cambridge dates from the same year, though it appears to have been later iu the season when the set- tlers, with their ministers, Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone, located there. Its first name was New Town. Those who made the first companj' foi-med three settle- ments,— Dorchester, Roxbury, and Watertown. Some of Matthew Craddoek's men had alreadj' visited Medford, and a pennajient settlement there was begun the same jear ; perhaps bouses had already been erected and occu- pied bj' the temporarj' residents engaged in fishing. The Indians of the vicinity were few in number, as they had been nearly destroyed a few j'ears before bj' a plague. Those left manifested a friendly disposition. In 1G31, a grant of land was made to Governor Win- throp, near the Mj-stic River ; and he erected a house there, and laid out a fann. He also built a small vessel named "The Blessing of the Baj-," the real beginning of ship-building at Medford, an interest that afterward was of primary importance in building up the town. The same year Governor Winthrop induced Matthew Crad- dock to enlarge the settlement alreadj- commenced ; and the "great house" was erected that year, and still stands. The first winter, the settlers, not knowing the spirit of the natives, selected a site for a garrison. Since Cam- bridge, or New Town, as it was then called, was selected for the residences of the rulers, that place was fortified. But as, the next year, it was decided to make Boston the capital, the fortifications at Cambridge were abandoned. The year 1640 saw two new settlements made in this countj-, one at Reading, and the other at 'Woburn. The people of Charlestown, believing that their terri- tories were too contracted, asked and obtained a grant of land farther inland May 24, 1640. The location of their grant was at a place known as a favorite residence of Indians, The new grant included, besides Woburn, the present towns of Winchester, Wilmington, and Burling- ton. A committee was formed, Noveinbcr 4, to set the bounds of the new town, and to settle such worthj' men of Charlestown as might be willing to reside inland ; and the records of Woburn commence the same year. Ed- ward Convers built the first house, near Convers' Bridge. The church, however, experienced some diffi- cultj' in eflTecting an organization, chieflj- because no one could be found readj' to settle with them as their minister. But finallj' Thomas Carter was secured, a town charter obtained, so separating them from the parent town, on Oct. 6, 1642; and Mr. Carter was ordained December 2d of the same j-ear. One other distinct settlement alreadj^ made deserves especial notice, since it was the first inland settlement, the ancient town of Concord. The place was known among the Indians as Musketaquid, and, for many j-ears, it was one of the principal villages of the Massachusetts tribe. It owed allegiance to their great king, Nanepash- emet, who lived in Medford, near Mj-stic Pond, in a house raised upon a scaffold. The first step taken in forming the new settlement was to obtain a grant of six miles square from the General Court at its session at New Town, Sept. 2, 1635. This grant named Rev. Peter Bulkcley, and Maj. Simon Wil- lard, and included with them about twelve other families. Then the land was purchased from the Indians, and the settlement began. Later, when, as a result of Mr. Eliot's labors, many of the Indians had accepted Chris- tianitj', provision was made for them. By the j'ear 1656, the town had become a place of con- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. siderablc importance. In that j-ear, finding their pastur- I age insufficient, they aslced, and obtained, a new grant, including the present towns of Acton and Ashby. In the same year, the Sliepard and Law families commenced a permanent settlement upon this new grant. But for about three-quarters of a centmy, until 1735, the grant continued a part of the parent town. Middlesex County was not found wanting during King Philip's war. At the time of the destruction of Brook- field, a few men from this county were present, and, after the wounding of the commander, Lieut. Simon Davis of Concord assumed command. And, too, when the news of the danger there reached Concord, a partj' at once wont to the rescue. The first events of this war that actually belonged to this county were in the early part of 1G76. In February, Abraham and Isaac Shepard of Concord, fearing the Indians, stationed their younger sister, about 15 j-ears of age, to keep Avatch while they threshed the gi'ain in the barn. But the Ind- ians came upon her unawares, and carried her off" a cap- tive, and then killed her brothers. However, while the Indians slept, probablj^ rendered stupid by liquor, she made her escape, even taking the saddle away from the head of her keeper, and, by riding all night, returned to the settlement. The next attack was upon Groton. " A body of sav- ages entered the town on the 2nd of March, plundered several houses, and carried off a number of cattle. On the 9th, they ambushed four men who wore driving their carts, killed one, and took a second, but while they were disputing about the manner of putting him to death, he escaped. On the 13th, about 400 of these people assaulted Groton again. The inhabitants, alarmed by the recent destruction of Lancaster, had retreated into five garrisoned houses. Four of these were within musket shot of each other. The fifth stood at the distance of a mile. Between the four neighboring ones were gathered all the cattle belonging to the inhabitants. In the morn- ing, two Indians showed themselves behind a hill near one of the four garrisons, with an intention to dccoj'^ the inhabitants out of their fortifications. The alarm was immediatcl}- given. A considerable part of the men in this garrison, and several from the next, imprudently went out to surprise them, when a large body, in ambush for the purpose, arose instantaneously and fired upon them. The English fled. The ungarrisoned houses were then set on fire." The entire town was burned, except the four garrisons, which successfully resisted all hostile attempts upon them. On the 21.st of April, an alarm was raised that 1,500 Indians were about to attack Sudbury. They had already burned several houses, and killed two citizens. A com- pan)' from Watertowu, aided bj' some citizens, attacked them on the east side of Concord River, but were com- pelled to retreat. Some citizens of Concord went to their relief, but were surrounded by savages near the gariison house of Walter Haj-nes, and were destro3-ed. The attack upon Marlborough occun-ed in September, 1678. A party of Indians here killed many of the inhabi- tants, and set fire to their houses. A company sent from Concord to defend the place was totally destroj-ed, and two other companies from Boston met a similar fate. These companies, under Capts. Wadsworth and Smith, were led into an ambuscade near Sudburj-, surrounded by about 300 natives, and destroj-ed. The attack upon Chelmsford was upon the 1st of November following, and was made by the Indians living around the Merrimac. Overpowering the inhabitants, they put all to death indiscriminatel}-, not even sparing the babes at their mother's breast. November 9th, they burned the house of Mr. Ezra Eames, near Concord, killed his wife, and captured his children ; and on the loth, they took a young woman, 16 jears of age, and carried her awaj- a captive. In 1724-5, Capt. John Lovewell of Dunstable, at the head of a companj- of 600 men, induced b3- the offer of a generous bounty for scalps (£100), made three expedi- tions against the Indians, in the last of which, surprised at a place called Pigwacket, in Maine, he lost his life. Sixteen of the towns at present in the count}^ were chartered during the seventeenth centurj', and all but twelve of the remainder during the next hundred year^. So rapidly did this locaUty develop its resources and add to its population. To the call to engage in the struggle for national independence, the towns of Middlesex responded nobly. " No power on earth," said tlie people of Concord, "can agreeably to our constitution, take from us our rights, or any part of them, without our consent." Framinghara replied that " it is om- absolute duty to defend, b}' everj- constitutional measure, our dear privileges, purchased with so much blood and treasure." Medford, Acton, Stoneham, Groton, Pepperell and Shirley spoke with equal decision. " Death," said Marlborough, " is more eligible than slavery." The real commencement of the Revolution belongs to this county. The towns of Lexington and Concord, especially, in this county, will be forever memorable as the scene of the fii'st armed encounter between the British and the American forces, in connection with that great contest. On the ni^^ht of April 18, 1G75, Paul Revere of Boston, having eluded the British sentinels, and escaped MASSACHUSETTS. across Charles River Into the countrj-, -with all despatch spread abroad information of an intended inarch of a de- tachment of British troops, 800 strong, commanded by Lieut. -Col. Smith, to seize tlie provincial stores and cannon at Concord. The alarm, by means of church bells, bonfires, and other preconcerted signals, was gi\en at once, and, by two o'clock in the morning, about 130 militia-men were assembled under arms on Lexington Common, under the command of Capt. John Parlter. Just at daj-break, the advanced guard of the enemy, com- silentlj', stood their ground, and held their ranks. Pit- cairn then commanded his men to fire. A heavj' dis- charge of muskets followed, and seven * men fell, f After this volley, Capt. Parker ordered his men to dis- l^erse. The British drew up on the Common, discharged their pieces, gave three cheers, and then, after a halt of about half an hour, pushed ou towards Concord. By this time the country round about had become thoroughly alarmed. On the one hand, the Concord people were al- ready busily employed removing and secreting the coveted Lli OF LL.\I.\GIC iiiitiiuuu uy luiij. xucauu, was discovered approaching the village. The alarm was sounded, and the militia-men at once paraded in two ranks on the Common, a few rods north of the meeting-house. After a brief halt, to allow the rest of the detachment to come up, the British advanced, almost on the run, Maj. Pitcairn, meanwhile, riding in front and shouting : " Disperse, ye rebels ; dis- perse, disperse!" The "rebels," however, firmly and • The killed were Jonas Parker, Isaac Muzzey, Jonathan Harrington, Jr., Caleb Ilarrinston, RoI)crt Jlonroe, Samuel Hadlcy and John Broi^-n. The last two were pursued and killed after they had left tlie Common. Asahel Porter of Wolnim, a prisoner taken by the British on the march, was killed while attempting to effect his escape. t In 1790, a small monument was erected to mark the spot of the first Stores ; while, ou the other, the patriot military were hastily gathering from near and from far. When, at length, the enemy came in sight, there were not less than 150 minute-men who had already reported for duty ; and a part under Col. Barrett, and a part under Maj. But- trick I — a descendant of one of the oldest settlers of the town — had been drawn up in battle array just beyond the North Bridge, across Concord River, and were pre- bloodshed of the Revolutionary War. Recently, a more fitting memo- rial of the event has been erected, consisiiu;,' of a colossal hronze statue of a Revolutionary minute-man, elevated upon a lofty pedestal of gran- ite, with appropriate sculptures in bas-relief. X Maj. Puttrick, it is snid. has the honor of having issued the first order to fire on the royal troops — " the shot heard round the world." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. pared to offer the invaders, if necessary-, a stubborn resistance. During the brief, but decisive engagement which followed, several were killed on both sides, includ- ing Captain Isaac Da\'is of Acton. The British, mean- while, discomfited by this unexpectedlj- warm reception, disappointed in regard to finding the stores in quest of which they had been dispatched, and fearing, withal, lest in case of further delay on their part, swarms of enraged patriots might descend upon them and prevent their return, at length commenced their disastrous retreat — followed along the road to Lexington by the provin- cials, who inflicted upon them serious injury. "While passing through Lincoln, they were attacked b}' the Lexington men, and sharply pursued, the latter maintain- ing a galling fire upon them from behind trees, buildings and walls, and heading them off, and seriousl3- harassing them at every turn of the road. About a>mile below Lexington Common, the British were saved from total rout and destruction by the timelj' arrival, with reinforce- ments, of Lord Perc}'. Even as it was, the roj'al troops, on finally reaching Boston, were thoroughly exhausted, and as completely demoralized. Some one has said that, so far as the deliberate pur- pose of the Americans was concerned, the American Revolution was begiui * by the determination of the farmers of Middlesex County to resist British assault by marching upon the North Bridge at Concord, f The people everj'where bore insults and anno^-ances with the utmost calmness. Minute-men were every- where, and the people in every possible waj' were get- ting stores of ammunition read}' for immediate use. Not a red-coat could be seen anywhere but he was fol- lowed, and his errand discovered. For some time it was evident that Gen. Gage was preparing to occupy the heights of Charlestown or Dor- chester, probably the latter. The pronncials had al- ready examined the ground for fortifications, and breast- works had been recommended at the present site of the McLean Asylum and on Prospect Hill, with redoubts upon Winter and Bunker hills, provided with cannon. This was referred to a council of war, approved, and a part of the works at once constructed. As Gage's plan to seize Dorchester became known, it was at once deter- mined to seize and fortify Bunker Hill. On Friday, June 16, orders were issued to Col. Wil- liam Prescott, and the commanding officers of Frj-e's • How impressive the crisis now reached ! The action at Lexington and Concord roused the whole country, and precipitated the long-impend- ing conflict. The night before these battles, there «erc few people in the Colonies, probably, who expected that any blood would be shed in the contest. "The night after," says Bancroft, "the king's governor and the king's army found themselves closely beleaguered in Boston, i and Bridge's regiments, with a fatigue party of two hundred Connecticut troops, under Thomas Knowlton, and the artillery of Capt. Samuel Gridley, in all about twelve hundred men, to go, supplied with a day's pro- visions and intrenching tools, and seize and fortify- Bunker Hill, under the chief engineer. Col. Richard Gridlej'. The detachment paraded on Cambridge Com- mon, and about nine in the evening, after prayer for their safety and success by President Langdon of Har- vard College, they marched to Charlestown, headed by Prescott. After setting a guard at the Neck, they pro- ceeded to Bunker Hill, but considering that to be too far from the shipping, it was decided to intrench Breed's Hill, as better suited to the objects of the expedition. Gridley marked out the plan, and about midnight the work commenced. When the morning dawned, the British were aston- ished to see such works thrown up in so short a time, and, as it were, almost in their face and eyes. Gage was thunderstruck, while, from the ships of war and a mortar on Copp's Hill, was commenced a cannonade sufficient to appall the stoutest heart. A council of war, called immediatelj', decided that the Americans must be dislodged at all hazards, and their works destroyed ; and, despite different advice, Gage determined to make the attack in front. At about one o'clock, in plain sight of the Americans, a British force of 2,000 men bore away from Boston for Moulton's Point, near Breed's Hill, Gen. Howe com- manding the right, and Gen. Pigot the left wing. On the American side, the military force under arms did not exceed 1,500 men. Col. Prescott was the fii-st in com- mand, Knowlton, Stark and Putnam being active and efficient in various ways. The British columns under Pigot advanced to a simultaneous attack a little after 2| o'clock. With their scarlet uniforms and flashing armor they presented a formidable appearance. A tremendous volley of musketry from the Americans, however, levelled nearlj- the whole front rank of the British troops. Again and again the latter advanced, only to recoil under the effective and unremitting fire of the Americans, until at length the}' staggered and retreated in more or less dis- order. Howe's division, in like manner, was received b}* a sheeted and deadl}' fire that soon forced it into con- fusion and precipitate retreat. A second attempt to storm the American position was no more successful. t In 1835, a granite obelisk, 28 feet high, including the base, 5^ feet broad, was erected on the spot where the first British soldiers fell, with a suitable inscription. The spot is one of great rural beauty, the road along which the troops marched having been many years closed, and the bridge over which the first volleys of the Revolution flew having long since disappeared. ¥ffi]£ ©i^YrTlE ^\Tr [BMWKE^'S MflLlo A/ft/. ^Md^m-/e*tfi j/tf/ /itnu/ft /.; > Mftf .^/f7,■i^■ /.f/v// /.'f/»/A'tfi»'fA*// /.' ' /h/.f^fjff^t/t/tv/fv Jo' \ 'PS'rt iifAVTIi-K A.IT Miin'Tjh.SH '.; !'IiIiL;i. MASSACHUSETTS. In the face of a continuous fire the British pressed for- ward, but before the vollej-s, aimed with the fatal skill of sharp-shooters, they again gave wa}-, and retreated in greater confusion than before. It was now discovered by the Americans that their ammunition was nearly exhausted ; accordingly', when the engagement was re- newed, Prescott gave the order to retreat, which, after pouring with their last round of ammunition into the ranks of the advancing foe a parting and murderous volley, they proceeded to do in comparatively good order, Prescott himself being one of the very last to leave the redoubt. As they thus abandoned their position, they received from the enemj' a destructive voUej', when the brave Warren* fell, shot through the head with a bullet. The result of the battle, though a defeat, yet had all the moral effect of a victorj'. The Americans had not onlj- " smellod gunpowder" : they had met, and had repeat- edly seen superior numbers of the disciplined soldiers of England retreat before their fire ! and, in consequence, were confirmed in their trust that their liberties would be presen'ed. Well may New England's poet exultantlj' exclaim : — " Hail to the mom, when first they stood On Banker's height, And fearless stemmed the invading flood, And wrote our dearest rights in blood, And mowed in ranks the hireling brood. In desperate figlit ! Oh, 'twas a proud, exulting day, For even our fallen fortunes lay In light." When, Sept. 12, 1786, the Court of Common Pleas attempted to sit at Concord, about one hundred men, led by one Capt. Job Shattuck of Groton, and INIatthew and Sylvanus Smith of Shu'lej', encamped in the vicin- ity, with a view to preventing the transaction of anj- business. On the morning when the court was to meet, they formed, but presented a wretched ai)pearance ; indeed, they were little more than a mob. But the dis- turbance was so great that the judges finallj- decided to leave the place without holding a court. Similar pro- ceedings occurred in several other counties in the State. After a few months, however, tlie wholesome presence of the militia, under Maj. Gen. Lincoln, effectually dis- persed these mobs, and put to a perpetual end the infa- mous so-called " Shays' RcbelHon." The growth of this county has been marvellous. Its citizens have always generously participated in whatever has interested or concerned the whole countr)'. When • The death of Warren, one of the most gnileless as well as gallant of patriots, was the occasion of profound and universal sorrow. In the centre of the grounds included within the redoubt of the old-time battle- the Rebellion broke out in 1861, her sons were first on the field. The first northern men slain in the memorable riot at Baltimore belonged to old Middlesex, the "gal- lant sixth " being the veiy earliest regiment to respond to the President's call to ai'ms, and to fly to the defence of the beleaguered capital. And all through that long and cruel war it will be found, we think, that Middlesex never failed to do her duty. Towns. LovTELL, a city of 40,928 inhabitants, owes its ex- istence to the vast water-power fm-nished hy the Mer- rimac River. This locahty was once a favorite fishing- ground for the Indians, and one tribe had its village, named Wamesit, near the site of the present city. In 1821, Messrs. Nathan Appleton and Patrick Tracy Jackson, the proprietors of successful cotton-mills at Waltham, were attracted by the great unemploj'ed water-power fimiished bj- Pawtucket Falls, and soon the idea of gaining " all the power of the Merrimac River " completely possessed them. So they purchased the stock of the old Pawtucket Canal Company, and four farms of about four hundred acres, where now stands the most densely populated part of Lowell, for from one to two hundred dollars per acre. Shortly a hundred new houses stood on these farms, and in 1822, a line of stages was estal)lished with Boston. The first paper, called the " Chelmsford Courier," was started in 1824, and the Mechanic Phalanx, the first military company, was organized JUI3- 4, 1825. The Central Bridge Company was formed the same year. Near tlie close of that year, the Middlesex Mechanics' Association was also incorpo- rated. Thus the town sprang into existence, with all its leading institutions, almost immediatelj' after the pur- chase of the water-power. The town of Lowell was chartered as a separate com- munity March 1, 1826, with a population of about 2,000. In 1835, because of " the want of executive power, and the loose and irresponsible manner in which money for municipal purposes is granted and expended," a committee was appointed to draft a city charter. Luther Lane was chairman, and the charter proposed was adopted April 11, 1836. In the ten years since its organization as a town, the population had increased to 17,633. The Railroad Bank was established in 1831, and the Police Court two years later. In 1830, Patrick T. Jackson undertook the Boston & Lowell Railroad, one of the earUest to carry both freight field on Breed's Hill, now stands the obelisk known as Bunker Hill monument, a square shaft of Quincy granite, 221 feet in height, 31 feet square at the base, and 15 at the top. HISTORY OF "KEW ENGLAND. and passengers. When completed, in 1835, this lauda- ble enterprise had cost the sum of $1,800,000. erected in Monument Square in 18G4, and is cher- ished as one of Lowell's most precious memorials. The Lowell Cemetery dates from area of about 45 acres. This "garden of graves," largely the work of Oliver M. "Whipple, is situated on the east bank of Con- cord Eivcr, one mile from the city. It is laid out in the French style, with long, serpentine avenues, shaded by forest trees, and is one of the most beautiful burial-places in the State. During the Rebellion, Lowell furnished 5,022 men, of whom 450 were in the navj-. The first in the field came from Lowell, and this city was the first to make provision for the families of vol- unteers. Of the old sixth regi- ment, which was ordered out im- mediately after the fall of Fort Sumter, four companies came from this city, and Addison 0. "Whitney, Luther C. Ladd, and Charles A. Taylor, killed at Bal- timore, belonged in Lowell. A monmnent to their memory was a 1 , and has an | Lowell owes its origin and sufisequent growth to the I introduction of cotton manufac- J tures. J; The first corjjoration formed ^ was the Men-imack. This was incorporated Feb. 5, 1822, with j "Warren Dutton as president, and 1 a capital of $000,000 ; but it has been increased to $2,500,000. The corporation first built a dam across Pawtucket Falls, then widened and deepened the canal, and erected miUs. The first was completed and started Sept. 1, 1823, and the first return of cloth was made in November. Kirk Boott was the first treasurer and agent, and Ezra "Worthen super- intendent — he, however, died in 1824, and his place was supphcd bj' "Warren Colburn, famous for a series of arithmetics. The founders had, from the first, con- templated calico printing. Allen Pollard made here the first at- tempt at this line of goods in this countrj' ; but it pro-\ ed a failure. Henry Burrows became superintendent of this enterprise in 1855 His skill, supplemented bj that of his chemist, Sim- uel L. Dana, gave then prints a fame that is woild wide. The company haA c five mills and print-woiks In 1825, the old Locks and Canal Company was rc-organized, aiid into its hands was committed the sole control of the water- power. Their business has been to furnish land and water-power ; build mills, and fill them with machin- eiy. They constructed all the canals to convey water to the several miUs, and, for twenty years, kept in operation two machine- shops and a saw-mill. In 1845, the Lowell Machine Companj' was organized to do this last work. .( List of LoioelVs Maniifacturinff Corporaii NAME. Incnrpo- Capital. The Hamilton jranufacturing Company, . 1825, 1600,000 00 Appleton Company, 1828, 600,000 00 Lowell Company, 1828, 2,000,000 00 Middlesex Company, 1830, 500,000 00 1831, 600,000 00 TremontMffls, 1831, 600,000 00 Lamrence 1831, 1,500,000 00 Lowell Bleachery, Boott & Cotton MUls, 1832, 300,000 00 1835, 1,200,000 00 Massachusetts, 1839, 1,800,000 00 These are the large corpor- ations. There are also some smaller companies, among which may be mentioned the Sterling Mills, with 40 flannel looms ; the Faulkner, with 38 looms ; and the Hosiery Company, engaged in making women's hose. The American Bolt Company employ one hmidred hands. Wood, Sher- wood & Company manufacture fine plated goods ; the Thorn- dike Manufacturing Company', MASSACHUSETTS. elastic goods ; and the Bel- videre "Woollen Companj-, Charles A. Stott, agent, ran 86 looms. These are not all, but the most im- portant of the industries of this busy city. The scenery around the city of Lowell presents many points of marked in- terest to every lover of the beautiful. From the heights of Centrah-ille on the left bank, and from Bclvidere on the right, especially, the whole panorama of the citj'' appears spread out be- neath, with the river wind- ing its way between sur- rounding hills, while for a background to the picture, Wachusett, and the moun- tains of New Hampshire, tower in grandeur. The citj^, too, can boast many handsome buildings. The county jail is usually considered to be the finest, though the court-house is not far behind in architectural beauty. Built at a cost of $100,000, this stands on an elevated site in a shaded en- closure, on Gorham Street. The city has good schools, * 64 in number ; six banks, with an aggregate capital of $2,350,000, and six savings banks ; a public library of 13,000 volumes ; and a course of lectures is maintained each season, usually in Huntington Hall. There are three papers, — the "Lowell Daily Courier," which succeeded the " Chelmsford Courier," now published by Marden & RoweU; the "Vox Populi," a semi-weekly, started in 1841, published by Stone & Huse ; and the " Times," published by E. A. Hills. There are 27 religious denom- inations in the city. The first foi-med was St. Anne's, Episco- pal, and it possesses a substantial stone structure that was conse- crated by Bishop A. V. Griswold, * To 'Warren Colbum, the mathemat- ician, and Dr. Edson, Lowell is indebted EPtSCOPAX. CHURCH, LOWELL. ^""^ ''« P'"''^''"' ^y^^<''^ °^ P"'^"'= ^'^^°°^- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. March 26, 1825. The first rector was Rev. T. Edson, D. D., who still remains, and has always exerted a powerful influence in the city. Kirk Boott was the first treasm-er and agent of the Merrimack corporation. He was bom in Boston in 1791, and educated at Rugby School, England. He entered Harvard, but did not complete his course. He served five years in the British army, and fought under "Welling- ton. He so infused his spirit into the place, that, for fifteen years, its history was practical^ his own. He was the leading man of Dr. Edson's parish. His death occurred in 1837. Benjamin F. Butler, one of Lowell's most eminent law- yers, was born in Deerfield, N. H., Nov. 5, 1818 ; graduated at "Watenolle (Colby University) in 1838 ; and was admitted to the bar in 1840, and, in 1860, was a member of the Democratic National Convention. Dm-- ing the wai* he displayed great executive ability, and rose to the rank of major general. At its close he was elected to Congress, and has been a member nearly all the time since. Dr. J. C. Ayer, actively identified for many years with the material interests of the city, came to Lowell when a mere boy, and was first employed as a drag clerk. In 1838 he began his experiments with patent medicines, and soon obtained a degree from the Universitj- of Penn- sylvania. He was part owner of several corporations, and of -the New York "Tribune." He died, July 3, 1878, from insanity. Cajibridge, so called from Cambridge, Eng., is the seat of Harvard University, one of the shire towns of the county, and the second in size. Population, 39,634. It comprises four sections, — North Cambridge, Cam- bridge proper, where the University is located ; East Cambridge, formerly Lechmere's Point ; and Cambridge- port. East Cambridge is connected with Charlestown by Prison Point Bridge, and with Boston by the Lowell Railroad and Cragie's Bridge. CambridgejDort is con- nected with Boston by "West Boston Bridge, 6,190 feet long, a fine structiu-e, finished -nith a draw. There are also bridges connecting the city with Brookline and Brighton. Early in 1631, Lieut.-Gov. Dudley, and Secretary' Bradstreet, in accordance with the agreement, commenced the erection of houses in Cambridge. The next year, ' ' the Braintree company removed to New Town. These were Mr. Hooker's compan}-," and Rev. Thomas Hooker became the first settled minister. In 1639 the first printing-press in America was set up " by one Day, at the charge of Mr. Glover," who died on his passage, to this country. Its first production was the " freeman's oath," and the next an almanac for New England, by Mr. Pierce, mariner ; and then the Psalms turned into metre. From this beginning has grown Cambridge's world-wide renown for printing books. The first license for an inn was given to Andrew Belcher in 1652, and in 1656 the inhabitants consented to pay each his share of a rate to the sum of £200 " towards the building a bridge over Charles River." The bridge called ' ' the Great Bridge " was erected about 1660. A House of Correction was erected at nearly the same time. In 1642 Cambridge embraced Menotomy, now As- lington ; the Farms, now Lexington ; the lands on the Shawshine, now BUlerica ; and Nonantmn, now Newton. In 1668, several respectable men were chosen "for katechising the youth of this towne." During the Revolution, Cambridge evinced an unwavering IJatriotism, and whUe the army occupied the place during the siege of Boston, the inhabitants submitted to the necessary privations without a murmur. The influence of the University too was powerfully for freedom, and dming the war of the RebeUion, her fame was unsuUied. Cambridge furnished 3,600 men for the Union service, of whom 470 were lost. A beautiful monument has been erected on the Common to perpet- uate then- memory. Parts of Charlestown were annexed to Cambridge in 1802, 1818, and 1820. The city charter was passed by the legislatui-e March 17, 1846, and ac- cepted by the inhabitants March 30. The motto is : "Literis antiqvis novis institvtis decora." Its growth has been exceedingly rapid ; and with an honorable past, and an admirable present, it promises a brilliant future. The surface of Cambridge is, for the most part, level, and along the streams it is low and marshy. In addition to Charles River and a branch of the M\-stic, the city contains part of Fresh Pond, furnishing the city at once its water-supply- and ice. ]\Iiller's River is a noxious tidal stream rising in SomerviUe. The manufactures are steam-engines, glass (for mak- ing which there are two large establishments at East Cam- bridge, one of which, the New England, is as extensive as any in the country) , soap, fiu-niture, tin-ware, brushes, chemicals, brass and ii-on castings, clothing, confection- ery, bricks, musical instniments, &c. There are also extensive slaughtering establishments, of which that of Mr. J. P. Squire is the most important. The city has six banks, and four savings banks ; an eflicient police, and a fii-e department, with the telegraph- MASSACHUSETTS. alarm system ; a fine city hall, containing a public library ; an excellent sj'stem of graded schools, the high school being one of marked excellence ; an horticultural association dat- ing from 1860; and the Dowse Institute, which furnishes a j'early course of public lectures. " The Cambridge Cit}- Guard " is a fine military organi- and picturesque Mount Auburn, with its shaded avenues and storied monuments, its sacred associations and hal- lowed influences, must stand pre-eminent. This is one of the earliest, most extensive, and finest rural cemeteries, and was dedicated on Sept. 24, 1831. It contains an area of about 125 acres, and its highest point is about 1 75 feet above the level of the Charles. Its natural scen- ery consists of a remarkable vari- etj' of wooded hill and shaded dale, interspersed with smaU lakes, to which the land- scape gardener LT LONGFELLOW, cAMBHiDGF ^'^^ added mauy other attractions. Oct. 11, 1633, the First Church of Cambridge was organized, with Rev. Thos. Hooker, pastor, and Sam'l Stone, assistant. They, with the church, removed to Hart- ford, Conn., in 1636, and the church was re- organized the same 3 ear, with Ke\. Thomas Shepard, I A chapel of stone for funeral services stands conve- minister. There are now 28 churches within the city, | niently near the entrance, while a stone tower crowns some of them remarkable for architectural beauty. The Shepard Memorial Church is probably the most costly. Cambridge has many points of interest be- sides its celebrated Uni- versitj', some of them his- toric. The poet, Henry W. Longfellow, resides in the fine old mansion on Brattle Street, that served for Washington's head-quarters ; and the "Washington ehu" is on one side of the com- mon, where, July 3, 1775, the " Father of his Country" took command of the Continental Army. The Ralph Inman place on Main Street, Cambridgeport, was Gen. Israel Putnam's headquarters. But in point of interest in Cambridge, the beautiful MEMOKLAL HALL the highest eminence commanding a view of all the surrounding coun- trj\ The gateway is mas- sive, built from an Egyp- tian model, and there are within the sacred enclo- sm'es many fine monu- ments to commemorate the departed. The first to attract attention, on the left of the main en- trance, is that of John Gaspar Spurzheim, who died Oct. 10, 1832, and is an exact copy of the tomb of Scipio Africanus. Hai-vard University, the oldest, and perhaps the best endowed institution in America, was founded in 1636, and named for Rev. John Hai-vard of Charlcstown, who, two years later, bequeathed to it about £780 and 300 volumes of books. The college grounds, with an area ^ J VN-IVERSITY. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. of 22 acres, are nearly covered with the University buildings. Prominent among these is Memorial Hall, one of the finest structures in the State, erected in honor of the sons of Harvard who fell in the late war. The course of study is largely elective. Under the adminis- tration of Pres. Eliot, the number of students has largely increased, and a high standard of scholarship is main- tained. * The University includes, besides the college proper, the Theological, Law, Medical and Dental schools ; the two last located in Boston ; the Lawrence Scientific School, the Bnssey Institution, the Museum of Natural Historj-, the Botanic Garden, and the Observatory. The Divinity School, under the patronage of the Uni- tarian, denomination, has a corps of able professors. There is also an Episcopal Theological School. The Law and Medical Colleges have gained a national repu- tation, and have the merit of being the first institutions of the kind to insist upon passing thorough examinations to secure the degi-ee. The Lawrence Scientific School has post-graduate courses in preparation for special scientific labor. Thus Harvai-d meets the idea of an university more fully than any other institution in the country. The Observatory, upon an eminence some half mile from the college, is under Prof. E. C. Pickering as director. It is pro\dded with all modern apphances for extended study of celestial phenomena. Cambridge has been the residence of many distin- guished men. Thomas Oakes (1644-1719) was a noted physician and able counsellor. Bartholomew Green, died 1732, was the printer of the first newspaper in the country. Jonathan Belcher, died 1732, was for several years governor of the Colony. William Brattle, F. R. S. (1702-177(5), was an able legislator in the colonial period. William Eustis, LL. D., died in 1825, was an eminent physician, and for the last two years of his hfe governor of the State. Amos Whiltemore was the inventor of a machine for making cards, which displays much mechanical skill. Charles K. Williams, LL. D., and Jonathan Sewell, LL. D., were both noted jurists. Joseph Willard, died 1865, was a noted antiquai-y. * Presidents. — Ker. Henry Dunster (resigned 1654) ; Rev. Charles Chauncey (inaugurated 1G54) ; Rev. Leonard Hoar (1672) ; Rev. Urian Oalies (1675) ; John Rogers (1681) ; Rev. Increase Mather (1685) ; Rev. Samuel Willard (1701) ; John Leverett (1707) ; Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth (1725) ; Rev. Edward Holyoke (1737) ; Rev. Samuel Locke (1770); Eev. Samuel Langdon, D.D. (1774); Rev. Joseph Willard (1781) ; Prof. Samuel Webber (1805) ; Dr. John S. Kirkland (1810) ; Josiah Quincy (1829) ; Edward Everett (1846) ; Jared Sparks (1849) ; Jacob Walker (1852) ; Cornelius Conway Felton (1860) ; Thomas Hill (1862) ; Charles William Eliot (1869). t Following from the north, these hUls are : a part of Walnut, upon which stands Tufts College ; Wmter Hill, upon which was a Ime of Ezra Stiles Gannett, D.D., born in 1801, was an eloquent di^-ine ; killed on the Eastern Railroad at Revere, in 1871. Arthur B. Fuller was chaplain of the Sixteenth Massachusetts Regiment, and was shot while crossing the Rappahannock at the battle of Fredericksburg in 1862. Besides these there are many noted authors , among whom may be mentioned Richard H. Dana, died 1807 ; George B. Enghsh,*died 1828; Frederick H. Hedge, D.D. ; Ohver WendeU Hohnes, M. D. ; Sarah M. Fuller, died 1850 ; R. H. Dana, Jr. ; James Russell Lowell ; and T. W. Higginson. SoMEKViLLE was detached from Charlestown and char- tered as a town March 3, 1842, and was made a city April 14, 1871. Population, 14,685. It is three miles north-west from Boston, with which it is connected by the Eastern, the Boston and Maine, the LoweU, and the Fitchburg railroads, and by a horse railroad. The Mystic and Miller's rivers are navigable to the city for sloops, and piu-e water is supplied from Mystic Pond. There are seven eminences in the city, mostly covered with beautiful residences, but which were the scenes of some of the most stining events of the Revolution.! The McLean Asylum for the insane stands upon Cobble Hill, where Gen. Israel Putnam planted his cannon during the seige of Boston. The city has a good police force, an efficient fire depai-tment, and excellent public schools, with buildings of tasteful architectm-e. Brick-making is an important industry ; glass is made for lamps and table ware ; brass and copper tubes and spikes are also made. There is an establishment for printing caUco and delaines, with a capital of $100,000, ; and a well-edited paper, the " Somerville Journal." | The first church organized was the Baptist, in 1845. Ten other churches have since been established here. j John McLean (1759-1823), a merchant, by his will ; gave $100,000 to the Massachusetts General Hospital, and $50,000 to Harvard College. Col. R. H. Conwell, a noted correspondent, a vigorous writer and lectui-er, resides here. breastworks during the siege of Boston ; Ten Hills Farm, where the troops landed when they removed the powder to Castle William, and on which the left of the army rested for a season ; Mount Benedict, called in Revolutionary times " Ploughed Hill," upon which stands the ruins of the Ursuline Convent, but which has been nearly levelled to furnish better building facilities; Prospect Hill, which was fortified before Bunker Hill, on which was lighted the first beacon to inform the iuhabitants of the movements of the British on the morning of the memorable April 19, 1775; Spring Hill, where some of the m- trenchments still remain ; and Central Hill, surrounded by the other eminences, and now surmounted by some of the finest buildings in the city. JNLASSACHUSETTS. Newton is a flourishing city in the south-east part of the county, with a population of 12,825. It was incor- porated as a town Dec. 15, 1691 ; originally Cambridge Village, then New Town. Incorporated as a cit3' Oct. 14, 1873. The B. & A. R. R. accommodates the northern, and the N. E. R. R. the southern portions. The surface is exceedingly varied, and the soil is under a high state of cultivation. Many beautiful subm-ban residences are located upon the various eminences, while the pictur- esque Charles winds through the cit3", furnishing abund- ant water-power at the Upper Falls, where it plunges over a rocky descent of upwards of 20 feet ; and also at the Lower Falls. Several small streams and ponds, among which may be mentioned Baptist and Hammond's ponds, each covering about 33 acres, add much to the scenic beauty. Chestnut Hill, partly in this city, sur- mounted by the reservoir, is one of the most sightly and beautiful localities within easy reach of Boston. The principal manufactures are cotton goods, paper, hosiery, hoUow ware, machineiy, musical instruments and furniture. Agriculture is an^important industry, the fertile soil being especially adapted to market gardening. The city consists of the several villages of Newton, very compactly built ; Newton\'ille, with the high school and many elegant residences ; West Newton ; Aubm-n- dale, the seat of Lasell Seminary ; Newton Centre, largely upon elevated ground, and the seat of the Theo- logical Seminarj- ; Newton Upper and Newton Lower Falls, industrial villages on Charles River ; Chestnut Hill ; and Newton Highlands, each with charming loca- tions for suburban homes. There are 53 public schools and two academies ; a lyceum, an horticultural society, and two papers, the "Journal" and the " Repubhcan." A library and reading-room, established in 1869 at a cost of $55,000, and maintained at an annual cost of $4,000, circulates 40,000 vols, yearly. The first church was organized May 5, 1664, and Rev. John Eliot, Jr., the first pastor, was ordained soon after. The second minister. Rev. Nehemiah Hobart, was or- dained in 1674. Rev. John Cotton, gi-eat-grandson of the celebrated Rev. John Cotton of Boston, was ordained as the third minister in 1714. The fourth and last min- ister of the whole town was Rev. Jonas Memam, ordained in 1758. This church, the Congregational Church at the Centre, has had a succession of pastors to the present, Rev. D. L. Finber, D. D. Of these, Rev. Jonathan Homer, ordained in 1782, and Rev. Wm. BushneU, closed their pastorate by their death. At present there are nearly thirty churches in the city, some of very pleasing design. The Revolutionary record of Newton is excellent. The minute-men were at Lexington on April 19, 1775, in command of Lieut. Michael Jackson, and pursued the British to Lechmere's Point. Diu-ing the war 23 men were officers. The town showed a good record during the late Civil war. A handsome monument has been erected to the honor of those who fell. Newton Centre is the seat of the Newton Theological Institution, incorporated February, 1826, under the care of the Baptist denomination. It has alreadj' had as its professors some of the most noted biblical scholars in the countrj', among whom maj' be mentioned Horatio B. Hackett, D. D. Its present faculty, with Rev. Alvah Hovey, D. D., as president, enables it not only to occupy a commanding position in its own denomination, but to take rank with any other in the entire countr}'. The Lasell Female Seminary, located at Aubumdale, is the only institution for the higher education of ladies in New England, under the care of the Methodists. It was built by Prof. Edward LaseU of Williams College, who died soon after its completion. Newton has produced a large number of noted men. Capt. Thomas Prentice, bom in England in 1620 or 1621, was one of the influential earlj' settlers, and a cap- tain in King Philip's war. William WUliams and Jo- seph Park were noted clergj'men. Col. Ephraim Wil- liams was a commander in both French wars. Roger Sherman (1721-1793) was oue of the signers of the Dec- laration of Independence. Col. Joseph Ward was one of Gen. Ward's staff during the Revolution. William Jenks, D. D., LL. D., was the author of a commentary upon the Bible. WiUiam Jackson (1783-1855) was twice a member of Congress. Rev. S. F. Smith, D. D., was one of our best sacred lyric poets, a writer of some note, and author of the national hymn, " My countr}', 'tis of thee." Alexander H. Rice, born 1818, an emi- nent merchant, has been a member of Congress and gov- ernor of Massachusetts. Waltham, ten miles from Boston, on the Fitchburg Raikoad, and one of the pleasantest of subui'ban towns, was separated from Watertown and incorporated Jan. 4, 1737. It has a population of 9,065, thu-ty public schools, including a high school, and an incorporated academy. The town is built upon both sides of the Charles River, which stream pursues a de\ious coxu-se through the town, and furnishes good water-power. Stony Brook and Beaver Brook are tiibutaries — the latter the outlet of Means Pond. The land near the river is very fertile, but away from it, uneven and rocky. There are two ponds near the village, the larger — Mead's — being a mile in length HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. and more than talf a mile in breadth. The Waltham Cotton and Woollen Blanufacturing Company was incor- porated in 1812, and the Boston in the following year. These establishments have by superior management always proved highly profitable. The cotton-miU has 40,000 spindles and employs 700 hands. There are also two foundries, cmploj-ing 175 hands ; a bleacheiy, hosiery- mill, caipct-lining factory, and six large machine shops. The American Watch Company here commenced the man- ufiicture of watches and chronometers by machinery, and their success has led to similar establishments in other parts of the country-. Their fine main building is more than SOO feet long. They employ about 800 hands, mostly females, and make 44,000 watches per annum. Dehcate machines, invented in this country, make everj- part of the watch, and the most perfect order is maih- tained everj^where. The town has three able journals, the " Sentinel," " Free Press," and the " Olive Branch" ; a literary as- sociation called the Rumford Institute, a farmers' club, a savings bank, seven churches, and a public librarj' of 7,000 volumes. Cyrus Pierce (1 790-1860) , was a distinguished teacher ; Jonathan B. Bright, born in 1800, a merchant, was the author of " The Brights of Suffolk" ; and Oliver S. Le- land, died in 1870, was an author and critic. Gen. Nathan- iel P. Banks, ex-govemor and late member of Congress, is a resident of the town. He was first elected to Con- gress in 1853, and remained until 1857, and became major-general in the armj' during the RebeUion. He has been speaker of the House. M^VKLBOROUGH, the Indian Okamakamesit, was settled in 1C54, and was then a part of Sudlimy, from which it was separated and incorporated in IGGO. Among the early settlers were John How, Edmund Rice and Thomas King. The first minister was Rev. Wilham Brimsmead, who commenced preaching here in IGGO. John Ruddocke and John IIow bought the land for the first meeting- house in 1GG3, of Anamaks, an Indian. On March 20, 1676, during King Philip's war, the town was attacked by Indians, and nearly destroyed. After this the inhabitants left then- farms until more peaceful times. The place was one of the seven "praying towns" inhabited by natives, under the care of Rev. John Eliot. Daniel Goolrin, in 1674, thus describes the Indian settle- ment: "This village contains about ten families, and consequently about 50 souls. The quantity of land appertained to it is 6,000 acres. It is much of it good land, being well husbanded, and yieldeth plenty of corn. It is sufficiently stored with meadows, and is well watered." Thus early, Ehot's labors bore good fruit. Tlie town now contains 8,474 inhabitants. The Marl- borough branch of the B., C. & F. R. R. furnishes communication with Boston. The land is varied with hills, covered with fine farms, and valle3-s, beautified with streams and lakes, and the soil is fertile, producing a fine and varied flora. Spoon HiU, in the north, overlooks a beautiful sheet of water, covering 250 acres, with Fort Meadow Brook for its outlet. Indian Head HiU is con- spicuous in the east. Ockoocangansett Hill was the Indian " planting-field," and its northern slope was their burying-ground. Sljgo Hill is the highest eminence in town, and commands a charming prospect of the villages of tliis and neighboring towns. The elegant mansion of Samuel Boj-d, one of the leading manufacturers of the place, stands on Fair Mount, near the centre of tlie town. The town has always been noted for a thri\'ing farming community". But latterlj', the introduction of the manu- factm-e of boots and shoes has stimulated rapid growth and material prosperity. There are two well-edited papers, a public librarj' of 3,000 volumes, two banks, a good fire department, and seven churches. The town lost 89 men in the RebelUon, and has erected a fine monu- ment to their memory. WoBUEN, a pleasant town in the eastern part of the county, ten miles from Boston, has a population of 8,560. It was first settled as Charlestown Village, the gi-ant being made to Charlestown by the General Court, May 24, 1640. It original!}- included Winchester, Wil- mington and Burlington. A committee was chosen, Nov. 4, 1640, to set the bounds of the town, and the town records commence with their doings in that year. Edward Convers' house, near Convers' bridge, was im- doubtedly the first built in the town. The date of incor- poration was Oct. 6, 1642, and it was the twentieth in the Massachusetts Ba}' Colony. The most important of the earlj' settlers were Thomas Graves, the three Rieh- ardsons, Edward Convers and Edward Johnson. The last named, a very prominent citizen, wrote a somewhat tedious history- — but valuable for the facts preserved — called "The Wonder Working Providence of Sion's Sa-\-ior in New England." The First Congregational Church was gathered, after much difficult}- in finding a minister wilhng to settle so far inland, Aug. 24, 1642, and Mr. Thomas Carter or- dained by the elders of the church, Dec. 2, 1642. The date of the building of the fii-st meeting-house is not known; the second was built in 1672, and the third in ISlfSliSB'P^ PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING, WOBURN, MASS. For this beautiful edifice, the town is indebted to the generous bequest, of nearly $180,000, by Charles Bowers Winn. MASSACHUSETTS. 1752. Mr. Carter was succeeded by Eev. Jabez Fox, ordained in 1679. He was succeeded bj' his son, Rev. John Fox, ordained Nov. 17, 1703. There are at present se\en churches 1q "Wohum. The suifaco of the town is uneven, and there are three bold eminences, — Whispering Hill, Zion's Hill, and Horn Mountain (the last has a reservoir) , — thus afford- ing beautiful scenery, while two branches of Blystic Eiver afford good drainage. The Lowell Railroad passes along the eastern part of the town, and sends a branch to the centre, and the Mystic Vallej^ Railroad will also pass through Wobum. Horn Pond, with an area of ninet^'-one acres, a noted resort, is well stocked with fish, and furnishes the town an abundant supply of pure water. Manufacturing is the principal interest. There are establishments In different parts of the town, emplojing large capital, for tanning, making glue, clothing, enam- elled leather, chemicals, boots and shoes, shoe stock and mechanics' tools. The town has a bank, two journals, a lyceum, town hall, and a superior high school, with an excellent building. The town furnished 775 men for the last war, and has erected a fine monument, costing $10,000, surmounted by a bronze soldier by Milmore, to the honor of the 82 who died. Warren Academj-, a flourishing institution, was founded in 1828, and has a fine building. Samuel Blodget, an eminent inventor, was born at Wobum in 1724, and died in 1817. Gen. James Reed (1724-1807) was one of the oflicers at the battle of Bunker Hill, and did good sendee later in the Revolu- tion. Jeduthan Baldwin (1732-1788) was an able engineer, and laid out most of the towns in Middlesex County. Col. Loammi Baldwin (1745-1807) was a noted survej'or and a prominent officer in the Revolution. Roger M. Sherman, LL. D. (1773-1844), was a noted jurist. But no one of the sons of Wobum has been more noted than Benjamin Thompson, born in 1753, and died in 1814. He early gave promise of especial interest in natural laws, and, when a mere lad, went to Concord, N. H., where he made a number of important experi- ments. He afterwards went to England, and first demon- strated the law which now forms the basis of the theory of " conservation of force." He was honored by the title of Count Rumford. Maxden is a prosperous town of 7,367 inhabitants, in the eastern part of the county, four miles from Boston, with which it has connection by the B. & M. and the Saugus Branch railroads. The southern part of the town is low and marshy ; the northern, a range of high hLUs. A small outlet to Spot Pond in Stoneham flows from Mekose, and broadens into Maiden River, na^-igable for boats to the centre. Edgeworth, Maplewood, Glendale and Linden villages are fine places for suburban resi- dences. Many of the inhabitants are business men of Boston, but the town has establishments for the manufacture of dress trimmings, metallic pipes, britannia ware, chemi- cals, patent leather, lasts, perfumery, pahn-leaf hats, and rubber goods. The d3'e-house has been long celebrated, and tanning and brick-making are important industries. The public buildings of the place possess much architect- ural beauty. A high school house, costing $30,000, a model building, was dedicated in 1872. Water is sup- plied from Spot Pond, and the town is Ughted with gas. There are two banks, seven churches, and two pubUc j journals. The place was originally a part of Charlestown, but | was incorijorated Ma^- 2, 1649. A church was organized the same year, and in 1682 a town bell was placed on "Bell Rock." Eev. Michael Wigglesworth was ordained in 1656, and remamed until his death, in 1705. He was a noted poet, and a metrical version of the passages of Scripture, relating to the final judgment, called "The Day of Doom," and published in 1GG2, went through nine editions here, and two in England. In 1702, " John Sprague was appointed schoolmaster for the year insuing, to learn childi-en and youth to read and wright ; and to refmetick, according to his best skiU ; and he is to have £10 paid him by the town for his pains." Jacob Green (1722-1790) was an able divine, a noted scholar and a patriot. Daniel Shute, D. D. (1772-1802) , was a distinguished clergjTnan, and author of some works of temporary value. Peter Thacher was a celebrated jurist, and John Bigelow, born in 1817, was author of "Jamaica in 1850," and other works, and has been editor of the "New York Times" since 1869. Adoniram Judson, D. D., born here in 1788, died in 1850, has a I world-wide celebrity as the fli-st missionary to Bimnah. Natick is a flourishing town in the south-west part of the county, with a population of 6,404. The name is of Indian origin, signif^-ing " a place of hills." It is con- nected with Boston by the B. & A. R. R. The Charles flows through the town, winding along a valley so beautiful, as to draw from Washington the exclamation, "Nature seems to have lavished all her j beauties here ! " Pegan Hill, in the south-east part of the town, commands a view of at least sixteen A-illages, and enables the observer to distinguish Bunker HiH Monument, nearly 17 miles distant. Broad's, Tom's and HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Fisk's hills are also fine eminences, the latter command- ing a charming view of Lake Cochituate, -with its broad expanse. About 1830, the manufacture of brogans for the South- em trade was commenced in tliis town. Soon machinerj- was introduced, and, under the leadership of such men as the Messrs. Walcot, Hon. Henry Wilson and Isaac Fe.ch, the business increased, and gave a new impetus to the place. Now there are elegant residences, six hand- some churches, a high school, a public library, with a building erected by means of a bequest by the late Miss M. Morse ; a sha!T INDIAX ON KANTICKET. MASisACHUSETTS. built, and as earl}- as 1723 the first pier, now known as Straight Wharf, was constructed. For man}- years the town increased greatlj- in wealth. Its prosperit}- was marked. The North and South At- lantic oceans, the coasts of Brazil and Africa, and the most distant waters were visited bj' our vessels. * The sperm-whale fisherj- was then the chief business of Nantucket, of which industry indeed, as already' inti- mated, she had come doubtless to be the leading mart in the world. As if by magic, candle factories, and re- positories for oil sprung up on ever}- hand. Remnants, memorials of these centres of marine traffic, f are now A-isible in various localities of the town, whose thorough- fares once resounded with the fl3-ing feet of honest, in- dustrious laborers, with the noise of track and dray, and withal, with a more glorious than Patrick Gilmore's anvil chorus — the sound of coopers' hammers ! At the time of the breaking out of the war of the Rev- olution, there were not less than loO vessels afloat belong- ing to this island, and engaged in this business. And it is an interesting fact, that after that warliad closed, it was first at the mast-head of a Nantucket ship that the flag of the new republic was seen flying on the Thames. • These hardy sci-rovcrs h.id a taste for specimens, for rare and sug- gestive mementos of the remote and barbarous clinics they liad visited. Jlcanwhilc, Massachusetts can hardly boast, I think, a finer private museum than is to be seen at the residence of tlio widow of tlie late Capt. Robert MeCleave, another respected and prosperous seaman. In this rare cabinet are many hundred varieties of shells brought from every part of the globe! In addition to a collection of the coins of dif- ferent nations visited by Capt. JlcCleave, are beautiful specimens of Japan wares and Chinese handiwork. Many families in town have more or less of these unique relics, and descriptions of their history would fill a volume. t As late as ISJo the town contained seven establishments for the manufacture of oil and sperm-candles, producing 970,828 gallons whale, and 67,516 gallons sperm oil, value $768,529, and 142,450 pounds of sperm candles, value $17,405. In 1855 the receipts of sperm oil were 175,700 gallons, value $251,572; of whale oil, 261,739 gallons, value $140,049; of whalebone, 81,752 pounds, value $32,306. There were 44 vessels employed, with a ton- nage of 14,266, and a capital of §1,432,600. I In the comfortable home of one of our oldest and most fortunate voyagers, Capt. Nathaniel Cary, 1 have seen a portrait of one of his ancestors, Samuel Cary. This picture has a rare historical value, .ind I venture to call attention to it, in this connection, as a most interesting Revolutionary relic. Mr. Cary was an ardent patriot, living in Boston at the time that town was in possession of the British. lie was com- I pelled to leave his home quite summarily, one day. escaping through the j back door of house, as his pursuers came in at the front. It was an escape as narrow as the door-way ! Mad at their discomfiture by I the Yankee foe, they thrust their swords through the portrait that now hangs upon Capt. Cary's wall. The sword-cuts were repaired in an ar- , tistic manner ; but the scars of the Britons arc to be clearly distinguished now, giving the portr.".it an intensely dramatic interest. § One of the descendants of the Starbuck family, now living, has embodied this fact in a beautiful poem called, " An Idi/l of the Sea." Thus the form and errand of the fearful foreign frigate, like the " Pi/- Meanwhile, during this war, this town J was constantly subject to alarms. The people, the majority of whom were Quakers and non-resistants, were apprehensive of the capture of tlieir whalers bj' the British men-of-war prowling around in our waters. An alarm was occasioned, especially b}- a British in- vasion of tlie town in 1779, when the soldiers complete 1}^ riddled the stores, and impoverished the citizens. With the Sound swarming with English cruisers, provisions were cut off, although not a few blockade-runners plied to and fro from tlie Cape, exchanging oil and fish for the actual necessities of daily living. Truly patriotic, j-et crippled in resources, it was deemed expedient, on the part of the town, to declare neutrality, which resulted in the issue, )jy the British, of an order i^rohibiting all armed vessels of the crown from interfering with our island, or her legitimate com- merce. Even after this, an English sloop-of-war hovered like a vulture at the bar, frightening our home residents with fear for the safety of their inward-l)ound vessels. § Passing safely, comparatively speaking, through the war of 1812, Nantucket pushed along the bighwaj' of lucrative employment. In 1815 the olden energy re- ffrirr. Ship," are embalmed in poesy. We quote a few verses from Miss Starbuck's historical poem : 'Twas near a hundred years ago — The time, the date, is past recall — When through the town a deadly fear Crept to the heart of one and all ; For just without the harbor bar, Where moaned the tide with stifled breath, There lay at forced anchorage A British frigate armed with death. In vain the people planned defence, No bulwarks walled the Quaker town, Kg battlements, no ancient keep, No strength to beat invaders down. They saw the captain's stern command To "man the boats," and well they knew No mercy for their hearths and homes, Would harbor with the hostile crew. But stay ! A passing gleam of hope ! The wind was blowing from the shore; All safe until its breath should change; Then from each sad and anxious heart, From linary sire and maiden fair. There rose, uiiclieckcd by form of words, An earnest bui'st of sobbing prayer. A prayer to Him who rules the winds, And holds the waters in His hand. To s.ive them in their island home, And keep the wind from off the land. And then from Heaven the answer came. The gale, unchanging, day by day, Swept out to sea defiantly. And held the dreaded foe at bay. And iiovir once a cliange of sky. Gr.jwn tired at length of power denied. And hopeless watching of the prey. With miiltered curse it raised the siege, And from the harbor sailed away. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. vivccl, and ships were agnin fitted for sea. The fleet steadily enlarged. Eor thirty j-ears the business was pursued successfullj'. But, finally, the sudden fall in the price of oil damaged the whale fishery beyond the power of recover}'. A spasmodic efTort was made, after the "gold fever" had taken to California large numbers of able-bodied men, to fit ships for the North Pacific, where "right whale" oil and whalebone offered munificent returns to the adventurers. But long voj'ages, successive dis- asters, and large expenses, at last finished the precarious business of whaling ; and it was finall}' abandoned.* The decline of the whale fishery f naturally involved the destruction of Nantucket's great industrial pursuit — her sole dependence — her whole - - support. It is to be hoped, how- ever, that some other remunerative activity may jet offer its aid, and that the hum of thrift accordingly may be once more heard in her streets. Nantucket Clinrches. — Nothing of historical importance relative to re- ligious observances on the island, du we find in our researches prior to 1704, at which time there were, per- haps, 700 white inhabitants. We learn that the Indians, having the New Testament translated into their own language, had four meeting- houses, and had become earnest Christian believers under the whole- '^"^ °^° windji some influence of the Mayhews. It was during the year 1704 that the " Friends' Societ}-" J was formed. The Congregationalists are the oldest religious organi- zation in town. As long ago as 1711 the First Congre- » The discontinuance of the whale fishery released, of conrse, a large number of men from maritime pursuits, and involved, to the same ex- tent, the ncecssity of these same devoting themselves to other avoca. tions. It is no uncommon thing, therefore, in all our larger New England coast towns and cities, to find men engaged in the various oc- cupations common to all communities, who were formerly sea captains, who, in other days, sailed from Nantucket, masters of their several CKifts; who, indeed, wiU be found to be personally familiar with all the maritime gcogiaphy of the globe, and who are, doubtless, as truly as any that sail to-day, accomplished, practical navigators. t The complete history of this industry has been admirably written by Mr. Alexander Starbuck of Waltham, Mass. t The Hick-ite (Quaker) meeting-house was erected in 1832. The Fair Street (Quaker) meeting-house was built in 1S38. § By one of its Inte pastors, that scholarly and Christian gentleman and friend. Rev. Samuel D. Hosmer, now of Natick, Mass., I am in- formed that Rev. Timothy White preached as early as 1732, in June ; that he was bom in Haverhill, JIass., was a gr.aduate of Harvard in 1720, and came from the Vineyard to teach school in Nantucket ; gational, or North Church, was built. The names of its original membership, or of its ministers, are unknown, as its church annals do not extend farther back than 1799. § This truly ancient meeting-house was framed out of the rugged oak trees that grow in the island soil, and was erected on land westward of the North burial- ground. It was subsequently removed to Beach Hill, where it novy stands, and was rebuilt in 17G5, — the original plate, bearing the date of its erection, being still seen upon the old gallery. In 17G1, Rev. Joseph Mayhew succeeded Mr. White, preaching until 176G.|| In 1795 the old North Tower was raised. Fifteen j'cars from the dismissal of Rev. ^ Jas. Gurney, the new North Church " was built. The ministerial succes- M sion is perfect down to the present ^B incumbent. Rev. L. H. Angier. i The Second Congregational, or Unitarian Church, was formed in the year 1809. Rev. Seth F. Swift was the first pastor. Many able divines of the Unitarian faith have graced its pulpit, and its line of pastors is an honorable one. Above the church building is the I old tower, ^ a pleasing rendezvous for visitors. It is reached by climb- ing up a dusty, winding stairway, past the quaint belfry with its Span- LL, NA.XTLCKET. jgij bcll,* * to the brcczy lookout. The view is enchanting. You look down upon queer old streets ; upon roofs of the quiet town ; awaj- to the silent wharves, off towards the beacons on Brant Point and Great Point, and across the harbor, far out at sea. that he married here in 1728. From the establishment of the North Church in 1711, until 1781, there was but one settled clergyman on the Island. II The white population, 3,220; Indian, 358. An Indian plague swept off a lai-gc number of the natives, leaving but 136. Thus were their ranks decimated, until 18.54, when, with the death of Abram Quady, a once powerful race became utterly extinct. II This church tower is the eyrie of the town-crier, one of the most in- dustrious and important men in our midst. It is his observatory. Here he daily heralds the arrival of the incoming steamers. The musical bell that keeps its wekd place below, has a history of its own. • • It was brought from Lisbon, and bears an Inscription m Portuguese. Translated, it reads : — " To the good Jesta of the Mount. "The devotees of Lisbon, in fulfilment of their vows, offer to Him this one to complete a chime of six bells to call the people to adore Him in His sanctuary." Jose Donimques Dc Costa made it in Lisbon, A. D. 1810. MASSACHUSETTS. Landward, j-ou gaze over miles of brown pasture lands that remind one of the Scottish moors. The Episcopal Church on Nantucket has a romantic origin. Rev. Moses Marcus, of New York, came to the island in 18 — , to marry his son, who, years before, had run away from home to try his fortune on board of a whaleship. His quarters at a sailor boarding-house, however, not being in accord with his early home associations, he abandoned the sea, and, by advice of ]Mr. S. H. Jenks, sought an appointment to teach school in Polpis, one of the outl^-ing villages. The visit of Rev. Mr. Marcus was opportune. With the favor of ]Mr. Jenks, he formed a society after the Episcopal order. The first meeting was held in Ath- enaeum Hall. The old Quaker church building was hired for their worship, and Rev. Mr. Marcus was invited to preach. After a while it was voted to purchase the building, with the one in the rear. The site was on Broad Street, east of the Ocean House. The building was of solid oak frame, 42 feet long, and 50 or 60 wide, the whole presenting the appearance of a granite Gothic structure. * Trinity Church was consecrated to the rights and usages of the Protestant Episcopal Church, on Wednes- day, the 21st day of August, 1839, by Right Rever- end Alexander V. Griswold, D. D., bishop of the diocese. St. Paul's Church was organized September 3, 1846. On the nth of October, 1846, Rev. Ethan Allen reported the name of the church to be " Messiah." It was sub- sequently changed to " St. Paul's." The church applied for admission to the convention of the diocese, held in Boston, June 9, 1847. At pi-esent the church is flourishing under the accept- able ministrations of Rev. I;evi S. Boyer. The York Street Baptist Church was recognized May 24, 1831. The Nantucket Athenaeum, which was destroyed bj' fire, was built as a Universalist church. Rev. Hosea Ballon, the great apostle of Universalism, preached here several times. As there were but few of that faith upon the island, the society soon waned, and has no representa- tion at present in the town f • In the great fire of 184G', I stooil .and snw Trinity Clnircli burn to t;;-: ground. It was an irreparable loss to Nantuclict. Altliough but a boy then, I can now hear the ceolian music of the Gothic tower, and see tlie spirals of cruel flame as they closed about the stately structure. This snd picture is apostrophized by Mrs. Martha W. Jenks, in her poem published in " Seaweeds from the Shores of Nantucket." 1 Three hundred and fifty buildings were destroyed, valued, with their con- tents, at $900,000. Tlie Metlwdist CJnirch. — The earliest Methodist preach- ing in this place was by Jesse Lee, Joseph Snelling, and George Cannon. The Methodist society was organized July 25, 1799, by Rev. Wm. Bcauchamp, with 19 mem- bers, in a dwelling-house. The progress of the society was rapid. In 1819, some 282 members were reported ; five years later, 417. In 1843, under the pastorate of the late Dr. Patten, there were 410 members. From that time the church has necessarily shared the drooping fortunes of the place. The present number of members is IGO. The first church edifice was dedicated Jan. 7, 1800, and was called the Fair Street M. E. Church. The present building, whose seating capacity is 1,000, and which under the pastorates of Drs. Patten and Wise was filled to its utmost capacity, was dedicated in the fall of 1823, sermon by the famous John N. Maffit. This season was marked by an extensive revival. The church, notwithstanding the times, is still prosperous. During the palmy days of Nantucket, no other church probably drew such congregations as the Methodist. In 1850 there were nine churches on the island. Societies and iHstitiitions. — From the 3-car 1800 to 1823 the academy was incorporated, the Pacific Bank and insurance offices established, the " Social Libraiy" instituted, and the " Columbian Library Association." In 1820, " The Nantucket Mechanics' Social Librarj- Society" was established. In 1823, "The Columbian Libraiy Society " was formed. In 1827, these two associ- ations were united, and called " The United Library Association." In 1836, Mr. Joy proposed to join Mr. C. G. Coffin, in giving to the society a lot of land on Main Street, which was to sell for $1,800. BIr. Coffin agreed to this, and the land was offered on conditions that the socict}' would raise $3,500, and erect a suitable building for library, lecture and curiosity rooms. They raised $4,200, each subscriber of $10 having an equal right with all other donors. Finding the lot too small, they exchanged it with the proprietors of the Universalist church, and fitted that up and the society was incorporated as " The Nantucket Athenaeum." The present building was erected with money obtained from the insurance on the first build- ing, which was burned in 1846. In 1827, public schools { were established, and the t This denomination, however, has an able preacher in Rev. Mrs. P. A. Hanaford, who is a native of N.-mtucket, and a woman of rare intellectual endowments. Mrs. Hanaford was ordained and in- stalled pastor of the First Universalist Church, iu Ilingham, in 1S6S, and hers is the honor of being the first woman ordained for the Chris- tian ministry in Massachusetts. t The high school was opened in 1837, Cyrus Pcirce, principal. Mr. Pcirce was one of the best educators in Massachusetts. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Coffin School built with a fund given by Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin.* Education on Nantucket has ever been a notable fea- ture of its history. Its schools have ranlced among the best in the Commonwealth. They have furnished some of the most accomplished teachers in the United States, and their names add a brilliant lustre to the historical record of the island. Hon. S. H. Jcnks was foremost in the permanent foundation of public instruction ; he was a firm, enlightened advocate of education, and pos- terity will accord to him the lasting credit which is his due.f Cemeteries. — The first recorded death on the island is that of Jane, wife of Richard Swain, who died Oct. 31, 1CG2. Tradition says she was buried by her hu^lnnd under the door-stone. Jethro, son of Edward Starbuck, and a son o*" Thomas Macy, died earl3' after the settlement. A careful examm- ation of early records may bnng to light when the ancient buiial- gi-ound, as such, was established It was probablj', at an eailj' pi - riod, set apart by authontj- fc i that purjiose. Early officials bui u d there were Eichard Gardnci, Si , who died Jan. 28, 1688, and hib brother, Capt. John Gardner, who died May 6, 1706. They had both been chief magistrates undei the New York government. Also, Joseph Gardner, who died in 1701 ; Peter Folgor, 2d, register of probate, who died in 1707; William Gaj-er, Esq., who died in September, 1710 ; Eleazer Folger, Sr., • It -was during the year 1826 that the Admiral, Sir Isaac CoflBn, vis- ited the island. Mr. Jenks took his British guest to Si.isconsct, and on the way out he made known the object of his visit. Full of the enthu- siasm and zeal with which he had so long been excited on the subject of schools, Mr. Jenks replied thus to the Admiral's questions, " Shall I build a church, or raise a great monument, or purchase a ship for the town's benefit ? " "If you raise a monument. Sir Isanc, it will not be looked at by more than a hundred people once a year ; if you build a church, as 3-ou are an Episcopalian, it will neither be supported nor attended, for there is scarcely one besides myself of that order in the place ; and as to the purchase of a vessel, if done at all, it should be for the purpose of nau- tical instruction. The best thing you can do— the deed that will make you forever remembered in the island — is to establish and endow a free school." The Admiral, having kinsfolk upon the island, adopted the \>ise suggestion of Mr. Jcnks, and the original fund of £2,500 was granted for that purpose. The act of incorporation came under the heading of " Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin's Lancasterian School," whose purport was " to promote decency, good order and morality, and to give a good English education to youth who are descendants of the late Tristram Coffin." Under the charge of Mr. E. B. Fox, its present THE COFFIV SCHOOI,, ^A^T^CK who died in 1716 ; Hon. James Coffin, who died in 1720, and probably several other officials of an early date, under the goverrmaents of New Y'ork or of Massa- chusetts Ba}- Colonies. Jonathan Coffin, Esq., and wife, who died in 1773, are said to be the last of English an- cestrj- wlio were interred in this most ancient burial-place. The Friends' First Burial-Ground seems to be a neg- lected and forgotten spot. Probablj- it was set apart for a burial-ground in 1711, when their first meeting-house was built. In it were interred Mary Starbuck, in 1717 ; and Nathaniel, her husband, in 1719; Nathaniel Bar- nard, and Nathaniel, Jr., Stephen Ilussey, James Gard- ner, and Sarah, his mother; probablj- also, James Coffin, Jr., and most of the Friends who died between 1711 •ind 17'^ 2, when Charles Clasby was bui'ied in the Fiiend^' present burial-ground, he being the first buried therein. The first person buried in " the Gaidners' Burial-Ground " was Abigail, wife of Nathaniel Gard- iHi, Si., and daughter of Hon. J Lines Coffin, judge of probate. She ditd in 1709. Her husband diLd m England in 1712 or 1713, ■nhile o.i a religious visit, he be- ing a minister among Friends. Fachaid Gardner, Jr., Esq., judge of piobate, was buried there in 1728. According to "Franklin," they were buried in the south-west part of said ground. The first per- son buried in the Unitarian, now " Prospect Hill Cem- etery," was John Hazleton Bailej", in 1811. Newspapers. — In 1816, the first Island newspaper principal, this private institute of learning is second to none in all New England. t Hon. S. H. Jcnks was the " sole origmator and early and most ardent advocate for both the Coffin and the town's public schools in this isolated community." From a letter to a personal friend and honored citizen of the town, Hon. Wm. R. Easton, I learn that in the year 1S19 Mr. Jcnks adopted Nantucket as a residence. Educated as he was under the free-school system of Boston— a system made universal (with only one exception) throughout the State, by long standing and positive legal requirement —ho was astounded and grieved to find th.it Nantucket, with a popula- tion of some 10,000, should have set at naught the laws requiring every ton-n to furnish instruction, without cost, to children of all classes, lie sought to arouse the people through newspapers, and at town meetings, to a sense of their duty, and of their legal liabilities. He met with repeated rebufis. Nor was it until he threatened to pros- ecute the to«Ti for misdemeanor that a small sum was voted, which served for a beginning; and thus originated the excellent school of Nantucket. The pride of our island is, that her sthool- sy teachers are sought after, and ably fill the highest United SUtes. all over the MASSACHUSETTS. was printed, styled the "Nantucket Gazette," Tonnatt & Tapper, publishers. It was of a few months' dm-a- tion. Then the " Kantuckct Inquirer" was started b}" Joseph Melcher, and continued under different publish- ers — Samuel II. Jenks, Charles Bunker, Esq., George F. Bemis, and again under the veteran editor, S. H. Jenks. In 1840 he relinquished the publication of the paper, having received an appointment as postmaster under President Harrison. It was conducted by his son, ■\Villiam A. Jenks, for a period ; then by E. W. Cobb, and others, until 1865, when Messrs. Hussey & Robin- son, of the "Nantucket Mirror," merged it into the " Inquirer and Min-or." The " Nantucket Journal " was published between the years of 1827 and 1830, by John Thornton. In 1840, the " Islander" appeared, managed b}' Charles C. Hazewell, now of the Boston " Traveller." "The Telegraph" followed, A. ]'.. Robinson, iiroiiriotoiv and his was tlio first oflice on the island that ever issued a daily. Just prior to the great fire of 1846, " The AVarder " came forth, S. H. Jenks its vigorous editor-in- chief. The "Nan- tucket Mirror" was published, in the year 1840, by John Mor- rissey, Esq., contin- ued by him until 1 849 , when it was purchased by Messrs. Ilussey & Robinson, of the "Inquirer and Mirror" of to-day. These en- terprising gentlemen have recently moved into a new publishing house on Main Street, and their local paper is a familiar, ever-welcome face in the homes of the islanders. It is a singular fact, that its present cir- culation far exceeds that when Nantucket was in her prime, and numbered ten thousand inhabitants. In 1874, the "Island Review" was launched upon the wa^e of patronage, growing steadily from a very small sheet to a journal of fair size among its fellows. Biograpliical. — The name of Walter Folger is one of the brightest among America's master mechanics and philosophers. He was born on Nantucket in June, 1 7C5. His opportunities for education were very meagre. The district school was his only college. He mai-ried a Nantucket woman in 1785, and was the father of ten children, the eldest of whom now bears his name. Walter Folger was a busj- man. Apprenticed to his father, he worked at tin-plating, alternating with clock- STCDIO OF EASTMAN JOHNSON, NANTTCKET, making. His great knowledge of figures, and of astron- omy, learned nobodj' knows where, coupled with famil- iarity with all the sciences, th.oroughly furnished him for the work of his astronomical clock. This clock is now in the possession of one of his sons, Mr. Edward R. Folger, and is to-day a marvel of workmanship. Mr. Folger began its construction in 1788, and on the 4th day of July, 1790, like Galileo, he exclaimed, " /« moves I " When a boy, my father took me to see the old clock- maker, and I remember how much amazed I was, while looking at its rising sun in a mimic sky ! " There is one wheel in the clock, m}' little fellow," said ho, "that turns round once in a hundred years! Perhaps j'ou may live to see it." I can behold the face of that great man now ; but I litfl" tliMivjr'^f lint 1 should ever write a biogi'aphic.al sketch of his life. In J addition to giving the ^^^^^^ hour of the day, like i:^m any ordinary clock, it gives the dates of the months and the years as they roll. The sun and moon rise and set, with their solar compan- ions, and the latter has its phases, in perfect accord with its sister planet. To keep the motion of the moon's nodes in the ecliptic re- quires 18 years and 225 days. The wheel that carries this ingenious appliance is as many j-ears in its revolu- tion, movnig all the while. Jlr. Folger was also the maker of telescopes of con- siderable power. But the most famous one, now on exhibition in the Nantucket Athenaeum, he finished in 1821. It has superior magnifying power, and when first used, was admitted by the scientists of that time to be the finest in America. Spots on planets have been discerned by this telescope that have not been seen through Herschel's. Even among all modem inventions, it now occupies a distinguished place. Hon. Walter Folger was once a student of law, and at one time a practitioner ; was a representative ; served two terms in Congi-ess ; six j-ears as senator ; was also chief justice of Nantucket's courts of Common Pleas and Sessions. What he aecomphshed else would fill a vohune. His observations upon the comet of 1811, ho forwarded to Harvard College, and ehcited HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. from the Cambridge savans a cordial and emphatic recognition. Nantucket has given to the world one of tlie noblest women of the nineteenth centuiy,— the venerable Lucre- tia Jlott, — who is a native of the island. Nathaniel Barney, a Quaker gentleman and philanthi-o- pist, was bom on Nantucket, Dec. 81, 1792, and died at Poughkcepsie on the 2d of September, ISCO, in the 77th 3-ear of his age. Nantucket was one of the first battle- fields for the defeat of the slave power, and among "the most influential and imwearied coadjutors thereon was Nathaniel Barne_y. To him, after an eventful, stormy campaign of anti-slavery meetLr>gs on the island, was addressed, as its numerous readers will remember, that most effective and startling little anti-slaverj' pamphlet, by Stephen S. Foster, with its terrifj-ing title, 'The Brotherhood of Thieves ; or a True Picture of tlie Ameri- can Church and Clergj-.' In that trying period, when the dark cloud of slaverj' overshadowed the whole laud ; when the slave-masters of the South were as completelj- the masters of the masses of politicians, clergjincn, church members, merchants and scholars in Northern society- as of the negroes on their own plantations ; when mobs and martjTdom attended the anti-slavery move- ment, Nathaniel Baniej- was one of its conscientious, steadfast supporters. Such he has continued to be through the inter\'ening jcars of progress to the dav of liis death, and the hour of a weU-nigh completed vic- tory." In 1820 he was mairied to Eliza, daughter of Joseph Starbuck of Nantucket, with whom he lived a long and useful life, in liappv associations, and a union of interest and labor in all the beneficent reforms of the age, and in the work of life. A son and daughter, and the wife and mother remain to carrj- forward his life's work, and to bless and honor his memory. To conclude : " Nantucket," saj-s a late writer, " will yet be to New England what the beautiful Isle of Wiglit is to Old England — a delightful sanitarium and summer resort. The place is beautiful for situation, with a har- bor of good capacity, and one can hardly doubt that there is a bright and prosperous career for tliis town in the future. Charminglj' located, thirty miles out at sea, wdth the blue canopy of heaven above, and the waters of the bay and the broad Atlantic encircling it, the salubri- ous climate, society of noted refinement and culture, and schools of the best class, this town makes one of the best simamer resorts in the country-." KOEFOLK COUI^TY.* BY HENRY O. HILDRETH. The county of Norfolk, as first incorporated, in- cluded all the original territory of Sulfolk, except the towns of Boston and Chelsea. May 10, 1G43, the Colony of Massachusetts Bay was di\"idcd into four counties; ^■\z., Esses, Middlesex, Sutfolk and Norfolk, the latter comprising the towns of Haverhill, Salis- bury, Hampton, Exeter, Dover and Portsmouth. The four last-named towns having been set off to New Hampshire on its separation from Massachusetts in 1G80, the remaining towns were set back to Essex , • The total population of the county iu 1875 was 88,321. The total ] amount of capital invested in manufactures was §10,056,442, and the ' value of goods made and work done, §26,905,040. The value of farm property was §12,006,443, and of domestic and acrricultural pro- ductions, $2,059,435. In 1S78, the toul valuation of the real estate and personal property was §85,078,891 . t AVithiu the present century the following important changes iu the rcl.it ion of the to\\-ns comprised in Norfolk County, at the time of its incorporation, have taken place : Canton set off from Stoughton, in 1797 i part of Dorchester annexed to Boston, (1804) ; part of Dorchester Feb. 4, 1680, and the original county of Norfolk ceased to exist. An act re-incorporating the count}' of Norfohi was approved by Gov. Hancock March 26, 1793. The towns thus set off from Suffolk Countj- were Bcl- lingham, Braintrco, Brookline, Cohasset, Dedham, Dor- chester, Dover (then a district), Foxborough, Franklin, Ilingham, Hull, Medfield, Medway, Milton, Needham, Quincy, Randolph, Roxbury, Sharon, Stoughton, Wal- pole, Weymouth and Wrentham. t At the June session annexed to Quincy, (1814) ; Thompson's Island set off from Dorchester and annexed to Boston, (1S34) ; Dover, formerly a district, incoi-poratcd as a town, (1S36) ; Roxbniy chartered as a city, (1343) ; West Roxbury set off fi-om city of Roxburj', (1351) ; part of Dorchester annexed to Boston, (1355) ; Roxbury annexed to Boston, (13GS) ; Hyde Park set off from Dorchester, Dedham and Milton, (ISSS) ; Dorchester anr.c-cd to Boston, (1870) ; Norfolk set off from Wrentham, Fran'.Llin, Med.vay and Walpole, (1870) ; part of Brookline annexed to Boston, (1G7C) ; Noi-wood set off from Dedham and Walpole, (1872) ; Holbrook set off from Randolph, (1872) ; and West Roxburj' annexed to Boston, (1874). MASSACHUSETTS. of the legislature of the same year, the towns of Hing- hani and HuU were set back to Suffolk County, where they remamed until their incorporation into Plymouth Count}'. Of the towns thus brought together, Weymouth was the oldest, having been settled in 1G22, being the second settlement of white men in New England. The following-named towns were set off from the original territory of Dorchester : Milton, part of Wren- tham, Stoughton, Sharon, Foxborough, and Canton. A portion was also set off to Dedham in 1739, and por- tions were set off to Boston in 1804, and again in 1855. Dedham, settled in 1G36, included tlie territories after- wards set off to the following-named towns : Medfield, Wrcntham, Needham, Medwaj', Bellingham, Walpole, Franklin and Dover. The ten-itory also included the present town of Natick, and a portion of the town of Sherborn. Braintree was occupied by Capt. WoUastou in 1625, but no permanent settlement was made until 1G34. This territor}' included the towns of Braintree, Quincy and Randolph, from which Holbrook has since been set off. Brookline was settled the same year with Boston. The militar}' service rendered by the people of these towns from their earliest settlement down to the war of the Rebellion, was not surpassed by that of any other section of the countrj*. The first actual outrage of Philip's war was committed in Dedham woods, where a white man was found shot through the bod}'. During the war, nearly every man capable of bearing arms was called into sen'ice. Feb. 2 1 , 1G75, Medfield was attacked b}- a band of 300 Narra- gansett Indians, led by King Philip, and 18 persons were killed, and upwards of 50 dwellings burned. In the early part of the following j'ear, eight houses were burned by the Indians at "Weymouth. In April, 1G76, Capt. Samuel Wadsworth of Milton, at the head of a companj' of 80 men, raised in that vicinity, marching to the defence of Sudbury, was ambuscaded by the Indians, and Capt. Wadsworth, Lieut. Sharpe of Brook- line, and 65 men, were slain. Attacks upon Medway and Wrentham were repulsed ; at the latter place the Indians suffering considerable loss. Pomham, the leading sachem of the Indians under Philip, was killed by a party of Dedham and Medfield people, July 25, 1676, and 50 of his band were made prisoners ; Note. — From Koxbury emigrated the origin.il founders of Dedbam in 1G35 ; Springfield, in 1636 ; New Roxbury, now Woodstock, Conn., in 1683; Lambsto^vn, now Hardwick, in 1686; Pomfret, Conn., in 1687; Dudley, in 1731; Bedford, N. H., in 1732; Warwick, in 17«; Worcester, Colrain and Oxford, besides others chiefly settled by her, as Scituate, Braintree, Newbury, Sec— Drake's IHslory of Roxbury. From but he, refusing to be taken alive, " Was slain, raging like a wild beast." In the ill-fated expedition to Canada in 1690, these towns were largely represented. In the disastrous attack upon the Spanish West Indian settlement in 1741, for which Massachusetts furnished 500 men, a large majoritj' were from Dorchester, Roxbur}', Dedham, Braintree and Weymouth, and noarlj' all perished. These towns also sent a large number of men with the famous Louisburg expedition in 1745, and many were engaged in the sub- sequent French wars. Resistance to the oppression of the mother country was earlj" developed in these towns of Norfolk, then Suffolk. On the IGth of August, 1774, as Bancroft informs us, " a count}' congress " of the towns of Suffolk, which then embraced what is now Norfolk, met at the Dot}"^ Tavern, in Stoughton, now Canton (a building now standing at the base of Blue Hill). At this meeting, Joseph Warren was present, and, after grave and deliberate discussion of public affairs, the congress decided to call special meet- ings in every town and precinct iu the county, to elect delegates, with full power, to appear at Dedham on the first Monday in September. On the 6th of September, 1774, the county convention assembled at the house of Richard Woodward in Dedham (in this house, not now standing, Fisher Ames was born), everj- town and dis- trict in the county being represented. Their business was refen-ed to a committee, of which Joseph Warren was chairman. The convention adjourned to meet on Friday, Sept. 9, at the house* of Daniel Vose in Milton, where were presented the famous Suffolk Resolves, which were unanimouslj' adopted. The Resolves attracted great attention. They were sent by special messengers to our delegates in the Continental Congress, where they were read with delight. Joseph Galloway, a loyalist, at one time a member of the Continental convention, in his "Historical and Political Reflections of the Rise and Progress of the American Revolution, London, 1780," said those "Suffolk Resolves" "contain a complete declaration of war against Great Britain." The battle of Lexington found the people not un- prepared for war. Dedk-Jira had five companies of militia, and an association of veterans who had done service in the war against the French, who met the Britisii on their retreat near Cambridge, where also were companies from Dorchester, Needham, and other towns. In a letter to Dorchester, the first settlers of Windsor, Conn., iu 1635 ; Dorchester, S. C, in 1696; and Medway, Ga., in 1752. From Dedham, the settlers of Deerfield, in 1663. From Braintree, the settlers of New Braintree, in 1713 ; Braintree, Vt., in 1780. From Weymouth, the first settlers of Ashficld, in 1736. • This house is still standing at Milton Lower Mills. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Hon. Harrison Graj' Otis, dated " Roxbury, April 21, 1798," Gen. Heath sajs, " The first company of minute- men raised in America in 1775, preparatory to tlie defence of their inalienable rights and libei-ties, was raised in this town (Roxbmy) , and that companj-, with others, distin- guished itself in the battle of Lexington, on tlie 19th of April, 1775." Three companies of Roxbury minute-men responded to their countrj-'s call on the 19th of April, and did good sen-ice. Heath, Warren and Greaton were actively'' employed during the daj' in assembling the scat- tered guerilla parties of minute-men, and posting them advantageously, the former, on account of his rank, exercising command. During the time inten^ning between the battle of Lexington and the evacuation of Boston, the men of Norfolk showed special activity in the countiy's ser\'ice. In the organization of the army under Washington, and in the protracted siege of Boston, and its subsequent rescue from the British armj-, Roxbuiy and Dorchester were positions of great importance, and the landmarks, rendered famous in the gi-eat struggle, thickly strew the soil of those ancient towns. In the war of the Revolution, the war of 1812, and in the last great contest for the supremacy of the govern- ment, the same heroic spirit was manifested, and thou- sands of her sons laid down their lives on the altar of the countiy, Norfolk County claims the honor of initiating manj' of the leading enterprises and branches of manufacture, which have since grown to such large proportions. The first canal in the country was cut in Dedham in 1639, and the first railroad constructed in America was at Quincy in 1826. The first wator-mill in New England, and probably in the country-, was built on the Neponset River, at the Lower Mills, in Dorchester, in 1634, and the first iron-forge at Quincy in 1643. The first powder- mill was located at the Lower Mills, in Milton, in 1675, and the first slitting-mill was erected in the same town in 1710. The first paper-mill in the countrj' was built at Jlilton in 1728, and the first chocolate-mill in the same town in 1765. The manufacture of glass and the qimrrj-ing of granite were both commenced in Quinc}'- in 1752, and, in 1789, the ship " Massachusetts," then the largest vessel ever constructed m the country, was launched in that town. The first copper works in the country were established bj' Paul Revere at Canton in 1801. For many years Norfolk County has been regarded as the garden of New England. In no portion of the wide country can be found greater beauty of natural situation, or more tasteful and scientific cultivation. From the almost mountain tops of the Blue Hills of Milton and Canton, from Moose Hill in Sharon, and Fox Hill in Dedham, and from the beautiful, verdure-covered heights of Brookline, Milton, Quincy and Dover, are to be seen landscapes that vie with those celebrated in both the New and the Old World. The rock-bound coast of Cohasset, famed for its rugged beauty, and the picturesque and indented shores of Quincy and We3mouth, are the pride of the dweller and the admiration of the stranger, while to the appreciative taste of tlie artist and the lover of nature, the quiet and rural loveliness of the interior towns is not less attractive. On every hand are to be ' seen ancestral homes, many of which are connected by historical associations with every stage of the country's , progress, and within whose venerable walla were bom successive generations of men and women eminent in every walk in life. From its first settlement, the towns comprising the county of Norfolk, as incorporated in 1793, have been noted for their productive farms and fine gardens, and in no section of the country have agriculture, horticulture and pomology made greater progi-ess. Prominent among the agriculturists and hoi-ticulturists of the county were ! Lowell, Quincy, Walker, Dearborn and Wilder, the last-named of whom, by his lifelong labors in horti- ' culture and pomology, has well earned the position of the leading American authority in those departments, and who now, at the advanced age of more than eight}' j-ears, still takes the deepest interest in everything pertaining to his favorite pursuits. I The educational advantages enjoj'ed by the citizens of NorfoUv, are not surpassed by those of any other section of the State. Of the higher institutions of learning, the most prominent are Welleslej' College at Needham, in- corporated in 1870, for the purjDose of giving to young women opportunities for education, equivalent to those usually provided in colleges for J'oung men, and wliich, at its opening in 1873, entered upon a career of almost iniprecedented success; Dean Academy at Franklin, Adams Academy- at Quincy, and Thayer Academy at Braintree. By the last report of the State Board of Education, there were in the comity, in 1878, 22 high schools, and 397 other schools. Biographical Notes. — Rev. John Allin came from England and settled in Dedham in 1637, and, after a niinistiy of 84 years, died in 1671. In the words of Cotton Mather, "He was a man of sweet temper, a genteel spirit, a diligent student, of competent learning, a humble man, and sincere Christian." Maj. Eleazer Lusher came to Dedham with Mr. Allin. During the MASSACHUSETTS. whole of his useful and honored life he was the leading man of the town, and directed its most important affairs. He was, for many years, a deputy to the General Court, where he took a leading part. He died Nov. 13, 1672. His eulogium in the " Wonder-Working Providence " is, that "he was a nimble-footed captain, a man of the right stamp, and full for the country." Capt. Daniel Fisher, admitted to the Dedham church in 1639, and, until his death in November, 1683, much employed in public business, was, for many years, deputy to the General Court, speaker of the Assembly, and assistant, in which ofBce he died. His very spirited conduct in defending the infant Colony against the mach- inations of Ran- dolph, the agent of King James, nearly caused his being carried to England to an- swer' for alleged high crimes and misdemeanors, — Capt. Dan'l Fish- er, son of the old patriot, inherited his father's spirit, and of him the fol- lowing incident is related : " When Sir Edmund An- dros was captured on Fort Hill, by the people of Bos- ton, in 1689, he surrerdered, and THE OLD FAIRBANKS HOI father, John Dwight, brought him to this country in 1635, was an active and public-spirited citizen, and a deputy to the General Court. He was the ancestor of the Dwight family in this country, the late Dr. Timothy Dwight, president of Yale College, being one of his descendants. He died Jan. 31, 1717, and the last of his six wives was buried on the same day with himself. His gravestone may be seen in the Dedham Cemetery. Michael Metcalf, the emigrant ancestor of the family in this country, and one of the first settlers of Dedham, came here in 1637, and died 1664, aged 78. Among others of the first settlers of Dedham, may be mentioned Rich- ard Evered, an- cestor of the Ev- erett familj', in- cluding the late Governor Edw'd Everett, whose father was born in Dedham; John Ellis, John Par- ker, John Fair- banks,! Deacon Francis Chicker- ing, John Bul- lard, Nath'l Col- bum, and others. The Dexter Family. — Rev. Samuel Dexter, born in Maiden Oct. 22, 1700, was graduated at Harvard Univer- sity in 1720, He went unarmed to Mr, Usher's house, where he remained , was settled in Dedham May 6, 1724, where he con- under guard. When the news of the event reached Dedham, Capt, Daniel Fisher, the j'ounger, a stout, strong man, possessing his father's hatred of the tyrant, and his resolute spirit, instantly set out for Boston, and came rushing in with the country people, who were in such a rage and heat, as made all tremble again. Noth- ing would satisfy the country party but binding the governor with cords and carrj-ing him to a more safe place. Capt. Fisher was soon seen among the crowd, leading the pale and trembling Sir Edmund by the collar of his coat, from the house of Mr. Usher, back to Fort Hill."* Capt. Timothy Dwight, who was a child when his • Worthington's History. tinued until his death, Jan. 29, 1755. Oneof his daugh- ters married Rev. Jason Haven, his successor in the Ded- ham church, who was settled Feb. 5, 1756, and, after a ministry of forty-eight years, died May 7, 1803. Mr. Dexter's son, Samuel, resided for many years in his native town. He died at Mendon in 1810, During his residence in Dedham, he was a man of much in- fluence, and held many offices of trust in the town and church. He was the father of Hon. Samuel Dexter, eminent for many j-cars as one of the most distinguished t The house hnilt by Mr. Fairbanks, probably fixjm about 1640 to 1650, is still standing in an excellent state of preservation. It has never been out of the family, and is now occupied by the eighth generation, in regular descent, from John, the first settler. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. lawj-ers and statesmen in the country, having been a member of both branches of the national Congress, secre- tary of war, and of the treasury, during the administration of tlie elder Adams, and who died in 181G. Fisher Ames was born in Dedham April 9, 1758, and died there July 4, 1808. He was graduated at Harvard University in 1 774, having entered college at the age of 12. He early disjolayed great power as an orator and political writer. After serving for a brief time in the State legis- lature, he was elected to Congress, against the competi- tion of Samuel Adams, and continued in that body during the whole of TVashingtou's administration (1789-97). His able speech on the British treaty, April 28, 1795, was regarded then as the greatest ever made in Congress. He was the most eloquent debater in the House, and was the author of the address of that body to Washington on his retiring from the Presidency. He was chosen presi- dent of Harvard University, but declined on account of ill-health. He died at the age of 50 j-ears, and was buried in the cemeterj- of his native town. Maj.-Gen. Richard Gridle3', a distinguished soldier, was born at Canton in 1711, and died there June 20, 1796. He had great reputation as an artillerist; was chief engineer in the reduction of Louisbui-g in 1 745 ; again entered the army as chief engineer and colonel of infan- try in 1755 ; was engaged in the expedition to Crown Point in 1756, under Gen. Winslow ; and planned the fortifications around Lake George. He served under Amherst in 1758, and, with Wolfe, ascended to the Plains of Abraham, and fought the French at the capture of Quebec. For his sen-ices the British government gave him Magdalen Island, with half-pay, which was to con- tinue to him during his life. He espoused the patriot cause with ardor in 1775, and was appointed chief engi- neer and commander of the the artillery of the Colonial army. He it was that laid out so skilfully the works on Bunker's Hill the night before the battle of June 17, 1775. In that engagement he was exposed to the severest fire of the enemy, and was wounded. He was active in planning the fortifications around Boston ; com- missioned major-general by the Provincial Congress, Sept. 20, 1775, and commander of the Continental artillery, but was, in November, superseded by Knox. Tlie Dudley Family. — Thomas Dudley, second gov- ernor of Massachusetts, was the son of Capt. Roger Dudley, who was " slain in the wars." He early devel- oped great intelligence, courage, and prudence, which qualities procured for him, at the age of twenty-one, the captaincy of an English company, which he led at the siege of Amiens, under Henry of Navarre. A Pui'itan, * He was the first native of New England to sit in that body. he, with four others, undertook, although then flftj- years of age, the settlement of the Massachusetts Colony, and came over with the charter as deputy -governor in 1630. He first settled in Newton, but soon removed to Roxbury. lie was governor in 1634, 1640, 1645, and 1650. He died July 31, 1653. His daughter, Anne Dudley, who married Gov. Brad- street, was celebrated as a poet, and among her descend- ants are Oliver AVendell Holmes and Richard II. Dana. Joseph, son of Gov. Thomas Dudley-, was born in Roxbuiy Julj- 23, 1647. He was educated for the niinis- trj', but earlj' turned his attention to public affairs. He was commissioner for the United Colonies from 1677 to 1681 ; chief justice of the Supreme Court in 1687 to 1689 ; and a member of the British Parliament* in 1701. He finally closed his long official career as governor of Massachusetts from 1702 to 1715. He died at Roxbuiy April 2, 1720. Paul, son of Gov. Joseph Dudley, born in Roxbury in 1675, and a graduate of Harvard C'ollege, was an emi- nent jurist. He died Jan. 25, 1751.t William Heath was born in Roxbury, March, 2, 1737, on the estate settled b}- his ancestors in 1636, and was bred a farmer. His fondness for military exercises led him, in 1754, to join the Ancient and Honorable Artil- lery Companj-, which he commanded in 1770, having previouslj- been made a captain in the Sufl!blk regiment, of which he became a colonel in 1774. He engaged with zeal in the Revolutionarj' contest ; was a delegate to the Provincial Congresses of 1774-75 ; and was a member of the committees of correspondence and safety. Before the close of 1776 he had risen to the rank of major-gen- eral in the Continental army. He rendered great service in the pursuit of the British troops from Concord, April 19, 1775, and in organizing the rude and undisciplined army around Boston ; and, with his brigade, was sta- tioned at Roxbury during the siege of Boston. He was the first judge of probate of the county, in which office he died Jan. 24, 1814. Increase Sumner was born in Roxburj- Nov. 27, 1746. Graduating from Harvard College, he studied law with Samuel Quincy, and was admitted to the bar in 1770. He was chosen, in 1782, to a seat in Congress, and was soon after appointed associate justice of the Supreme Judicial Court. In 1797 he was elected governor of Massachusetts, and was re-elected for two successive terms, the last time by an almost unanimous vote. Gov. Sumner died on the 7th of June, 1799, " mourned and lamented by the whole people." Ebenezer Seaver, born in Roxbury July 5, 1763, and t Drake's History of Roxbury. MASSACHUSETTS. a graduate of Harvard College, was a prominent and respected citizen. He was a member of Congress ten years. He died March 1, 1844. Henrj' A. S. Dearborn, the son of Gen. Henry Dearborn, of the Revolutionary army, was born in Exeter, N. H., in 1783. He was educated at the college of William and Marj-, and entered the profession of the law. In early life he became a resident of Eoxbuiy. He was for manj' years collector of the port of Boston ; a member of the Massachusetts Senate and House, and of the executive council ; and member of Congress in 1831-3. To his public spii'it and fine taste in rural pursuits, the public are mainly' indebted for their beautiful resting- places for the dead, Mount Auburn and Forest Hills. He died July 29, 1851. Eobert Williams, the emigrant ancestor of one of the most prolific families in America, came to Roxbiuy from Norwich, Eng., in 1638, and died at a great age in 1G93. Among his distinguished descendants were Col. Ephraim, founder of Williams College ; Rev. Elisha, president of Yale College ; William, governor of Connecticut, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence ; Col. Joseph, of the Revolutionarj' army, and others. Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, D.D., was born in East Haddam, Conn., May 1, 1745, and was graduated at Yale College in 1767. He was settled in Franklin, then the second precinct in Wrentham, April 21, 1773, and there continued until May 28, 1827 ; a period of nearly 54 years. He died Sept. 23, 1840, in his ninet^'-sixth j-ear. He was one of the most distinguished theologians in the country, and during his long life exercised great influence throughout New England. Alexander Metcalf Fisher was born in Franklin July 22, 1794, and was graduated at the head of his class from Yale College in 1813. In 1817 he was chosen pro- fessor of mathematics and natural philosophj' in that insti- tution. Desirous of familiarizing himself with European methods of instruction, he sailed from New York for Europe in the ship " Albion," which was lost off the coast of Ireland April 22, 1822. So strong an influence had he made upon his contemporaries during his brief but brilliant career, that the whole country- mourned his loss. Jabez Fisher was born in Franklin Nov. 19, 1717. He received only a common-school education, but from his early years was distinguished for ready and strong common sense, intuitive perception and inflexible in- tegrity'. He was a representative to the General Court under the provincial charter for many jears, and a mem- ber of the house of delegates that assembled at Salem in October, 1774, and formed themselves into a Provin- cial Congress. He was one of the famous twenty-oiglit councillors elected upon the disannulment of the State's allegiance to Great Britain to exercise the executive powers of the government, exerting in this important and responsible position a great influence. He subse- quently held high official positions, and died Oct. 15, 1806, in his eight3--ninth year. Horace Mann was born in Franklin May 4, 1796. He graduated from Brown University in 1819, at the head of his class. After a thorough course of legal study he commenced the practice of law in Dedham, and soon took a leading position. In 1827 Mr, Mann was chosen representative from Dedham to the legislatiu-e by the Whig party, and at once became a prominent and influ- ential member, retaining his place by successive elec- tions until he removed to Boston in 1833. While in the legislature he took strong grounds in favor of the eleva- tion of the public schools and in support of the then feeble railroad interest. He was an earnest advocate of the cause of temperance ; instituted and carried through the bill for establishing a State lunatic hospital, and was chairman of its first board of trustees. In 1834, Mr. Mann was chosen State senator for Suffolk County, which office he held for four years, dur- ing the last two of which he was president of the body. He was also chosen with Judge Metcalf to edit the Revised Statutes, for which he wrote the marginal notes and references and judicial decisions. But the great work of Mr. Mann, and upon which his great fame rests, was that in behalf of the common- school system, which had long held a leading place in his thoughts and studies. On the election of the board of education in 1837, he was chosen its first secretary, a position -which he continued to occupy for eleven years. While holding this office, on the death of John Quincy Adams, in 1848, he was, by a very large majority of the popular vote, elected to fill that statesman's place in Congi-ess ; a position to which he was twice re-elected. In 1852, he received the nomination of the Free Soil party for governor, and on the same day was chosen president of Antioch College at Yellow Springs, O. He failed of an election as governor, but accepted the presi- dency of the college, which he retained until his death, Aug. 2, 1859. Theron Metcalf was born in Franklin Oct. 16, 1784, and was graduated at Brown University in 1805. Ad- mitted to the bar, he removed to Dedham in 1809, where, with eminent success, he practised law for more than thirty j-ears. For a season he edited the "Dedham Gazette." In 1828, he opened a law school, the lectures delivered in connection with which being subsequently HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. published in a volume entitled " Principles of the Law of Contracts as applied hy Courts of Law." In 1839, he was chosen reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court, and removed from Dedham to Boston. His reports have been called ' ' the model and the despair of reporters," and have been cominended bj' high authoritj- for their great precision, terseness and pmity of style, combined with accuracj', clearness, completeness and condensation of statement. In 1848, Mr. Metcalf was appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court, which office he held until I860, when, at the age of 80 he resigned, after seventeen j-ears of eminent usefulness and fidelity'. He received the degree of LL. D. from Brown and Harvard universities. He died in the full ijossession of his faculties in Boston Nov. 13, 1875, at the age of 91. Dr. Nathaniel Miller, for many 3'ears one of the most distinguished surgeons in the State, was a native of Swansea, where he was born April 23, 1771. He set- tled in Franklin in 1799, and until his death, which occurred June 10, 1850, occupied the foremost rank both as a phj-sician and a surgeon. Two of Dr. Miller's sons, both natives of Franklin, became noted surgeons ; viz., Dr. Lewis Leprellette Miller, for many years presi- dent of the Ehode Island Medical Societj-, and Dr. Erasmus D. INIiller, who settled in Dorchester. Gen. Sj'lvanus Thaj'er was born in Braintree June 9, 1785. He was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1807 with the highest honors of his class. Before his gi-adua- tioa he received an appointment as cadet to the West Point Military Academy. In 1817, he was appointed superintendent of that institution, where he remained seventeen j-ears, and, by his zeal, energj' afid unwearied efforts, raised it to a high degree of efficiency. For several years he was employed in superintending the erection of the fortifications in Boston Harbor. He died Sept. 7, 1872. In 1877, at the request of the West Point cadets, his remains were disinterred from their first resting-place in Braintree, and removed to West Point, where they were buried with military honors, near those of Gen. Scott, his life-long friend. At West Point a fine life-size portrait of Gen. Thayer adorns the walls of the academy. Gen. Thaj'er received the title of LL. D. from four colleges, including HaiTard University. He was a member of many of the leading scientific societies in this and other countries. He lefb nearly $300,000 to his native town, and a very large sum to Dartmouth College. John Hancock was born in Braintree (now Quincy), Jan. 12, 1737. He was the son of Rev. John Hancock of Braintree, after whose death he was educated bv his uncle Thomas, a wealth^' merchant of Boston, whose large fortune and extensive business he inherited. A mem- ber of the Prc'','incial Legislature from 17G6, he warml}' opposed the measures of the British ministrj-, and, to- gether with Samuel Adams, was exempted from pardon in Gov. Gage's proclamation. Chosen president of the Provincial Congress, in October, 1774, he was sent to the General Congress at Philadelphia in 1775, of which body he was president, being the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. Feb. 6, 1778, he was appointed first major-general of the Massachusetts militia, and in August took part in Sullivan's expedition against Rhode Island. He was member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1780, and governor of Massachusetts from 1780 to 1785, and from 1787 to his death, Oct. 8, 1793. John Adams, second jsresident of the United States, was born in Braintree, now Quincj', Oct. 19, 1735. He was graduated at Harvard Unive»sitj' in 1755. He com- menced the practice of law at Braintree in 1758, and soon took high rank as a lawyer and writer on the excit- ing political topics of that day. He moved to Boston in 1768, drafted the instructions to its representatives, and in 1770 was chosen to the General Court, and from this time became the chief legal adviser of the patriots, and a leader among them. He was chosen a delegate to the Congress of 1774, and to the Provincial Congress. In the Continental Congress of 1775, he exercised gi-eat influence, and first proposed Washington for the chief command. Placed on the Committee on the Declaration of Independence, and also on that on Foreign Relations, he bore the brunt of the three days' debate, and secured the adoption of that immortal instniment. He was com- missioner to France in 1778, minister to Great Britain in 1779, ambassador to Holland in 1782, and the same year, with Franklin and Jay, negotiated a treaty of commerce with Great Britain. In 1785 he was sent as minister to the Court of St. James. Recalled in Febru- ary, 1788, on his arrival home he was reappointed a del- egate to Congress, but did not take his seat, having been elected vice-president of the United States, receiving the next highest number of votes to Washington in the first presidential election. He was chosen president bj' a small majority over Jefferson, for the terra beginning March 4, 1797, but was defeated at the next election, and his subsequent life was passed in retirement at Quincj'. He lived to see his son president, and died July 4, 1826 in the ninety-first year of his age. John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States, was born at Braintree, now Quincy, July 11, 1767. After graduating at Harvard with distinguished MASSACHUSETTS. ^m^-'.i honor, he studied law with Theophilus Parsons, and prac- tised at Boston, where he gained distinction as a politi- cal writer. From 1794 to 1801, he was successively' minister to Holland, England and Prussia, receiving, in 1798, a commission to negotiate a treaty of commerce with Sweden. From 1803 to 1808, he was United States senator. From 1806 to 1809, he was i^rofessor of rhet- oric at Har\-ard College. He was one of the commis- sioners to negotiate the treaty of Ghent iu 1814, after the signing of which he, with Gallatin and Claj-, nego- tiated, at the Court of St. James, a commercial treaty with Great Britain, signed July 13, 1815. From 181 7 to 1825, he was secretary of state to President j^,' ^, Monroe, and was elect- ,-i* ed president in 1825, ^^ _, . holding that office four /-t^*?:-— __^ years. In 1831 he was "^'^^KIESq elected as a representa- tive in Congress, where he remained by succes- sive re-elections, until his death, Feb. 23, 1848. TJie Quincy Family. — Edmund Quincj-, the first of the name in this colony, came from Eng- land with the Rev. John Cotton, and arrived in Boston iu September, 1C33. In 1635, the town of Boston granted lands at Mount "Wollas- tou to "William Codding- ton and Edmund Quincy, who took possession of them in the following year. Edmund Quincy died soon after at the age of 33. His only son, Edmund, was born in England in 1627. He inherited and settled on his father's estate at Mount WoUaston, became a magistrate of the county, and lieu- tenant-colonel of the Suffolk regiment. He died in 1697, having had two sons, Daniel and Edmund. Daniel, the eldest, died before his father, leaving one son, John, born in 1G89, who became one of the most distinguished men of that period. He held the office of speaker of the House of Representatives longer than any other per- son, during the charter of William and Mary; and served as representative from the town of Braintree, and as member of the Executive Council of the Pro\'ince for forty successive years. His paternal estate became the «mi-«i :sfc» THE HOME OF JOHN QUINCT ADAMS, QUINCY property' of his great-grandson, John Quincy Adams, who was named for him. From him the town of Quincy also derived its name. He died July 13, 1767, aged 78 j-ears. Edmund, the youngest son of Edmund Quincy, was born in Braintree, in October, 1681, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1699. He was representative from the town and afterwards member of the Executi-^e Council. He was judge of the Supreme Court of the Colony from the year 1718 until his death. He died of small-pox in England, Feb. 23, 1 738. He left two sons, Edmund and Josiah. Edmund, the eldest, was born in Braintree in 1703, and 1^ was graduated at Har- ~' vard College in 1722. He was for many years a merchant in Boston, and died iu July, 1 788. His brother Josiah was born iu Braintree in 1709, was graduated at Harvard College in 1728, and entered into business as a merchant in Boston. He retired from business in 1756 and resided in Braintree until his death in 1784, at the age of 73. He was an ardent patriot, and enjoyed the person- al friendship of Wash- ington, Adams, Frank- lin and other eminent men of that time. Edmund, Ms oldest son, was born in Braintree in Oc- tober, 1733. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1752, and entered into business in Boston. He took a deep interest in political affairs, but died at sea while on a voyage to the West Indies, in March, 1768. Samuel Quincy, the second son, was graduated at Harvard Col- lege in 1754, and became eminent as a lawj-er. He was appointed solicitor-general of the Province under the crown, and held the office until the Revolution, when he espoused the cause of the mother comitr}-, and on the termination of the siege of Boston in 1776, with other loyalists, left the country. He was appointed attorney for the crown for the Island of Antigua, which office he held until his death in 1789. The j'oungest son, Josiah, was born in Boston, Feb. 23, 1744, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1763. He studied law, and soon HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. rose to distinction, botli in his profession and as a writer on political topics. Having been abroad in the interests of the patriot cause, he died in sight of his native shores at the early age of 31. No name connected with the Revolutionary struggle has been more tenderly cherished than that of Josiah Qumc}', Jr. Josiah Quincy, the only son of Josiah Quinc^-, Jr., was born in Boston, Feb. 4, 1772, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1790. He studied law and began practice in Boston in 1 793. He was a member of Con- gress from 1805 to 1813 ; mayor of Boston from 1823 to 1829, and jjresident of Harvard University from 1829 to 1845. He died at Quincy July 1, 1864, at the age of 92 years. Josiah Quincy, the oldest son of Josiah Quincy, was born in Boston, Jan. 17, 1802, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1821. He was major of Boston three years. It was during his mayoralitj' that the Cochituate water was introduced into Boston. For manj' j-ears his summer residence has been at Quincy. Edmund Quiucy, j'oungest son of Josiah Quincy, was born in Boston, Feb. 1, 1808, and was graduated at Har- vard College in 1827. He early identified himself with the Abolition partj-, and was a frequent contributor to the leading literary periodicals and political newspapers of the day. He was one of the most finished writers of the countrj', and his memoir of his father is regarded as a model biography. He died suddenly at his resi- dence in Dedham, in May, 1877. Towns. Dedham, the shire town of Norfolk County, was in- corporated Sept. 8, 1G3G. The Indian name was Tiot, and on its settlement, in 1G35, it was called Content- ment. Its present name was derived from Dedham, Eng. The town is watered by Charles Eiver on the north, and Ncponset River and Mother Brook on the east. Buckmaster and Wigwam Ponds are beautiful sheets of water, from which there are outlets to the Charles and Neponset rivers. Mother Brook, by means of which about one-third of the water of the Charles is diverted to the Neponset River, the first canal cut in the country-, was opened within ten years of the settlement of Boston. It affords important motive-power, and enters the Neponset at Hyde Park. Two large woollen- mills are located on this stream, and there are several other manufactories in the town. The soil is light and sandy, but highly productive vmder good cultivation. The streets in the main village are shaded by beautiful American elms, many of which were set out nearly a centui-y ago by the eminent statesman, Fisher Ames, a native of the town. The public buildings are commo- dious and elegant structures. The court-house, origi- naUj' built in 1826, and subsequently enlarged, is built of Medfield granite, with four massive columns on each front. The Dedham jail is a fine building of hewn Quincy stone. The town hall, a spacious building of Dedham granite, was erected in 18C7 as a memorial of the sons of this town who fell in the war of the Rebellion. St. Paul's Episcopal Church, consecrated in 1858, is an elegant granite structure, surmounted bj- a solid stone spire. The village cemeterj-, one of the oldest in the State, is the resting-place of many men who were eminent in their daj' and generation. Within the past two years, Brookdale cemetery, beautifully situated in the eastern portion of the town, has been laid out. Dedham is connected with Boston, ten miles distant, by two branches of the B. and P. R. R. There are four villages : Dedham A'^illage, East Dedham, West Dedham and Islington. There are eleven churches, a high school, and twenty-nine other schools, a public library of 6,500 volumes, a national and a savings bank, and a local newspaper. Population, 5,756. Brookline, incorporated Nov. 13, 1705, was origi- nally a part of Boston, and bore the name of Muddj- Ri\ er Hamlet. Its incorporated name was derived from the fact that two brooks formed a part of its boundary'. It is foiu- miles south-west of Boston, and the Boston and Albany and the western division of the N. Y. and N. E. railroads pass through the town. Brookline is remarkable for its varied surface, the high state of culti- vation of its farms and gardens, its elegant villas, its countr\--seats, its excellent roads, and its rich and pic- turesque scenery. The views obtained from its many hill-tops are almost unrivalled in beauty and extent, and the reservoir connected with the Boston water-works adds its charm to the beauty of the landscape. For many j'ears Brookline has been the favorite residence of manj- of the most opulent merchants and professional men of Boston, and has beoe noted for the large num- ber of elegant estates witliin its borders. Many of its public buildings are fine specimens of architectural beauty, among which maj- be mentioned the town hall, built of Dedham rose granite, at an expense of $150,000, the principal hall of which will seat 1,200 persons; the public librarj', built of brick, with an interior finish of butternut, and containing a choice library of 20,000 volumes ; the Harvard Church edifice, built of stone, at an expense of more than $100,000 ; and two Episcopal churches. Brookline has an elab- MASSACHUSETTS. orate system of water- works, the supplj' for which is taken from Cliarles River, a savings bank, and a local newspaper. It has nine churches, a high school and twenty-nine other schools. Population, 6,675. Distingulshtd J!fe«. — Zabdiel Boylston, F. R. S. (1680-1766), a physician, eminent as the first to inocu- late for the small-pox in America ; William Aspiuwall (1743-1823), a celebrated pliysician, and prominent in public affairs; and George ^^ Sewall Boutwell (1818 — ), governor of Massachusetts in 1851-52, secretary of the board of education, secre- tary of the treasury, and member of both houses of Congress. QuiNCT was formerly the north precinct of Braintree, and named in honor of Col. John Quincy. It was in- corporated Feb. 23. 1792. The surface of the town is varied, a portion being wild and picturesque, and that section bordering on the bay being indented with many at- tractive promontories, from which fine sea views are ob- tained. Squantum, Hough's Neck and Germantown have been for many years noted places of summer resort. The famous granite quarries of this town have furnished material for the construction of an immense number of public buildings and ware- houses, and the stone busi- ness continues to employ a large number of men. A considerable amount of cap- ital Is invested in the manufacture of boots and shoes. Formerly much attention was gi\-en to shipbuilding, the ship "Massachusetts," then the largest vessel in the country, ha^-ing been launched at Germantown, as long ago as 1 789. A large area of land is devoted to farm- ing and the dairy. The Old Colony Railroad runs through the town. Quincy is especially rich in its historical associations. Here were born two presidents of the United States, and here, with their wives, are they buried. Here, also, was born John Hancock. It was also the home of the Quincys. During the Revolution it took a leading part, and in later times manj^ of the most prominent men in the country have made it their residence. Adams Academy, amply endowed by the first President Adams, ha^•ing a fine building of stone, was opened for pupils in 1872, and is one of the most flourishing schools in the State. Prominent among the public buildings are the Unitarian Church and the town hall, both constructed of Quincy granite. The National Sailors' Home, and the Sailors' Snug Harbor, both charitable institutions for seamen, are located in this town. Quincy has two national banks , one savings bank , and a public library of more tlian fifteen thousand volumes. There are twelve churches, one high school and thirty- seven other schools. Popu- lation, 9,155. Weymouth. — Incorpora- ted Sept. 2, 1635 ; Indian name, Wessagussot ; first settled in 1622, and named for Weymouth, England, from which town some of the first settlers came. The surface is agreeably diversi- fied, and the shore scenery is picturesque and attrac- tive. There are four laige villages : Weymouth Land- ing, accessible by Weymouth Fore River to vessels of con- siderable size ; East Wej'- mouth, where there are extensive iron and nail works ; North and South Weymouth. The manufactm-e of boots and shoes is the leading business of the town, and gives employment to about two thousand persons. Wey- mouth is one of the most thriving towns in the State. The Old Colony Railroad affords good business facil- ities, the main line running through the southerly, and the South Shore branch through the northerly portion. Weymouth has two national banks, three sa^dngs banks, and one newspaper. There are fifteen churches, two high schools and forty-three other schools. Population, 9,819. CIIURCn, BKOOKLDJE. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Eminent Persons. — Gen. Solomon Lovell (1733- 1801), a distinguished officer in the Revolutionary War ; Abigail Smith (1744-1818), wife of John Adams, and motlicr of John Quincy Adams ; William Cranch (1769- 1855), an able judge ; and Joshua Bates (1788-1864), a distinguished financier, for many j-ears a member of the firm of Baring Brothers, London, and a leading ben- efactor of the Boston Public Libraiy. Needham, incorporated Nov. 5, 1711, was once a part of Dcdham, and named for Needham in England. It has four villages, Needham, Wellesley (formerly West Needham) , Grant- , ^^_^ ville, and High- -_'" ^^^^^^ - "" landvillc, andisl2 miles distant irom Boston by the B ~ and A. and N. Y. and N. E. rail- roads. The sur- face is agreeabl} diversified, affoid- ing elegant build- ing-sites, man} of which have been occupied bj' spa- cious and beautilul mansions. The es- tate of Mr.. H II. Hunnewell, m Wellesley, of about 400 acres in es tent, is one of the finest in the country, and far excels in beauty and elegance any private giounds in New England The " famous Ridge IIill faim of William E Bikci, which is also in this p ii t of the town, furnishes a popular resort foi thousands of Msitors during the b^u.- mer months. Wellesley College, mainly the creation of Mr. Henry F. Dm-ant, whose gifts to the institution already largely exceed a half a million of dollars, and intended for the collegiate education of young ladies, occupies a situation of unrivalled natural beauty. The college building is on an elevated plateau, overlooking Lake Waban, and giving charming and extended views of the surrounding country. In architectural beauty, both of the exterior and interior, it is without a rival in the country. Since the opening of the college, it has been filled with students from all parts of the country, and elaborate and costly additions are in process of erection. Charles River, which forms 14 miles of the boundary of Needham, with its tributaries, furnishes extensive water-power. A large amount of capital is invested in manufactures, including paper, hosiery, shoddy, machin- ery, paints, boots and shoes, and hinges. There are nine chm'ches, two high schools and 24 other schools. Population, 4,548. Htde Pakk, incorporated April 22, 1868, from parts of Dorchester, Dedham and Milton, was named for Hj-de Park in London. This town is remarkable for its rapid growth, all made within the past 18 years ; for much of which it is indebted to its excellent railroad connections with Boston (distance seven miles), by means of the Bos- ton and Pro\'i- denee, and the N. Y. and N. E. rail- roads. Read%4Ue, so well-known du- ring the war, is m this town, the I elebrated camp- [ grounds being half j in H3-de Park and half in Dedham. | Mother Brook, | which conveys a large portion of the water of Charles j River through East Dedham, unites at Hyde Park with - - — — ^^ the Neponset, and supplies, With that 11. er, ..x^^lkiit watei-pv^-n^r. The well-known Tileston and Hollingsworth paper-mills are located on the Nepon- set, and there are also in the town two large cotton-mills, the foundry of the American Tool Compaii}-, and the Brainard Milling Company. The scenery of the town is fine, the manj- hills afibrd- ing delightful views. There are seven churches, a high school, 24 other schools, a public library of 6,000 vol- umes, a savings bank, and a newspaper. Population, j 6,316. Braintree, incorporated May 13, 1640, settled in 1625, was called b}' the first settlers Mount Dagon, MeiTj' Mount, and Mount WoUaston. Its incorjjorated name was taken from Braintree, England, from which j MASSACHUSETTS. town some of the first settlers came. It formerly included the territory now contained in the towns of Quincy, Eandolph and Holbrook. It is distant ten miles from Boston, with which it is connected by the Old Colony Railroad. Good water-power is supplied bj' the Monatiquot River. The leading mechanical industrj- is the manufacture of boots and shoes, but there are also two manufactories of woollen yarn, two of paper, and one of tacks. Excellent granite is quarried in the town, the material of which King's Chapel, Boston, was con- structed, having been obtained here as early as 1752. It has a spacious and convenient town hall, and a public library situated in a beautiful brick building, the gift of the late Gen. S3-lvanus Thayer. The Thayer Academj- in this town was also endowed by Gen. Thaj^er. The building is an elegant and commodious edifice of brick, with stone trimmings, and cost about $60,000. It was opened for the reception of pupils in 1877. There are five churches, a high school, and 16 other schools of a lower grade ; and one savings bank. Popu- lation, 4,156. Hon. Ehenezer Thayer (1746-1809), the first sheriflT of Norfolk County, and the son of Hon. Ebenezer Thayer, held all the leading town offices, and was a State senator, member of the executive council, and brigadier-general in the militia. Stodghton. Incorporated Dec. 22, 1726. This town was detached from Dorchester, and then embraced the present towns of Canton, Sharon, and a part of Fox- borough. It was named in honor of Lieut.-Gov. William Stoughton of Dorchester. The leading manufactures are of boots and shoes, in which a large amount of capital is invested, and of wool- len goods. A large area is devoted to woodland, and considerable attention is given to agriculture. There are seven churches, three schools, and a public librarj' of 2,500 volumes. Population, 4,842. Gen. Benjamin Tupper (1738-1792), a distinguished officer in the Revolution, and subsequentlj^ judge in Ohio, was a native of this town. Canton, formerly the northern part of Stoughton, was incorporated Feb. 23, 1797. The Indian name was Ponkipog, and its incorporated name was derived from Canton, China. It is 14 miles south-west of Boston, and on the Una of the B. & P. R. R. Blue Hill, 635 feet above the level of the sea, and which is the first land seen by mariners approaching the coast, is situated partly in this town and parti}' in Milton. From its summit, which is a few rods from the Canton line, there is a magnificent view of Boston and vicinity, the islands in the harbor, the ocean beyond, and also of the serpen- tine courses of the Neponset and Charles rivers. The Fowl Meadows, the largest portion of which are in Can- ton, extend seven miles in length, with varying breadth, and contain peat of excellent quality. Ponkipog Pond, a beautiful lake of 208 acres, which lies in the northern part of the town, has an outlet in the Neponset River. York Brook and Steep Brook, which also flow into the Neponset River, furnish valuable motive-power at South Canton. The manufactories of Canton are, one copper-works, one cotton-mill, six fancy woollen mills, two iron foun- dries, one twine factorj-, one manufactory^ of shoe tools, one of fish lines, one of stove pohsh, one of paper boxes, and two of cotton-spinning rings. There are five churches, 18 public schools, a national and a sa\ing3 bank. Population, 4,192. Medwat, incorporated Oct. 24, 1713, was set oflTfrom Medfield ; it is supposed to have derived its name from the Medwaj' River in England. The Charles River, which forms more than one-half of the boundar\- line, gives ex- cellent water-power at Medway village, and several mill- streams in other portions of the town are utilized for manu- facturing purposes. There are four postal villages, viz., Medway, East Medway, West Medway and Eock^'ille. The principal manufactures are cotton and woollen goods, straw goods, boots and shoes, boxes, bricks, paper, bells, chui-ch organs, canned fruits and vegetables. West Medwaj' is extensively engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and has grown rapidly within the past few years. Sanford Hall, the gift of Milton Sanford, a native of the town, and used as a town hall, is a neat and commo- dious edifice. There are six churches, nine schools, a sa^•ings bank, and a public library of 2,000 volumes. Population, 4,242. Joel Hawes, D. D. (1789-1867), an able preacher and writer, was born here. Randolph, incorporated March 9, 1793, and origi- nally the south parish of Braintree, was named in honor of Pej-ton Randolph of Virginia. The principal busi- ness of the town is the manufacture of boots and shoes. The public library, of 4,000 volumes, is located in a beautiful granite building, both the gift of the heirs of the late Col. Royal Turner, a native and resident of the town. The town hall, a commodious building of wood, was the gift of the late Amasa Stetson, a native of the town, who left a liberal endowment for the Stetson High HISTORY OF KETT ENGLAND. School. There are thi-ce churches, 18 schools, two banks and a newspaper. Population, 4,064. CoHASSET, formerly the second precinct of Hingham, was incorporated April 26, 1770. Its name was derived from the Indian Connohasset, which signifies a fishing promontory. It is twenty miles south-east of Boston bj- the South Shore Railroad, and is bounded on the north- Cohasset, with its r< east b^- Massachusetts Bay coast, is one of the most beautiful seaport towns in New England, and has loug been a favorite sum- mer resort, commanding, as it does, a magnificent view of the ocean, and affording every facil- ity for gunning, fishing and sail- ing. The Cohasset rocks, so beautiful and picturesque in fair weather, have been the scene of many fatal shipwi-ecks. The iron light-house on Minot's Ledge was swept away, with its two keepers, in the great gale of April 16, 1851. A stone light-house, since erected on the same spot, renders efficient senice in warning mar- iners off the dangerous coast. Farming and fishing constitute the chief business of the town. FiAe chui'ches, 13 schools, and a savings bank, are among the institutions of the place. Pop- ulation, 2,197. Joshua Bates, D. D. (1776- 18.54), minister of Dedham and Dudley, president of Middlebnry CoUege, Yt. ; Joshua Flint Bar- ker (1801-1864), surgeon and medical writer ; and Benjamin Pratt (1710-1763), jurist, and chief justice of New York, were born in Cohasset. FRA>.-KLn«. IncorporatedMarch2, 1778. Formerly the western part of Wrentham, and named in honor of Dr. Benjamin Frankhn. There are several woollen and shoddy mills, wMch do a large business ; and the value of the straw goods manufactured amounts to more than 81,000,000 annually*. The town is steadily increasing in wealth, population and manufactures, and may be re- garded as one of the most prosperous communities in New England. The town has good railroad advantages. TH£ MOiOT'S I.E13GE LIGBTBOUSE, COHASSST the N. Y. and N. E. E. R. passing through the centre, and the Mass. and R. I. R. R. connecting it with Providence. The Dean Academy was founded in 1865 by Dr. Oliver Dean, a native, and for many years a resident of the town, and who gave nearly S300,000 to the institution. The first building erected was burned in 1872, but was at once replaced by another edifice of similar propor- tions, which was dedicated in 1874. The building has a fr.int of -2-20 feet. The architecture is Gothic. The internal arrangements are not sur- p I'.sed by those of any other edu- tioiial institution in the State. The Oilhodox Church, erected in 1871, and Grace Church (Uni- \(rsalist), erected in 1873, are cle- \] ^ mt structures. )vj The nucleus of the present pub- lic Ubrary, which now contains over 3 000 volumes, was the gift of Dr. Fianklin, who, in acknowledgment of the compUment bestowed on him in the naming of the town, si nt a well-selected library of 500 volmnes, some of which are still m existence. Franklin has six churches, 15 public schools, two banks and one newspaper oflice. Population, 2,933. The centennial celebration of the incorporation of the town of Fianklin took place on the 17th of June. 1878. MrLTOx. Incorporated May 7, 1()C2. Formerly a part of Dor- chester, and called bj- the Indians Lnquetey or Uncataquisset, and named after Milton in England. It is one of the most beautiful towns in New England. The Blue Hills form oue of the most striking features of the eastern coast of Massachusetts, and afford a -view of one of the finest landscapes in the country. Less in extent, but not inferior in beautj-, is the famous pros- pect from Milton Hill. Scores of beautiful country- seats and villas, with elaborate and highly ornamental grounds, present a rare combination of rural and arch- itectural beauty. The great natural advantages of Milton have, within a few years, placed it in the front rank of New England towns in point of wealth, and among its leading citizens MASSACHUSETTS. are to be found many of the prominent men of the east- em section of the State. Milton has a beautiful and commodious town hall, and a public library of 7,000 volumes. Its manufactures consist of paper, chocolate, leather-dressing, and con- siderable gi-anite is quarried. Two branches of the Old Colony Raih-oad connect the town with Boston. There are three churches and 14 schools. Population, 2,738. Benjamm Wadsworth (16G9-1737) , son of Capt. Samuel, who was killed by the Indians at Sudbury in King j Philip's war, clergj'man and president of Hai-vard College ; - Joseph Vose (1738-1816), colonel in the Revolutionary ^ ^ army; Peter Thacher (1752- '^' 1802,) an eminent Congrega- tioualist clergyman and politi- cal writer, and Edward Hutch- inson Robbins (1758-1829), an able jurist, were born here. I HoLBROOK was incorpoTatod Feb. 29, 1872. It was formerlj the east parish of Eaudolpb, and was named in honor of Elisha N. Holbrook, a natnf and resident of the town. At the incorporation of the 1own in 1872, Mr. Holbrook, -nlio was a wealthy shoe manufic turer, gave, in ackuowledg nit nt of the honor confeiTed upon him, the sum of 850,000, to be expended in the construction of a town hall, and the found- \ ing of a pubUc library. The fine building erected in com- pliance with the terms of the gift, and the valuable library contained therein, were destroyed by fire in 1878 ; but a new hall has since been built, and was dedicated in 1879. The leading industry is the manufacture of boots and shoes, in which a large amount of capital is invested. Holbrook has two churches and ten schools. Popula- tion, 1,726. Medfield, incorporated May 23, 1651, and formerly a part of Dedham, derives its name from the extensive meadows which border on Charles River. It is one of the most beautiful rural towns in the State, the river and meadows affording views of rare beaut3- and loveliness. Feb. 21, 1675, the town was attacked by the Narragan- WTl»THBOP set Indians under King Philip, and eighteen persons were killed, and about fifty dweUings burned. Cheneiy Hall, a fine brick building, for the use of the town and for the pubUc librarj-, was the gift of the late George Chenery, a native and resident of Medfield. Though the leading industry is agriculture, there is in the place a first-class manufactory of straw goods. There are four churches and sis schools. Population, 1,163. Hannah Adams (1755-1831), historian of the Jews, author of numerous works ; and Lowell Mason (1792-1872), distinguished as a musical teacher and composer, were natives of this town. FoxBORorcH was incorpo- rated June 10, 1778, from parts of Wrentham, Walpole, Stoughton and Stoughtonham (Sharon). It was named in ho"or of Charles James Fox, the great defender of the Amer- icui Colonies in the British P 11 [lament. The Neponset Rner takes its rise in this towQ, and flows into Walpole on the north. The leading in- du-itiy of the town is the man- ul icture of straw goods, the 1 iiion Straw Works being the 1 (ijjest straw manufactoiy in the country. The Boston and Piovidence Railroad passes thiough the eastern, and the northern division of the Old Colouj' Railroad through the central, portions of the town. Memorial Hall, a hand- some building of stone, erected in memory of the soldiers from Foxborough who fell in the war of the Rebellion, contains the public library of 2,500 volumes. There are four churches, one savings bank, and 18 schools. Population, 3,168. Seth Boyden, a noted Inventor, was bom here in 1788, and died in 1870. Foxborough celebrated the centennial anniversarj' of its incorporation, June 29, 1878, at which an historical oration was given by Hon. Erastus P. Carpenter, a native, and one of the leading citizens of the town. Addresses were also made by Hon. Otis Gary, president of the day, Hon. Alexander H. Rice, governor of the HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. State, Hon. Henry W. Paine, Hon. Marshall P. Wilder and others. Weentham. — Incorporated Oct. 15, 1673. Formerly a part of Dedham. The Indian name was Wollomono- poag, and its present name was taken from Wrentham, Eng., whence came some of the early settlers. Wrentham Centre, with its fine dwellings, and broad and well-shaded streets, is one of the pleasantest villages in the eastern section of the State. Two beautiful sheets of water, known as Archer's Pond and Whiting's Pond, Red-brush Hill, 456 feet high, and Joe's Rock, 486 feet high, are among the many natural attractions of the town. The principal manufactures are straw goods, jeweh-y, and shoddy. There are four churches. Popu- lation, 2,395. James Mann (1759-1832), eminent as a surgeon and medical writer; Enoch Pond (1791), an able Congi-e- gationalist preacher and wi-iter, and for nearly fifty years connected with the Bangor (Me.) Theological Seminary, of which he is now, at the age of eighty-eight, the active president, were born in this town. Norwood. Incorporated Feb. 23, 1872, from the part of Dedham called South Dedham, and a small portion of Walpole. The N. Y. and N. E.R. R. afl'ords good raikoad accommodation. The town is watered by the Neponset River and its tributaries. There are two large tanneries and leather-dressing establishments, and an iron foundry ; printing-ink, oil-carpets, pasteboard, and carriages are also manufactured. The extensive machine and repair shops of the N. Y. and N. E. R. R. which are located here, give employment to a large number of men. There are four churches, nine schools, and a public library of 3,000 volumes. Population, 1,749. Sharon. Incorporated June 20, 1765, formerlj- Stough- tonham, the second precinct of Stoughton. Its scriptural name was doubtless suggested by the beautiful and pic- turesque scenerj' for which the town has long been noted. Sharon occupies the summit of land between Massachu- setts and Nan-aganset bays. Moose Hill, in the westerly part of the town, commands a magnificent prospect, and was taken as a station in the trigonometrical survey of the State. Massapoag Pond has long been a favorite place of resort, and its outlet, Massapoag Brook, aflfords valuable water-power. Sharon is connected with Bos- ton, 22 miles distant, by the B. and P. R. R. It has more than 5,000 acres of woodland, from which large quantities of wood, charcoal and bark are annually sent to market. The principal manufactures are cot- ton-duck, cutlery, boots and shoes, and carriages. There are four churches, and eight pubhc schools. Popula- tion, 1,330. Walpole. Incorporated Dec. 10, 1724, foi-merly part of Dedham, and named in honor of Sir Robert Walpole, then prime minister of England. The N. Y. and N. E., and the northern division of the Old Colony railroads intersect at the centre, affording excellent transportation facilities. The Neponset River, with its tributaries, fur- nishes good water-power. The leading manufactures consist of cotton and woollen goods, paper, iron castings, machine-cards, and boots and shoes. At South Walpole is located the Alden Emery Mills. There are four churches, eleven schools, and a public library of 1,500 volumes. Population, 2,290. Phillips Payson, D. D. (1736-1801), an active patriot of the Revolution, a fine scholar and distinguished clergy- man ; SethPayson (1758-1820), a clergj-man, a brother of Phillips, and father of Dr. Edward Payson of Port- land, Me., and Eleazer Smith, a distinguished inventor, were natives of Walpole. Bellingham (incorporated in 1719), Norfolk (1870), and Dover (1836), are mainlj^ agricultural towns, but they have some manufactures. Thej" have a respective population of 1,247, 920, and 650. MASSACHUSETTS. PLYMOUTH COUI^TY. BY REV. CHARLES W. WOOD. Plymouth County being a part of the original Plym- outh Colonj^ its history dates back to the landing of the Pilgrims in 1620. The more important events of this early history are given elsewhere under the Colonial History of Massachusetts. The old Colony embraced the territory now included in the three counties of Plj-mouth, Barnstable and Bris- tol. It was a separate Colony until the appointment of Sir Echnund Andros, governor-general, in 1685. In this year it was divided into the three counties above mentioned. In 1692, it was permanently united with the Colony of Massachusetts. Plymouth Countj- lies in the south-east part of the State, and is bounded b}' Norfolk Count}' and Massacliu- setts 'Bay on tlie north-west, bj' Massachusetts Baj' on the north-east, b^' Barnstable County and Buzzard's Bay on the south-east, and b^- Bristol County on the south-west. It contains an area of about 720 square miles. It re- ceived its name from Plymouth, its shire town, and the place of its first settlement.* The north-west boun- dary is nearly the original line between the Colonies of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay, the onlj- difference arising from the fact that Hingham and Hull originally belonged to Massachusetts Bay, and were annexed to Plymouth upon tlie formation of Norfolk County. The shores of Plymouth County had been visited by Europeans, but no permanent settlement had been made until the landing of the Pilgrims. Some years before this a shipmaster. Hunt, enticed some twenty of the natives here on board his ship, carried them away and sold them for slaves. One of these, having been liber- ated by a Spanish monk, was brought back by Capt. H. Dermer and restored to his native land ; and afterwards, * It is generally thought that the name Plymouth was given to the first settlement of the Pilgrims because Plymouth in England was the last town they left at the Ijeginning of their voy.ngc, and they had re- ceived many liinJnesses from the Christians tlicrc. But it would seem that tlic name was given to this region some years before. In Davis's edition of " New England's Memorial " it is said, " Capt. Smith explored the coast from Penobscot to Cape Cod in 1G14, and gave the country the name of New England. His description of New England was published in 1616. In his map of the coast we find the name of Plymouth applied to this place. It is one of the few names given by that distinguished navigator that remains unchanged." from the knowledge of the English language which he had acquired, furnished valuable aid to the Pilgrims in their intercourse with the Indians. The Plymouth colonists being deceived, as is believed by some, by their captain, failed, providentially, to reach their expected destination; but instead, found themselves in the present roadstead of Provincetown, from whence, after some explorations they sailed to Plj-mouth and began their settlement Dec. 21, 1620. The sevcrit}- of winter exposures, with food inadequate 1 in quantity and quality, threatened utter failure to their enterprise, if not the extermination of the Colony, nearly one-half of their number succumbing to their hardships in about four months. It was a most fortunate circum- stances that there were very few Indians to molest them, the whole region having been depopulated a year or two before by a most fatal plague. For two or three years the colonists suffered much from the failure of their crops, so that upon the visit of some friends to the governor " the best dish he could present them with was a lobster or piece of fish, without bread or anything but a cup of fair spring water." In the summer of 1623 the colonists were reduced to great extremities, suffering more than at any previous time. Tlie last distribution of corn, which, it is stated, consisted only of a single pint, gave to each person fi\e kernels, which were parched and eaten. To keep this fact in memory, it has been customary at the dinner in commemoration of the landing of the Pilgrims, to place upon each plate five kernels of parched corn. These are to be eaten first, that all may be reminded of the privations our forefathers endured that their descendants might have enough and to spare. In May of this year an unusual quantity of corn had been planted, and we may well imagine that they went forth weeping to cast that into the earth which seemed so necessary to meet the immediate wants of their fami- lies. A vessel with supplies had been expected for months, and they looked in vain for its arrival. The absence of rain for six weeks, in an oppressively hot sea- son, made the earth as ashes, and threatened the entire ruin of the crops. In this extremity they tm-ned to the HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. God of heaven for relief. On an appointed daj- thej' continued eight or nine hours in fervent pubHc praj-er and worship. During the daj- the sky was perfectly clear ; at night, however, the clouds gathered, and the next morning showers descended and continued at inter- vals for fourteen daj-s. The corn revived, the grass sprung up afresh, and an abundant harvest followed. From this time the condition of the colonists rapidlj' impro^'ed, until Bradford could send to his friends the information that the countrj- was producing vegetables and fruits in abundance, and in nearly' as great variety as was found in the mother country- ; and that the comforts of life were rapidly taking the place of their former want. The prosperity of the Colon}- was greatly impeded by the war with King Philip. The loss of men and monej- imposed a verj- heavj- tax upon their limited resources. Many public enterprises were necessarily abandoned or suspended until time should be given for recovery from a war most fearful in its results, though terminating in the complete overthrow of the enemj'. Plymouth was invaded at Eel Eiver, a garrisoned house there being burned, and eleven persons killed. That part of Plymouth which is now the town of Hali- fax, suffered the loss of eighteen houses and seven barns. Middleborough was burnt and abandoned. In Scituate, twelve houses, with their barns, and one saw-mill, were consumed. Bridgewater was attacked, but was bravel^- and successfully defended. Besides the losses inflicted by the direct attacks of the savage foe, the men and money required in the prosecu- tion of the war, constituted a burden which none but such brave men as the colonists could have borne. Thej- were far, however, from yielding to discouragement, but addressed themselves manfull}-, not only to the recover^' of what had been lost, but also to an advance along the several lines of enterprise to which thej' had already so hopefully put their hand. In 1G92 the union of the Old Colony with Massachu- setts Baj-, terminated its mdependent existence which had continued for 71 years. The people of Plj-mouth County, after their imion with Massachusetts and down to the present time, have mani- fested in a good degree the spirit of their fathers, and have performed well their part in promoting the interests of the Commonwealth. In the French and Indian wars they joined heartily with their brethren in maintaining the integrity and honor of the English nation, and they were one with them also, in resisting the encroachments of the British government upon the rights of the Colonies. The first company which appeared in Boston for the expedition against Louisburg, was enlisted in Plj-mouth. The town of Pembroke was the first in the Colonies to rebel against the British crown, having in 1740 adopted a resolution to adhere to their rights and privileges ' ' anj- roj-al instructions of his majestj' to the contrary notwith- standing." In May, 1776, Plj-mpton voted unanimously in favor of independence of Great Britain, thus preced- ing the National Congress in their proclamation of liberty to the world ; while Pl3-mouth instructed the town rep- resentatives in the Provincial Congress: "That j-ou, without hesitation, be readj' to declare for independence of Great Britain, in whom no confidence can be placed, provided the honorable Continental C'ongi-ess shall think that measure necessary, and we, for our part, do assure you that we will stand by the determination of the Con- tinental Congress in the important and, as we think, | necessary measure, at the risk of our lives and fortunes." ] This language was expressive, not onlj' of the senti- ' ments of this town, but of those also of the other towns of the county. And through all the war of the Revolu- tion the people of this countj- bore well their part in furnishing men and means to cany to a successful issue the struggle for independence. Shays' rebellion received here no support or coun- tenance. The courts were not interrupted, as they were in other parts of the State. The county furnished mate- rial aid to the authorities for the suppression of this or- ganized resistance to the government. In the war of the Rebellion the record of this county- is a brilhant one. In the language of Judge Russell, " It was once the boast of the Halifax Light Infantry that they received their charter from the hands of John Han- cock. It was now their prouder boast that on the mid- night call of John A. Andrew, they mustered with full ranks at dawn of day. Manj' an Old Colony town shared in the gloi-y of that night and day. I dare not say how many towns Capt. Harlow visited to summon his men, but I do dare to saj' that when the tramp of Lis horse roused the slmnbering villages of Pl3-mouth County, Bradford and Carver, Brewster, Standish and Winslow, looked down and rejoiced over the approaching triumph of liberty." Military Affairs. — From the very first the able-bodied men of the Old Colony from sixteen to sixty j'ears of age, were formed into companies for military drill. In 1653 a council of war, consisting of eleven persons, was established, to whom all mihtary matters were to be en- trusted. In 165i sixty men, to be commanded b}- Miles Standish, were enlisted to act against the Dutch at New York. In 16 75 it was ordered that every person attend- ing meeting on the Sabbath should be ai-med with mus- kets, with a good supply of powder and balls. JL4SSACHUSETTS. Many a battle was fought with the Indians under the leadership of Standish. The Colony was well represent- ed at the great victory at Narraganset, and its young men were ahnost decimated in the disastrous expedition of Capt. Peirce. lu 1C90 a body of troops was raised in the towns of j Plpnouth, Duxbury, Scituate, Marshfield, Bridgewater I and Middleborough, to march under Capt. Church against ! the Indians ravaging the frontier in Maine. In the French and Indian war everj^ town was prob- ablj' represented. Plymouth sent one whole company ; Scituate furnished nearly a hundred men. These towns did not probably very much exceed others in proportion to their population. Capt. John Winslow of Marshfield led the Kew England troops in the first captiu-e of Louis- burg. In the Revolution the town of Bridgewater, con- taining less than a thousand men capable of bearing arms, furnished for the Continental service more than 400 soldiers. Other towns were not less patriotic. In some of them almost everj' man able to do militarj' duty was in the sei-vice for a longer or shorter time. In 1786 the authorities of the county were ready to aid in the suppression of the insurrection instigated by Daniel Shaj-s, although there were individuals who had some sympathy with the insurgents. Gen. Nathaniel Goodwin marched at the head of a large detachment of militia gathered from the different towns of the county, to oppose the insurgents gathered at Taunton for the purpose of preventing the sitting of the court at that I place. rift3--four of these soldiers were from Korth Bridgewater, now Brockton. The result was the total dispersion of the lawless gathering, and a session of the i court without molestation or bloodshed. • In the war of 1812 the town of Halifax furnished a companj' under the command of the so-called Tall Cap- tain — Capt. Asa Thompson, who measured six and a half feet. Most of the towns furnished companies, or parts of companies to defend the seaports exposed to I attack bj' the enemy. In the Great Rebellion the county sustained its former reputation for earnest devotion to the national flag, many towns furnishing a much larger number than was de- manded bj' the government. The oldest company in the State, chartered I13' John Hancock in 1792, belonging to Halifax, the same organization as the one mentioned under the war of 1812, was one of the very first to re- spond to the call of the president, April 16, 1861. A whole company from Abington, as well as the one from Halifax, was on its way to the defence of Washington within twenty-four hours after the first call of 75,000 men. Between 5,000 and 6,000 soldiers and sailors were furnished during the war, of whom about 800 were lost. Towns aitd Population. — For the first ten years, the colonists were confined almost wholly to the town of Plymouth, and at the end of that period numbered only three hundred. A few persons resided at Mano- met, in the present town of Sandwich. Ten years after this, there were eight towns in the Colonj", of which four only were within the limits of the present county, viz. : — Pl^-mouth ; Duxburj-, incorporated in 1637 ; Scit- uate, incorporated in 1636 ; and Marshfield, incorjio- rated in 1640. Bridgewater was added in 1656, and Middleborough in 1669. At the incorporation of the county, in 1685, it consisted of the above-mentioned towns, and Accord Pond Shares, and Ford's Farm Plan- tations, embracing parts of Scituate and Hanover, and the whole of Abington. The population is estimated to have been about 4,000. It would have been much larger had not so many removed to other places, beyond the limits of the county. From time to time new towns were formed from the common territorj-, as Rochester in 1686, Abington In 1712, Wareham in 1739; and others were formed from portions of the older towns, as from Plymouth, Plymp- ton in 1707, Kingston in 1726, Carver in 1790, a part of Halifax in 1734, and a part of Wareham in 1739 ; from Duxbury, Pembroke in 1711, Hanson in 1820; from Scituate, Hanover in 1727, South Scituate in 1849 ; from Bridgewater, Brockton in 1821, West Bridgewater in 1822, East Bridgewater in 1823 ; from Rochester, Marion in 1852, Mattapoisett in 1857, and a part of Wareham in 1739; from Middleborough a part of Halifax in 1734 ; from Abington, Rockland in 1874, and South Abington in 1875. Hingham and Hull were annexed to the county in 1793. The present number of towns is 27. The population of the county in 1776 was 29,113 ; in 1875, 69,362. Ecclesiastical History. — The first church in New Eng- land, founded at PljTnouth in 1620, was a part of the chiu-ch which went from England to Holland, where it had remained for eleven years. It was founded upon the belief that the Church of Christ has the exclusive right of self-government in matters of religion, account- alile onlj^ to the great Head of all Christian churches ; that the inspired Scriptirres only teach with authority the true religion, and nothing is binding in faith or worship but what is taught in them ; and that every man has a right to judge for himself what the Scriptures teach. The officers of the church were the pastor, ruling elder to help the pastor, and deacons, who were to take care of the treas- ury- of the church. This church frequently sent out its mem- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. bers, who planted other churches in different towns and settlements. One of the fli-st things sought in every new settlement was the establishment of a church. As one of the objects of the emigration of the Pilgrims to this country was the conversion of the natives to Christianity, we find them early presenting the gospel to the Indians, and gathering them into churches. At the commence- ment of Philip's war, there were tliree Indian churches within the limits of Middleborough, and a number in other parts of the Colony. Besides the members of these chm'ches, there were many Indians connected with other churches, until the number, at this time, was esti- mated to be fifteen hundred. The spirit of indepen- dence in the Colony soon showed itself in the formation FIRST NORMAL IILDINO, BKIDGE\\ATEK, of other churches than those of the established order, various religious denominations having from time to time spnmg up and become more or less prosperous on the territory. There are now in the county 114 churches. Congregational, 8G ; Methodist, 20 ; Baptist, 16 ; Uni- tarian, 11 ; Universalist, 8; Catholic, 6; Episcopal, 4; New Church, 4 ; Friends, 2 ; Christian, 2 ; Lutheran, 1 ; Advent, 1 ; Union, 1 ; Independent, 1 ; Free, 1. Education. — The people of Pljinouth County have always manifested a deep interest in the cause of educa- tion. Instruction before 1663 was given in famihes and by private teachers. In 1 6 70 a free school was established at Plymouth. The profits of the fisheries at Cape Cod, and a portion of the public lands at Agawam and Sip- pican, were early appropriated to free schools. In 1677, towns of fifty families, after receiving a portion of the Cape Cod money, were to be taxed for the support of schools, while those of one hundred families were to have a master able to fit youth for college. We read early of " school- gate money," which was doubtless money taken at toll-gates. In 1672, the General Court earnestly recommended a liberal contribution for Harvard College. The earlj' settlers were many of them well-educated men, having been in good circumstances in England. The hardships they had to contend with prevented them from giving as good an education to their children as they themselves had received. It was their desire that, as soon as possible, the privileges of their children here might be equal to what they had themselves enjoyed in the old country. Academies were early estabUshed in different parts of the county-, as at Bridgewater, Mid- dleborough, Hingham and Duxbury, and the public schools have been im- proved until the need of academies is not now very much felt. When the State made provision for the establishment of Nonnal Schools, Plymouth County was the first to ajiply for the location of one within its limits, and the board of edu- cation voted to grant the application. There was delay, however, in com- plying with the required terms, and in consequence normal schools were dliened at Lexington and Barre a few months before the school at Bridge- water ; but these schools were soon removed, while the one estabUshed at Bridgewater has retained the loca- tion in which it was first planted. The whole number of public schools in 1875 was 263, with 509 teachers, and an attendance of 12,700. The value of iJublic school buildings and other property was $521,395. The value of property of academies and private schools was 845,435. Surface. — ^The smface of this county is quite level, and the scenery unattractive, yet there are elevations presenting widely-extended prospects of gi-eat beauty. The views of laud and sea from Coleman's HiU in Scit- nate, from Prospect Hill in Hingham, from Captain's HiU in Duxbmy, from Biuial Hill and Manomet HiU in Plymouth, are exceedingly fine. Alden's HiU in Lake- ville presents a charming scene of lake, meadow and woodland. Bays, Rivers and Ponds. — The sea-coast, about fortj^ MASSACHUSETTS. miles in length, and the shores of Buzzard's Baj', afford a mnnber of harbors of sufficient depth for vessels engaged in the fisheries and in the coasting trade. Of these are Scituate, Duxbury, Pl3'mouth and Kingston, on Massachusetts Bay ; and Wareham, Marion and Mat- tapoisett, on Buzzard's Baj^ Tlie Taunton River and its tributaries drain the western part of the countj', and furnish important mill-privileges, and from the earliest times have, from their alewife and shad fisheries, added to the resources of the county. In the northern part of the count; , the North River, uniting with the South Ri\ er, enters Massachusetts Bay, furnishing, es pecially in fonner times, many facilities for ship-building. In the southerly piit of the county are the Weweantic, the Wanliinlvo and the Agawam rivers, fui- nishing valuable water-power. The coun- tj- is noted for the large number of its lalves and ponds, which are objects of great beauty, and are withal very useful in moistening the atmosphere, fertilizing the soil, and supplying healthful food and large motive-power. The most iin portant of these are those in Middle borough and Lakeville — Assawampsi. t , Long, Pocksha and Great and Little Quiticas. These are all connected, and constitute the largest collection of fiesh water in the State, making an ana of about five thousand acres. These ^^ itcib were a favorite resort of King Philip md his chiefs for purposes of hunting and fishing. Other ponds are Billington Sea in PljTnouth, Momponset in Halifax, Snipatuit in Rochester, Tispaqnm in Middleborough and Silver Lake in Ph mp ton, which has become a noted place of popular resort for the summer moni hs Soil and Productions. — The soil of the county is generally light and sand}', and inferior to that of most other parts of New England ; yet in many places there are productive farms. The farms, about 3,600 in number, are owned by their occupants, and though most of them are small, 100 of them contain more than 200 acres each ; 30 of them contain 500 acres each ; five over 700 acres each ; and one contains over 1,000 acres. The value of farm property is $10,580,- 704. Over 30,000 bushels of corn, 30,000 tons of hay, 160,000 bushels of potatoes, and over 360,000 pounds of butter are produced by these farms. Trees and Forests. — The forests of PljTnouth Countj' in the early days of its history furnished every kind of wood needed for domestic use, and much for exportation. Ship-building from native timber has been a very impor- tant branch of business. The ship-yards of the North River were numbered by the score, and have been famous for the education of shipwrights, who have estabhshed their business along the whole New England coast. The first ship which visited the north-west coast was built here. Although the primeval forests have been felled, ^ ^«.krX imm^^'*^' J-Mii^'*^^^- ^rVTE NOHMVL SCH and but little ship-timber rL-mains, yet in the more than 100,000 acres of woodland, there are found a great many kinds of trees, valuable not only for fuel, but for many other useful purposes. The area of woodland has been increasing for the last 30 j'ears, and, in certain por- tions of the county, the traveller may pass through many miles of unbroken forest almost as wild as when fii'st visited by the Pilgrims. Manvfactures and Commerce. — The manufactures of the county are extensive, producing a great variety of goods. In 1875, there were 1,007 establishments, having a capital of $7,224,521, with a product of $20,590,132, HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. e.mploj-ing 51,571 persons. The iron business was im- portant in the early history of the county, the bogs and ponds fiu-nishing large quantities of ore. The anchors of " Old Ironsides" were forged here, and more recently some of the heaviest work in the world has been turned out. But the most important manufacture is that of boots and shoes. There are 1C3 establishments, with a capacitj' of §1,805,703, making goods to the value of $10,945,924. Sixty manufactories of metallic goods, with a capital of $2,479,840, show products amounting to $3,978,210. In 1875, 46 vessels were engaged in the fisheries with a product of $149,009, and 18 A-essels were engaged in com- merce with a tonnage of 3,475, valued at $178,000. Bailroads and Telegraphs. — The county is well accom- modated by the Old Colony Eaih-oad and its branches, and the Fair- haven branch of the Boston, Clinton and Fitehburg Railroad The Old Colony road to Pl3Tiiouth was opened in 1845 ; the road from South Braintree to Bridgewater about the same time ; another soou after from Bridgewater ' I to jMyricks to meet there a road from Fall Eiver. ^ In 18G4 these were all ^ united under the name of the Old Colony and Newport Railroad. The Plymouth division passes through Abington, South Abing- ton, Hanson, Halifax, Plympton, and Kingston. The main line bj' w.ay of Bridgewater accommodates Brock- ton, the Bridgewaters, Middleborough and Lake^•ille. The South Shore branch passes through Scituate, Marsh- field and Duxburj' ; the Hanover branch through Rock- land to Hanover ; and the Fairhaven branch from Ware- ham through Marion and Mattapoisett. The roads extend over 90 miles in length. Telegraph lines extend along these railroads, giving rapid communication with ahuost every town. Towxs. Brockton, formerlj- North Bridgewater, and the larg- est town in the county, is 20 miles from Boston on the Old Colony Railroad. It was formerly a part of Bridge- water, but was set ofi" as a parish in 1738, and incorpo- rated as a town in 1821. It is remarkable for its enter- prise and rapid growth, increasing in ten years from 6,332 to 10,578. It is engaged chiefly in the boot and shoe business. Micah Faxon, the first manufacturer, carried his goods to market on horseback. There are now 71 establishments with a capital of $835,629, making goods in 1875 to the value of $5,587,465. It has nine handsome churches, a high school and 40 other public schools, a bank, public library and music hall. There are two newspapers, "The Brockton Gazette" and " The Brockton Advance." It has three principal villages, — though they are rapidlj- becoming one, — the Centre, Campello and Sprague Village. The last was named from the late Chandler Sprague. Its main street is one of the finest a^-enues in this part of the country. Union Cemetery is a spot well adapted by nature to its purpose, and rendered very beautiful by art. Cam- pello embraces quite a population of emigrants fiom Sweden. The builrbng of their church was materially aided b^- the celebrated Nilsson, who gave a concert in Its behalf. Dr. Peter Bryant, the 1 Uher of Wm. C. Bry- ant, the poet, and Eev. EhphaletPorter, D.D., an able clergyman, were '^^'"'- born here. MmuLEBOROUGH, — one of the old towns of the Col- ony, interesting in its early history, visited bj' white men some years before the landing of the Pilgi-ims, inhabited bj' powerful Indian tribes, its fii-st settlement burnt in Philip's war, a resting-place of the Pilgi'ims in their way to aud from Mount Hope, — was incorporated as a town in 1669. It is 35 miles from Boston, and has direct rail- road communication with Boston, the Cape, Fall Eiver and Taimton, by the Old Colony Railroad and its branches ; has manufactures of straw, iron and woollen goods, and of boots and shoes ; eight churches, and an elegant town hall, a newspaper, a sa\-ings bank, a pubUc librar}' ; Peirce Academy, which has been one of the most popular in the State ; a well-known family school, a high school, and some 25 other public schools. Luke Short died here aged 116. Cephas G. and Jerome B. Thompson, the distinguished painters ; Oliver IVIASSACHUSETTS. Shaw, a noted musician ! Tom Thumb, and her sis- I ter, Minnie, who died in 1878 ; Deacon L. Porter, noted for his liberalitj-, especially to Hol^-oke Fe- male Seminary ; Z. Eddy, a distinguished lawyer ; Ezra Samijson, author of "Beauties of the Bible" ; Peter H. Peirce and Levi Peirce, successful mer- chants, were born here. Population, 5,023. Plymouth, the most interesting town of the county to the historian, is 37 miles from Boston. It is built upon a declivitj- about two miles in length and a half-mile in breadth. It contains the court- house, — a verj- handsome building, — the jail, Pil- grim Hall, the Samoset House, several chm-ches, two national and two sav- ings banks, a newspaper, thirtj- public schools. It has an excellent water supply from South Pond. There are iion and cotton mills, and boot and shoe establishments. Eight iron- works pro duced goods worth SG78,394 in 1875 Fifteen vessels aie engaged in the fibh cries, whose products are §35,193. Tht view from Burial IIill is one of rare beaut\ Leyden Street, e\ tending from nea" the " Rock " to Buual Hm, was the first street laid out A part of the " Rock" public the wife of Gen. | has been transferred to PUgrim Hall. Over the re- mainder a beautiful stone canopy has been erected. A grand national mon- ument commemorative of the virtues of the Pilgrim Fathers stands upon Mon- ument Hill. The Cush- man monument, a granite obelisk 27 feet high, is an Imposing object. Col. Benjamin Church, of Indian war memory, Gen. James Warren of the Revolution, Charles T. Jackson, M. D., geologist, j Oakes Ames, member of Congress, and Hon. Thos. ' Russell, were natives of this town. Population, 6,370. Hekgham, a fine town about 17 miles from Bos- ton, has three postal cen- tres, — Hingham, Hing- ham Centre, and South Hingham. Its harbor ad- library and about | mits sloop navigation, engaged in fisheries and the cany- ing trade. A mag- nificent prospect of sea and land is given from Prospect Hill, an elevation of near- ly 250 feet. The town has bands of music, a newspaper, a national bank, a sa^dugs bank, an in- surance company, a public libraiy , a town hall, nine or ten fine churches, and a cem- etery tastefuUj' deco- rated, containing the remains of the la- mented Gov. An- drew. Derby Academy was incorporated in 1797, deriving its I-ETDEN STREET, PLYMOUTH. -.--/^ HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. name from Madam Derby, l\y Tvhom it was endowed. It has the oldest meeting-house in New England, oc- cupied from 1682 un- til the present time. During Philip's war, three forts were erect- ed within its limits. A monnmont in the cemetery in( soi\( '-the names of 70 soldui-- and sailois lost in thi late war. Population, 4,G54. Says Nason's "Ga/ etteer of Massachu- setts": " This lo\\u has given to the i^ oild Colonel John Otis, an able law^-er and judge ; Noah Hobart, a learned minister ; Ezekiel Hersey, a fa- mous physician ; Gen. Bcnj. Lincoln, a verj^ distinguished Revolu- tionary ofHcer, secre- tar}- of war 1781-4, collector of Boston ; Levi Lincoln, acting governor : Andrews Norton, an eminent scholar and writer; Henry Ware, D. D., an able cltTgyman, 1794; ogist ; Winekworth Allan Gay, a fine landscape painter ; Charles Henrj- Bromedge Caldwell, an efficient captain ~ft United States Navy ; ••' Richard Heniy Stod- dard, a prolific writer 5 and popular poet, and 1 "% Hon. Solomon Lin- , .^- coin, an able writer." r Brtdgewater, one H-i _, of the pleasantest towns of the county, -'7 miles from Boston, (Ml the Old Colon}- K iilroad, was origi- n illy a plantation _i mted to Duxbury b^ the Indian chief Massasoit. It was tin first settlement in llu interior of the Col- on} H.ajward, Wil- li',, Bassett, Wash- bum, Ames, Mitchel, Keith, and Edson, •weio names of early sc ttlers, and main* of then descendants re- main, bearing the same names. The town contains some ven,- fine farms. but is noted for its iron manufactui-es. Small-arras and John Ware, a distinguished physician and author, 17£»j- 18G4 ; William Ware, an author and clerg3Tnan ; Joseph Andrews, 1806-73, one of the best line engravers in the countrj-; James Hall, 1811, New York State geol- camion were made here at the commencement of the Revolution, supposed to have been the first ever made in the country. Quite a number of vessels were early built here, and launched upon the Taunton River. The MASSACHUSETTS. Bridgewater Iron Manufacturing Company is the most extensive of any in the State, making some of the hea\'iest work in the world. The forgiugs of the cele- brated " Monitor," were done here. Bridgewater Acad- emj' was incorporated in 1799. A State normal school was estabhshed in 1840. The town sent a surj^lus of 60 men above its quota to the late war, of which 27 were lost. Popu- _- — -^ lation, 3,969. Abington, 20 miles from Boston, on the Pl^-mouth branch of the Old Colony Rail- road, was, before its recent division, the most populous town in the count}'. Its present population is 3,241. Its Indian name was Manamoo- skeagin, — many bea- vers. The first grant of land was made, in 1648, to Nathaniel Souther, the first sec- retary of the Colony, and one was given to Peregrine White, the first white man born in the Colony. Set- tlements were made in 1668. It was in- coriDorated in 1710. The land is somewhat elevated, forming the water- shed between the North and Taun- ton rivers. Thisi^lace was early the great "lumbering region" for the surrounding country. The frigate " Constitution" was built, in large part, of oak from this town. The town was noted for the manufac- ture of church-bells as early as 1769, and cannon and shot during the Revolutionary war. It is affirmed that Paul Revere was taught, by one from the manufactory here, to mould and cast his first bell. The town is some- what noted for the manufacture of tacks, but its principal business is the making of boots and shoes. There were 17 establishments in 1875, with a capital of $276,200, making goods to the value of $1,098,712. THE MILES BTANDISH The citizens of Abington, and the new towns of Rock- land and South Abington, have never fallen behind in the demand made upon them in the different emergencies of the country. They manifested their patriotism in colonial times, in the Revolution, in 1812, and especially in the war of the Rebellion ; when, having lost more than a million of dollars in debts at the South, they _ furnished more than a regiment of soldiers for the war. In part- ing with portions of its territorj^ to form the new towns of Rock- land and South Abing- ton, it lost 6,659 in populatio,n. Rockland was a part of Abington un- til its incorporation in 1874. It constitutes a large and flourishing town, engaged cliicflj' in the boot and shoe business, in which there are nine estab- lishments, producing goods, in 1875, to the amount of $1,180,- 728. The central vil- lage contains many elegant public and pri- vate buildings, and is accommodated bj' the Hanover branch of the Old Colony Rail- road. Its history is connected with that ofAbington. Popula- tion, 4,203. Ddxbcky, one of the oldest towns, is six miles north of Plymouth. It received its name from Duxbury Hall, of the Standish family, in England. Of the early settlers were Miles Standish and John Alden. An imposing monument to the memory of Standish has been erected on Captain's Hill. The terminus of the Atlantic Tele- graph is here. The landing of the cable was effected July 23, 1869. Population, 2,245. East Bridgewater, taken from Bridgewater, was in- corporated in 1823. It is 25 miles from Boston, on the HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Bridgewater branch of the Old Colony Railroad. Its Indian name was Satucket. The first machines for card- ing, roping and spinning cotton, and the first nails bj' machinery, were made here. Population, 2,808. Hon. Nahum Mitchell, an able lawj-er and musician, joint au- thor with B. Brown, Esq., of the Bridgewater Collection of Church Music, and Ezekiel "Whitman, a Judge and member of Congress, were born here. SocTH Abington, taken from the "old oaken i Abington, was incorporated 1875. It forms a very pleas- ^"^% ELCKET," BCITUATE. from j ant town, well furnished with railroad faciUties, and | of U j promises to incn ise rapidl}' in popul ition and wealth. It has 13 boot and shoe es- tabhshments, makmg goods to the value of a milhon and a quar- ter annuallj- ; se\er'il tack factories, one < f which is 183 b^ J^ feet, with an L 8 t by 67 feet. Popul i tion, 2,456. Wareham, at the head of Buzzard's Bay, 50 miles from Boston, on the Cape division of the Old Colonj' Railroad, was j incorporated in 1739. Its Indian name was j Agawam, frequently ^ j mentioned in earlj' ^. colonial history-. It ^ has four churches, a national and savings bank, and extensive iron-works, making goods in 1875 to the value of $749,391. Population, 2,818 "West Bridgewater, the mother of the Bridgewaters and Brockton, is 25 mUes from Boston. It has some of the very best farming land. The How- ard school-house, recentlj- built by the liberaUty of one of its former citizens, now deceased, is one of the finest in the State. Incori^orated in 1822. Popula- tion, 1,756. SciTUATE derives its name from an Indian word meaning cold brook. It is 25 miles from Bos- ton, on the South Shore Railroad. It was one of the most important towns in the early historj' of the Old Colony. Settled bj' men the county of Kent, Eng. "V\'"ilUam Cushing, judge S. Court; Samuel "Woodworth. author of the "Old Oakeu Bucket" ; and K( ^ Chas. T. Terry, ^\ere natives of this town. Incorporated m 1636. Population, 2,463. Mabshfield, — so mmed from the na- me of a considerable jrtion of its soil, — • N IS incorporated in 11 41. By the South Shore, it is 30 miles from Boston. It is noted as ha%'ing con- tained the fine old mansion of Daniel "Webster, which was recentlj' burnt. The Winslow burial-place holds the remains of the first child of the Pilgrims, the first mother, the first bride, and the first native governor of the Col- ony. The population numbers 1,817. Kingston, about four miles from Plymouth, named from the Duke of Kingston, was a part of Plymouth until its incorporation in 1726. It is distinguished for the MASSACHUSETTS. large number of its college graduates, and other educated professional men. Population, 1,5G9. Hanover is 26 miles from Boston, on a brancli of the Old Colonj' Eailroad. It is the birthplace of Col. John Bailey, conspicuous in the campaign against Burgoj-ne, and of Joseph Smith, rear-admiral of the U. S. navj'. Population, 1,801. Mattapoisett, on a harbor of Buzzard's Bay, formerly a parish of Rochester, was incorporated in 1857. It is six miles from New Bedford by the Fairhaven Eailroad. Population, 1,361. Hull lies in the extreme north-west comer of the count3', nine miles bj* water from Boston. It was incor- porated in 1644, when there were in it but 20 dwelling- houses. It is the smallest town in the county, and the smallest in the State, with the exception of Gosnold and Gay Head. Population, 316. Plympton, a farming town of 755 inhabitants, 30 miles south-east from Boston, was incorporated in 1707. Deborah Sampson, who ser\'ed three years in the Revo- lutionar}' war, and afterwards received a pension, was born in this town. Rochester, one of the old towns of the countj', received its name from a town in England. It is a farm- ing town, 50 miles from Boston. Incorporated in 1G86. Population, 1,001. Pembroke, incorporated in 1711, Hanson (1820), Cancer (1790), Lakeville (1853), Marion (1852), and Halifax (1734), are farming communities, with a respective population of 1,399, 1,265, 1,127, 1,061, 862 and 568. SUFFOLK COUNTY. BY REV. Z. A. MUDGE, A. M., Author of "Views from Plymouth Kock," "Witch Hill," "Foot-Prints of Roger Williams,' The di-vision of the Massachusetts Colony into counties was made b}- the General Court in 1043. They were four at this time, and were called Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, and Norfolk, after the shires of the same name in Eng- land. Suffolk contained Boston, Roxburj-, Dorchester, Ded- ham, Braintree, Weymouth, Hingham and Nantasket (Hull), This county at present contains Boston, Chel- sea, Winthrop and Revere ; but Boston, the court town, embraces South Boston, East Boston, Roxbuiy, Boston Highlands, West Roxbury, Dorchester, Brighton and Charlcstown. On the 12th of June, the "Arbella," the ship of John Winthrop and his company, arrived in Salem. Gov. Winthrop, with a select few, at once visited the region about the junction of the Charles and Mjstic rivers, with a -v-iew of finding an eligible place for a set- tlement. The explorers, reporting favorablj- of Charles- town, which the Indians called Mishawum, the "Arbella" conveyed all the Winthrop company there July 1st. During this month the greater part of the fleet which left England with Winthop, arrived in Boston Harbor. The colonists immediatelj' commenced building though manj- for some time lived in tents and wigwams. But even before their care to secure homes, was their concern for stated religious sei-vice. They immediately organized a church, and chose John Wilson, a devout minister of their companj-, as their pastor. In August of this year occurred the first election of officers, and John Winthrop, Esq., was chosen governor. The court being organized, the first law enacted had reference to the support of their pastors. It was ordered that houses should be built for them at the public ex- pense, and their salaries paid in the same way. Though the leading men had resolved to build their chief town at Charlestown, a prevailing sickness there had caused much uneasiness among the people, who be- gan to express a wish for another locality. In the mean- time the Rev. William Blackstone, an eccentric and lone dweller on the peninsula known to the Indians as Shaw- mut, now Boston, became acquainted with their distresses and made them a \'isit. He afforded such aid as lay in his power, and seeing that good water was one of their needs, he invited them to remove across the river to HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Shawmut. He assured them that they would find a good spring there and a cordial welcome.* By the 7th of September many had removed to " Tri- monntain"t (Shawmut), its three prominent hills sug- gesting the name. | A great blow fell upon the Colony on the 30th of September, in the death of Isaac Johnson, whose wife had died in Salem a month before. § Johnson had been one of the first to remove to Boston, and had made further advancement in the improvement of his selected place of residence than any others. His lot included what is now the King's Chapel burying- ground, in the upper end of which lot, at his request, he was buried. The first General Court held in Boston met October 19. At this court a regulation was established requiring that a man to be eligible for the rank of a freeman, " must be joined in fellowship with one of the churches." In consequence of scarcity of provisions, and of con- tinued sickness, great distress was felt. Capt. Pierce, of the good ship " Lyon," had accordinglj- been sent, at the commencement of the pressing need, to England for supplies, and to his return they looked for reUef. In the meantime a boat was sent to the Indian settlements to trade for corn, which was quite successful. But by the 5th of February, 1C31, the Colony was reduced to de- pendence on mussels, ground-nuts and acorns ; and even these, the snow and frozen earth rendered hard to be procured. Under these circumstances a fast was pro- claimed. But the day before it was to be observed, Capt. Pierce arrived at Nantasket with a sliip-load of provisions. The mourning was turned into joy, and their purposed fast-day into oue of thanksgi\'ing. Among the passengers in the "Lyon" at this time was Roger Wilhams. Boston has had a sad experience with fires. Its first one was "a great fire" measured by the people's circum- stances. It occurred March 16, 1631, just as they be- gan to revive from the prostration of famine and sickness. March 23, 1631, an old chief named Chickataubut ap- peared before the governor, coming not only with his • Just when, and where, and why, Mr. Blackstone had come to Shaw- mut is not known ; but he had a cottage and a garden, and appeared to have been there seven or eight years. t Beacon Hill on the west, witli its several spurs, towered above the rest. Copp's Hill, on the north-west, and Fort Hill, on the east, com- pleted the Tri-mountain system. The original peninsula of Boston was quite a small piece of land, the highest estimate of its acres of fai-m- ground being 1,000, the lowest 600. At present these hills have been levelled or lowered, the many coves encompassing the peninsula filled up, the Back Bay turned to solid earth ; so that we may safely consider, says Mr. Drake, in his " Old Landmarks of Boston," that her original limits have been trebled. braves, but with their wives, lie came moreover with a hogshead of corn and friendlj- words. The governor, with becoming respect for his distinguished guests, and a due regard for so important a state affair, provided a dinner for the whole company. It is not strange that after this good cheer at the headquarters of the white strangers, Indian visits were thereafter more frequent. In November, 1631, Capt. Pierce of the ship " Lj'on," ever the bearer of good to the Colony, arrived. He brought 60 passengers, among whom were Mrs. Win- throp, the governor's ladj-, his oldest son, John Winthrop, Jr. , and others of his children ; and, not the least wel- come, John Eliot, subsequentl}- so famous as the teacher of the Indians. He was immediately engaged by the Boston church to take the place of Mr. Wilson, who had recently returned to England. The following March, 1632, Mr. Wilson himself returned, accompanied by his wife. The same month was remarkable for the erection on the most easterly hill of the town of a fort. It was thenceforth known as Fort Hill. The Indians grew annoj'ingly familiar as well as fre- quent in their visits. In August, 1632, the chief Mian- tonomo, later so famous, came with his wife and twelve attendants. At about this same time, a windmill was set up on the hill in the north part of the town, whose capacity for grinding their corn, a chief article of food, must have made an era of progress. The hill (now called Copp's) thus became known as Windmill Hill. Another important event of this month was the erection of a meeting-house, the settlers having previously wor- shipped in private houses. The people being now pros- perous, they raised, by voluntarj' offerings, £120 for a church and parsonage. The former is described as a rude structure, with "mud walls and a thatched roof." This edifice stood on what is now State Street. Sept. 4, 1633, was a day of joy. The ship "Griffin" arrived from the mother country, bringing 200 passen- gers. Among these were Messrs. Cotton, Stone and Hooker, ministers, besides manj' laymen "of good estates." The coming of these men, especially of Cotton, || mark an era in the history of the Colony. X The General Court, however, the second session of which met at this date, voted that Tri-mountain be called Boston, and that Mattapan be known as Dorchester, and the town on the Charles River be named "Watcrtown. { The latter was the Lady Arbella, in compliment to whom the ship " Arbella " was named. She and her husband were from Boston, Eng., and it is thought by some historians that Boston received its name, as a mark of respect to them. II Rev. John Cotton, born in Derby, Eng., in 1585, graduated at Trinity, Cambridge, at the age of 21, and received, soon after, the appointment of head lecturer, dean and catechist of Emanuel College. While holding this honored position, Mr. Cotton became convinced of the MASSACHUSETTS. The court at this time attempted Lj- law, strangely, to regulate the price of wages and merchandise.* There was a custom adopted this year, 163.3, among the minis- ters, of meeting in each other's houses for the purpose of discussing questions of importance. These meeting;? are regarded as the origin of the "Boston Association of Congregational Ministers." Early in March, 1634, the court ordered the provision of a market-place. The market day was to be Thursday, — lecture day. At the same time, the first tavern was opened, and the first trading-house built. Hitherto, the private houses had been used as both places of enter- tainment and trade. As the principal officers of the government lived at Newtown, the court, after the election in 1634, met there. The election took place in Mr. Cotton's meeting-house in Boston, and he preached the election sermon, which was the beginning of the i^ractice which has come down I to the present daj'. The first book ofrecords begins in September, 1634. It ! gives a hint that, even so early as this date, a select j number of the freemen were intrusted with the affairs of the town for the ycr.r. From this practice, doubtless, came those historic officers, the selectmen. In April, 1G35, the case of Roger Williams came I before Gov. Dudley and his assistants. On his arrival ! in Boston, in February, 1631, Williams had been gi-eeted ; kindlj' by the Boston church, and elected teacher ; but, not agreeing with them in some opinions concerning their foiTner relations to the Church of England, had, after a few weeks, been released, when he removed to Salem. The occasion of the consideration of his case by Gov. Dudley and his associates was this : He had maintained that to administer an oath to a wicked per- son, or "an unregenerate man," was in itself a wicked act, inasmuch as it caused such a person to " take the name of God in vain." After repeated hearings, and protracted debates, on the part of the authorities, Wil- liams still continuing obdurate, he was sentenced bj^ the court to depart out of its jurisdiction within sLs weeks, — a sentence which was rigorouslv» not to say mercilessly, executed. Among the distinguished persons arriving at this time was Henry Vane, afterwards governor. In April, 1636, the General Court ordered that a cer- necessity of a deeper spirituality, and also of the " errors of the Established Church." Too honest to smother his eonvictions, and too candid to conceal his change of views, the avowal of his prin- ciples, of course, cost him the friendship of many whom he sincerely loved. Yet such was his personal influence, and his happy way of conciliating, while opposing, the sentiments of others, that he was elected vicar of St. Botolph's Church in Lincoln, he being yet only 27 years of age. So able were his ministrations, and so kindly his bear- tain number of persons be chosen magistrates for life, and at the next election, three — Winthrop, Dudley, and Vane — were chosen to be magistrates during their lives. This movement seemed to be inspired b}- a desh-e on the part of some of the leading men, to induce bj' the prospect of such position, certain men in England of aristocratic birth, whose attention had been drawn towards the Bay, to emigrate. This movement was plainly not in the line of the sympathies of the people, whose visions of popular rule were constantly enlarging. The life office soon disappeared. In May of 1G36, Henry Vane was chosen governor. Vane was a J'oung man from a familj' of distinction, and is said to have left the proffered preferments of the royal court for a larger religious libertj' in the New World. He seemed to have been from the first a favorite of the people of Boston and its vicinity. In the summer of this year, the people of the Bay thought the)- saw a cloud of war arising on the south- west of them. Capt. Oldham, one of their conspicuous traders, was murdered at Block Island bj- some Narra- gansct Indians. This tribe being neighbors to Roger Williams, he immediately interjiosod his mediation with the authorities of Boston, to save a general Indian war. He moved the Narraganset chiefs — Canonicus and INIiantonomo — to make all possible search for the murderers. This brought about a conference between these chiefs and a deputation of leading men from Bos- ton. The negotiation was a success. But Boston was not satisfied to leave the Oldham affair without further action. They immediately sent ninety volunteers, under the general command of ex- governor Endicott of Salem, to put to death the men of Block Island, " to spare the women and children, and bring them away." This order was faithfullj' executed, so far as the Indians could be caught, fourteen only being seen after their flight ; their corn and wigwams were destroyed. The expedition then wantonlj' attacked the Pequots along the banks of the Pequot River, now the Thames, killing two Indians, burning wigwams and destroj-ing cornfields. This done, they returned to Boston, not having lost a man, and having only two wounded. But their victory, if such it might be called, was not worth even this cost. The Pequots, who prob- ing, that he held this important and influential vicarage nearly 22 years. About a month after his arrival in Boston, Mr. Cotton was chosen "Teacher" of the " First Church," and Thos. Leverett was chosen deacon. • The reason given for reducing the wages heretofore paid was, that by such high wages men could eani enough in four days to support them a w;eck. Tliis, they thought, in leaving two days of idleness, induced the use of tobacco and liquor, and such use " was a great waste to the Commonwealth." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. ably had no responsibilitj- for the murder of Oldham, were naturallj- exasperated b3' Endicott's attack upon their undefended homes. The following winter the}' ■wreaked their vengeance on several towns of Connecti- cut, twenty of whose men had joined Endicott's force. Their able sachem, Sassacus, then put himself at the head of an embassy of his best men and visited the headquarters of the Narragansets, and appealed elo- quentl}' before a council of the two nations for an Indian league against the white men. His forcible words had nearl}' prevailed when Roger Williams appeared at the council fireside. Gov. Vane and his advisers had seen the dark war-cloud gathering in the Pequot countr}', and, in the hour of his people's peril, had sent to request the good offices in their behalf of their banished brother, Roger Williams. He could not have responded more promptly and cheerfully had he received only special favors from his brethren in the Bay. In consequence of Williams's negotiations, the Narra- ganset ambassadors were invited to Boston by Gov. Vane to officially arrange the treat}-. In response to this call, the junior chief, Miantonomo, with two sons of Sassacus, one other chief and twenty attendants, went, on the the 21st of October, 1G36, to Boston. They were received with the honor due to the ambassadors of a nation, militar}' escorts and salutes being given them ; and when the treat}' was concluded they were dismissed with the same distinction. Wliile these negotiations were going on, the Pequots continued to attack the settlers in Connecticut, killing a trader from the Bay, with many others. So Boston sent a company of men, under the command of Capt. Under- bill, and Hartford sent men under Capt. Mason. These forces met at the mouth of the Connecticut River, and in conference with Capt. Gardiner, commander of the fort there, arranged the campaign. The victory on the part of the whites was complete. The annual May election, accompanied this year (1637) with unusual excitement, was held in Newtown. The Winthrop party prevailed, electing him governor, Dudley deputy governor, and Endicott a standing coun- cillor. To the conflict of arms with Indian foes, and polit- ical altercations, Boston added, in some respects, the more serious disturbance of a religious dissension. We refer to the Antinomian controversy, in which Mrs. Anne Hutchinson acted a chief part, aided by the great influence of Mr. Cotton, ex-Governor Vane, and her brother-in-law, Mr. Wheelwright ; and resulted • It was not at first an artillery company ; but, in 1657, they began to use a field-piece, and so received that designation. " Ancient and Hon- in the banishment of the heroic but misguided female agitator. In August, 1637, Mr. Vane, having remained in the Colony as long as he had purposed to do when he left England, returned, leaving behind many warm friends. In February, 1638, an association of men were, at their request, incorporated into a military company, yet "to be subordinate to all authority." This was the origin of the Ancient and Honorable Artiller}- Company, which continues to this day and is one of the antiquities of the county.* In June, 1638, there occurred a no less memorable event than an earthquake. It came with the noise of continued thunder, subsided into a rattling like that of coaches over street pavements, and was presently gone. It shook the ships in the harbor, and all the islands, and extended as far as Connecticut. The noise and the shaking continued about four minutes, and the earth was unquiet at times for twenty days after. In September of this year, their faithful officer in the Pequot war, Capt. Underbill, being about to join Wheel- wright's settlement in New Hampshire, called upon the authorities of Boston concerning a matter of business. He reminded them of a promise that they had made him of three hundred acres of land for his military ser^^ces. But the court, instead of giving him land, called him to account for certain alleged offences against their honora- ble body. He was charged, on the testimony of "a godly female," with having spoken against some of them " when he was in the ship lately." The offensive words were, "that they were as zealous here as the Scribes and Pharisees were." Besides, the court remembered just now that he had affiliated with Mr. Wheelwright in the Antinomian trouble ; and, not being satisfied with his explanations of these several matters, they first im- ' prisoned, and then banished him. j Early in 1639, the Boston people began to agitate the ' project of a new house of worship. After much debate as to its location, the church at length chose a commit- tee of five, with Gov. Winthrop as chairman, and gave them full power to select the site. The new house was finally erected on what was called Harding's ground, which is the lot now occupied b\' Joy's Building, on Washington Street, near the head of State Street. Nov. 5, 1639, the Boston post-office was virtually instituted, the court having fixed upon the house of Richard Fairbanks as the place to which all letters from beyond the seas should be sent for deliver}-. Soon after the election in 1640, the people gave Mr. orable " first occurs in their records in 1770. They were disbanded in the Revolution, but revived in 1789. MASSACHUSETTS. Winthrop a substantial proof of their good-will, £500 being contributed to relieve his financial embarrassments. A " great training " was held in Boston in 1642, which lasted two dajs. The number of men who appeared under arms is put down at 1,200. The number of lookers-on were, of course, a great multitude ; yet it is affirmed that none were drunk, none swore, and there was no fighting ; and the general remark is made b}- another writer, that " Profane swearing, drunkenness, and beggars are but rare in the compass of this patent." The civil war, which prevailed in England in 1643, embarrassed manufacturing interests, and the supplies of the Colonies ran low. So Boston and other towns " fell to a manufacture of cotton, whereof thej- had store from Barbadoes, and hemp and flax." Thus was stimulated an earlj^ beginning of an essential interest. The court, in passing a law giving a more definite form to its public schools, give as a reason for general public education, that the stronghold of Satan consisted in men's ignorance; and that, for this reason, all means possible should be adopted to spoil this specialtj- of "the old Deluder." The first execution for witchcraft which took place in the Colon)', occurred at Boston in June, 1648.* The unfortunate woman was hanged, and the record solemnl)- adds, that, " the same daj- and hour she was executed, there was a very great tempest at Connecticut, which blew down many trees." Until the year 1648, there had been but one " meeting- house." A move was now made for a second. Its foundation was laid the next year, at the head of what is now North Square. The first sermon was preached on the 5lh of June, 1650. Samuel Mather, a son of Rev. Richard Mather of Dorchester, was its first pastor. It was called the " jMather Church," as its hi-^tory inti- mately connects with that most remarkable familj'. This second church became known as the North Church, and, in time, as the Old Norih. On the 26th of March, 1649, Boston was in mourning and the whole Colony sharing in its sorrow. Gov. Winthrop died on that day at ten o'clock, in the 62d year of his age. f The year 1652 was remarkable in the history of Suffolk "■ The person suffering hy this commencement of the furor of later years against witches, was a female by the name of Margaret, ^^-ifc of one Jones. t John AVinthrop was bom in Groton, Eng., Jan. 12, 1588. In his personal appearance, Mr. AVinthrop is supposed to have been erect; rather spare in flesh, though muscular; somewhat long- favored, or of a I'onntinance regularly oral ; blue eyes and dark hair, and about six feet in height. There are two ancient portraits of Winthrop ; one is still to be seen in the Capitol of the Commonwealth, and the other in the hall of the Antiquarian Society at Worcester. County for the commencement of the coinage of money. The paper-money question had been under discussion for some time, and the people concluded that thej^ did not want more, but less, of it. The)' declared that this kind of cuurency " was very subject to be lost, rent or coun- terfeited, and other inconveniences." So an ingenious silversmith of Boston, John Hull, entered into a contract with the authorities to make their hard money. J Another death occurred in the Colony which caused a general sorrow scarcely less than that caused b)' the departure of Mr. Winthrop. The Rev. John Cotton died Dec. 23, 1652. He was in his sixtj'-eighth year. The historian Hubbard, as quoted b)- Drake, elo- quentl}-, and no doubt truthfully, says of him: "He was a famous light in his generation, a glory to both Englands ; one in whom was so much of what is desira- ble in a man, as the consciences of all that knew him appealed unto, is rarely to be seen in any one conversant upon earth." In Jul)' of 1654, the thirty-first day, Mr. Dudley died, and thus another breach was made in the ranks of the founders of Boston. He was in the seventy-seventh j'ear of his age. His prominence for a long time in the Colony as governor, deputy-governor, and in the management of all its chief interests, cause school, and to erect a convenient house for the master. From this time, the cause of education steadily pros- pered. "Master Cheever" deserves special notice as one of the early teachers of Suffolk County. He came to Boston in 1637, and wont to New Haven, where he was an instructor of youth for twelve years. In 1650, he removed to Ipswich, where he taught eleven years. His next residence was in Chnrlestown, continuing nine j'ears. He then went to Boston, and became master of the Latin School, in which position he remained until his death, in 1708, aged 93. Many of his pupils became the great men of their generation. Mr. Symmes having been the only pastor for eight years, the church chose, in 1659, the Rev. Thomas Shep- ard as teacher. He was the son of an eminent minister of Cambridge, and was educated at Harvard College. He proved himself a good and great man, and, though he did not rise above the intolerance of the age in which he lived, was too kind-hearted to insist upon extreme measures towards assumed heretics. Charlestown had a famous contention with the Baptist "heresy," which commenced about four 3'ear3 before Mr. Shopard's settlement. It began in 1655, in the refusal of a member of the church, by the name of Gould, to offer his infant child in baptism, and resulted in the organization of a Baptist church, May 28, 1665 — the first church of that denomination in Charlestown. After having suffered much vexatious treatment at the hands of the authorities, this society at length, about 1675, re- moved to Boston. In 1675, Mr. Shepard, who had been sole pastor since Mr. Symmes's death, which, after a pastorate of nearly thirty j-ears, occurred in 1671, was given a colleague in the Rev. Joseph Browne. About two years later, Mr. Shepard visited one of his flock who was sick with the small-pox, caught the disorder, and died. He was in the meridian of life, being onl}' 43 years of age, and in the midst of useful labors. " The whole country was filled with lamentation on his decease." President Oakes of Harvard College wrote : " Next to the tears our sins do need and crave, I would bestow my tears on Shepard's grave." His daughter Anna married Daniel Quincj', and their son John was the person after whom John Quincy Adams was named. She was his maternal ancestor. Rev. Thomas Shepard, son of the former pastor, was settled over this church in 1G81, preaching his own ordination sermon. He has passed into history as a wonderful man in gifts, attainments and piety. His ministry, though brilliant, was brief. He died June 7, 1685, four j-ears after his settlement, at a very early age. His successor, the Rev. Charles Morton, a man of emi- nence, was settled in 1686. A few of Charlestown's prominent citizens, who held high offices under the crown, opposed the return to popular government after the overthrow of Andros, with- out express sanction from England. Among those was Capt. Lawrence Hammond, a man of ability, and highly honored. His protests, in connection with others of lilcc spirit, against the popular movement, were so strong that they were considered seditious, and they suffered imprisonment, by confinement to their houses. However, the new home rule, under the Prince of Orange, soon gave its sanction to tho return of the people to their former liberties, and then Hammond and his friends fell into the established order, and quiet ensued. Charlestown had one especially memorable case of witchcraft, that of Jlrs. Nathaniel Csxry. Her husband was at the head of tho board of selectmen, and later a representative. The family was one of the most respected in town. Mrs. Cary fell under the accusations of the "poor afflicted" girls of Salem. The court would no doubt have hanged her, but she made a timely escape to Rhode Island, and from thence to New York. Her husband suffered a brief imprisonment at Salem, and seizure of goods on her account. The first almshouse of the town was built in 1728, and HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. was located in the Square. In 1734, a new court-house was built, which was also placed npon the Square.' In 1 754, the old town house was repaired, and opened for a school." •'spinnm. The historj- of Bunker Hill Monu- ment, though one of general interest, yet has claims to a local sketch. The I first placed on the hill was erected by i the King Solomon's ! Lodge of Charles- town, and was dedi- ! cated with appro- : priate ceremonies, Dec. 2, ] 794. This monument stood a j few rods west of ! the present monu- ment. It was a Tuscan pillar built of wood, 18 feet liigh, raised on a I brick pedestal eight feet square, and ris- ing ten feet from the ground, and cost about one thousand dollars. The Bun- ker Hill Monument , Association was ni- corporated June 7, 182.3. Their pui- pose was — '■ Tht erection of an en- during monument to the memory of those statesmen and soldiers who led the way in the Amer- ican Revolution ' The corner-stone of BCTJkrii im the present monument ■ms hid June 17 ls_' ) IIil ■oratory of Dan'el Webstei, who ga\e the addiess the in-esence of Gen. Lafayette, the nation's guest, the im- posing ceremonies, and the immense multitude which » The monnment was designed liy Solomon Willard. Its entire cost was $156,000. It is 30 feet in diameter at the base, about IS feet at the top of tlie truncated pait, and 221 feet in height. The cap-stone is a attended, made the occasion one of historic interest. The enterprise met with manj' obstacles. It was sus- pended until the spring of 1827, when the work com- menced and con- tinued to Januaiy, 1829, caiTj-ing the pillar about 37 feet in height. The en- terprise was then delayed until June 1834, when the work again started, and the monument was raised to the height of 82 feet. It was again de- layed for want of funds. The ladies then came to the rescue, and raised, by means of a fair, over $30,000 ; and .1 udah Touro and Amos Lawrence do- nated each $10,000. The work was re- commenced Ma}- 2, 1841, and the last stone was raised July 23, 1842. On the 17th of June, 1843, its comple- tion was celebrated bj a grand proces- sion, and an elo- quent oration from the same eminent oi itor, Daniel Web- ster, whose glow- ing and patriotic utterances at the n ing of the corner stone in 1823 had become historic. * Chiikstown wis annexed to Boston in October, 1873. Dorchester — Ihe " Mai> und John," which left England the 20th of March, 1()30, arrived in the Bay after a stormy passage of 70 days. Her ship's corn- single stone, i feet square at the base, and 3 feet 6 inches in height, weigh- ing 2i tons. Within the shaft is a hollow cone, with a curcular stairway winding round it to the summit, which enters a circular chamber at the top. MASSACHUSETTS. panj-,* numbering 140 persons, arrived at Nantasket Point, Hull, May SOtli. After some delaj-, and greatl^' to tlieir grief and scandal, they were obliged to effect a landing on the Sabbath daj-. Subsequentlj', an exploring company, having exam- ined the Mattapan region, now known as Dorchester, were impressed that it afforded good pasturage for their cattle, cspeciallj' that portion near and on the neck. The whole company' immediatcjly removed with their cattle to this place, selecting a spot on the main land near the south side of what is now South Boston, long known as Dorchester Neck. They began at once to put up tents and huts, keeping close together, as they had been instructed to do before leaving England. This precaution was, no doubt, prompted by a fear of Indian attacks. For the same reason, thej- built a fort near the shore. But the Indians proved friendl}-. The first summer was one of great toil. Having had no time to plant and gather, the winter was one of cold, hunger and sickness. Tlic}^ fasted and prated, and when relief came, b3' the arrival of provisions from England, they turned their fastings into praise. They planted and gathered a fair harvest in 1C31, besides improving their houses, and making preparations for greater winter comfort. The arrival of several ships during the 3-ear increased their numbers, thus adding to their strength and courage. In 1G35, Eichard Mather and a company of "godly people " landed in Boston, and soon after removed to Dorchester. This Jlr. IMather was the ancestor of the eminent ministers of the name, who have so large a place in the history of the county, as well, as of the Colonj' at large. On the coming of the Mather compan}' to Dorchester, one of its pastors, Jlr. AVareham, and about half of the church, removed to Windsor, in Con- necticut, " to make room for them." The church which remained, had Mr. Maverick and Mr. Mather as religious instructors, and worshipped in a humble meeting-house, erected the second summer of their arrival. This was located on Allen's Plain, near the corner of what is now Pleasant and Cottage streets, and was the first erected in the BaJ^ As fears were at the time entertained of attacks by the Indians, it was surrounded by a palisade, stored with munitions of war, and a guard set over it at night. This building answered its double purpose of fort and place for religious service for fifteen years. As earl}' as 1733, a bridge was built over Neponset • Previous to their departiu-c from Dorchester, Ens., they chose the Rev. Mr. M.avcrlck, and the Rev. Jlr. Wareliam, both ministers of the Episcopal Church, to be their religious teachers. River, a mill set up, and a fish-weir erected. Fish- ing was one of the specialties of the town in its early days. It was during this year that an order was adopted establishing the form of town government, the first iu the country. This led to the law of the General Court, passed in 1G36, and which is still in force. The next step in the way of public improvement was a cartway to' the mill. An arrangement was made, about the same time, for " a decent burving-place." The town was caused great sorrow by the death of one of its pastors, Mr. Slaverick, during the winter following the arrival. He left a good record as a minister and citizen. There is an early record of Dorchester's interest in common schools. It was voted, in 1609, to levy a tax for the maintenance of a school. It is believed that this was the first public provision ever made for a free school by a direct tax on the inhabitants of a town. The church, after the removal of both "Wareham and Maverick, seems to have had some difllculty in securing an associate in the pastorate for Mr. Mather. The Rev. Jonathan Burr, with his wife and three children, had arrived in town from England in 1G39, and imme- diatelj' united with the church. He preached to the general acceptance of the people, and was settled ; dying, however, in a little over a year, at the age of 37. No stone marks the place of his burial. The inhabitants, during these earlier years, were, naturally, to a greater or less extent, subject to alarms and panics on account of the Indians. In the 3'ear 1G45, a new meeting-house was built. It seems that a pressui-e was brought to bear upon the town in reference to this enterprise, for the town voted, earl}- in the year, that "for peace and love's sake there shall be a new meeting-house built." In 1G49, a coadjutor of Mr. Mather was found in the person of the Rev. John AVilson, Jr., the son of his friend. Rev. John Wilson, first pastor of the Boston church. Young Wilson, however, remained in Dor- chester only two years, and then removed to Mcdfield, where he preached 40 years. Mr. Mather's salary, in IG.'JO, was £100, a liberal compensation for those days. This sum was continued for many years. His parish, also, assisted in the support of the president and professors of Harvard College. In 1G62, Milton (Unquety) was incorporated as a township, having to this time been a part of Dorchester. In 1GG3, Mr. Mather's salary was made £95, ar.d he was relieved of a part of his duties by an assistant, Sir. Stoughton. In 1665 a pressing invitation was extended to Mr. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Stoughtou to accept of a formal settlement as their junior pastor. This he modestly- declined without giving specific reasons for so doing. Six times was this invi- tation extended, through several years, but as often de- clined, though he consented to assist Mather by preach- ing, as before. He was esteemed as an eloquent and learned divine, and his praise was in all the churches. i But he was evidently, even at this time, being driven towards the more secular calling to which the most of his life was devoted. In 1G7G he wont to England as one of the agents of the Colony to settle s..me land claim, which had been made against it. He rose to the position of lieutenant-governor, and then of governor of the Province of Massachusetts. But it was perhaps as chief justice of its Supreme Court tl'it he secured a great, and, in one respect, a sad renown. He presiik d at the court in Salem in 1()0>, which tried and condemned the unfortunate persoub ac- cused of witchcraft. His honest convictions of their guilt, and the justice ot then execution, were intense at the time, and never subse- quently modified. He u- tired from the bench vith disgust, when he heaid of the reprieve of some ol the condemned. He died the 7th of July, 1701, in the 71st year of mk.-tixo-hoi-si; i his age. He was never married. He was quite wealthy, and left bequests to tlie churches of Dorchester and Mil- ton, and to the poor also of each of those towns. He gave UberaUy while living to the cause of education, and left a large sum for Harvard College at his death.* In 16G9 Richard Mather, the eminent early pastor of Dorchester, died. He had ministered to the people in spiritual things for 34 years. He taught school before entering college, and graduating at Oxford, was ordained a minister of the Episcopal Church, and preached his first sermon when 22 years of age. He soon became known as one accepting opinions of non-conformity. This endangered the consummation of an intended mar- riage, for his lady's father did not like " non-con fonn- • Ilis house was at the north-east comer of the streets now known as Pleasant Street and Savin Hill Avenue. t The successors of Mr. Mather, until a quite recent date, have been as follows : — Ilcv. Josiah Flint, ordained 1670; died 1680; Kev. John Danforth, sole minister of the town for 47 years; Rev. Jonathan able Puritans." But he did mam- the daughter, and she proved an eminently good wife and mother. They had six sons. Four of them became distinguished min- isters ; two, Eleazer and Increase, the onlj- children born in America, were settled, the former in Northampton, and the last named in Boston. Their father came to the New World under the pressure brought to bear upon all known as non-confonnists. He stole away to escape arrest and imprisonment. He married for a second wife the widow of his friend John Cotton. Mr. Mather's death was sudden. While attending a ministerial coun- cil in Boston, April 16, 1CG9, he was taken sick, and returning home, expired a few days after. f The first meeting-house was built on Meeting-House Hill a 'spot no'v associated with so much of historic intdcst. A new house dis- placed the first one in 1G74, b( ing dedicated onl^' four da\s before the death of Ml Danforth, who had min- Kttred in the old house 31 \cai3. In 1G93, pews were Imilt around the meeting- house, "except where the l)o\i did sit." The privi- k ^L of building a pew in the church was granted only ' to meet persons." The thud edifice on this spot was built in 1741, and borned in 1 744 . The fourth house was completed two years later. The belfry of this church was used during the siege of Boston at the oiiening of the Revolution, as a signal station. From it was waved the joyful news of the de- parture from the town of the British troops. The meet- ing-house being a conspicuous target, the British levelled at it their cannon, piercing it in several places, one ball passing through the belfry. This church was torn down in 1803. The present edifice was completed in June, 1804. The next year town meetings ceased to be held in the church, and a town house was imme- diately built. In 1698 the serious young men of the town formed an association for religious purposes. This society had an existence for 150 years. } Bowman, pastor for nearly U years ; Rev. Moses Everett, pastor for 18 years ; and Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris, whose pastorate continued 43 years. X A part of their valuable library is in the keeping of the Dorchester Historical Society. n.L, DORCHESTER. MASSACHUSETTS. Ill 1798 the town erected a brick school-house on Meeting-house Hill. Until 1805 Dorchester had but one church. But the town had now increased considerably in population, and, under the ministry of Mr. Harris, there was a great want of room for the worshippers. A move for a new house was now made. A site was purchased at the corner of "Washington and Centre streets. The building was begun at once, and dedicated Oct. 30, 180G. The church was formed Jan. 1, 1808. The Rev. John Codman of Boston was chosen pastor, and was ordained Dec. 7, 1S08. Mr. Codman was a man of decided ability and scholarly attainments, and of a wealthy and influential fomily. His ministry commenced under the most flat- tering auspices. But elements of division were abroad in the churches, and they found their expression in the Second Church of Dorchester. An influential part of the society sold their pews, and built a meeting-house in the south end of the town, known as Dorchester Lower Mills. It was dedicated Oct C. 181.3. The first pastor was the Rev. Edward Richmond The parish built a new house, of fine architectural propor- tions, in 1840, and dedicated it in October of the same year. The great gale of Sep- tember, 1815, so injured the old meeting-house of the First Parish, that a new one was built. It was dedicated in December, 181 G, and is the present edifice, which is well known for its fine proportions and beaut}- of situation. Dorchester was annc.ved to Boston, Jan. 3, 1870. RoxBURY.* — A narrow neck of land originall}' con- nected Roxbur}' with Boston. It was a mile long, and covered with trees. In its narrowest part, it was, in the da3"S of the first settlers, often overflowed hy the high tides. It was early improved by pavements and a dike. The general physical features of Roxbuiy are a good t^-jDO of those which characterize New England. It is uneven and rocky ; its prevalent stone is conglomerate, and in some places affords good quaixies for building * So called, probably, from tlic fact of its m.any rocks. It was an- nexed to Boston, Jan. 6, ISfiS. t In 1G42 Mr. Sannicl Hayhurnc made provisions in his will for the appropriation of a certain part of the yearly income from his property, to tlio good canse. This was followed by an engagement by some 60 of the inhabitants, to pay certain sums yearly for the support of a free school. Ill 1G4(; they pledged their houses, liariis, orchards, and home- purposes. The carlj- chroniclers were favorably im- pressed with Roxbury. Wood, in his " New England Prospect," says of it in 1G34, "It is a fair and hand- some country town, the inhabitants of it being all very rich." •Roxbury was settled in IGoO. The settlers were mostl}' from London, a few coming from the west of England. They were a thrift}' class of people, many of them farmers, and " none of the poorer sort." Their moral tone, as the town appeared to an early eye-wit- ness, must have been excellent, for he writes: "One might dwell there from year to year and not see a drunk- ard, hear an oath, or meet a beggar." The first year was one of suffering, the cold being intense and fuel scarce. But few additions were made in 1G31. Tlie following year many came, and tiie year 1G,j3, being a time of abundance, emigrants came — in gi cat numbers. The First Church was gathered in July, 1(32, Thomas Welde being Iho pastor. John Eliot, the ipostle to the Indians, was chosen teacher in the No- vember following. A meet- ing-house was soon built. It stood where the house in which Di Putnam so long preached now stands, a very humble edifice ; it bad at first neither shingles without, nor pews or gidleries within. Samuel Dan- forth was settled as an assistant to Mr. Eliot, in 1643, Mr. Welde hr.ving returned to England. Roxbury, in common with the other towns of the Colony, gave early and generous attention to the estab- lishment of free schools, f Most fortunately for the schools of Roxbury, and of the Colony generally, Eliot was a wise and zealous pro- moter of their interests. The school at Jamaica Plain which bears his name, was founded by him, and he left in his will a valuable estate for its perpetual support. The first name connected with the early teachers of the " Free School in Roxburic " is that of " Father Stone " (1G48). Ward Chipman, a teacher in 1770, was subse- quently an eminent Canadian jurist. Among other in- steads, to the same objects. Twenty pounds per annum was voted as the salary of a teacher. The property given to the school from time to time, was, in 1789, put into the ch.-irgc of an incoi-poration, called, "The trustees of the Gnimmar School in the easterly part of the town of Ro.x- bury." The early teachers were at, times p:iid in corn. The town in 16C3 set apart ten acres of hind from whidi their schoolm.aster might cut timber and wood " for his own use but not to sell." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. structors of this school Tvho became eminent are Gen. Joseph "Warren, Gov. Increase Sumner, Judge William Gushing and Bishop Samuel Parker. In 1790 there were five schools, well located in vari- ous parts of the town, and having an aggregate of 225 scholars. A new departure was taken in 181G in the text-books used. Previous to this the teachers used " such books as they liked," but now thej- were ordered bj- the committee. '1 he meeting-house of the Second Parish stood on Centre Street, near South.* ■ The present church was built in 1773. It was enlarged and beautified a few years ago. The late eminent Theodore Parker's earl}- ministry was in this house. The first meeting-houso of the Third or Jamaica Plain Parish Church, was dedicated in December, 1769. It stood on land given the town bj' Eliot. The present handsome clmrch, on the corner of Centre and Eliot streets, occupies the site of the first. The earliest pas- tor of the Third Church was Rev. AVilliam Gordon, who was installed in Jul}', 1772. At the corner of Washington and Eiistis streets is the first burial-gi-ound of Roxbury. The first interment was in 1G33. Hero the apostle Eliot, the Dudleys and War- rens were buried. A brief biographical notice of John Eliot, so con- spicuous in the car]y historj' of New England, belongs especially to the histor}- of Roxbury. He was born in Nosing, Essex, Eng., in 1G04, and was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge. He arrived in Boston, as we have noted, in November, 1G31, being but 27 j-ears of age. Here, in the absence of the pastor, Mr. Wilson, — on a visit to England, — he officiated for a short time. He was earnestly entreated to continue in this church as teacher, but declined the offer. He had promised some friends in England, that if the}- should remove to New England, he would be their pastor. They came the year after his arrival and settled in Roxbur}- ; and, immediately forming a church, they called Jlr. Eliot to be their minister, and he continued as pastor of that church nearly GO years. Eliot is speeiallj' known iu history for his devoted, wise and successful labors for the Indians. The year after his arrival in Boston he was man-ied to an earnestlj- pious 3"oung lady, to whom he had been some time betrothed, and who came to the country by appointment for that purpose. Eliot was an active promoter of the interests of com- * The first house of this society stood ( the south tlic old burial-ground, t .\nnexcd to Boston Jan. 5, 1S74. 1 "Walter Street, adjoinini; 0:1 men schools. At the Synod which met in Boston, he praj-ed that God would cause them to be established everywhere. He urged bis brethren of the ministerial council to encourage a good school in cverj- town. West Roxbury. f — West Roxbury was earh' known as Jamaica End and Spring Street. Within it lie Jamaica Plain and Pond, bordering on Brookline. Canterbury to the southj adjoining Dorchester, includes the two beau- tiful cemeteries of Forest Hills and Mount Hope. In the central part are the attractive settlements of Roslin- dale and Clarendon Hills. In the western portion are AVcst Roxbury Village and Spring Street. The highest elevation in Roxbury, known as Muddy Pond Hill, has lately taken the name of Bellevue. The citj' of Boston has placed on its summit an obscrvatorj', commanding an extensive view. AVest Roxbury was incorporated as a separate munici- pality in 18.51. The Bussej- Farm, a large tract hing between South and Centre streets, is a valuable propertj- belonging to Harvard Univcrsitj'. Benjamin Basse\', at his dea:h in 1842, donated it to the university for the establishment of a seminary " for instruction in practical agriculture, useful and ornamental gardening, botanj" and such other 'branches of natural science as ma}- tend to promote a knowledge of practical agriculture." The Bussey Insti- tute went into operation in 1871. It is built of Roxbury stone, with sandstone trimmings, and in the modern Gothic style. In the west part of the town lies Broolj Farm, famous for an unsuccessful experiment to form thereon a social- ist community. It was established in 1841, by the Rev. George Ripley, and conducted for a season by such literary gentlemen as Charles A. Dana, George William Curtis, Nathaniel Hawthorne and others. Forest Hills.X — The cemeteries in the suburbs of Boston are declared by those who have enjoyed ample opportunity for comparison as being, collectively, the most picturesque and beautiful resting-places cf the dead to which any city in this country can lay claim. The most attractive of all these, as well as the most artistic- ally embellished, is Forest Hills. The first impression one gains of the place is from the road which sweeps up through lawns and shrubbery to the main entrance, which, with its Gothic architecture clad in w-oodbine, is almost mediieval in its aspect. Ever}-wherc that im- provements have been made, the idea has been to set off the rugged beauty of the place, not to obscure it in a + Consecrated June 2S, 1S4S. Its origin.tl area w.ns 104 acres. Its present area is 22G acres. This sketch of Forest Hills is condensed from the " Boston Herald " of a recent date. — Ed. MASSACHUSETTS. mass of embellishinents. On the left, as one passes up the main avenue, is the new receiving tomb, built of granite, with massive Gothic arches and tessellated floor. Grouped about are tropical plants, the dark green palms contrasting finely with the gray walls of the edifice. In front is a new fountain of simple yet artistic workman- ship. As the visitor ascends Consecration Hill his ej'e rests upon tlie monument of the Rice famil}-. Passing down Warren Avenue, near the grave of the hero of Bunker Hill, one comes to the bell-tower. On Roelc IMaple Avenue, is a new monument, erected by Curtis Guild of the " Commercial Bulletin." It is surmounted by an angel with uplifted hands, which is much bcj-ond the average mortuarj' statues in pose and treatment. Close b^', too, is a monument similar in appearance, recently erected by C. R. Ransom, Esq., entitled "Resignation." At the head of Lake Hibiscus is the " Rocker^-," con- taining a grotto, and planted with various vines and flowering plants. Little fountains spring up in unex- pected places, and a summer-house at the top, shrouded in trees, affords a grateful resting-place. On the south side of Lake Hibiscus is a bed, triangular in shape, con- taining 20,000 plants, principally geraniums, " mountain snow " and sweet alyssum. The south side of the ceme- tery possesses many fine monuments. Here is Commo- dore VVinslow's tomb, marked by a massive bowlder, which was brought from Jit. Kearsarge, and which is now clad in Japanese woodbine. A novelty in monumental art in this portion of the cemetery is a zinc shaft, erected bj' Rev. George Gan- nett, D. D., principal of the Gannett school in this city. Near L3' is a fine monument of Scotch granite, ordered by the Japanese government and placed over the grave of a student from Japan, wh > came to this country only to die. On Cjpress Avenue a monument has been erected to the memory of the noted physician, Edward H. Clark, M. D., bearing the appropriate text, "Be- cause I live 3"e shall live also." Near by, on the lower portion of Smilax Path, repose tlie remains of the great liberator, William Lloyd Garrison. Here, too, is the soldiers' lot, with Milmore's fine statue of " The Soldier at Rest." Passing back by the lake, the visitor ap- proaches the tomb built by Maj. Chadwick. It is of white marble, and ivas erected at an expense of §40,000. * Incorporated as .1 town in 1807, and annexed to Boston, Jan. 5, 1S74. t At the head of his regiment, of Middlesex, he was at the battle of Bunker Hill on the 17th of June, 1775. On the third attaelc of the Brit- ish forces, he advanced towards the rcdoulit, and on the way was struck by a ball which inflicted a mortal wound. Ho was borac to his home across the river, and died on the 3d of July. Washington had Uikcn command of the army at Cambridgo on the day previous to the death Close by. Judge Thomas, who stood so grandly against the rebellious South, is now buried. Other notable monuments in this vicinitj-, recently erected, are those of S. S. Rogers, John S. Sleeper and Moses Day. The Mount Hope Cemetery', consecrated June 24, 1857, lies a little south of Forest Hills, partly in Dor- chester. It contains over 100 acres. It has a fine nat- ural location, and has been highly embellished by art. The Jamaica Plain division of West Roxbury has for many jears been a favorite summer residence of Boston people. Here are elegant country-seats and beautiful cottages. It is surrounded bj' sloping hills, forming a basin sheltered from the east winds. Its springs and brooks and lakes give it a picturesque appearance. Until a quite recent time its well-to-do farmers culti^■ated its rich soil, making it a market-garden for the metropo- lis. Originally called " Pond Plain," it received its present designation in 1GG7. Jamaica Pond, covering IGO acres, is, in some places, GO feet deep. BniGHTON.* — Among the early settlers of South Cam- bridge were those of the Champney, Dana and Spar- i hawk familes. Elder Richard Champney, of an old, dis- tinguished English family, came from Lincolnshire to Cambridge in 1G34-5. Ho purchased land on the soutli side of the river in 1G47, and his residence henceforth connected with what is now Brighton. He bequeathed 40 acres of land on the south side of the river to Har- vard College "as an expression of his willingness to further the education of youth in all godly literature." His death occurred in 1GG9. Richard Dana settled in what is now Brighton in 1G40, and died in 1G90, from the effects of a fall from the scaflfold of his barn. He had a large estate bordering on the entire western side of Mar- ket Street, this street being laid out wholly through his estate in 1G5G. He was the progenitor of the Dana family, which has had on its family records more eminent names than any New England familj', excepting peihaps the Quincys. Richard Henry Dana, lately deceased at the great age of 91, one of the patriarchs of American literature, was a descendant from Richard. Another eminent name, that of Col. Thomas Gardner, is connected with South Cambridge. His estate, at the time of the war of the Revolution, was embraced in the now town of Brighton, and from his residence there, he went out to die for his country. f of Gardner, and among his first orders was the following: "July 4, 1770. Col. Gardner is to bo Ijuried to-morrow, at three o'clock, p. m., with the military honors due to so brave and gallant an offlccr, who fought, bled and died in the cause of his country and mankind. His own regiment, except the company at Maiden, to attend on this mourn- ful occasion. The place of these companies in the line of Prospect Hill to 1)0 supplied by Col. Glover's regiment, until the funeral is over." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Col. Gardner had been for some j-ears elected bj- his townsmen a member of the General Assembly ; he had also been chosen a member of tho Provincial Congress. By his carl3- death the cause of independence lost one of its ablest and truest friends. A church was organized on tlie Brighton side of Charles Eiver in 1730, and was the third in its founding of the three original precinct churches of the town of Cambridge. The Evergreen Cemetery, a beautiful ground, was opened in 18.jO. The address of consecration was de- livered by Rev. Frederick A. Whitney. It is contem- plated that a chapel may be erected within the enclosure. Brighton has a beautiful ^^^ public librar3' building, erect- -=^^ ^^^^ '^^ cd at a cost of nearly §70,000, and a monument of Quincy granite to the memory of the soldiers killed in the late war. By the bequest of Jlr. Jas. Ilolton, of an ancient family of the town, who died in 1SG3, the foundation was laid for a free public library. This Ilol- ton Librar_v is now the Brigli- ton branch of the Boston Pu' lie Library. Brighton has seven reliL;- ious societies, and excelkii graded seliools. This place has long been celebrated for its cattle-fair, which was commenced during the War of Independence.* South Boston. — Boston Neck (Mattapannock) seems to have been used until 1637, as the common pasture gromid for all the citizens owning cattle. After this time this privilege was granted to a limited number of per- sons who probably purchased it j'carly. The Neck was at times an island when the tides were high, connecting with the settlement on the main land "by a narrow cause- way. In 1 642 the lots sold on the Neck by tho town began to be enclosed, thus contracting the general pas- * The following statements concerning its recent business are taken from Nason's " Gazetteer of Massachusetts " : — "It is stated that the freight money upon the cattle transported from tho West and received at the Brighton station, amounts to the Uirge sum of about $2,000,000 in a single year, the Boston and AUiany Railroad accounting to the other roads between Boston and Chicago for their pro rata share of the amount received. "The sum of $400,000 has already been invested in the Abattoir, or the new Union Slaughtering Establishment of the Brighton butchers. tare land ; and thus began the development of highways and more pri\ate streets which changed Mattapannock from a mere pasturage to a town. As the town books, previous to 1770, were destroyed by fire, it is not certainly known by whom, nor when, the first house was built. It is believed, however, that it was erected by Deacon James Blake in 1660. In 1776 there were only nine dwelling-houses and eleven families at South Boston. Among the early houses were several constituting "The Village," near the present site of Hawcs Place Church. Not far from the present location of Hawes Burying-Ground, stood the house of a Mr. Harrington, whose descendants are well known in South _^^ Boston at the present time. B^ ^^7 - ^B^ Neai-ly opposite of tho last- ~ ~^ = ^^^^r named house, stood Deacon " Bhkc's, the first one built. ^ One of the earliest of the eminent men of South Boston was John Foster. He was a giaduate of Harvard College, md "the ingenious mathema- t I un and printer," who had ii tamed, at the eavh- age of it which he died, consid- ilile distinction in the Colon}'. Another of the noted men of the early days was James Blake. He was the son of Dca. Blake, tho first settler. At his father's death, in 1732, ho bought out the rights of the other heirs, and became sole possessor of the old home- stead. Ho held the offices of treasurer, selectman and assessor for 25 j-ears, and that of town clerk for 24 3-ears. He was eminent as a survej'or, and his labors in this direction were extensive and gave excellent satisfaction. His " Annals of Dorchester" are aminutc history of the town for 120 years. He died in 1750, in the sixty-third jear of his age. The history of South Boston for more than a half centurv after Mr. Blake's annals close, i". verv Httle t establishment iifTords facilities for all the slaughtering in the of Bictou, and also for transmuting the refuse into valuable L^ TITl-TIOX rOR THE BLIND, SOt'TH The AVinship brothers, Jonathan and Frftncit the present century, large nurseries and flmal g; and later, J.imcs Lee, L. F. Warren, William I fullowcd in the same line of business, s > lli e3t.ablished, early in rdens. Joseph Brecl;, . Strong, and others, t the tree and floral culture has, next to that of the cattlc-marUet Inisincss, distinguished the to^vn. MASSACHUSETTS. 271 known. The part that the " Heights " called Dorchester Heights played in the commencement of the war of the Revolution, is well known. Here Washington made fortifications, and commanded Boston, which lay under his guns, and its approaches bj' water. In 1804, at the time of its annexation to Boston, the Neck contained but ten families. During the following year, the Dover Street, or South Bridge was completed, at a cost to its proprietors of fifty-six thousand dollars. But this bridge, though an immense improvement over the old boat communication with Boston, or the long travel to it over the causeway through Dorchester and over the Eoxbur}' Neck, was far from satisfying the South Boston people. After a long and heated contro- versj', and much delaj-, the free bridge from the foot of Federal Street to South Boston, was completed This ! marked an era in the historj- of South Boston, and from ; this time its development connects with that of the city proper. East Boston was early known as Noddle's Island. When the ships "Mary and John" and the " Arbella" sailed into the waters at the head of Massachusetts Bay, thej' found on this island a lone dweller by the name of the Eev. Samuel Maverick, an Episcopal minister, and a son of the Rev. John Maverick of Dorchester. The new-comers found this solitary occupant of the Island kind and courteous, and read}' alwajs to give them hos- pitable entertainment. Mr. Maverick seems, from the first, to have been regarded as a man of importance. Though a firm adherent of the Church of England, he became a freeman in 1632, and was subsequentlj' re- puted to have been one of the solid men of Boston. The jurisdiction of this island was given to the me- tropolis In 1G36. Later in its history it became, for a long period, the home of the vexed and hunted Quakers and Baptists. It was purchased in 1670 by Col. Samuel Shimpton for £6,000, in whose famil}- it remained for more than I one hundred and sixty years. In 1711, a j-ear memorable for the English expedition I to Canada, the British forces, while preparations were being made for this expedition, were landed, and, for a season, encamped on Noddle's Island. This and other islands in the vicinity, just previous to the Revolution, were the scene of frequent skirmishes, and even sharp conflicts, between small forces of the British and Americans, in which the latter were usually triumphant, each intent upon obtaining jiossession of the hve stock, beeves, hogs and sheep which in those days were allowed frcelj' to roam and graze there. March 25, 1833, the East Boston Companj- was incor- porated. Its object was the improvement of the island. ' The latter, containing some 6G3 acres, was now owned liy, and under the control of, the company.* Public officers of Boston first set foot on Noddle's Island, in their official capacity. May 4, 1833. The first year's operations gave assurance of the effl- cienc}' and final success of the company. In this time they perfected their organization, and streets, squares and lots had been laid out for dwellings, pubhc purposes, mechanical establishments, and wharves ; the East Bos- ton Wharf Compan}' had been incorporated, and had commenced operations ; a ferrj' had been established ; land had been sold on the island to the amount of eighty-six thousand dollars ; the subject of the Eastern Railroad had been broached, and vigorously prosecuted, while a series of imdertakings had been started which would ultimately develop the capabilities and resources of the island. A free bridge was completed in October, 1834. The road which crossed this bridge was imme- diatelj- extended so as to connect with the Salem turn- pike, thus connecting the island with the populous towns east. On the 13th of December, 1856, the Meridian Street Bridge to Chelsea was completed. This costly bridge enterprise was aided by the city, and was of great importance everj' way to the two centres of population and business which it drew nearer together. The Eastern Railroad was another enterprise, stimu- lated b}', if not si)ringing from, the operations of the East Boston Company. The Eastern Railroad Companj' was incorporated in April, 1836. The ground was first broken in Jul}' of the same year, and the cars com- menced running to Salem the 27th of August, 1838. As is well known, it then ran through East Boston, across the ferry to its depot in Boston. On the 18th of July, 1840, the "Britannia" ocean steamer arrived at its wharf in East Boston, — the first of the Cunard line, connecting Liverpool, Halifax and Boston. Three days later, July 21, the "Cunard Festival" was held in a pavilion erected in front of the Maverick House. The solid men and orators of Boston were present, with many notables from abroad, and the occasion was one of great joy. Thus wonderfully did the material interests of East Boston expand from its new era in 1833. Meantime the educational and religious progress of East Boston has kept abreast of its secular welfare. Altogether, it may be safely said that the history of East Boston is one of the moet remarkable of Suffolk County. • The old mansion-house on the Samuel Maverick estate was the only house at this time on the island. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Towns. Chelsea,* as late as 1846, embraced the territorj- now constituting nearlj- all the northern portion of Suffolk County. This locality was known to the first settlers about the bay as Rumney Marsh, and the Indian name, Winnisimmet. In 1G34, it was made a part of Boston. In 1635-6, the land was divided and allotted to citizens of Boston. Among those having land as- signed them at an early period, were John Winthrop, Henry Vane, Richard Bclhngham and Edmund Quincy. The first church was gathered in 1715. The fii-st meet- ing-house must have been built about this time. If so, as it is still standing, it is probalily tlie oldest place of worship iu Suffolk County. It is occupied by the First Church of Chelsea, and, with its modern improvements, which have not been, we judge, very radical, it looks fresh and endur- able. It is located . ^^^ _- at Revere, the old centre of Chelsea, and has contiguous to it, — after the ancient custom, — the burial-ground, where many of the original founders oi" the town were in- terred. Thomas Cheever. son of the historic ' ' Master Cheever," was the first minis- ter of this church. Chelsea contains a town hall costing 825,000, a spa- cious and well-arranged high school building, and thir- teen religious societies. The United States Marine Hospital is located on an elevated site, commanding an extensive land and sea view. It was built in 1827. Powder-Hom Hill is 220 feet above the sea, and on its summit the Highland Park House was erected in 1873. The view from this house of the ocean and the inland cities and towns is very extensive. Chelsea is well sup- plied with Mystic Lake water. Revere, until 1846, was a part of Chelsea. It took the name, at its incorporation at that date, of North Chelsea. This name was officially changed to Revere in 1871. "When the southern part of Chelsea commenced * Incorporated as a town, Jan. 11, 1738; made a city, April 13, 1857. It took its present name oi Clielsea at its incorporation in 1738. its rapid development about forty j-ears ago, under the stimulus of a railroad and steam-fen-y communication wiih Boston, its northern section, or old centre, became relatively' an inconsiderable village. But its advantages as a seashore resort have of late become recognized. Much of its eastern portion is a salt marsh and sandy beach. But west of these low lands, are fine elevations, commanding splendid ocean views. The Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn R. R. runs along the top of its beach to Pine's Point, and has thus opened a section of the town which affords sites for desirable summer residences. Its beach has fine batliing facilities, which attract thousands from the metropolis during the heated season. The East- ern R. R. also runs entirely through the eastern section. There are two church edifices, that of the old First Church, Unitarian, and that of the Congregational, Trinitarian, whose I societ}' was formed n ^^K=^ m the year 1828. Winthrop is a fivorite sea - shore resort. It is situ- ated on a pleasant peninsula, 10 miles north-east of Bos- ton. It has Revere on the north-west, and the water on all other sides. It early attracted the settlers of Boston, for in 1632 they voted that "it shall belong to Boston, and be enjoyed by the inhabitants forever." It is separated from Deer Island by a narrow channel of water, through which the tide at times rushes with great swiftness. The boats of the early fishermen were towed or pulled through this current, and so the peninsula was long known as Pullen Point. In 1G34, Dean Winthrop, son of Gov. Winthrop, was granted by the Court of Assistants, 120 acres of land at Pullen Point. James Bill, who came to the Ponit in 1645, became owner in 1687 of two-thirds of the arable land. It is claimed in the history of Winthrop, lately published, that the residences of these two great land- holders. Dean Winthrop and James Bill, are still in existence as habitable dwellings. That of Winthrop is situated near the junction of the roads leading to Revere and Point Shirley, and is now occupied by Mr. Otis Floyd. The Bill mansion is owned by John Tewksbury, Esq. MASSACHUSETTS. Biographical Notes. — Samuel Sewall, whose name has a prominence in the earl_y history of Boston, was born in England in 1652, and died in 1730. He studied divinity, and preached for a short time. He came into the possession of great wealth by marriage, and entered upon a long and eminent career as a jurist. He was one of the judges in the witchcraft trials of 1692, and was made chief justice in 1718. Thomas Hutchinson, born in Boston in 1711, was the son of Thomas, one of Boston's wealthy and liberal merchants. The son graduated at Harvard in 1727, studied law, and earlj- became a prominent member of the General Court. He was afterwards a judge of pro- bate, councillor, lieutenant-governor, and chief justice, and became governor of Massachusetts in 1769. He commenced the publication of his " History of Blassa- chusetts" in 1764. He died in Brompton, near London, in 1780. Gen. Henry Knox was born in Boston in 1750, of Scotch and Irish Presbyterian parentage. He had a common school education, and was early a bookseller. Military science was a favorite study. He became a member of an artillery company, an officer of the city- grenadier corps, aid to Gen. Ward at the battle of Bunker Hill, commander of artillery in 1775, made brigadier-general Dec. 27, 1776, and was in command of the artillery of the main army during the Revo- lutionary war. Was made major-general in March, 1782, and secretary of war for ten years. He retired late in life to a farm in Thomaston, Me., where he died in 1806. Harrison Gray Otis, a nephew of James Otis, was born in Boston Oct. 8, 1765. Graduating at Harvard, he commenced the practice of law in 1786. He was a member of the legislature in 1796 ; member of Congress, 1797-1801 ; United States district-attorney, 1801 ; presi- dent of the State Senate, 1805-11 ; judge of Court of CommonPleas, 1814-18 ; United States senator, 1817-22 ; major of Boston, 1829-32. He was distinguished as a brilliant orator and able statesman. He died in Boston Oct. 28, 1848. Edward Everett, LL. D., scholar, orator and states- man, son of Oliver Everett, an eminent minister of Boston, was born in Dorchester April 11, 1674. (Har- vard University, 1811.) He was ordained a minister of the Brattle Street Unitarian Church, Boston, in 1814 ; accepted the chair of Greek literature Harvard Univer- sity in 1815 ; visited Europe, studied two years in Uni- versity of Gottingen ; travelled extensively ; returned in 1819, and resumed the duties of his professorship; member of Congress, 1825-35 ; governor of Massachu- setts, 1836-40 ; minister to England, 1841-45 ; president of Harvard University, 1846-49; secretary of state from November, 1852, to March, 1853 ; United States senator from 1853 to the failure of his health in May, 1854. He was regarded as a peerless orator, and his writings are models of elegance of stjde. At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, his great influence was given earnestly to the preservation of the Union. He died in Boston Jan. 15, 1865. John Singleton Copley, painter, was born in Boston July 3, 1737. Like West, he was self-taught, and some of his pieces, executed, as he saj's, " before he had seen any tolerable picture," are thought to be equal, in artistic skill, to his later productions. After acquiring eminence at home bj- his portraits of Samuel Adams, Thomas Hancock, and others, he went to Rome by way of Eng- land, where he arrived in August, 1774. He returned to London in 1775. His historical paintings soon rendered his name famous, and procured for it, in 1783, the honorable addition of R. A. His first painting which attracted special attention was the death of the Earl of Chatham. He died in London Sept. 9, 1813. John Pierce, D. D., Congregational minister, was born in Dorchester July 14, 1773. (Harvard University, 1793 ; tutor, 1796.) On March 15, 1797, he was settled as pastor of the First Congregational Church of Brook- line, of which he remained sole pastor for half a century. Was president for several years of Massachusetts Bible Society. Died in Brookline Aug. 24, 1849. Charles Sumner, orator and statesman, was born in Boston Jan. 6, 1811. (Harvard University, 1830 ; Cam- bridge Law School, 1834.) He lectured to the Cam- bridge Law School, 1835-7, and 1843 ; travelled in Europe, 1837-40 ; in 1851 succeeded Daniel Webster in United States Senate, of which he was continued a member to the day of his death. From March 4, 1861 to 1870, he was chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. He died in Washington, D. C, March 11, 1874. Lucius Manlius Sargent was born in Boston in 1786. He studied law under Samuel Dexter, but early engaged in literarj' pursuits. He received an honorary degree from Harvard University in 1842. His writings in the inter- est of the temperance reform extended over 30 jears. His "Temperance Tales" had an immense sale, and one of them was published in manj- languages. He died in West Roxliury June 2, 1867. Samuel Finley Breese Morse, LL. D., one of the inventors of the electric telegraph, was born in Charles- town April 27, 1791. (Yale College, 1810.) Went to England with Washington Allston in 1811 ; studied HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. painting under Benjamin West ; exhibited his " Dying Hercules" at the Uoyal Academy in 1813, for a plaster model of which, made soon after, he received a gold medal. He returned to America in 1815, and had a successful career as a painter ; he went back to England in 1829, and remained there until 1832. On his passage home in 1832, the idea of a permanent recording tele- graph was suggested to him by his fellow passenger. Dr. Jackson. His invention was patented in 1837. It was further improved in 1840, so that, in 1844, the first electric telegraph in the United States was set up between Baltimore and Washington. In 1867, the principal European powers, assembled in Paris, presented Mi'. Morse with 400,000 francs as a recompense for his invention. He died in 1872. Population of Suffolk County from the census of 1875, . . 364,886 Boston 341,919 Chelsea 20,737 Revere 1,603 Winthrop, 627 Public Schools and School Property of Suffolk County. Schools, 164, Buildings, $7,959,000; Property, $700,800. Cities and Towns. Schools. Buildings. Property. Boston, Cliclsea Revere, Winthrop 151 9 2 2 87,500,000 432,000 15,000 12,000 $685,000 15,000 500 300 Manufactures and Related Occupatu Manufactubes. OCCUPATIOKS. Chelsea, ■Winthrop,. o - 1 Value of 1- Capital good. ^- invested. made. s 2,712 $51,914,414 2,616 49,034,947 92 2,265,267 1 6,000 S 8,200 $116,620,259 112,214,147 4,366,612 6,000 84,500 E .2 Capital ^ •§ invested. I 3,117 $5,702,288 $24,189,597 3,033 I 5,567,013 23,717,357 77 1 126,175 458,640 WORCESTEE COUNTY. BY REV. ELIAS NASON, A. The County of Worcester was taken from parts of Middlesex, Suffolk and Hampshire counties, and incor- porated April 2, 1731. It is the largest county in the State, extending centrally entu-ely through it from north to south, and ha\'ing an area of about 1 ,500 square miles. It is bounded on the north hy New Hampshire, on the east bj' the counties of Middlesex and Norfolk, on the south bj^ Rhode Island and Connecticut, and on the west by the counties of Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin. It has in all 56 towns and two cities, Fitch- Inirg and Worcester, the latter of which is the capital. Its population in 1875 was 210,295, and its total valua- tion $142,592,028. The number of acres of land taxed was 910,106. The surface of the land is undulating, hillj', and broken. The scenery is for the most part varied and pleasing. The mountains are not lofty, but, rounded in form and generally isolated, thej- impart picturesqueness, if not grandeur to the landscapes. The most noticeable of them are Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, having an altitude of 2,480 feet above sea level ; Watatic Moun- tain in Ashburnham, rising to the height of 1,847 feet ; Asnebumsket Hill in Paxton, 1,407 feet; Hawes' Hill i:i Barre, 1.285 feet; Tuft's Hill in New Braintree, 1,179 feet; Hatchett Hill in Southbridge, 1,016 feet, and Muggett Hill in Charlton, 1,012 feet. From these and other eminences the observer may obtain delightful views of lakes and streams, forests and glades, towns, villages and hamlets, and of some of the best cultivated fai-ms in the State. Tlie principal rivers of the county are the Nashua, flowing southerly' and easterly into the Merrimac River ; the Blackstone, flowing southerly into Narraganset Ba}- ; the French and the Quinnebaug flowing into the Thames ; the Quaboag, the Ware, and Miller's River i-unning west- erly into the Connecticut River. These streams, together with their numerous tributaries, furnish a great amount of motive-power which is used for propelling the machin- ery of a large number of manufactories situated in the valleys through which they flow. The lakes with which MASSACHUSETTS. the county abounds are now generally made to serve as reservoirs for holding back the water-flow until the time of need. The largest lakes are in Worcester, Webster, Leominster and Brookfield. The soil of the county, generally a mixture of loam with clay, or sand or gravel, is, for the most part, strong and moist, and well adapted to the growth of fruit and forest trees, the cereals and culinarj' vegetables. It is excellent for grazing, and the butter and cheese of this county command the highest prices in the market. The timber growth consists mainly of oak, chestnut, pine, birch, maple, spruce, hemlock, walnut, ash and poplar. The county is traversed by numerous i-aiboad and telegraphic lines, afl!brding ready communication between the different towns and the county seat, and the capi- tal of the State. Since the introduction of the manufac- ture of the textile fabrics into this county, or during the last half-centurj', the growth of the county in respect to population, wealth and intelligence has been rapid. The population in 1776 was 40,437, and in 1875, 210,295. The whole number of pubHc schools of the countj' (1875) was 586 ; the whole number of incorporated private schools was five ; the number of public libraries was 88 ; the number of newspapers published in the county was 33, of which four were issued daily. The oldest of these publications is the " Massachusetts Weeklj'' Spy," estab- lished in Worcester in 1775. In Worcester County the manufacturing and farming interests are happily combined, and the diversity of em- ploj'ment tends to the mental vigor and enterprise of the people. The territory of what now forms the county was originally in possession of the Nipmuck and Nashaway Indians, who led a roving, or nomadic kind of life, yet still had favorite locaUties and subordinate tribes, each controlled bj- an inferior chieftain. The Nipmucks owned the lands along the Nipmuck, afterwards the Blackstone River, and the Nashaways held tlie temtorj^ on the Nashua River and its branches. These tribes of Indians, never ver}' numerous, sub- sisted mainly by hunting and fishing and the natural productions of the forest ; yet they culti\-ated with rude instruments a little maize, together with a few beans and squashes. They clothed themselves in skins and dwelt in huts, called im'gimms. Their implements con- sisted of gouges, axes, pestles and mortars, all made of stone ; their money being shells, called wampum, and their weapons the bow and arrow, scalping-knife and tomahawk. Their canoes were neatlj- made of osiers cov- ered with white birch bark. As early as 1 643 , the Indians of this region, represented by Nashoonan, put themselves under the protection of the Colony of ISIassachusetts, and seem to have given the English here but little disturbance until the breaking out, in 1675, of Philip's war. In 1644 two sachems, Nasliacowarn and Wassamgin, near the great hill Wachusett, came, with others, into the General Coiu't, and desired to be received under the protection of the government. Having learned from the court the ' ' articles " and the Ten Commandments, thej' iDresentcd to that bodj^ 26 fathoms of wampum, when in return it " gave each of them a coat of two yards of cloth and theu' dinner ; and to them and their men, every one of them, a cup of sac at their departure ; so they took leave and went away ver3' joyful." In 1074 the Rev. John Eliot had several Indian " pray- ing towns " within the limits of what is now Worcester County. At Manchage, now Oxford, there were about 60 natives ; at Pakachoag, now Worcester and Auburn, about 100 ; at Chaubunagungamaug, now Webster, about 45 ; at AVeshakim, or Nashawaj-, about 75 ; at Wacuntug, now Uxbridge, a small number; and at Ilassanamisco, now Grafton, about 30 " baptized per- sons." An Indian by the name of James of this last place was bred a printer, and was of great service to Mr. Eliot in bringing out the Indian Bible. During Philip's war, the English, becoming distrustful of "the praj-ing Indians," most of tliese villages were deserted. Some of the Nipmuck Indians joined the forces of Philip ; some were removed to Deer Island in Boston Harbor, and a few acted as spies for the English. In order to ascertain the intentions of the Nipmuck IncUans, Capts. Hutchin- son and Wheeler, with a body of troops, went, July 28, 1675, to meet the sachems at a certain tree in Quaboag, now Brookfield, which had been agreed upon as a place of rendezvous ; but finding no Indians there, they pro- ceeded as far as Wickabaug Pond, when a body of Indians rose from ambush, and fired upon them, killing eight and mortally wounding three, among whom was Capt. Hutchinson. About the same time Philip made an assault on Lancaster, during which ten of its citizens were killed. Again he entered the town, Feb. 10, 1676, and burned the house of the Picv. Mr. Rowlandson, con- taining 42 persons, only one of whom escaped. Mr. Rowlandson was then in Boston ; but his wife and chil- dren were carried into captivity. Of their sufferings Mrs. Rowlandson wrote an interesting narrative. Other towns in what is now Worcester County were more or less disturbed in this, as well as in the French and Indian wars that followed. Samuel Leonard, taken captive at Worcester in 1695, was with Mrs. Hannah Duston and Mrs. Mary Neff at Contookook, N. H., and assisted in slaying, on the night of March 31, 1697, their 276 HISTORY OF new: ENGLAND. ten captors in their sleep. Leonard was a mere stripling ; but having learned of an Indian how and where to strike a fatal blow, directed the two other captives how to wield the tomahawk ; and with such precision did they severally take their aim, that onl}' two of the savages, a woman and a boy, escaped. The}- then made their wa}- down the Merrimac River, reached their homes in safety, and received £50 from the General Court for their heroic deed. Descendants of the boy still reside in Worcester County. Bj' the act of the incorporation of the comity it was ordered, " That the Towns & Places hereafter named & expressed. That is to say Worcester, Lancaster, West- borough, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Leicester, Rutland & Lunenburg, all in the count}^ of Middlesex ; Mendon, Woodstock, Oxford, Sutton, [including Hassanamisco'] Uxbridge, & the Land lately- granted to several Petition- ers of Medfleld, all in the County of Suffolk ; Brookfield in the Count}' of Hampshire, & the South Town, laid out to the Narragansett Soldiers, & all other Lying within the said Townships, with the Inhabitants thereon, shall from & after the tenth Day of July, which will be in the year of our Lord 1 731 , be & remain one intire & distinct County, by the name of Worcester, of which Worcester to be the Countj- or Shire Town." The land granted to the petitioners from Medfield was subsequentl.y incorpo- rated under the name of Sturbridge, and the Narragan- sett lands under that of Westminster. Of the 14 towns comprised in the count}- of Worcester at the time of its organization, Lancaster was the oldest, ha\-ing been incorporated May 18, 1653 ; Mendon the next, incorporated May 15, 1667 ; and Worcester the next, incorporated Oct. 15, 1684. The others were organized in the following order : Leicester, Oxford and Rutland, 1713; Sutton, June 21, 1715; Weslborough. Nov. 28, 1717; Brookfield, Nov. 12, 1718 ; Shrewsbury, Southborough and Uxbridge, 1727 ; Lunenburg, Aug. 1, 1728 ; and Dudley, Feb. 2, 1731. The first town organ- ized after the formation of the county was Harvard, June 29, 1732; and the second and third were Sturbridge, from the Medfield lands, and Bolton, both of which were incorporated June 24, 1738. Division after division has been made in the original towns, until the number now is more than four times as great as at the establishment of the county. At that period several towns, as Mendon, Brookfield and Lancaster, had severally a population outnumbering that of Worcester, and consequently each contended for the honor of being constituted as the seat of justice. The proposition to make Lancaster a half-shire town was opposed by Joseph AVilder of that place, on the giound that, in such an event, the morals of the people would be corrupted. The courts were first held in the meeting-house, the first session of the Court of Probate being on July 13, 1731 ; of the Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace, August 10 ; and of the Superior Court of Judicature, September 22d following. The Hon. John Chandler was the chief justice. A court house, 36 feet by 26, was fin- ished and opened in 1734, when an address was delivered by Judge John Chandler, in which he styles it " a beauti- ful house." This building soon proving too limited, another, 40 feet by 36, was erected in 1751, and this was followed by another, costing about $20,000, opened Sept. 27, 1803. The following inscription was placed in one of the stones beneath the building : ' ' The corner stone was laid Oct. 1. 1801 by Isaiah Thomas, Esq, who with William Caldwell, Esq, Sheriff of the County & Hon Salem Towne were appointed a committee for building & completing this [now intended] Court House. The old Court House now stands two feet south east from this spot, 1801." The present court house, built of Quincy granite, and costing about $100,000, was erected in 1845. A jail was erected in 1733, prisoners, prior to this time, having been confined in private houses. A second jail, of wood, was constructed in 1753 ; but this proving insecure, a prison of stone, the second of importance of that material in the State, was erected in 1788, and demolished in 1835. The county house of con-cction I was first occupied in 1819, and subsequently used as ' a jail. John F. Clark was long the keeper. The lunatic hospital was in part erected in 1831. The agri- ' cultural society of the county has a commodious hall j at Worcester, in which its meetings are held and records kept. During the French and Revolutionary wars, the citi- zens of this county exhibited a patriotic spirit, and sent their full proportion of men into the service. During the insurrection of those disaffected in respect to the State government and the administration of the law in 1786-7, the county was the scene of much excitement and disorder. Had not the magistrates and military offi- cers exhibited great sagacity, as well as courage, blood would undoubtedly have been shed. In September, 1 786, about 200 of the insurgents took possession of the court house. At the time of the opening of the session of the Court of Common Pleas, Chief Justice Artemas Ward, at the head of the members of the court and bar, and attended by the sheriff, bravely advanced in front of a line of levelled muskets to the seat of justice, and, ad- dressing the rebels, said: "He did not value their MASSACHUSETTS. baj-onots ; the}- might plunge them into his heart ; but while that heart beat, he would do his duty." The soldiers- then advancing, pressed their bayonets against his breast ; yet he stood as immovable as a statue, and continued his harangue. Ilis self-possession served to intimidate them, so that no open act of violence was committed. The court then adjourned, and, moving through a file of the insurgents, repaired to the United States Arms Tavern. On the day following, the rebel force, which had now arisen to about 400, paraded through the streets of Worcester, bearing a pine-tree, as their standard, and sprigs of evergreen, instead of plumes, upon their hats. As the local troops could not then be relied on to sus- tain the court, it decided to adjom-n until the following term. The insurgents, who took upon themselves the name of " Regulators," and were at that time com- manded by Capt. A. Wheeler of Hubbardston, soon dispersed. But again, November 21-22, a body of insurgents, numbering about 160, took possession of the grounds around the court house in order to prevent the assem- bling of the Court of Sessions. The sheriff. Col. Wil- liam Greenleaf of Lancaster, read to them the proclama- tion in the riot act, to which they gave but little heed. On his referring to their grievances, one of them cried out, "Our greatest is the sheriff himself; and next to his person are his fees." " If j'ou think my fees exorbi- tant," he retorted, " I will hang you all for nothing, with the greatest pleasure." They then placed a pine branch on his hat, and compelled him, with the justices, to retire. They again mustered in force to prevent the session of the Court of Common Pleas, the first week in December, but were resolutely met by two Worcester companies under Capt. Joel Howe. Intimidated by this armed force, approaching with fixed bayonets, they retreated to a neighboring hill. On the 6th instant, Capt. Daniel Shays arrived with a reinforcement of 350 men, raising the number of insurgents to nearly 1,000. The town had then the appearance of a military camp, and the rebels were billeted on the different families, bj' whom, in general, they were kindly treated. They were objects of pity rather than of fear. Contenting them- selves with a declaration of what they esteemed to be their grievances, and learning that the State forces were mustering under Gen. Shepard, they soon with- drew from Worcester and prepared to make a demon- stration on the town of Springfield. The State troops, amounting to more than 4,000, entered Worcester Jan. 22, 1787; and the town was not subsequently disturbed by the unwelcome "Regulators." On the 2d of February, however, a company was sent out to disperse a body of them who were making some dis- turbance at New Bramtree, when Dr. David Young and Mr. Jonathan Rice were wounded hy a volley of mus- ketry discharged from some of them concealed behind a wall that lined the highway. The companj' returned the next day to Worcester, bringing with them four- rebel IDrisoners. Thirty men from Worcester were in the expedition under Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, and were present, Febru- arj' 4th, in Petersham, at the final dispersion of the insurgents. These men, though poor and ignorant, had, without doubt, some show of reason for their rash and ill-con- certed insurrection ; but the good sense of the people saw a better wa}' to rectify the evils of the State, and law and order soon prevailed. On the 2d of July, 1778, the town, as well as the countj- of Worcester, was greatly moved bj' the execu- tion of William Brooks, James Buchanan, Ezra Ross [of Ipswich] and Mrs. Bathsheba [Ruggles] Spooner for the murder of Mr. Joshua Spooner of Brookfield. This tragedy formed a leading topic of conversation through the count}' and the State for manj' years. In 1775, Isaiah Thomas established the "Massachu- setts Sp3' " at Worcester, and afterwards carried on the printing and publishing business extensively in that town. At onetime no less than 16 presses were running here and in other places under his direction. In 1791, he brought out his folio edition of the Bible, with illustrations exe- cuted by Americans. It was the first folio edition of the Bible published in this country. He also published editions of the Bible in smaller tj'pe, and in 1800 the first American edition of the New Testament in Greek. In order to supply his presses, he established a paper- mill on the Blackstone River in 1796, which subsequently went into the possession of Mr. Elijah Burbank. In 1786, he published " The Worcester Collection of Sacred Harmony," which was the first music printed with mov- able types in this country. The various publications of Mr. Thomas tended to elevate the taste, improve the morals and develop the intellectual energies not only of the citizens of the countj^ but of the State and nation. He was a public benefactor. In 1793, the Rev. Peter Whitney published a valuable " History of Worcester County," and in 1797 the county had, according to Dr. Morse, 50 towns, 53 Congrega- tional churches, 56,807 inhabitants, — mostly farmers, — and 207,430 acres of land under cultivation. As manufacturing interests began to engage the atten- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. tion of the people, efforts were made to facilitate com- munication between the towns and the metropolis of the county, as well as that of It OI INDUSTBIAI, SCIENCE, WOBCESTEB. Towns. ity of Worcester, capital of Worcester County, and so named from Wor- cester, Eng., was incorjio- rated as a town, Oct. 15, 1G84, and as a city, March 22, 1838. It is -44 miles south-west of Boston by the Boston and Albany Eail- road. Its outlj-ing villages arc NortbviUe and Fair- mount in the north, Tat- nuck in the north-west, New Worcester in the west, and Quinsigamond in the south. The land is hilly and broken, and the nat- ural scener}- diversified and beautiful. The water-shed the Commonwealth. The common roads were greatl}' improved ; and the Worces- ter Turnpike was incorpo- rated in 1806, leading over Lake Quinsigamond into Boston. The Blackstone Canal, extending 45 miles, from Worcester to Provi- dence, was commenced in this State in 1826. It was considered in its day a great undertaking; but that was a day too late, for it was soon rendered useless by the opening of a railroad between the two cities. It was completed m 1.S28, and i is towards the south, and sends tributaries into both the cost about $750,000. It had 48 locks, the fall from I Blackstone and French rivers. Quinsigamond Lake Worcester to tide- I stretches for several The Providence and ^Aip-- k ^^d fonns a striking Worcester Railroad, fl feature in the natural completed Oct. 20, ^^^^^ '^ ffi ^'^- scenery. Millstone, 1847, diverted the ' ^^^'f ,M ^^^ Winter, Tatnuck and and it soon ceased to mF^T ' ^ ' most prominent ele- be operated. — The _^^^^ B ^E' nations. Covered, as Boston and Worcester -^^P^ M, iffl^^ jl ^^^i ^'"^i ^ith well- Railroad was incoqjo ^^ ^^St "' ^m i^ m mm> 1^ cultiA ated farms and Norwich and Woices- ^JT^^^^U^M^^^B^^^^^I I ^^^^^^H^^ " ^^^^ "■ ""'^^^ pleasing ter Railroad in 1833 , ^^p^^^^H.=liIIl^^^^^^^^| f I^jj^^^Mffll contrast to the rich the Western Railroad, ^B #^Wy^^^^l ) r^=4^^ I \alle^s below. opening commumca- ^ilitoH B H IT ll Pf T itilf J^ ! ^ f f 1 f'l *.|^J^ "^^^ population of 1833 ; the Worcestei ^^WM I^mI '^^^S'S'^^i' ^^"^^^^ ^^^ ^*'^'^'^^' ^"'^^ ^''^^^^ and Nashua Raihoad ^PIi^MB^ I' L=J11^^TCTaClQT.1^^^ J « ^ l^^^@!^ _iowth is due mainly cester and Fitchbuig ^^l ^^^^=^J'-^t^=jlJ^^^£^];;;^'^W^|!Ji0fe^ jf^ T^^^i Tiigl'SAM' ^tion, the introduc- Railroad in 1846. B> ^^Sk^^^^-A„ ^ "^^ '""^"^^^tJ^^^^^^^fe*. '"^" °^ varied manu- those lines concentrat '"^^ ^^^ISl^B^totkijlfilfltitfnfiliiri'iliirt "^^^C fictmmg interests, ing in the shire town ^''"^'**''***''^*^**^^^^^^^^^'°^ ind the facilities for and their various con- the pdelic high school, Worcester. transportation afford- nections, the county has ample faciUties for travel and ed bj' the different Unes of railway- radiating from this transportation at command, and its future growth in respect to wealth, intelligence and general prosperity, under these favorable conditions, seems to be assured. point. These are the Boston and Albanj-, the Provi- dence and Worcester, the Norwich and Worcester, the Worcester and Nashua, and the Fitchburg and Worcester MASSACHUSETTS. railroads, which afford di- rect communication witli almost everj- town in thf county, as well as with the great cities of the Union The new railroad depot constructed of granite in the most approved bt\le <> architecture, will conipin favorabh' with any hmldm. of the kind in the counti \ The manufactures of tli citj- are remarkably -v anc d embracing agricultural uii- plements, boots and shoes, blankets and satinets, beaver-cloth, cassimeres, clothing, steam-cars, envelopes and boxes, carpetmgs, chairs, fire-arms, gas, iron-castings, organs, car-wheels and rail- way iron, beltings, machines and machin- ery of many kinds, screws and wrenches, soap, wire -goods, ma- chinists' tools, woollen cloth, and woi-sted jarn. The nimiber of manufacturing estab- lishments of all kinds in 1875 was 481 ; cap- ital invested, SlO,- 702,174 ; and the to- tal value of goods made, §20,524,836. The city has 34 public schools, includ- ing an excellent high school ; a seminary for j-oung ladies, called " The Oread Insti- tute," the building for which is of stone and very beautiful ; an "Institute of Indus- trial Science." found- ed b}' the munificence of Mr. John Boynton of Templeton, and a State Normal School. It is also the seat of the College of the IIol}- Cross, established by the Roman Catholics ; of the American Antiqua- rian Societ}', founded b}- the liberality of Mr. Isaiah Thomas, and incorporated October 12, 1.S12 ; and of the State Lunatic Asylum, whose extensive buildings are erected upon an ele- vated range of land over- looking the beautiful Quinsigamond Lake. The churches are 23 in number. Some of the church edi- fices, as St. Paul's, the Piedmont and Grace churches, and Trinity Church, are handsome buildings. Mechanics' Hall, on Main Street, has a seating capacity of about 2,500, and it is provided with an excellent organ. The public jour- nals are "The ..^Igis and Gazette," "The Evening Gazette," "The Daily Press." "The Weekly Press," "The "Worcester Pal- ladium," "The Mas- sachusetts AVeekh- Sp3'," established in 1770, "The Worces- ter Daih' Spj-," "es- ., tablished in 1845, ^ and " Le Travail- f'< iciir," published in 10 French language. The citj- has seven national banks, five 1 lanks for sa^dngs, and eight insurance companies. It has PAUL'S CULECH, HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. also a musical society-, a pulilic library, a horticultural soeiet3", and manj^ other social, ci^^c and literary organ- izations. The principal avenue through the city is Main Street, which is well shaded with ornamental trees, and flanlced on either side for more than two miles with elegant private and public buildings. From this great thorough- fare, cross streets extend up over the hills on either side. The streets are well lighted with gas, and the water supplj- from a reser\-oir on the high land at the west is abundant. As to beauty of situation, well directed in- dustries, educational, social and literary privileges, intel- ligence, temperance and enterprise, Worcester has no rival of its size in New England. The Indian name of Worcester was Quinsigamond, and the land was purchased July 13, 1674, of Solomon, alias WoonasTcocJm, sagamore of Tataesit, and John, alias Hoorrawannonit of Packachoag, for £12 of lawful money of New England. Six or seven houses had been erected here by the English as early as 1675, but the war of Philip broke up the settlement. The buildings, which had been deserted by the settlers, were destroyed by the Indians Dec. 2, 1675. In 1684 some of the planters returned and built a blockhouse on Mill Brook. In 1 703 or 1 704, Digorj* Sargent and his wife were killed by the Indians, and their children John, Daniel, Thomas, Martha and Mary carried into capti^■ity. Jonas Rice returned to Worcester Oct. 21, 1713, began again the settlement, and is considered the first permanent white inhabitant of the place. The second permanent settler was Gershom Rice, and the third Nathaniel Moore. The first white child born here was Adonijah, son of Jonas Rice, whose birth occurred Nov. 7, 1714. He died Feb. 2, 1802, aged 88 years. The Rice family was from Marlborough, the Moore family from Sudbury. Wolves and rattlesnakes were then numerous in the town. A company of Scotch-Irish settled here in 1718, introducing the potato and the spinning-wheel. Among them was John Young, who died June 30, 1730, at the remarkable age of 107 j-ears. During the French wars and the war of the Revolution, Worcester cvmced a noble spirit of patriotism, and furnished its full quota of men for the ser\'ice. It was visited b3- Gen. Washington Oct. 23, 1789, and by Lafaj-ette Sept. 2, 1824. During the war of the RebeUion, the city was true to its ancient record. A chm-ch was organized in 1716, and the Rev. Andi-ew • It has 223 industrial establishments, employing in all 2,535 persons. The principal manufactures are machinery, steam-engines, woollen goods, paper, cotton duck, chairs, clothing, mowing-machine knives, boots and shoes, and iron castings. The city is compactly and hand- Gardner was ordained as pastor over it in the autumn of 1719. He was followed by the Rev. Isaac Burr, or- dained Oct. 13, 1725. The Rev. George Whitefleld preached here on the Common to some thousands of people Oct. 15, 1740. The successor of Mr. Burr was the Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty, who was installed June 10, 1747. He was followed bj' the Rev. Samuel Austin, D.D., installed Sept. 30, 1790. A second church was organized, and the Rev. Aaron Bancroft was ordained over it Feb. 1, 1786. Worcester is the birth-place of Col. Timothj' Bigelow (1739-1790), a patriot and member of Congress, 1774- 75; Levi Lincoln (1782-1868), governor of the State; Charles Allen, LL. D., a statesman; William Lincoln (1801-1843), author of a History of Worcester, first published in 1837 ; George Bancroft, LL.D., an eminent historian ; Manton Marble (born, 1835), an able editor ; and of Dorothea L. Dix, a well-known philanthropist. FiTCHBUHG, a new and flourishing industrial city, has 12,289 inhabitants, 18 pubUc schools, 9 churches, 3 banks, and a public library. It has also two well-con- ducted newspapers, "The Daily Sentinel," and "The Fitehburg Reveille." The post-offices are at the Centre and at West Fitehburg. The water-supplj- is excellent, and the location healthful. Situated on a branch of the Nashua River, a rapid stream rolling down between the hills, the city has a valuable motive-power which it has turned to various manufacturing purposes* The ph'.ce originallj' belonged to Lunenburg, and was called "Turkey HLll," from the wild turkeys attracted thither bj- the chestnuts and acorns which it produced. It was incorporated as a town Feb. 3, 1764, and named for John Fitch, one of its prominent citizens. It was incorporated as a citj-, March 8, 1872 ; since which its growth, due in a great measure to the late Alvah Crocker, M. C, has been rapid and permanent. A church was organized here in 1764, and Jan. 27, 1768, the Rev. John Payson was ordained pastor. His successor, the Rev. Samuel Worcester, D. D., was or- dained in 1797, and continued here about five years. The Fitehburg cotton manufactory was incorporated in 1807, at which period the town contained about 1,500 inhabitants. The Rev. Asa Thurston, missionar}- to the Sandwich Islands for more than 40 years, was born here in 1787 (Yale College, 1816), and ched at Honolulu in 1868. somely built, and conspicuous among the buildings are the Fitehburg and the Rollstone hotels, the citj' hall, capable of seating 1,500 people, the Episcopal and the Rollstone churches, and several fine blocks of stores and offices. A handsome railroad depot has recently been constructed. MASSACHUSETTS. AsHBURNHAM, Ij'iug in the extreme north-eastern sec tion of the count}-, 61 miles north-west of Boston, by the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad, is a farming and manufacturing town of 2,141 inhabitants. The soil is strong, but rock}'. Mount Watatic, rising to the height of 1 ,847 feet above the sea, is the highest emi- nence. The water-power formed by numerous ponds and tributaries of the Nashua River and Miller's River, is abundant, and is utilized for saw-mills, cotton-mills, and chair manufactories. The town has two churches, eleven public schools, and also a seminary founded by Thomas Parkman Gushing, a native of this place, who died in Boston Nov. 23, 1854. The place was originally called " Dorchester Canada," because granted to soldiers of Dorchester in the expedi- tion against Canada in 1690. It was incorporated Feb. 22, 1765, and named in honor of John, second Earl of Ashburnham. The first church was organized, and the Rev. Jonathan Winchester settled over it, April 23, 1760. Athol,* a prosperous manufacturing and farming town, situated on Miller's River, contains 4,134 inhabi- tants, and is on the line of the Vermont and Mass. R. R. By the Athol and Enfield Railroad it has com- munication with Springfield and New York. The land is beautifully diversified by hill, valley and plain, and the soil is strong and productive. The principal emi- nences are Chestnut Hill, Round Gap, Pierce Hill, and High Knob. The water-supply is abundant, consisting of Miller's River, a rapid stream, and its tributaries, together with several pleasant ponds. The town owes its recent rapid growth to its manufactures, which for the year ending May 1, 1875, amounted to $1,214,018. The Indian name of the place was Poquaige, and it began to be settled by the English, who lived at first in garrisons, about 1734. Mr. Ezekiel Wallingford, while running to a garrison, was killed by the Indians in August, 1 740 ; and early in the year ensuing, Mr. Jason Babcock was taken captive by them. A chiu-ch was organized Aug. 23, 1750, and, on the 6th of March, 1762, the town was incorporated, receiving its name from James ilurray, the second Duke of Athol and Lord Privj' Seal of Scotland. Charles H. Sweetzer, a brilliant journalist, was born here Aug. 25, 1841, and graduated at Amherst College in 1862. He published the "History of Amherst Col- lege," the " Tourist's Guide to the North-west," and founded the " Round Table" and other journals iii New York. His death occurred at Pilatka, Fla., Jan. 1, 1871. Bakre is a large town of 2,460 inhabitants, \jing in the form of a diamond in the westerly part of the count}-. It is accommodated by Ware River Railroad, opened in 1873. An immense bowlder in the north-westerly part of the town, called " The Rocking Stone," is a natural curiosity. The land is broken and well watered by Ware River and its affluents, which afford valuable hj'draulic power. Though farming is the main business, there are manufactories of boots and shoes, cotton and woollen goods and machinery. The town has eleven public schools, five churches, a public library, a well-managed journal, — the " Barre Gazette," — and a handsome sol- dier's monument. The place was incoriDorated as the Rutland District March 28, 1753, and as the town of Hutchinson in June, 1774; but in November, 1776, the name was changed to Barre in honor of Col. Isaac BaiTe, who favored the cause of America. A church was organized here in 1753, and the Rev. Joseph Frink was the first pastor. Col. William Buckminster, wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill, died here June 22, 1786. The Rev. David O. Allen, D. D., author of a histoiy of India, and father of Dr. Nathan Allen, was born here in 1804, and died in Lowell in 1863. Gen. Joseph B. Plummer, a graduate of West Point Military Academy, and a gallant officer, was bom here in 1820, and died at Corinth, Miss., Aug. 9, 1862. BROOKPiELD,t an agricultural and manufacturing town of 2,660 inhabitants, was originally, May, 1660, granted to a nimiber of the inhabitants of Ipswich, the tract being six miles square, and including the towns of North and West Brookfield. That they might have at once a just and undisputed right to the soil, the grantees pur- chased and took a deed of the natives. Quaboag, or Podunk Pond, from which flows Quaboag River, contains about 640 acres, and was a favorite resort of the Indians. It is connected by a canal with South Pond. The otter is still found in these ponds. • The principal articles of manufacture in 1875, were boots and shoes, t Brookfield is located on the Boston and Albany Railroad, about furniture, machinery, pocket-books, match-splints and mirror-frames, 55 miles from the city of Boston. It has five churches ; eleven public a free library, named, twine, cotton and carpet warp, cotton batting and caitiagcs. The town valuation was $2,687,910. Alhol has 11 public schools; a good public journal, called " The Athol Transcript," established 1871 ; five churches ; a handsome railroad depot ; two banks for discount, and a savings bank. schools ; a handsome town hall ; a free liljrary, named, from its liberal founder, the late Judge Merrick, " The Menick Public Library "; and pood hotel called the " Brookfield House." It has manufactories of boots and shoes, cotton goods, carriage-wheels, and boxes. IIISTOKY OF NEW ENGLAND. Brookfield, for a long time a solitaiy settlement, * was assaulted b}-thc Indians in 1C75, -ivhen they burned the meeting-house j and everj' dweUing-house but one. On the approach of the Indians, the inhabitants collected in ' one house, which they fortified and defended for three days. The Indians then endeavored to send a cart, loaded with flax and hay, which they set on fire, against the building ; but a shower of rain extinguished the flames. At length Maj. Willard, with a troop of fortj-- eight light horse, appeared, and the enemy fled. The Congregational church of Brookfield (formerly- known as South Pai-ish) was organized April 15, 1756, and its house of worship was erected about the same time. In 1827, the "society" ha\'ing developed Uni- tarian tendencies, the "Orthodox," or evangelical por- tion of the church, was organized as a separate bodj' Aug. 24, 1827, erecting their first church edifice in 1828, and their present one in 1857. The history- of Congre- gationalism in this town has been rendered somewhat memorable in consequence of the controversy relative to churcli iDropertj", wliich occurred here, as between the "Orthodox" and Unitarians; Brookfield, indeed, hav- ing aflTorded, if we mistake not, the test, and decisive case; — the original " societj- " (Unitarian) claiming, and, by legal decision, securing, possession of the church propertj' and name. It is an interesting fact that lle\. Micah Stone, ordained and installed pastor of this church in 1801, and dying Sept. 21, 1852, in the 82d j-ear of his age; and Thomas Snell, D. D., pastor of the church at North Brook- field, and d^ing Ma}- 4, 1862, aged 87 ; and John Fiske, who as pastor of the church at West Brookfield, died March 15, 1855, aged 84, were contemporarj- pastors in the same township for over half a century. The town, named from its local features, was incorpo- rated Nov. 12, 1718. It has produced Dwight Foster (1757-1823), United States senator, 1800-3; Kiah Bailey (1770-1857), a noted clergj-man ; Col. Enos Cutler (1781-1860), a good soldier; William Appleton (1786-1862), a liberal merchant; Samuel Jennison (1788-1862), an antiquarian writer ; and Pliny Merrick, LL. D., an eminent jurist. Clixton, I a new and flourishing manufacturing town of 6,781 inhabitants, lies in the north-easterly section of the county. The Worcester and Nashua, and the Bos- * Situated about half way between the old towns on the Connecticut River, and those on the east, toward the Atlantic coast. t The first meeting-house stood on Foster's Hill, about a mile west of the present village. It was on the north side of the road, leading over the hill to " The West." The fortified house in which the inhabitants were besieged by the Indians in 1675, stood not far from the church. ton, Clinton and Filchburg railroads here intersect each other, affording fine facilities for trade and travel. The \ Nashua River, with numerous reservoirs, furnishes a great i hj'dranlic power, which is utilized for driving the ma- chineiy of several large manufactories. The principal goods made are carpets, wire-cloth, cotton-cloth and 3-arns, loom-harnesses, combs, boots and shoes, ma- chinery and iron castings. The Lancaster Mills cover more than four acres. The Clinton Wire-cloth Companj' is said to be the first tliat ever wove wire-cloth by the power-loom. The town was detached from Lancaster, and incorporated, March 14, 1850, taking its name from DeWitt Clinton. The town owes much of its prosperity to the genius of Erastus Brigham Bigelow, LL. D., who was born in West Bojiston, in April, 1814, and who invented a machine for weaving coach lace, and in 1839 a power- loom for weaving two-ply ingrain carpets, which is now in extensive use. i Grafton, § a prosperous fanning and manufacturing j town of 4,442 inhabitants, has four postal villages, the I Centre, New England Village, Saundersville and Far- j numville, the last two being on the Blackstone River, which runs through the south-west corner of the town, and aflfords valuable motive power. It sent 359 soldiers into the late war, of wliom 59 were lost. To their mem- orj' it has erected a handsome marble monument. This place, called b}- the Indians Hassajiamisiit, was one of John Eliot's " praying towns," where, in 1674. there were 12 Indian families, under the ruler, Anawea- kin, having a meeting-house and " several good or- chards." Their burial-place still remains. The town was incorporated April IS, 1735. A church was formed here in 1731, the Rev. Solomon Prentice being the pastor. The Rev. Aaron Hutchinson, a good scholar, ordained June 6, 1750, succeeded him. The nest minister was the Rev. Daniel Grosvenor, ordained Oct. 19, 1774. "He left his pulpit and marched with his musket in a company of minute-men that went to Cambridge on the 19th of April, 1775." "The Grafton Herald" was established here in 1873. The town has produced the Rev. John Leland (1754- 1841), an able writer; Rev. Henry A. Miles, D. D. (1S09-), author of "Lowell as it was, and is"; and William D. Andrews, an inventor (1818-). + It has 8 pnblic schools, 5 churches, a memorial town hall, a public library, a bank of discount, and an ably conducted weekly journal, " The Clinton Courant," established in 1838. § The principal manufactures are cotton-cloth, print-cloth, boots and shoes, and men's clothing. The town has 6 churches, 11 public schools, a free library, and two banks. MASSACHUSETTS. Lancaster,* very pleasantly situated on the Nashua River, contains 1,957 inhabitants. The central village, which is finely shaded with majestic elms, presents an air of quiet rural beautj-. The Indians called this place Nashawog. It was incorporated May 18, 1053, and in Philip's war, and afterwards, suffered greatly from the savages. Ten persons were killed by them, Aug. 22, 1G75 ; and on the 10th of February following, riiilip set fire to the house of the Rev. Joseph Rowlandson, which contained 42 j ersons, only one of whom escaped. Sub- sequently the town was reduced to ashes bj' the enemy. In the summer of 1704, a force of 500 French and Ind- ians assaulted the town, killed four persons, and burned the meotmg-house. In October of the j-ear ensuing, Thomas Saw3'er, his son Elias, and John Bigclow, were carried away captives to Canada, where Mr. Sawyer erected the first saw-mill built in that eountrj^ The Rev. Joseph Rowlandson, the first settled minister, was ordained in 1G58. The Rev. John Whiting succeeded him, and was killed b^- the Indians in 1G97. Lancaster is the birth-place of Col. Al)ijah Willard (1722-89), a noted lojalist; Gen. John Whiteomb (1812), a Revolu- tionarj- patriot ; Miss Hannah Flagg Gould (1789-1856), a poetical writer; and Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz (1800- 1856), a popular author. Leominster, t a very busj- and thriving town, was incorporated, June 23, 1740, and has 6,201 inhabitants. It has a good water-power on a branch of the Nashua River and its tributaries. It sent 410 men into the late war, of whom 38 lost their lives. A church was organ- ized here Sept. 14, 1743, having the Rev. John Rogers (Harvard College, 1732) for its pastor. The Rev. Fran- cis Gardner (Harvard College, 1755) was ordained here Dec. 22, 1762, and died, June 2, 1814, in the 52d year of his ministry. Eminent Men. — Rev. Charles Stearns, D. D. (1752- 1826), educator and author ; Walter R. Johnson (1794- 1852), author; James G. Carter (1795-1849), educa- tor. David Wilder published a history of the town in 1853. Daniel Adams, M. D., was once a resident of the • The town has 11 public schools, 3 churches, 2 banks, a free library, and a memorial hall costing $30,000, which perpetuates the memory of 3S soldiers, lost in the late war. The State Industrial School for Girls is in the southerly part of the town. t The manufactures consist of combs, paper, pianofortes, paper boxes, carriages, furniture, and woollen goods, &c., to the annual value of $1,892,212. The town has 13 public schools, 5 churches, a public library, 2 bunks, and ii good weekly journal, " The Leominster Enterprise." X The postal centres are Milford, South Milford and Hopedalc. The town has 6 churches, 20 public schools, including a good high school, a well-managed weekly paper, " The Milford Journal," established in 1852, and a tasteful burial-place, called Pine Grove Cemetery. The town, and edited a weekly paper here called "The Tele- scope" (1800-02). A paper-mill was establishedin 1796. Milford, \ an enterprising and prosperous town of 9,818 inhabitants, was incorporated April 11, 1780, and named from Mill River, which flows through Hopedalc, a pleasant village in the westerly part of the town. Charles River flows through the centre and affords val- uable moti\e i^ower. The Indian name of Milford was Wopowage, and the northerly part of it, bought of the natives, still bears filename of "North Purchase." The first church was established here July 15, 1741, and in 1743 the Rev. Amariah Frost was settled as the pastor. He was suc- ceeded in 1801 by the Rev. David Long, who died, March 13, 1850. A Fraternal Community was established at Hoj)edale about 1840, which is now extinct. The following natives of this town have obtained celebrity: The Rev. Stephen Chapin, D. D. (1778- 1845), an able divine; Albert H. Nelson (1812-58), a good jurist ; William Claflin, LL. D., a governor of Massachusetts and member of Congress ; Gen. Adin B. Underwood, an officer in the war of the Rebellion ; and Mrs. Clara [Erskino] Clement, a popular writer. Oxford, § a pleasant town of 2,938 inhabitants, is intersected by the Providence and Worcester Railroad, and b}' French River, which affords power for manufac- turing purposes. The Indian name of the town was Mancliaug ; it was earlj' settled by 30 famiUes of French Huguenots, who built two forts on Fort Hill in the south-east part of the town. John Evans, John John- sou and his three children, were killed by the Indians in an assault upon the jolace in 1G96. It was incoqiorated in 1713, and named from Oxford, England. A church was formed here Jan. 18, 1721, and the Rev. John Campbell was soon afterwards ordained as pastor. Princeton, an agricultural town, noted for its beauti- ful scenery, contains 1,003 inhaliitants. Its Indian name principal business is the manufacture of boots and shoes, for which there are 21 establishments, and into them the most approved machinery has been introduced. Other manufactures are spindles and spinning- rings, machinery, furniture, clothing, boxes, straw goods, iron castings, leather-belting, and boot and shoe nails. The capital invested in boot and shoe making is $710,800, and to this branch of business mainly, the town owes its prosperity. § It has 9 public schools, 6 churches, a bank, a free library, and two postal centres, Oxford and North Oxford. There are three other vil- lages : Lamed Village in the northerly, and Hodges' Village and Buf- fumville in the southerly part. The manufactures are carpet warp and twine, cassimeres, cotton and woollen goods, and shoes. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. was WacJmsett, and its incorporation as a town was ef- fected April 24, 1771, the name being given to it in hon- or of the Rev. Thomas Prince of Boston. The Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad runs through the westerly section of the town, and the postal centres are Princeton, East Princeton, and Wachusett Village. The land is drained on the one side by tributaries of Still River, a branch of the Nashua River, and on the other side, b}' those of Ware River. The town has ten public schools, and two churches. The people are engaged principally in farming, lumbering and chair-making. The prominent local feature is Wachusett Mountain, which rises b}- a gi-adual ascent to the height of 2,480 feet above sea level. There is a good hotel, " The Sum- mit House," on the top of the mountain, and also an observatory, from whicli a large part of the State from the ocean to the hills of Berksliire may be seen. Edward Savage (1761-1817), a portrait painter ; Da- vid Everett (1770-1813), a journalist, and Leonard Woods, D. D., a divine, were natives of this town. Rutland, in the central part of the county, is a good farming town, having 1 ,030 inhabitants. It has one Con- gregational church, organized June 7, 1720, a public library and ten public schools. It sent 102 men into the late war, of whom 1 7 were lost. The town was incorporated July 23, 1713, and named, it is supposed, from the county of Rutland, in England. The Indian name was Naquag, and the English began to settlehcreinor abouttheycarl71G. On the 14th of Au- gust, 1723 aMr. Willard, and two sons of Joseph Stevens, were killed by the Indians near the spot now occupied by the meeting-house. Two other sous of Mr. Stevens, Phineas and Isaac, were at the same time taken captive. Joseph Buckminstcr, D. D., an eloquent preacher, was born in this town Oct. 14, 1751, and died June 10, 1812 ; also Caleb S. Henry, D. D., a learned divine, was born here Aug. 2, 1804. Sheewsbukt is a good farming town, having 1,524 inhabitants. The land is uneven, but fertile, and the farms are generally in good order. A part of Quinsiga- mond Lake Ucs in this town, and as seen from the hills around presents a beautiful aspect. The town has seven public schools, a handsome town house, a farmers' club, and a Congregational and a Methodist church. The currying business is carried on to some extent, and also that of boot and shoe making. The town was incorporated Dec. 19, 1727, taking its name, probably, from Charles, Duke of Shrewsbury. A meeting-house was erected here in 1 721 ; the first settled minister was the Rev. Job Gushing, installed at the or- ganization of the church, Dec. 4, 1723. He died in 17G0. Distinguished Afen. — -Artemas Ward, the first major- general in the army of the Revolution, was born here, Nov. 27, 1727, and died Oct. 27, 1800. Calvin God- dard, M. C, 1801-05, was born here, July 17, 1768, and died May 2, 1842. Andrew H. Ward, who wrote a his- tory of the town, was born here May 26, 1784, and died Feb. 18, 1864. Levi Pease, who introduced mail-staging into this country, was long a resident of Shrewsbury, and died here in 1824, at the age of 86 years. The town has erected a handsome monument in honor of its 29 soldiers lost in the late war. SouTHBRiDGE has 5,740 inhabitants. It is intersected by the Quinnebaug River, which furnishes very valuable motive power. Hatchett Hill rises to the height of 1,016 feet above sea level. Sandersville is a pleasant village on the river below the main settlement. Southbridge owes its growth and vigor to its manufacturing establish- ments. It was taken from parts of Sturbridge, Dudley, and Charlton, and incorporated Feb. 15, 1816. It grew out of a parish in Charlton, incorporated Feb. 28, 1801, and was for some time known as Honest Town. A meeting-house had been dedicated the preceding year, and a church was organized September IGtli of the fol- lowing 3'ear. The first settled pastor was the Rev. Jason Park, ordained Dec. 18, 1816. The town has now two good hotels, nine public schools, a public librarj-, two banks, a well-edited newspaper, "The Journal," and seven churches, one of which belongs to the French people. The town furnished 345 men for the late war. William L. Marcy, governor of New York, 1833-1839, was born in what is now Southbridge, Dec. 12, 1786, and died 3n\y 4, 1857. The house where he was born is still standing. Hon. Ebenezer Ammidown, a prominent citizen, was born in the territory now forming Southbridge, Nov. IS, 1796, and died here Nov. 21, 1865. Spencer is a long and narrow township, having three postal villages, — the Centre, Hillsvillc, and North Spen- cer, — and 5,451 inhabitants. The land is broken, rising into several beautifully rounded hills, among which Green Hill and Flat Hill are quite prominent. The principal business is farming, and the manufacture of boots and shoes, wire, and woollen goods. The value of boots and shoes made in the j-ear ending Maj' 1, 1875, was $2,155,429. Spencer has a public library, 18 public schools, a well-conducted journal, "The Spencer Sun," and four MASSACHUSETTS. churches. The Rev. Joshua Eaton, ordained Nov. 7, 17-44, was the first settled minister. The town was named, perhaiJS, from Spencer Phips, and incorporated Aprils, 1753. It was previously the second precinct of Leicester. It sent 265 men into the late war, of whom 40 wore lost. Elias Howe, the inventor of the sewing-machine, was born here July 9, 1819, and died Oct. 3, 1867. His first machine was completed in the spring of 1845. Sutton, a large farming and manufacturing town, is accommodated bj' the Providence and Worcester Eail- road, and has four postal villages, Wilkinsonville in the north-west, Manchaug in the south-west, Sutton Centre, and West Sutton. There is another village called South Sutton. The surface of the town is pleasantl}' diversified by hill and valley, and motive-power is afforded by the Blackstone River at Wilkinsonville, and by the Mumford River at Manchaug. The town has 3,051 inhabitants, 12 public schools, and three churches. There is in the south-easterly section of this town a wild and desolate spot called " Purgatorj-," which at- tracts many visitors. The gneissie rock is here cloven, as if by an earthquake, to the depth of about 70 feet for the distance of nearly half a mile. The chasm, in some places 50 feet in width, presents, with its ragged sides, a fearful aspect. It is said to be the haunt of rattlesnakes. A spring flows from it into Purgatory Brook. * The town was incorporated June 21, 1715, the land having been originally purchased of John Wampus, an Indian sachem. The north parish was incorporated as the town of Millbury, June 11, 1813. A church was organized in Sutton in 1720, the first minister being the Rev. John McKinstry of Scotland. Noted Men. —Gen. Eufus Putnam (1738-1824); Solomon Sibley (1769-1846), a lawj-er of distinction; Alden Marsh (1795-1869), a surgeon ; Gen. George B. Boomer (1832) , killed at Vicksburg in 1863. Stdrbridge occupies the south-westerly corner of Worcester County, and is about 60 miles by the New York and New England Railroad and stage south-west from Boston. The land is hilly, and the natural scenery picturesque. The Quinnebaug River furnishes consider- able motive power, which is utilized for the manufacture of cotton goods, augers, &c. The town has 2,213 in- habitants, 13 public schools, a public library', and three • The wife of the Rev. Prof. George Prentice, of Middetown (Conn.) University, fell from these rocks on the 7th of July, 1876, and died soon after, in consequence of injuries received. churches. A monument has been erected to perpetuate the names of 27 men lost in the late war. The Indian name of this place was Tantousque ; it was granted to persons from Medfield who gave it the name of New Medfield. This was changed to Stur- bridgc (from Stourbridge, Eng.), June 24, 1738, when the act of incorporation was passed. A church of 14 members was organized Sept. 29, 1736, when the Rev. Caleb Rice was oi-dained as pastor. He died Sept. 2, 1759. The land embracing the plumbago, or black-lead mines in this town, was granted to John Winthrop, Jr., in 1644. j The Court record is: — "Mr. John Winthrop, Jr., is j granted ye hill at Tantousque, about 60 miles westward, in which the black lead is, and liberty to purchase some land of the Indians." These mines were once considered very valuable. A tract of 1,000 acres of land at Tan- tousque was given to the Rev. John Eliot in 1655. Men of Note. — Daniel Saunders, D. D., an author (1768-1850) ; Samuel Bacon, a lawj-er and preacher (1781-1820) ; Erasmus D. Keyes, a major-general (1811-) ; William Willard, a portrait-painter (1819-). Upton was taken from parts of Hopkinton, Sutton, and Mendon, and incorjDoratcd June 14, 1735. The Rev. Thomas Weld, first pastor of the church, was or- dained Jan. 18, 1735. Rev. Benjamin Wood, ordained June 1, 1796, served as pastor 53 years. Upton furnished 192 men for the war of the Rebellion, of whom 31 were lost. The Hon. Henry Chapin, son of Elisha Chapin (Brown University, 1835), mayor of Worcester, was born here, and died in Worcester in 1878. Upton, noted for the manufacture of straw goods, con- tains 2,125 inhabitants. It is reached bj' the Boston and Albany Railroad and stage-coach, and is 36 miles from Boston. Its postal villages are the Centre and West Upton. The land is uneven and rocky, but well adapted to the growth of fruit-trees and pasturage. The town has nine public schools, a public library, and three churches. For the year ending May 1, 1875, the value of straw-goods made was $800,000. UxBRiDGE, on the Blackstone River, which here affords valuable motive power, contains 3,029 inhabitants, most j of whom are engaged in manufacturing. Its postal vil- j lages are Uxbridge and South Uxbridge. It has four church edifices, 12 public schools, two banks, and a good public library. This place, called by the Indians Wacuntug, was taken from Mendon and incorporated June 27, 1727, HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. the name being given in honor of Henrj- Paget, Eaii of Uxbridge. The Rev. Nathan Webb was the first minister, having been ordained over the church at its formation in 1731. Noted J/eH. — William Baylies, M. D., M. C, 1805- 09, was born here Dec. 5, 1743, and died June 17, 1826 ; Nicholas Bajiies, a judge and author (1772- 1846) ; Willard Preston, D.D., born here May 29, 1785, and died in Savannah, Ga., April 26, 1856. W.iRREN, on the Quaboag River, has 3,260 inhabi- tants. The land is fertile, the scenery varied and pic- turesque. The postal centres are Warren and West Warren, and there is a Congregational church at each of these places. The town has also a Methodist, a Universalist, and two Catholic churches. Its manufac- tures consists mainly of cassimeres, cotton goods, steam- pumps, boots and shoes, ink and bluing, and iron castings. This town, formed from parts of Brookfield, Kings- field and Brimfield, was incorporated under the name of "Western," Jan. 16, 1741, which title it bore until March 13, 1841, when it took the name of Warren, in honor of the patriot. Gen. Joseph Warren, killed in the battle of Bunker Hill. A church was organized here in 1745, when the Rev. Isaac Jones was settled as the pastor. Nathan Read, son of Maj. Reuben Read and M. C, 1800-03, was born here July 2, 1759, and died Jan. 20, 1849. Webster, a manufacturing town, on the French River, 16 miles south of Worcester by the Norwich and Worcester Railroad, contains 5,064 inhabitants, and several large woollen and cotton mills. It has 6 pulilic schools, 7 church edifices, and a public journal, "The AVebster Times." Webster was taken from Oxford and Dudley, named in honor of Daniel Webster, and incorporated March 6, 1832. The manufacture of cotton and woollen goods was commenced here by Samuel Slater, who died in Webster April 20, 1835. His sons still continue the business here. The scenery of Webster is varied and beautiful, its most notable feature being the Lake Chaubunagunga- maug, which covers an area of about 1,230 acres, and serves as a reservoir for the mills. Westbouough is a large and flourishing manufacturing and farming town, and contains 155 farms and 1,541 inhabitants. The principal manufactures are boots and shoes, straw goods, and wagons and sleighs. The town has 16 public schools, 2 banks, and 6 church edifices. The State Reform School for boys is located here on a beautiful site, commanding a fine view of Chaunc^' Pond. The public and private buildings of this town are generally kept in good order, and the whole town presents an air of neatness and prosperity. " The West- borough Chronotype," a well-edited newspaper, is pub- lished here. This town has erected a marble monument in memory of the 25 men lost from the 313 it sent into the late war. This place, originally called "• Chauncj' Village," was detached from Jlarlborough, and incorporated Nov. 18, 1717. A church was organized here Oct. 28, 1724, and the Rev. Ebenezer Parkman was then ordained as the pastor. He remained in this office 59 years, and died Dec. 9, 1782, at the age of 80 years. On the 4th of August, 1704, the Indians visited this place, and took four boys, one of whom, Nahor Rice, they killed, and carried the others away captives. One of them was suljsequentl^' redeemed, and the two others remained and grew up with the Indians. Of these, one, whose name was Timothy Rice, became an Indian chief, and lost the use of the English language. lie visited Westborough in 1740, and recollected the house in which he lived, and the field in which he was taken. Eli Whitnc}', inventor of the cotton-gin, which has exerted such an influence on the industries of our coun- try and the world, was born here Dec. 8, 17G5, and died in New Haven, Conn., Jan. 8, 1825. Hon. Horace Maynard, M. C, was born in this town. WiNCHENDON is a large and prosperous farming and manufacturing town in the north part of the county. It has five pleasant villages : Winchendon Centre, Winchen- don, Springville, Bullardville and Waterv-ille. Miller's River runs in a serpentine course tlu-ough the town, and furnishes power for manufacturing purposes. The land is hilly and generally fertile. The town contains 3,7G2 inhabitants, and the principal manufactures are chairs, pails and tubs, cotton goods, bits and hammers, hay- rakes, and doors and blinds. The town has 10 schools, 2 banks, a public librai'y, a weekly paper, "The Jour- nal," and 6 churches. This place was granted to Lieut. Abraham Tilton of Ipswich in 1734, and called " Ipswich Canada." In 1752 it had ten families, some of whom then left through fear of the Indians. A church was organized Dec. 15th of that j'ear, when the Rev. Daniel Stunpson was ordained as pastor. The town was incorporated June 14, 1764. John ]\I. Whiton, author of a " History of New Hamp- MASSACHUSETTS. shire," was born here Aug. 1, 1785, and died Sept. 28, 1836. William B. Washburn, ex-governor of the State, was born here Jan. 31, 1820. West Boylston, noted for its beautiful scener}', is, by the Worcester and Nashua Railroad, about eight miles north of Worcester, and contains 2.902 inhabitants. The land is hill.y, and from the eminences delightful views of the surrounding country are obtained. The singular depression of about four acres of land called " The Pleasant Valley" is tliought to have been caused by an earthquake. The Nashua River and a tributarj' called the Quinnepoxet River, afford valualile motive- power. The postal villages are West Boylston and Oakdale, in the northern part of the town. The princi- pal manufactures are cotton goods and boots and shoes. The town has five church edifices and nine public schools. The town was formed from parts of Boylston, Holdcn and Sterling, and incorporated Jan. 30, 1808. A church w.as organized here Oct. 11, 1797, and the Rev. William Nash was then ordained as pastor. He was dismissed in 1815, and followed by the Rev. John Boardman. The famous almanac-maker, Robert B. Thomas, died in this town May 19, 1846, at the age of 80 years. Erastus Brigham Bigelow, LL. D., inventor, and founder of the town of Clinton, was born here in April, 1814. The Rev. Dyer Ball, a missionary to China, was also a native of this town. Templeton has four postal centres, — Baldwinsville on Otter River, Otter River, East Templeton and Temple- ton Centre. Brooks village is in the westerly part. The town is accommodated bj' the Vt. and Mass. and the Ware River railroads, and is about 69 miles north-west of Boston. It contains 2,764 inhabitants. It has nine public schools, a savings bank, a public librarj- and five church edifices. The principal manufactures are chairs, furniture, tin and copper ware and toy wagons. The soil is deep, moist and fertile ; the scenery romantic. This place was originally known as " Narragansett No. 6," and was incorporated as a town March 6, 1762. It furnished 188 soldiers for the late war, of whom about 50 were lost. The first settled minister of the place was the Rev. Daniel Pond, ordained over the church in 1755. His successors were the Rev. Ebenzer Sparhawk, 1761, and the Rev. Charles Wellin^on, 1807. There is a curious mine-cave in the southerly part of the town, supposed to have been opened in 1753. It is 57 feet deep. George C. Shattuck, M. D.^ a philanthropist, was born here July 17, 1783, and died in Boston March 18, 1854. William M. Goodrich, an organ-builder, was born here in 1777, and died in 1833. William Goodell, D. D., a missionary to Armenia, was born here Feb. 14, 1792, and died Feb. 18, 1867. SouTHBOROUGH, in the extreme easterly part of the county, is accommodated by the B. & A. R. R. and b}- the B., C. & F. R. R. The land is of good quality, and the scenerj- pleasant. The Sudbury' River separates the town from Hopkinton on the south, and furnishes some motive-power. The town lias 1,986 inhabitants. It has two Congregational, and also Baptist and Episcopal churches ; a good town house, a public library, a ijrosper- ous farmers' club and nine public schools. The princi- pal villages are the Centre, Fayville, Cordaville and Southville. The central village has a very neat and inviting appearance. This town was taken from Marlborough and incorpo- rated Jul}' 6, 1727. A chrn-ch was organized Oct. 24, 1730, when the Rev. Nathan Stone was ordained as pastor. His death occurred May 31, 1781. Of his successors the Rev. Samuel Sumner was ordained June 21, 1791, and the Rev. Jeroboam Parker in 1799. The town furnished a company of soldiers, of which Josiah Fa}' was captain, for the Revolutionary war ; also 206 men for the war of the Rebellion. In honor of the 17 men lost in this war it has erected a fine monument. Waldo Irving Burnett, an eminent naturalist, was born here July 12, 1828, and died July 1, 1854. Joseiih Burnett, Esq., of this town is the founder of St. Mark's Chapel and School, and is noted as an agriculturist. West Beookfield, a pleasant farming town, 69 miles south-west of Boston, b}' the Boston and Albany Rail- road, has its principal settlement on the Quaboag River. The town is noted for its excellent butter and cheese and for the abundance of its fruit. The population is 1,903. The town has 7 public schools, a hotel, — called from a large pond " The W'ickaboag House," — a public hall, a Congregational and a Methodist church. This place, long known as the west parish of Brookfield, was incor- porated March 3, 1848. A church was organized here Oct. 16, 1717, when the Rev. Thomas P. Cheney was settled as pastor. Wickaboag Pond was a noted resort of the Indians. Mrs. Lucy Stone (Blackwell), a well-known lecturer, was born here in 1818 ; and the Rev. Austin Phelps, D. D., Jan. 7, 1820. Westminster, noted for the manufacture of chairs HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. and paper, has 1,712 inhabitants 12 public schools, a public library' and three churches, — Congregationalist, Methodist and Universalist. The postal centres are at Westminster Centre, Westminster Depot and at Wachu- sctt Village. Wachusett Pond, a beautiful sheet of clear water, extends from this last-named village into Princeton. The place began to be settled by the Eng- lish as early as 1737. It was long known as NaiTagan- sett No. 2. A church was organized with the Eev. Elisha Marsh as pastor, Oct. 20, 1742; and the next j-oar ten forts were constructed as a defence against the Indians. The town was not incorporated until April 26, 1770. Sterling is a farming town of 1,569 inhabitants. It has 11 public schools, a public librarj- and three churches, the Unitarian, organized in 1742; the Orthodox, June 22, 1852; aud a Baptist church. The Methodists have here an extensive camp-meeting ground. There are three postal centres, — Sterling Centre, Pratt's Junc- tion and West Sterling. The land is moist and fertile, and much attention is given to the production of milk for market. The principal manufactures are chairs and earthenware. The Indian name of the place was Chocksett. A fight occuiTed in boats on one of the ponds during Phil- ip's war in which 36 Indians were either killed or taken prisoners. The town was incorporated April 25, 1781, and named, perhaps, from Sterling in Scotland. The Rev. John Mellen, ordained Dec. 19, 1744, and dis- missed Nov. 14, 1774, was the first minister. Henry Mellen, a lawyer and poet ; Prentiss Mellen, LL. D. ; the Rev. Martin Moore ; and William F. Hol- combe, M. D., were natives of this town. RoTALSTON, in the north-west comer of the county-, was incoporated Feb. 17, 1765, and named in honor of Col. Isaac Royal, one of the original proprietors. It has 1,260 inhabitants, most of whom are engaged in agi-icultural pursuits; 172 farms, and 10 public schools. The soil is strong and productive ; the local scenery, diversified and pleasing. Miller's River flows through the south-eastern section of the town, affording some motive-power. The town has four churches, two of which are Congregational, one Methodist and one Baptist. The postal centres are at Royalston and South Royals- ton. The chief manufactures are chairs and woollen goods. The town sent 1 22 soldiers to the late war, of whom 40 were lost. Their names are inscribed upon a tablet in the town hall. The first minister was the Rev. Joseph Lee, settled in 1768. and continued in the pastor- ate more than 40 years. His successor was the Rev. Ebenezcr Perkins, settled here in 1819. Royalston is the birthplace of Alexander H. Bullock, an ex-governor of the Commonwealth. He was born March 2, 1816, and now lives in Worcester. The remaining towns of Worcester County are Phil- LiPSTON (666), a i^leasant and mainly an agricultural town, incorporated Oct. 20, 1786, under the name of Gerrj', its first church being organized Nov. 16, 1788, and its first minister, Rev. Ebenezer Tucker, being ordained Nov. 5, 1788 : Petershasi, a fine agricultural town of 1,203 inhabitants, incoiporatcd April 20, 1754 ; the birthplace of the Rev. Peter Whitney (1744-1816), author of "History of Worcester Count}'"; the Rev. Samuel Willard, D. D. (1776-1859), author; Austin Flint, M. D., a noted physician; Lysander Spooner, author of " Deist's Reply," and other works : Paxton, a small, but good, agricultural town of 600 inhabitants, incorporated Feb. 12, 1765, its first minister being Rev. Silas Bigelow, ordained Oct. 20, 1 767 : Oakham (873) , incorporated June 11, 1762, its first church being organ- ized Aug. 28, 1767, and its first minister, the Rev. John Strickland, ordained at the same time : Northborougii, a pleasant town of 1,398 inhabitants, incorporated Jan. 24, 1766, its first church being organized Maj- 21, 1746 ; its first minister, the Rev. John Martin, settled at the same date ; noted as the place where Miss Marj' Good- now was killed by the Indians Aug. 18, 1707,* and as the birthplace of John Davis, LL.D. (1787-1854): New Braintree| (606), Indian name Winimcsset, incorpor- ated Jan. 31, 1751, its highest elevation. Tuft's Hill, having an altitude of 1,179 feet, and its first church being organized April 18, 1754; noted as the pb.co where 11 men were slain by the Indians Aug. 2, 1676, and where the captive Mrs. Rowlandson buried her murdered child : Northbridge, J a prosperous manu- facturing town of 4,030 inhabitants, its chief manu- factures being cotton goods, machinery, and boots aud shoes; incorporated July 14, 1772; the birthplace of Rev. Samuel Spring, D. D. (1746-1819), a noted divine : North Brookfield, an enterprising town of 3,749 inhabitants, incorporated Feb. 28, 1812, having an air of • The next day nine of these Indians were slain, and in the pacli of one of them was found the scalp of tlie unfortunate girl. t Charles Eames, a noted lawj-cr (1812-1867), and the Rev. Jonathan Fisher (1768-1847), author of "Scripture Animals," were natives of this X Cotton machinery is and 100 feet high The first minis in the year 1783. 1 Whit • in two shops, 300 feet long of this town was the Rev. John Crane, ordai; MASSACHUSETTS. thrift and neatness, and the site of one of the largest boot and shoe manufactories (the Batchelders') iu the world, which estabUshment has a flooring of about three acres, and emplo3S about 1,200 persons, and the most improved machinerj' ; — Hon. Wm. Appleton ( 1 786-1862) , a liberal merchant, and Ebenezer S. Snell, were born here: Millbury,* a busy manufacturing town of 4,529 inhabitants, owing its growth and prosperity largely to the hjdraulic power of the Blackstone River and its tributaries, which propels the machinery of several exten- sive cotton and woollen manufactories ; the principal manufactures being cassimeres, cotton goods, satinets, hosiery and 3"arn, edge-tools and carriages ; incorporated June 11, 1813 ; its first church formed in 1747, and its first minister, the Rev. James AVellman : Mendon, an old, and formerly a verj' large and prominent town, of 1,176 Inhabitants, now ahiiost wholly agricultural ; in- corporated May 15, 1667 ; named from Mendham, Eng. ; destro^-ed by the Indians July 14, 1675, aud several of its people slain; the native place of Maj. Simeon Thayer (1737-1800), a brave soldier; and Alexander Scammell (1747-1781), an officer of distinction, and a friend of Washington ; Rev. Joseph Emerson, the first minister ; and the Rev. Caleb Alexander, a noted scholar and author, being settled pastor in 1786: Lunenbukg, a pleasant farming town of 1,153 inhabitants, incorpo- rated Aug. 1, 1728, and named in honor of George II. ; the scene of the capture of the family of John F. Fitch by the Indians in 1749; the native place of Asahel Stearns, LL. D. (1774-1839), professor in Harvard Universitj- ; Luther S. Cashing, jurist ; and Micah P. Flint (1807-1830), poet; its first settled minister being the Rev. Andrew Gardner, installed May 15, 1728: Leicester, a prosperous and healthful town of 2,770 inhabitants, situated on high lands on the west of the city of Worcester; incorporated Feb. 15, 1713; the seat of Leicester Academj', founded in 1784 ; its princi- pal manufactures being cards, woollen goods, clothing, knives, satinets, shoes and shoddy ; its manufacturing villages being the Centre, Cherry Valley, Rochdale, and Greenville; the Rev. David Parsons ordained, in 1721, the first minister t ; the birth-place of Ralph Earlc (1751-1801), a painter; Pliny Earle (1762-1832), an inventor; St. John Honeywood (1763-1798), a poet; David Henshaw (1791-1852), a politician; Emory • This town has the honor of establishing the first lyceum (1828) iu the country. t He died in 1737, having ordered "his body to bo buried on his own farm, that it miff ht not mingle with the dust of his people," % The land of this town was bought of John Magus and Lawrence Nassowanno, sachems, in 168G, for £90 sterling. Washburn, ex-governor, and author of a history of the town ; William A. Wheeler, author of a " Dictionary of Noted Names of Fiction :" Hardwick, | a good fax-ming town of 1,992 inhabitants, noted for the excellence of its dairj-; incorporated Jan. 10, 1737; the native place of Dr. Jonas Fay (1737-1818), a statesman ; Moses Robin- son (1741-1813), United States senator; and Rev. Lucius R. Paige, D. D. ; its first church organized, with Rev. David White ordained pastor, Nov. 17, 1736. Holden § (2,180) , a farming and manufacturing town on high land in the central part of the county ; incorporated Jan. 9, 1740 ; its manufactures being cotton and woollen goods, leather, card and boxes ; its first church being founded Dec. 28, 1742, and the Rev. Joseph Davis being at the same time ordained as pastor ; the birth-place of the late Rev. Merrill Richardson, D. D., an able and popular Congregational divine ; named from the Hon. Samuel Holden, one of the directors of the Bank of England : Harvakd, long noted for a settlement of Shakers, an excellent farming town, having a population of 1,304, incorporated Jan. 29, 1732; the birth-place of Joshua Atherton (1737-1809), and of the Rev. G. W. Sampson D. D., an eminent Baptist divine; its church being organized Oct. 10, 1733, the Rev. John Secomb being ordained pastor: Hubbardston, a pros- perous farming town in the highlands of the county, of 1,440 inhabitants, incorporated June 13, 1767, named in honor of Thomas Hubbard of Boston ; its first church formed June 13, 1770, Rev. N. Parker being ordained pastor: Gardner, a thrifty agi-icultural and manufacturing town of 3,730 inhabitants, incorporated June 27, 1785 ; named from Col. Thomas Gardner, who fell in the battle of Bunker Hill ; having a commodious public hall, and a good weekly journal, the " Gardner News"; its first church being organized Feb. 1, 1786, and the Rev. Jonathan Osgood ordained pastor in 1791 : Dana (760) ; incorporated Feb. 18, 1801 ; first church formed in 1824: Douglas || (2,202), an agricultural town ; incorporated March 23, 1786 ; named in honor of Dr. William Douglas, author of a history of New Eng- land, and a benefactor of the town ; its first church organized Nov. 11, 1747, with the Rev. William Phipps as pastor: Dudley1[ (2,653), manufacturing cassi- meres, iron castings and paper ; named in honor of Paul and William Dudley, and incorporated Feb. 2, 5 Quinnepoxet River falls, in passing through the town, 3S0 feet, and furnishes valuable motive power. II It has an ancient tavern, said to have once entertained George Washington. H The Rev. John Eliot preached to a tribe of Indians here whose rela- tions to the English were always friendly. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. 1731 ; its first church being organized the ensuing year, with Rev. Perley Howe settled in 1735 as pastor; its most eminent pastor having been Joshua Bates, D. D., installed March 22, 1843 : Charlton,* a pleasant agri- cultural town of 1,852 inhabitants, incorporated Nov. 2, 1764 ; noted as the birth-place of Rev. Martin Ruter, D. D. (1 785-1838) , and of William T. G. Morton, M. D. (1819-1868), said to be the discoverer of ether as an anesthetic; its first church established Aug. 16, 1761 ; its first minister being Rev. Caleb Eustis, ordained Oct. 15, 1761 : Berlin, a small farming town of 987 inhabi- tants, incorporated Feb. 6, 1812 ; the native place of the late Hon. Solomon H. Howe, a noted railroad man- ager (1821-1879) ; its first church formed April 7, 1779, and the Rev. Reuben Puffer ordained pastor Sept. 26, 1781 : Bolton, a good farming town of 987 inhabitants, detached from Lancaster and incorporated June 24, 1738 ; named in honor of Charles Pawlet, Duke of Bolton; first church formed in 1741, when the Rev. Thomas Goss was ordained pastor : Botlston (895), an agricultural town, incorporated March 1, 1786; named • From Nugget Hill, 1,012 feet high, near the centre of the town, 4 t States and 19 villages may be seen. seen c in honor of the Boylston family of Boston ; its church organized Oct. 6, 1743 ; and in October of the same 3ear, the Rev. Ebenezer Morse ordained pastor ; he preached here until 1775, when he was dismissed for opposing the war with England : Blackstone, a prosperous manufacturing town of 4,640 inhabitants ; the Blackstone River, a fine, rapid stream, and its tribu- tary, Mill River, furnishing a great hydraulic power, utilized for the manufacture of cotton and woollen fabrics, and for saw and grist mills ; detached from Mendon and incorporated March 25, 1845 ; named from William Blackstone, the first white settler at Boston : f and, on the Worcester and Norwich Raikoad, Auburn, a small farming town of 1,233 inhabitants, five miles south-west of Worcester; incorporated April 10, 1778, under the name of Vf ard, which was changed to Auburn Feb. 17, 1837 ; its first church being organized June 25, 1776, and the Rev. Isaac Bailey settled over it in 1779 ; the native place of Jacob W. Bailey, a naturalist and inventor, born April 29, 1811, and died Feb. 26, i 1857. 1 remoTed into the wilderness about 1635. His grave may etill I 1 the right bank of the river which perpetuates his name. CONNECTICUT. CONNECTICUT. BY HENRY P. GODDARD. The State of Connecticut derives its name from its most beautiful natural feature, the chief river of New England, which, entering its northern borders from Massachusetts, divides the State, east and west, into two unequal portions, and empties into Long Island Sound between the towns of Old Lyme and Sa3-brook. The river's name, in the original Indian tongue, was Quinni- tuk, which, as has been ascertained bj- that Connecticut scholar. Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull, who is the foremost authoritj- in this countrj' on Indian language, signified, "The long, tidal river." This river is at this da}- navi- gable for steamboats onl}- as far as Hartford, its capital, some fiftj- miles from its mouth, and it was onlj' to a point a short distance above Hartford that the first white explorers of the river attained. It was in 1614 that this first exploring expedition was made, under command of Capt. Adrian Block, commander of an Amsterdam ship, one of five vessels sent out from the New Netherlands, who, having entered Long Island Sound from the eastward, coasted along until he found the river, up which he sailed, as stated. Block Island, near the entrance of the Sound, still preserves the name of this discoverer, upon whose voj-age, most glowinglj- reported at home, the Dutch laid their claim to the terri- tory' now known as Connecticut. The English claim to this same land was based prima- rily upon a patent granted, in 1631, to Lord Say and Seal, Lord Brooke, Sir Richard Saltonstall, and their associates, by Robert, Earl of Warwick, who derived his title from the patent of New England granted by James I. in 1620. In 1633, the rival claimants each made their first lodgments on the soil of the State, the Dutch building a fort on the river at Hartford, and one William Holmes, of Plymouth Colonj-, a house at Windsor, some seven miles north. For a few years therc was contention be- tween the two nationalities, but ere long the Dutch j-ielded, sold out to the English, and retired. In 1635 and 1636, Rev. Thomas Hooker, who had won a reputation in England and Holland as one of the ablest of the non-conforming clergy, emigrated, with nearly his whole congi-egation, from Cambridge, Mass., where he had been settled, and founded the towns of Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor. The motive for the wholesale emigration of Mr. Hooker and his church, including his associate teacher, Samuel Stone, and, a little later, John Haynes, who in 1635, was governor of Massachusetts, has been a matter of some speculation. In 1635, also, John Winthrop the younger, son of the Massachusetts governor, built a fort at Sa3-brook under direct commission from the English proprietaries. It is a satisfaction to record that Hartford, then a tract of six square miles, was honorably purchased of the Indian tribes who inhabited it. In 1636, the first General Court was held at Hartford. In 1637, the new Colony found itself, in its very be- ginnings, involved in war with the powerful Pcquod Indians, — a war which threatened its very existence, but which ended in 1637 with the virtual extermination of the tribe, consequent upon two crushing defeats in- fiicted upon them by colonial troops led by Capt. John Mason. New Haven was settled in 1638 from Boston by Eng- lish settlers, headed by Theophilus Eaton and Rev. John Davenport. These adopted a constitution of their own, without warrant or sanction from England, and, pur- chasing the land from the Indians, proceeded to lay out the beautiful Elm City in regular squares, upon a plain as level as Runnymede, with a fine harbor opening into the Sound. The site was chosen with ref- erence to its facilities for trade and commerce, avoca- tions in which the settlers had been engaged in England. The inhabitants of this Colony were greatly anno3ed at the consolidation with Connecticut Colony by order of the crown in 1665, especially as in New Haven, suffrage had been restricted to church-members, a restriction that did not prevail in Connecticut. From 1701 to 1872, the legislature met alternately in Hartford and New Haven ; but, in 1872, the people of the State voted that Hartford should be the single capital, and a very large and hand- some State capitol building has just [1879] been com- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. pleted and occupied in that city. It is built of marble, and cost $2,500,000. In 1G39, the people of the State adopted their first constitution, of which that ripe student of New England history, Dr. Leonard Bacon, of New Haven, has said that "It is the earUest precedent of a written constitu- tion proceeding from a people, and in their name, estab- lishing and defining a government." The first governor chosen under the constitution was John Haynes, who alternated in the oflBce with Edward Hopkins for many years ; for until 1659, it was not the custom to allow a governor to serve two consecutive years, although in the "off" years he might be, and gonerallj^ was, elected " deputj'-governor," an office equivalent to that of our modern lieutenant-governor. In 1G43, Connecticut joined the New England Confed- eration, — a creation, in the main, of Haynes and Hooker, for the purpose of combining the strength of the Colonies against Indian wars and Dutch aggression. In 1G57, ex-Governor Hopkins died in England, leav- ing handsome legacies to executors in the Colonies " for the breeding up of hopeful j-oulhs, both at the grammar school and college, for the public service of the countrj- in future times." These funds were the foundation of the present Hopkins grammar school, of New Haven, and the Hartford high school. In 1057, John Winthrop was elected governor of Connecticut, a position to which, after the year 1G58, he was annually re-elected until his death in 1G76. Few names in the New England annals are comparable to that of this gentleman, scholar, trav- eller and physician of note, whose name is preserved in manj' parts of the State, notably in New London, which he founded in 1G46. In 1GG2, Gov. Winthrop made a visit to England in the interests of the Colony. He found in Lord Say and Seal, the only survivor of the original p.atentees, a warm friend, thi-ough whose influence he was enabled to gain audience with Charles II. At this interview, Winthrop, with his wonted tact, first presented the king a ring that had been given by Charles I. to his grand- father, and then presented a petition from the Colony of Connecticut for a royal charter. This charter, freely granted by the Icing, can still be seen in the office of the secretary of state at Hartford, framed with wood from the Charter Oak. Based, as this instrument was, upon the colonial constitution of 1G39, it was indeed a royal gift, and proved of great value to the young Colony, as evidenced by the many subsequent attempts to revoke it on the part of the successors of Charles II. Upon the death of Gov. Winthrop, in 1676, Wil- liam Leete — who had served a term of six years as governor of New Haven Colony — was chosen his suc- cessor, Connecticut thus showing that the union with New Haven was complete and cordial. In 1C83, Maj. Eobert Treat succeeded to the gubernatorial chair on the death of Gov. Leete. He was a son of one of the original patentees of the Colony, and at the time of his election a resident of Milford. He was one of the few men in that section who dared to favor the union of New Haven with Connecticut, in face of the opposition of Davenport, and was instrumental, with Winthrop, in bringing about that union. Like his predecessor, Gov. Leete, he was one of those who helped to harbor, con- ceal, and assist the regicides, Goffe and Whallcy, during their concealment in New Haven Colony. He won his military rank during Iving Phihp's war in 1675-6, in course of which he distinguished himself in command of the Connecticut troops serving in Massachusetts. In 1687, during the administration of Gov. Treat, came the usurpation of Sir Edmund Andros, who, having been appointed governor of New England by James II., assumed sway over the Colonies until the news of the fall of his royal master reached America in 1689. The tale of Andros's futile efforts to get; the charter of Con- necticut, and of how it disappeared, to reappear after his downfall, has made the name and fame of the Charter Oak sj-uon3inous with that of the State, but cannot be dwelt upon here. In 1690, and again in 1693, the State furnished its quota of troops for the war against the French and Indians. In 1693, Gov. Fletcher, of the New York Colony, de- manded of Connecticut that its militia should be put under his orders, under powers conferred upon him by William and Mary. The assembly and the people de- clined to accede to this demand, and sent Fitz John Winthrop — son of the late governor — to England to remonstrate. He was successful in procuring a revoca- tion of the order, and was rewarded therefor by the assembly with a present of three hundred pounds ster- ling, and in 1697, was chosen governor. In 1701, the college was founded at Saybrook, that, 17 j-ears later, was removed to New Haven, and chris- tened Yale College in honor of its first private benefac- tor, Ehhu Yale. During the reign of Queen Anne (1702-14), another futile attempt was made in England to force Connecticut to gi^•e up its charter, the failure of which was due, as in prior cases, to the cool-headed obstinacy of the colonists. In 1707, Fitz John Winthrop died while governor. He was succeeded by Rev. Gurdon Saltonstall, a gentle- CONNECTICUT. man of marked nobility of carriage and character, who left the ministry to become governor — an office to ■which he was re-elected for 17 years. Diiring his administration, "election sermons were inaugurated, it being enacted by the legislature that, on the day ap- pointed by law for choosing rulers, the ministers of the gospel should preach to the freemen a sermon proper for their direction in the work before them." This custom was observed, almost without intermission, until 1830, when it was finally abandoned. A companion custom of baking " election cake" for the same ceremony, whose origin is venerable, but unknown, lasted until the aban- donment of spring elections in 1876. In 1 708, the " Saj'brook Platform " was adopted b3- the clergy of the State assembled in council at the College Commencement. This furnished a uniform standard or confession of faith for the churches of the State, and a guide for the instruction of the college which was then designed chiefl}' for the education of young men for the ministry. As all the churches first formed were Congre- gational, this platform was a matter of such importance that, when the churches had ratified it, the assembly passed a vote expressing its gratification thereat. In 1710, the Saybrook Platform was published in book form by Thomas Short, the first book printed in Con- necticut. Short soon died and was succeeded by Tuno- thy Greene, who settled in New London as State printer — a position held by himself and heirs till after the Rev- olution. The first newspaper in the State was the " Con- necticut Gazette," published in New Haven in 1 755 ; the second, the "New London Siunmarj'," was started b}' Greene in 1758, and the third, the "Connecticut Cour- ant," begun in Hartford in 17G4, has been continuously pul)lished there ever since, its principal editors at this date being Gen. Joseph R. Hawlej', and the equally well-known Charles Dudlej' Warner. In 1724, Gov. Saltonstall died, and was succeeded by Joseph Talcott, who, like his predecessor, was elected every year until his death in 1741. A touching incident of his gubernatorial career was the sudden death of his wife during the legislative session of 1738. Custom then required the presence of governor, or deputy gov- ernor, at all sessions of the assembly, and as the latter was absent from the city, and his wife had died after the morning session. Gov. Talcott was compelled to leave her dead body to preside over tlie afternoon session, which was, of course, made as short as possible. His conduct on this occasion is spoken of in an address of condolence made by the assembly, as betokening " great- ness and presence of mind." In 1750, the towns of Enfield, Suffleld, Woodstock and Somers, which since 1713 had been governed by Massachusetts, were returned to Connecticut. It is owing to a confusion that then occurred as to the correct boundaries of the town of Suffield that a tract of land of two miles square on the west of that town, and east of Granby belongs to Massachusetts, making that queer jut that appears on the northern boundary of Connecti- cut. As the Southwick ponds, projecting well into Mas- sachusetts, cover most of this space no recent attempts have been made to rectify the line. In 1751, Gen. Roger Wolcott, who had won his rank in the French war, became governor. A scion of a family that had held office in the Colony from its first settlement, he was the first to attain the chief magistracj', an honor afterwards held by his son, Oliver, in 1796 and 1797, and grandson, Oliver 2d, from 1818 to 1827 ; while his daughter, Ursula, who mamed Gov. Matthew Griswold (1784), and was the mother of Gov. Roger Griswold (1811), was related and connected with twelve govern- ors and thirty-two judges, as shown by an interesting paper prepared by Prof. E. E. Salisbury of New Haven, for the " New England Genealogical Register." In 175G, Connecticut furnished 2,000 men for opera- tions against Canada in the English war against the French, and 5,000 more after the disaster at Fort William Henry. It was in this war that Israel Putnam and Ben- edict Arnold won their first laurels as Connecticut sol- diers. In 1763, a small band of Connecticut emigrants settled the beautiful Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania — a sec- tion of country over which Connecticut claimed jurisdic- tion under its original patents— a claim disputed, how- ever, by Pennsylvania. The settlers suflTered much an- noyance from the disputed proprietorship, but maintained their position in the valley, although in 1778, during the Revolution, a band of 400 British and 700 Indians over- ran the valley, the latter putting to the torture so many of its inhabitants, that the "Massacre of Wj-oming" has passed into history and legend as an example of barbanc cruelty. The title to the land was finally awarded Penn- sylvania, to whose government the Connecticut colonists then submitted. When in 1765, the "Stamp Act" went into force, all Connecticut was ablaze with indignation, and Jared In- gcrsoll of New Haven, the stamp-master appointed by the crown, was forced to resign the post, in peril of his life, by a body of some 500 farmers, all tearing staves, wlio overhauled him in the streets of old WcthcrsCcld, as he was on his way to Hartford to put himself in communica- tion wilh Gov. Fitch (himself of Tory proclivities), and the assembly. The clergy of the State, headed by HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. that earnest patriot, Eev. Stephen Johnson of Lyme, were active in inciting the people to opposition, and when in October Gov. Fitch, despite the earnest remonstrance of two-thirds of his council, took the oath to enforce the Stamp Act, seven of the eleven councillors — among whom were two of his successors in the executive chair — Jonathan Trumbull and Matthew Griswold, left the room rather than witness the humiliating spectacle. The as- sembly and people endorsed this protest and, in the en- suing flection in 1766, replaced Fitch, the Tory, with William Pitkin, the patriot, with Trumbull as deputy- governor. In 1769, Jonathan Trumbull, who was the famed "Brother Jonathan" of the Revolution, was promoted to be governor, a post to which he was annually re-elects cd till 1784, when, at the age of 73, he refused further ser. vice, after having held one pubUc office and another in the State for 51 years. The friend and counsellor of Wash- ington, who bestowed upon him that name, "Brother Jonathan," that has since come to be applied to the United States as a nation, the honor of having been the great war governor of the Revolution belongs to Trum- buU, as did a similar honor to his townsman Wm. A. Buckingham, in the war of the RebeUion. As in the case of Wolcott, a son and grandson of Trumbull be- came governors of the State. In 1774, Connecticut prepared for hostilities, ordering New London fortified, and the towns to la^' in ammui- tion. In 1775, the assembly commissioned David Wooster a major-general, and Israel Putnam, a brigadier. With the first news of Lexington, Putnam rode post-haste to Cam- bridge, whither he had ordered his troops to join him. In the words of Bancroft, who is no partisan of Putnam, " He brought to the service of his country, courage which during the war was never questioned, and a heart than which none throbbed more honestly or warmly for Amer- ican freedom." From all over Connecticut volunteers were pushing for the seat of war, when the assembl}- voted to raise six regiments of 1,000 each. The total number of men raised by the State during the whole war was 31,959, out of a population of 238,141, a larger number than were enlisted in any other State except JIassaehusetts, although Connecticut was but seventh in population of the Old Thirteen. At Bunker Hill Gen. Putnam was certainly present, and useful, however the question of who held command maj' be settled. At the disastrous repulse of the Revolutionary' troops at Quebec, Arnold, who had been in service from the outbreak of the war, was in command, with Montgomery, and had his leg shattered. In June, 1776, the assembl}- instructed its representa- tives in Congress to " give their assent to a Declaration of Independence." The Connecticut signers of the great document of July 4th, 1776, were Roger Sherman, Sam- uel Huntington, William Williams and Oliver Wolcott, two of whom, Huntington and Wolcott, were afterwards governors of the State. In August, 1776, Putnam commanded the Americans in the battle of Long Island, a defeat for which the latest and most careful writers on the subject, acquit him of the responsibUity. It was soon after this that Nathan Hale, a gallant young officer of a Connecticut regiment, a nati\e of Coventry, but 21 years old at this time, met the sad fate of a spy, owing to his capture by the British, while re- turning from their camp on Long Island, whither he had been sent by Washington to procure intelligence and plans of the enem}''s works, in wiiich he had entirel}- succeeded. The story of his brutal execution, denied both a Bible and clergj-, and of these memorable words of his, " I onlj' regret that I have but one life to lose for my country," has enrolled his name among heroes as the 3'oung martyr of the American Revolution. In April, 1777, Gov. Trj-on, Tor}' governor of New York, raided into Connecticut, burned a portion of Dan- bury, and, when his troops were attacked on their re- treat by Gen. Wooster with a small force, repulsed their assaults. Gen. Wooster being shot and killed. Arnold, who commanded another detachment of Americans, nar- rowly escaped a similar fate, his horse being sliot under hhn ; j-et he succeeded in harassing Tryon's retreat to such an extent that the latter lost 170 of his men, killed and wounded. May 21st, Col. Meigs, with 200 men, retaliated for Tr3-on's visit bj- a raid in boats from New Haven to Sag Harbor, Long Island, where they burned 13 British ves- sels, captured 90 prisoners, and returned scathless. This j'ear Arnold was made a major-general, and did splendid scr\-ice at the battle of Saratoga. In Februar}-, 1 779, Tryon made another raid over the border. Putnam tried to stop him, at Greenwich, with a few old field-pieces and sixty men, but seeing that his position could be easilj' flaulved, galloped off to Stamford for reinforcements, taking the famous ride down the rug- ged hill of Ilorseneck, the centennial anniversary of which has but lately been appropriately celebrated at Greenwich. July 5th, 1799, a British fleet landed 3,000 troops at the entrance of New Haven harbor, who after a stern resistance from the few patriots that could hastilj' be gathered, burned a number of stores and private houses. CONNECTICUT. pillaged others, murdered several prisoners, and insulted and stabbed Eev. Dr. Daggett, president of Yale Col- lege, who was onlj- spared at the intercession of a Torj' guide of the British, who had been an old pupil of the Doctor, who, for his part, told his captors that he should take arms against them whenever opportuuit}- offered. The British embarked on the Gth, but on the 8th landed at Fairfield, where thej plundered and burned the vil- lage to ashes, inflicting the same fate on Norwalk on the 11th. In 1780, Benedict Arnold turned traitor to his country, and in September, 1781, appeared off New London with a British fleet of 24 ships. Capturing the city and Fort Trumbull, on the Gth of September, with little difllculty, a portion of his force attacked Fort Griswold, on the Groton bank of the Thames Eiver, which was most bravely defended by Col. Ledyard and the Americans under his command. Overpowered at last by the greatly superior number of the enemj', who were pouring into the fort, Ledj'ard surrendered, but was brutally murdered with his own sword by the British officer to whom he gave it up. Eighty-five Americans were killed in the assault, whose bravery is commemorated bj- a handsome granite monument 127 feet high, which was erected close by the fort in 1830. In New London, 65 dwellings and 80 other buildings were destroyed by fire, and damage done to the extent of $500,000. A native of Norwich, which is but 14 miles from New London, it is not to be wondered at that Arnold has ever been especiallj' execrated in Connecticut, that once had high hopes of him. This was the last action of the Revolution on Con- necticut soil, and the State eagerly welcomed the honor- able peace and independence that followed the surrender of Cornwallis in October, 1781. Connecticut came out of the Revolutionarj' war with an untarnished reputation, and, as appears from the Silas Deane correspondence, in the files of the State Historical Societj-, and other sources, with the reputation of having a model governor, and a constitution that was " superior to anj- other," and which served a high pur- pose in furnishing a pattern for that soon adopted for the nation. At the convention that formed the Constitution of the United States, in 1787, the Connecticut delegates were Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth (later chief justice of the United States) , and "William S. Johnson. Originally a poor shoemaker, Roger Shennan won such a reputa- tion as a statesman, that it is his statue, with that of Jonathan Trumbull, that Connecticut has put up in the national Capitol, " as the two of her deceased citizens illustrious for their historic renown, or for distinguished civil or militarj- services " ; while, as 3"et, these are the onlj" two statesmen whose statues also ornament the new State Capitol at Hartford. So successful were Sherman and Ellsworth in their- efforts at harmonizing and com- promising the varied and dissenting elements in the convention that adopted the constitution, that no less an authority than John C. Calhoun has said that it is to these two men and Judge Patterson of New Jersej' that " we are indebted for the National Government." Con- necticut ratified the constitution in January, 1788. Gov. Trumbull, who retired in 1784 and died in 1785, was succeeded as chief magistrate by Matthew Griswold, who had been lieutenant-governor for fifteen years. He in turn was succeeded in 1786 by Samuel Huntington, one of the signers of the Declaration, who governed until 1796. It was during these administrations that national parties began to take fixed shape throughout the country, the masses of Connecticut folic and the governors being stanch Federalists. In 1796, Oliver Wolcott, Sr., became governor, to be succeeded in 1798 by Jonathan Trumbull, a son of " Brother Jonathan," who continued to be chosen till his death in August, 1809. Early in that year President Jefferson called uiiou Gov. Trumbull to designate special officers of mihtia, upon whom the United States customs collectors could rely for aid in carrjing out the Enforcing j Act, which was designed to put in force the celebrated | " Embargo," of Jefferson's administration. The governor declined to comply, on the ground that Congress had ■ overstepped its authority, and called a session of the j Legislature, which adopted a protest to Congress against the embargo, which contributed greatly to the repeal thereof in February, 1809. In 1812, Roger Griswold, a son of the first Gov. Griswold, who was then governor, adopted a similar course when called upon to furnish detachments of the State militia to Maj. Gen. Dearborn for service in the war just declared against Great Britain. He based his non-compliance with the President's request upon the grounds, that the constitutional contingency in which the militia of the State could be called into the Feder.nl sersdce did not exist, and, moreover, that the militia could not be constrained to serve under other than their own officers, exce|)t under the President of the United States personally in the field. Gov. Griswold's position was sustained by his council, and by the large Federal majority- in the State. In 1813, Commodore Stephen Decatur, with his little fleet of American vessels, was blockaded in New Lon- don Harbor and the river Thames, and so closely watched HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. bj' the British that, in his vexation at being unable to get out at sea, the commodore charged that "blue lights" had been burned bj- the Federalists on the shores of the harbor to advise the enemy when he sought to run the blockade, compeUing him to abandon the project. This story was long used to stigmatize the anti-war party as "Connecticut blue-light Federahsts"; but neither the gallant, but hasty sailor, nor any one since his day, has been able to substantiate the charge. April 7, 1814, a detachnient of 200 sailors and marines from the British fleet off New London, made an expedi- tion up the Connecticut Eiver to Essex, where thej' burned some 25 vessels, destroj-ing some $200,000 of property. On the 9th of August, Capt. Hardy of the blockading fleet, with five of his vessels, began a bombardment of Stonington, which continued some 48 hours, but was so bravely resisted by a small force of militia, gathered behind a little battery of three guns, that he finally' retired with damaged ships, and a loss of 75 men killed and womided, while the Americans had none killed, and only six wounded. Dec. 15, 1814, the New England discontent with the war came to a focus in the "Hartford Convention," whereat 26 delegates, appointed by the New England legislatures, assembled together. After a session of 20 days, the convention adjourned, having adopted a report making a respectful protest against certain acts of Con- gress in originating and carrying on the war. This protest was adopted by the legislatures of Connecticut and Massachusetts, but was rendered useless by the conclusion of peace Feb. 17, 1815. The return of peace not only put an end to the dis- satisfaction with the war, but, in a short time, to the old Federal party that had held continuous swaj' in the State ; and in 1817 Oliver AVolcott, 2d, son of the last Gov. Wolcott, was elected governor b}' a combination of the opposition elements. In 1818 the same combina- tion elected a legislatm-e in favor of a constitutional convention, which was speedily called, met in August, and formed a constitution, which was ratified by the people in October. Under this constitution, with but few amendments, the State is still governed. It is no light tribute to the value of the charter obtained by John Winthrop, that the Colony and State had needed no other constitution for 150 j'ears, and that the present constitution is based in the main upon that old charter, but few changes being necessary even in the direction of wider religious toleration and suffrage. The most important of recent amendments to the con- stitution of 1818, beside such as conform to changes in the Federal Constitution, is that of 1875, extending the governor's term to two j-ears. Another amendment re- cently submitted to the people providing for biennial sessions of the legislature was defeated. In 1824, the institution now known as Trinity College was started at Hartford, under control of the Protestant Episcopal Church. In 1872 the college grounds were sold to the State for $000,000, as a site for the new Capitol building, and a new location, a mile south, pui- chased for the college, where fine buildings of Portland freestone have been erected for its use. In 1831, Weslej-an University, the oldest and best known American college under control of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was organized at Middletown, where it now occupies a number of handsome buildings on a commanding knoll. In 1847, Connecticut furnished a companj' for the New England regiment in the Jlexican war, a regiment of which Thomas H. Seymour of Hartford returned as colonel, having distinguished himself in the war. He was subsequently (1850-54) governor of the State. Connecticut continued greatl3' to increase and prosper until the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion in 18C1. This event found in the governor's chair William A. Buckingham of Norwich, who, like his great prototype, Tnunbull, was a native of Lebanon. Fortunate it was for the State that this courtlj', Christian gentleman, of devoted patriotism, undeviating integrity , great generosity and large wealth was at its helm. It was in great measure owing to him that Connecticut was among the first to get her troops to the front, that her regiments were, as a rule, admirabl3' otHcered, that her soldiers never lacked attention from the State during his term of oflSce, as the writer can testify from personal experience. The total number of men credited to the State during the whole war was 54,882, which, reduced to a three j-oars' standing (the tenns of enlistment varj-ing a little), equals 48,181, an excess of 7,000 over its quota, of whom but 203 were drafted men. As Trumbull was the friend of Washington, so Buckingham was a tried and trusted friend of President Lincoln. The Connecticut troops raised during the war of the RebelHon consisted of 28 regiments of infantry (two colored) , two of heavj- artillery, a regiment and squadron of cavalrj', and three light batteries. These were so dis- tributed among the different Union armies, that there was hardly a battle of moment during the war in which Con- necticut troops were not engaged, and some of the infantry regiments, notably the 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 14th, ICth and 21st, had a list of battles to show at its close rarely ever equalled in the same space of time. To CONNECTICUT. enumerate these battles, or to specify instances where Connecticut men distinguished themselves therein, would be to write a historj' of the war for which we have no space. In the navy, too, which was presided over during the wliolo contest by a Connecticut man, Gideon Welles, who was throughout Mr. Lincoln's administration secre- tary of the navj', Connecticut won new glory and renown. A few of the more prominent officers of the army and navy who were sons of Connecticut, who lost their lives in the contest, were Gens. L3'on, Sedgwick and Mans- field, Admiral Foote and Capt. Ward. The following- named attained distinction and the rank of general officers in the volunteer service, in nearly everj' instance winning their rank by h.ard and gallant field service : II. G. Wright, J. A. Mower, A. II. Terry, R. O. Tyler, II. W. Birge, H. W. Benham, J. R. Hawley, R. S. Mackenzie, II. L. Abbot, Alex. Shailer, A. S. Williams, J. W. Ripley, Daniel T3-ler, W. S. Ketchum, O. S. Ferry, H. W. Wessells, II. D. Terry, Edward Ilarland, II. B. Carrington, A. C. Harding and L. P. Bradloj'. At home the State nobly sustained its grand and good governor, and its legislatures never faltered in voting men and money in response to every call he made upon them. In May, 1866, Gov. Buckingham's last term expired, he refusing longer service now that the war had ende'd. He was succeeded as governor by Gen. Joseph R. Ilawle}', who had won his way up from captain to general in the volunteer service, and has, since the war, won a reputation as one of the leading Republican statesmen of his day, and as president of the Centennial Commission of 1876. Gov. Buckingham was elected a U. S. senator from Connecticut in 1868, and died while holding that office in 1875. Gov. Ilawlej-'s successors in office have been James E. English, Marshall Jewell, Charles R. Ingersoll, Richard D. Hubbard, and the present incum- bent, Charles B. Andrews. To Gov. Hubbard, con- fessedly one of the first statesmen and law3-ers, as he is one of the first orators in the country, is due the credit of manj' reforms in the legislative and legal practice of the State, all in the line of retrenchment, reform and simplification of methods. As he served but a single terra of two years, much of the work that he began falls upon his successor, who, although of another political party, has shown such zeal and judgment in the same direction, that it is clearlj- evident that in Gov. Andrews, the State has added another to its long list of distin- guished and able governors. Connecticut has an area of 4,7.30 square miles. Its population in 1870 was 637,454. It is bounded on the east by Rhode Island, north by Massachusetts, west bj- New York, south by Long Island Sound. Its climate is changeable but healthful ; its soil, especiallj' in the valley of the Connecticut River, good, but, as a whole, best adapted for grass growing. Its woods are abundant and valuable, while its fruits are excellent and plentiful. To- bacco is extensively raised, especially in Hartford County along the Connecticut River, and has in years past been a most profitable crop, though at the low prices which have prevailed since 1873, it has been much less so than of old. The mineral resources of the State are varied and extensive, the most valuable quarries being those of red sandstone or freestone, found in abundance at Portland on the Connecticut. At Canaan is found the white marble of which the new State House is built ; at Bolton, a micaceous slate, useful for flagging ; while at Salisburj- and Kent, iron ore is found in such abundance, that iron production has become the chief interest of that section of the State. Granite and limestone are also abundant in various sections, and of excellent qualitj' ; while cobalt, feldspar and copper are found in lesser quantitj', with clay in abundance for bricks. But it is in manufacturing that the State is pre- eminent, the proverbial ingenuity of the Connecticut Yankee, which has been satirized in the mj-thical wooden nutmeg, winning most of its triumphs in this sphere of action. The reports of the patent office for 1872 showed the proportion of patents granted to Connecticut to be in excess of those of anj' other State, being one to every 829 inhabitants. Clocks, India-rubber goods, and car- riages have been for j'ears among the principal produc- tions. The total amount of capital invested in manufac- tures in 1870 was over $95,000,000, woollen goods, cotton goods and carriages being the chief productions. Insurance and banking emplo}' much of the capital of the State, Hartford being especially interested therein, and famed all over the world for the number and strength of its life and fire insurance companies of large assets. The common-school S3'stem of the State has been per- fected in recent years to such an extent that 95 per cent, of the children of the school age are school attendants, and, as a result, but 19,680 of its inhabitants were reported as illiterate in 1870. The State possesses a "school fund" of $2,019,000, the principal of the fund being derived from the sale of its so-called ' ' Connecticut Rescr\'e " in the northern por- tion of Ohio, in 1786, for $1,200,000. This "Reser\-e" consisted of 3,300,000 acres of land, received by Con- necticut at the time of its cession to the general govern- ment of its share of vacant lands in the unoccupied HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. territory of the West. The State granted 500,000 acres of this reserve to such of the citizens of New London, Groton, Fairfield, Norwalk and Danbury as had suffered from British depredations during tlie war, and sold the balance. " The high schools of most of the larger towns and cities fit pupils for college or business life, while the universities within its borders send forth graduates all over the world. In literature, theology and science the State has always maintained a high reputation, giving to the world, or claiming as residents, such poets as Trumbull, Pcrcival, Brainard, Ilalleck and Stedman ; such philologists as Noah Webster and J. Hammond Trumbull ; such theologians as Horace Bushnell, Leonard Bacon and Noah Porter ; such antiquarian students and historians as C. J. Hoad- hy ; such writers on educational topics as Henry Barn- ard ; such political economists as Theodore Woolsej-, D. A. Wells and W. G. Sumner ; such writers of fiction and essaj-ists as Harriet Beecher Stowe, Charles Dudlej- Warner, Donald G. Mitchell and Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain) , and many others ; and in science, the elder Silliman, Clarence King, and many more. In legal circles such names as Ellsworth, Walte, (the present chief justice is of Connecticut birth), Gould, Goddard, Storrs, Seymour, Waldo, and many others have been famous ; while at the bar, a verj- long array of men of talent could be named. Of living members of the profession who have attained more than local fame are Hubbard and Robinson of Hartford, Harrison and IngersoU of New Haven, Seymour of Litchfield, and Halsey of Norwich. Of orators there is also a long array, including such names as Sherman, Griswold, Baldwin, Deming, Stuart, Harrison and Hubbard. In art. Col. John Trumbull of Connecticut was the finest painter of the Revolutionary era, and Fred. E. Church ranks among the first to-day. But to enumerate the dis- tinguished sons of Connecticut is beyond our limits. The early settlers of Connecticut were men of educa- tion and enterprise, as well as of character and piety. Hooker at Hartford, and Davenport at New Haven, meant to implant free commonwealths of God-sen'ing people. The seed thej' planted brought forth such fruit that the distinguishing name of the State has long been " Land of Steady Habits." Its State seal, which has been in use with but slight modification since 1G56, bears, "Argent, three vines supported and fruited ; " with the legend, " Qui transtulit sustinet" — "He who transplanted will sustain." In this faith the citizens of the State have seen their grand old Commonwealth increase and prosper j-car by j^ear ; in this faith they fought French and Indians, Mother England herself, and treason against the Union. So long as loyaltj' to this motto inspires her people, so long may they hope for prosperitj-. CONNECTICUT. FAIRFIELD COUNTY BY WILLIAM KNAPP. It was six years" before the landing of the Pilgrims at Pl3-moutli Rock, 19 j-ears before the first frame house was erected at "Windsor in Connecticut, and about 23 j'cars before we have any knowledge of Europeans setting foot on the soil of the State west of the Ilousatonic River in what is now Fairfield County, that the adventurous Adrian Block, a Dutch explorer, sailed into Long Island Sound from the little settlement of his own countrj'men on Manhattan Island, comprising only about four houses, in his ship of state, the " Restless," and made the dis- coverj' of the shores of Fairfield County ; first observing the Norwalk Islands, which he named the Archipelagoes, and then sailing to the mouth of the Ilousatonic River, its eastern boundary', which he named the river of the Red Mountain ; and thus, as early as the year 1014, this county and the Connecticut River, and the entire coast of the State, for the first time became known to a race of beings different from the aborigines. The first knowledge of the desiralile situation and great natural advantages of this county for future settlements was obtained bj- the English colonists while pursuing the retreating Pequot Indians westward to the " great swamp " in the present town of Fairfield, where, Julj' 13, 1G37, a decisive battle was fought. In a short period of time thereafter the formation of settlements and towns first commenced. In 1G39, Mr. Ludlow, an eminent lawj'cr of Windsor, who was at the Indian swamp fight about two years before, when he became most favorablj' impressed with the locality, commenced a settlement at Fairfield, called Unquowa by the natives. He brought about ten families with him, and settlers joined them from Watertown and Concord, Mass. The territorj' was generallj- purchased of the natives ; and the settlers soon fonned a township and came under the jurisdiction of the Connecticut Colony. The same year Mr. Fairchild came from Eng- land and purchased a plantation at Stratford, comprising Pcquonnock and Cuphcag, as thej' were known b}" the Indians, situated between Fairfield and the Housatonic River ; and settlements were commenced immediately, although William Judson is said to have settled here in 1G3K, and to have erected a stone house. John and William Eustice and Samuel Hawley came from Rox- bmy, and Joseph Judson and Timothy Wilcoxson from Concord, Mass. A few years later Samuel Wells came from Wethersfield, and others from Boston. The first clergyman at this place was Adam Blackman, an eminent and greatly ])eloved preacher, formerly of the Church of England, who came directly from Derbyshire. Many of his admirers followed him to these shores, declaring that " th}' people shall be our people and thy God our God." On this earlj' settled territory, and within a compara- tively recent period, Bridgeport, the third city in size and importance in the State, has sprung into existence. The exact date of the commencement of the settlement in this latter localit3' seems to be in doubt ; but, in 1650 it is evident that a few families were residing in this section on Toilsome Hill, where Capt. David Sherman, a leader in matters of church and state, was born and resided ; and that, although the population has changed in locality, this was the germ of the future citj-. In 1094 a parish was formed named Fairfield Village. In 1701 Fairfield Village was named Stratfield by the Gen- eral Court ; and, after a period of 75 years contained only about 1 ,000 inhabitants. With the gradual increase in population, the business began to centre at the head of tide-water, and down the harbor or river east of Golden Hill, and somewhat on the east side of Pcquon- nock River in the town of Stratford, when it was named Newfield. In 1705 the present Main Street of the city was merel3' a cart-path, and there was a small forrj' to the point on the east side of the harbor. In 1820 Newfield proper contained only aliout 800 inhabitants. This place became an incorporated borough in the year 1800, and was then named Bridgeport, although, as a town, it had no legal existence until 1821, when a tract of territorj' of about ten square miks on the harbor and river was organized as a town, then containing not far from 1,700 inhabitants. The borough was organized under a city charter in 1830, wth a population of about 3,400. The next section of the county occupied by whites, after the territory covered by Fairfield and Stratford, was Stamfonl, tlic Indian name of whirli was Kipi)owams. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Capt. Nathaniel Turner made the purchase of the place of the Indians for the New Haven Colon}', for the con- sideration generally of a dozen each of coats, hoes, hatchets and knives, two kettles and four fathom of white wampum. In the latter part of 1641 about 35 families had made this their place of residence ; and the next year, John Whitmore and Mr. Mitchel were admitted members of the General Court of the New Haven Colony, from the new plantation, when it received its present name. The first minister at this place was Eichard Denton. The town of Greenwich was purchased of the n.atives in the year 1G40 by Robert Feaks and Daniel Patrick, with the expectation that it would adhere to the New Haven Colonj- ; but New Amsterdam, in the New Neth- erlands Colony, was so near, and its influence so potent, that the purchasers bctraj-ed the confidence of the Colonv, and commenced the settlement under the Dutch government, in which the inhabitants seem to have acquiesced. The unfriendly relations between the In- dians in these parts and the Dutch, and their intrasions upon the settlers, 'whose lands were their frequent and bloodj' battle-fields, were undoubtedly the chief reasons why, in the j-ear 1657, the}' freely yielded to the juris- diction of the New Haven Colon}'. The dividing line between the States of New York and Connecticut, as fixed in 1664, brought the plantation of Rye into the Colony of Connecticut, and that town was admitted to the jurisdiction in 1665 ; but in 1C83, the dividing line between the two colonies at Greenwich was so changed as to leave it nearly as it is at the present time. The first authentic settlement of Norwalk was in the year 1651, although it is quite probable that there were some scattering inhabitants here the year before, and mo~t likely some in 1640, after Mr. Roger Ludlow of Fairfield purchased the eastern part of the place of the Norwalk Indians on the 26th of February of tliat year, as worded in the deed, " from the sea a day's walk into the country." In April of tiie year 1640, Capt. Patrick purchased two islands and the meadows and uplands on the west side of the Norwallc River "as far up in the country as an Indian can go in a day from sun rising to sun setting." In June, 1650, Nathan Ely, Richard Olmsted and others, obtained liberty from the Connecti- cut Colony to commence a plantation at Norwalk, and secured a deed of the territory from the Indians Feb. 15, 1651 ; and in September, 1651, the General Court organ- ized it into a town. Thomas Hanford was tlie first min- ister at this place. The name of tiie town was derived from the Norwalk River, althougli tlicrc is a common tradition that it was taken from the day's •• North- walk" which fixed the northern boundary in the Indian deeds. The surnames of Benedict, Raymond, Fitch, Loekwood, Betts and some others of the first settlers, are quite 1 common in the city and town at the present day. Nor- ' walk was made a borough in 1836, and the village of Old Well, named from an ancient well where vessels were supplied with water, was incoq)orated into a eitv in 1868, and named South Norwalk two years after- ward. In 1684, a settlement at Danbury called Pahquioque by the Indians, or Paquiage in the Colony recoitls, was commenced. The jiioneer settleis were Thomas Taylor, Francis Bushnell, Thomas Barnum and others, who were mostly from Norwalk. Dr. Wood and Josiah Starr came from Long Island, and Joseph Mygatt came soon after from Hartford ; and men of the name of Picket, Knapp and Wildman were among the earliest settlers, ! many of whose names are still quite common in the town. Tlie settlement was called Danbury, from a vil- lage in Essex, Eng., and it was laid out six miles square. The town patent, from the General Court, was given in 1702, and it was made a borough in 18-22. Tlie Rev. Seth Shove, probably ordained in 1696, was the first minister. The next section occupied by the English settlers was at Pootatuck, the Indian name of Newtown. In IMay, | 1708, several persons petitioned the General Court, or I Assembly, as it began to be called, for a committee to sm-vey the land and consider what number of inhabitants the tract would accommodate, and determine where the settlement should be ; and in 1711, the town was incor- porated. The town of Ridgefield was purchased of the Indians j in 1708 by John Baldwin and others, and a second pur- j chase was made of the natives in 1715. In October, 1709, Maj. Peter Burr of Fairfield, John Copp of Nor- walk, and Josiah Starr of Danbury reported a sur- vey of the tract to the General Assembly, and the grant of the town was then made ; but the patent was not signed till tlie year 1714. After the Assembly, in 1714, gave the inhabitants of the town the right to settle an orthodox minister, it is probable that the Rev. Thos. Ilawley became the first settled minister at this place. Several inhabitants of Fairfield secured a grant of the present town of New Fairfield in 1707. The terri- tory was purchased of the natives in 1729, but it does not appear to have been settled initil the next year. It was organized as a town in 1740. The boundary line between New York and Connecticut on the western limit of tliis town was settled in 1731, when, for lands on the Sound, the section known as Oblong was granted to CONNECTICUT. New York. The first minister was the Rev. Benajah Case, ordained in 17-12. In 1761, a township which is said to have been named Reading, after Col. John Read, one of the early settlers, was incorporated and talven principallj- from the old town of Fairfield. Weston, originall}' a parish in tlie town of Fairfield, was granted town pri^^leges in 1787, aliout 50 j-ears after the localitj- was first settled. Brookfield, originally a part of New Milford, Dan- biny, and Newtown, and known as the society of New- bury, was incorporated as a town in 1788. It is said to have been named after its first minister, the Rev. Thomas Brooks, who was ordained Sept. 28, 1758, when the church was formed. Huntington, comprising the parishes of Ripton and New Stratford in Stratford, was created a town in 1789. The Rev. Jcdediah Mills, ordained in 1724, was probably the first clergyman. Trumbull, a part of the old town of Stratford, was organized in the j-ear 1798. New Canaan was formerly Canaan parisli in Norwalk and Stamford, and was made a separate town in 1801. The parish had existed since 1731, when the Rev. John Eells of Milford became the first minister. Sherman was made a town in 1802, and was formed from the north part of New Fairfield ; and Wilton was also incorporated the same j^ear, having formerly been a societj- in Norwalk from the j'ear 1726. The 3"car before Bridgeport was given town privileges, Darien, in the year 1820, was taken from Stamford and made a town, having before been known as the Middle- sex parish. Monroe, formerly the parish of New Stratford in Huntington, was formed into a town in 1823. AVestport, on tlic Saugatuck River, was foiinerly a part : of Fairfield, Norwalk and Weston, and was granted town ! powers in 1S35. 1 Easton, formerly a parish ^^ith Weston in the town of Fail-field, was taken from the eastern part of Weston, I and made a town in 1845 ; and Bethel, the 23d and the last town formed in the county, was incorporated in 1855, having been a portion of Danbury. The county was constituted in the year 1G6G, and Fairfield was made the shire town. Bridgeport, however, was given that honor about the jxar 1854. Danbur}- was created a half shire town in Mav, 1784. extinction of the race of red men here. At the time of the first settlement of the countv, the principal tribes within its borders were the Paugussctts, who inhabited Stratford, Huntington, and the adjoining towns, and the Norwalk tribe, which was nearlj' a clan ; but there were some considerable clans at Newtown, New Fairfield, Ridgefield, Greenwich, Stamford, Fairfield and Bi-idge- port. They were more numerous, however, along the sea-coast, at the mouths of the rivers, and along their courses ; and the inland tribes visited those on the coast and were treated to oysters, clams, and other sea food, who returned their civilities^ to secure lamprey-eels and indulge in better hunting. In 1659, eighty acres of land at Golden Hill, Bridgeport, -were made a reservation by the General Court for the Pequonnock Indians ; and it was ordered that when they desert their land it shall revert to Stratford plantation, which shall paj' Fairfield one-half of the consideration which was received for the land. All the Indians residing within the limits of this county were, with the exception perhaps of those living at Greenwich and Stamford, friendl}- to the early set- tlers, who always made honorable purchases of their lands before attempting to take possession ; but the natives and first settlers were greatlj- harassed b}- the fierce and very powerful Iroquois or Mohawks, the mere rumor of whose appearance created the wildest alarm. Coming annualh' to collect tribute of the natives, their natural ferocity was exercised in killing and destroying on every hand, if their demands were refused. Thej- were defeated, however, eventually (1047) bj- the Paugussetts in one battle, while attempting to take the fortress, near the mouth of the Ilousatonic River. The war with the Pequots closed with the fight at Sasco swamp, near the sea-shore, in the town of Fairfield, about two years before the county was permanently settled, when 700 warriors were killed and captured ; and as this tribe then became broken and discouraged, thej' were not a source of danger to the early inhabitants. The Fairfield County Indians participated iu a war which sprung from selling intoxicating liquors to an Indian by some Dutch traders of New Amsterdam in 1G42. The Indian, while intoxicated, killed two whites ; and, in retahation, by consent of the Dutch governor, some eighty natives were slain. Several tribes on the Hudson River having been defeated by the Mohawks, the remnant fled to New Amsterdam for jjrotection, but the governor again had his revenge, and about 100 The Indian history of the county, though not as of them were killed. In 1643, the Indians on Long thrilling, perhaps, as the history of the great savage Island, on the Hudson and in Connecticut, arose to tribes living to the east and north, in interesting, how- j avenge their wrongs, and the teriitory of Greenwich and over, as showing the complaints, struggles, and gradual ] Stamford was the theatre of many bloody conflicts. A HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. united body of more than 1,500 warriors had their encampment on this territorJ^, and the tomahawlt did its work of massacring women and children as well as men. Even animals were driven into buildings and destroyed by fire. In February, 1644, a battle was fought at Strickland's Plain, in this county, between the Dutch and Indians. After a tedious march, the former came upon the Indian village in the light of a brilliant full moon, after a heavy snow-storm, when, after a fierce conflict of an hour, a -victorj' was achieved, and the blood of ISO warriors crimsoned the snow. This put an end to the war, and in April, the Indians consented to a peace ; liut there were some murders of settlers in Greenwich and Stamford after this time.* This county has sustained its share of the loss of life and treasure in the colonial wars as well as in those of later times. With the early settlers the ti-ain-band of independent military companies was as much of a necessary in- stitution in each town as the church, and was compelled to be on the watch at all times, and to train one day in the first week of March, April, Maj', September, October and November. In 1709, the militia was made more effective, and a committee of war for Fairfield Count}' was appointed to provide for the defence of the frontier towns in the county. In the French and Indian wars this county furnished about 3,000 men to maintain the honor of the mother countrj'. The war of the Revolution, however, called forth all the patriotic ardor of its people, and al- though not having the war-spirit at the Lexington alarm in April, 1775, as had the counties nearer Boston, on ac- count of its nearness to New York, with which was its principal trade, j-et 50 men marched from Fairfield and 58 from Greenwich for the relief of Boston at that time, and 33 also went from Stamford to defend New York. There were three regiments formed from this county- in 1776 and its quota was kept up during the war. » There were said to be 2.5 wigwams on Golden Hill, Bridgeport, in 1710 ; and only three women and four men remained in 1705. Tliey were ejected from their reservation in 1700, and after it was restored to them, they gave it all up for 30 bushels of corn, bLinlcets worth £3, 12 acres of Land on the west bank of the Pequonnock River, and 8 acres of woodland on Rocky Hill. About the year ISIO their lands were sold; and the fund eecured, in 1842, amounted to $1,175, of which sum $500 was used to purchase a house and 20 acres of land in Trum- bull. In 1S50 there were two squaws and si.K half-breeds living. Their family name was Sherman. In 177-t there were 35 Indians in Stratford, Monroe, Huntington, Trumbull and Bridgeport, only 8 in Greenwich, 9 in Norwalk and St:uuford. It is quite probable that the Pootatuck clan in Newtown, had many years before joined the tribe in Southbury, and afterwards the ■Wcantinogucs at the Great Falls on the Housatonic River in New Milford. L3'ing on Long Island Sound, the county was partic- ularly exposed to the incursions of the enemy. On Sun- day, the 27th of April, 1777, a force of more than 2,000 of the enem}', under command of Gov. Tryon of New York, arrived in Danbury for the purpose of destroying the large quantity of military supplies stored there. The few American troops in the place being forced to withdraw, the supplies, and all the dwellings and build- ings belonging to the patriot inhabitants but one or two, were destroyed by fire. The indi\-idual losses were estimated at more than £16,000. The town records were burned, but the probate records were saved by being taken to New Fairfield. Gen. David Woostor took command of the few American troops at his dis- posal, and followed the enemy to Ridgefield, where he was mortally wounded. Gen. Arnold took immediate command, and followed them to the mouth of the river, where they re-embarked. The only real fight was where the gallant Wooster was fatally shot ; and, on the evi- dence of an ej-e-witness, 16 British and 8 Americans were killed and several wounded. Several dwellings, and other houses at Ridgefield, were burned and plundered. July 8 and 9, 1779, Gov. Trj-on's troops plundered and burned 212 houses, barns and stores, 3 churches, and 2 school-houses. The court-house at Fairfield, and Green's Farms were also consumed. The Rev. Dr. Daggett was one of the wounded. The loss of the British was about 80. Tryon landed at Norwalli in the evening of July 11, and destro3"ed the vessels in the harbor, magazines, and stores, with the whole village of 190 dwellings. Gen. Putnam was stationed with his army at Reading in 1779, to support the garrison at West Point if attacked, and also cover the Sound, and while here quieted a dis- content in his arm}' by a short, sharp speech. Green- wich became famous as the town where he made his celebrated plunge down a steep precipice at "Horse- neck" to save his life, one shot of the many going through his hat. On Sunda}-, Julj' 22, 1872, at Daiicn, the British troops, made up of Tories mostly, residing in this neighborhood, took Moses Mather, D. D., and his congregation, prisoners. Thus this count}', from its situation, suffered heavily during the war, but was amply compensated for its losses pecuniarily by the State, which, in 1792, granted to those in this and New London Count}', whose property was destroyed by the invasions of the British, in addition to what they had already re- ceived, 500,000 acres of land of the western part of the Reserve in Ohio known as the Fire Lands. During the war of 1812, the county furnished its full proportion of troops to defend the State, and a small fort erected at Black Rock Harbor, Fairfield, was manned CONNECTICUT. by a small force of militia, to protect the coasting trade of the Sound, whieh was almost eutirclj- suspended by the partial blockade of the ports. A British privateer captured the sloops "Minerva," Capt. Baldwin, and " Victriss," Capt. Pennoj-er, both of Bridgeport, packets pl3nng between this port and Now York. Whale-boats of light draft were used in the trade between New Yoik and Bridgeport. Commodore Isaac Chauncey of Black Eock commanded our forces on Lake Ontario ; and the privateer " Scourge" of Stratford, commanded bj- Capt. Nichols, took so many prizes in the North and Baltic seas that two English frigates attempted to capture her, but unsuccessfully. One afternoon, towards the close of the war, Bridgeport was startled by the appearance of two British men-of-war coming to anchor in the harbor, with port-holes open, and great acti^^ty on board, as if intending to immediately shell the town. The inhabi- tants remembered the burning of neighboring towns in the Revolutionary war, and there was no sleep that night. The church bells were rung, valuables and the money in the bank were removed to a place of safety ; the miUtia were called out, and messengers sent for rc-enforcements, and the wildest alarm prevailed ; but long breaths were taken in the morning when it was known that the war-ships had disappeared. During the war of 1861, this county furnished about 8,000 men. The first church of Bridgeport was formally organized in 1695, and Rev. Charles Chauncey, a grandson of the president of Harvard College, became the first minister. In 1706, the Rev. George Murison, an Episcopal mis- sionary in the town of Rye, and the Hon. Caleb Heath- cote made a tour from Greenwich to Stratford, where about 24 persons were baptized. The next year they [ were organized into a piirish. The first Episcopal church edifice in the Colony was erected here, and opened for divine service on Christmas Daj-, 1724. From this beginning Episcopacy soon spread to Fair- 1 field and other towns. The Rev. Samuel Seabury, consecrated in 1784, in Scotland, the first bishop of Con- necticut, formerly under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London, made his first visit to the church at Strat- ford. There are now 34 Episcopal parishes in the count}'. Stratford is also the parent of Methodism, not only in this county but in the State. It was here that, in Sep- tember, 1789, the first societ}' was organized ; the second one was established at Reading. At the town of Wes- ton, in this county, "Lee's Chapel" was the first house of worship erected by this denomination in New England. This building stood until 1813. There are now nearly 50 Methodist churches in the county, within the jurisdic- tion of the New York East Conference. The first Baptist church in the county was constituted at Stratfield, now Bridgeport, in the year 1751. There are at present 15 churches of this denomination in the count}'. From about 1830 to 1840, the Roman Catholic Church commenced organizing in the county, and, in 1838, the first service was held at Danburj'. From these begin- nings it has increased till there are ten churches in the most central places in the county. A Sandemanian church was formed at Danbury in 1765, by Robert Sandeman, a native of Scotland, who was buried at this place in 1771, and in 1798 there were three of these churches in the town. , The early settlers seemed to be as desirous of promot- ing the cause of education, as of establishing the church, and it may be said that the school and state were as united, nearly, as church and state. In many of the petitions of the settlers in this county for church privileges, their needs of a school were also set forth. A little more than 33 years after the first settlement of the county, 600 acres of land were granted by the General Court to Fairfield County, as well as the others, for a grammar school, to be established at the county town forever, which should be maintained so as to fit young men for college, which, it is believed, was accepted by this county ; so that, in those early times, the people had not only the advantages of the common schools in the county, but of a grammar or Latin school also. There are now 240 common and 47 graded schools in the count}'. In 1819 the Brookfield Union Library Association was organized, and since that time there have been ten of these institutions formed in the county. William Augustus White of Brooklyn, N. Y., who died in 1868, left $10,000 by will, in trust, for a public library at Danbury, and afterwards the old White homestead was deeded by Alexander M. and Granville White for the j same purpose. In 1876 they made a gift of about { $25,000 for the erection of a library building, which was commenced in 1877. There was an academy established by President Dwight of Yale College at Fairfield, which sustained a very high reputation, and was subsequent!}- a seminary for young ladies. Afterwards, such institutions were established at several other towns in the county, but they have been on the decline since our admirably perfected common- school system has become so popular. For the promotion of agriculture, manufactures and commerce, perhaps this county was more favoraI)ly HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. situated than some other portions of ths Colony, because of its nearness to New York. Near the beginning of the present conturj-, the Fairfield Count}' farmers com- menced improving their lands bj' sj'stematic drainage, Tvheu hundreds of acres of swamp lands, in the towns of Greenwich, Daubury, Westport, Ridgefield, and other towns were reclaimed and made vastlj' more pro- ductive than before. The farmers ha-v-ing become awake to the benefits of agricultural societies, four have been organized in the county, the oldest of which, the County Societj' at Norwalk, was organized about 40 years ago. In 18G9 the first cattle show and fair of the Danburj- Agricultural Socict}' was held. Since the days of railroads, most of the grain comes from the West, and the only grain elevator on the sea- coast between New York and Boston, was erected bj- Messrs. Crane & Hiu-d, in 1871, at Bridgeport. The grain is transported by rail or water, and 1,500,000 bushels have been handled in it in a year. The manufacturing industries of the countj' have grown up mainly since the Revolution. Hats were first manu- factui'ed at Danbury in 1 780 b}' Zadoc Benedict, who, with one journej-man and two apprentices, made about three in a day. About 1790, Messrs. Burr & White built the first hat-factory in the town, emplo3'ing 30 hands, and producing 15 dozen per week. There were produced in 1800, at this place, 20,000 fur hats mostly, surpassing any other town in the United States in the annual manufacture. About 40 years ago there were 57 hat-factories here, making about 270,000 annuall}', with a capital of about $200,000. There were 11 hat-factories at Norwalk 45 years ago, making about 3G,000 hats annually. Besides these there were numerous fiictories in other towns of the count}'. This county stands first in this branch of business, having manufactured nearly twice as many hats as all the other counties of the Slate. Machinery of all kinds, steam-engines and boilers were first made in the county at Bridgeport more than 50 years ago. In 1792 a paper-mill was carried into suc- cessful operation at Danbury, which produced about 1,500 reams annuall}' ; 50 years afterwards Fairchild's lilill at Bridgeport was the only one in the count}'. Car- riages were manufactured extensively at Bridgeport at an early day by Mott & Burr. Fifty years ago there were 14 tin-factories in the county, employing a capital of over $40,000. Combs were largel}- manufactured in Newtown in 1834 ; and, in 1845, there were 19 factories engaged in this business in the county. In the early part of the present century the boot and shoe liusiness gave employment to many men, and the most extensive business in this branch of manufacture in the county has been done at Norwalk. About 1830 there was over §20,000 capital employed in the manufacture of felt- cloth at Norwalk, and the business has been largely prosecuted since that time. For some 20 years the manufacture of rubber-belting has been earned on at Newtown on an extensive scale. In the early growth of Bridgeport the manufacture of saddles and harnesses was an important industry. Among the more recent manufacturing industries of the county has been that of patent leather. In 1845, Mr. S. J. Patterson commenced this business at Bridge- port, and soon after the Bridgeport Patent Leather Company was formed, which has done a heavy business. The first practicable machine for sewing was patented by Elias Howe, Jr., in 1846, and consisted, generally, of a needle with the eye in the point, and a shuttle to unite two edges in a seam, forming the stitch by inter- locking two threads. In 1862, he established his busi- ness at Bridgeport, and erected a large factory, where the Secor Company also have their works. In 1857 the world-renowned Wheeler and Wilson Sewing-Machine Company established their works at Bridgeport. One of the heaviest and most successful industries of Bridge- port has been the steel works, from which the Union Car-Spring Company of Jersey City, N. J., were supplied with bar steel ; but, about 1874, this company removed their works to Bridgeport, and both are now under one management in the making of car-springs not only for their own, but for foreign markets. The manufacture of cartridges of all kinds was commenced at Bridgeport in 1860. The makers of the celebrated Sharpe's rifle located their armory here in 1875. In 1680, when there were but twenty-six towns in the Colony, the little commerce of this county was managed at Fairfield, where ships of about 300 tons burden could come into the harbor of Black Rock. The principal centre for the trade of the county for a long period prior to the rise of Bridgeport, was at Norwalk, from which place regular lines of passenger and freight sloops sailed to New York. The first incorporated steamboat com- pany in the county was formed at Norwalk in 1824 ; and soon after the first regular line of stearalioats made trips to the metropolis; and, about 1825, commenced to nm from Stamford. It was not, however, till 1832, that the first steamboat connection was made with Biidgeport and New York, and about ten years since with Port Jefferson on Long Island. For the past forty years Bridgeport has taken the lead as a commercial centre, and the com- merce has been confined mostly to the coasting trade, as the export trade is still in its infancy. This place was a CONNECTICUT. grain mart up to 1832 ; and extensive commerce was carried on from here with eastern and southern ports. Prior to 1840, the West Indian trade was vcrj' consider- able, and made good business for millers and coopers. Three ships were at one time engaged in the whale- fisheries from here, and a company' pursued cod-fishing on the banks of Newfoundland ; and, for the last few years, a large trade in ice has been developed. There are six light-houses on the coast of this countj-. The Penficld Reef light-house at Black Rock harbor, erected in 1873, has a flashing red light, with a fog-bell. The Bridgeport light-house, completed in 1871, has a fixed red light. The first board of trade formed in the count}- was organized at Bridgeport in 1875, for the purpose of giv- ing ever}- possible impetus to commercial and manufac- turing enterprises. In 1G87, roads leading from one plantation to another were first designated as king's highwa3-s or countr}' roads. The first road of this character in the count}' was laid out from Stratford over Golden Hill at Pequonnock, for horses and carts, which afterwards be- came a section of the regular stage-road and post-route through the county from New York to Boston. At the commencement of the present century, it took thirty hours to travel b}' the mail-stage on the route from Hartford through Danbury, the half-w.iy place, to New York, not including the time required to stop over-night at Danbury ; and the stage fare alone was $G.90, with 1-4 pounds of baggage, and a single fare extra, if it weighed over 100 pounds. In place of the old king's highway, the New York and New Haven Railroad Company, incorporated in 1844, and consolidated with the New Haven and Hartford Company in 1872, but which commenced business in this county in 1839, was a great stimulus to all kinds of industry in the towns along the sea-coast. The Housatonic Railroad, incorporated in 183G, running through the western part of Connecticut, and fully opened for business in 1842, — the result of the great perseverance and energy of Alfred Bishop, — placed Bridgeport in as favorable a position as any other seaport town in New England in its railway con- nections with the West ; and was the germ of the rapid growth of the manufactures and commerce of that city. Hardly less important, however, has been the eflTect of the Naugatuck Railroad upon this part of the county, which, incorporated in 1845, to ran from Winsted to Bridgeport, and not fully operated till 1849, has opened up to this county, and to Bridgeport in particular, the advantages that flow from the extensive manufacturing interests of the Naugatuck Valley. From the time of the opening of the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad in 1852, Danbury has grown rapidly in population and business activity. The New York and Housatonic Northern Company, chartered in 18G3, since 1870 has been run from Brookfield to Danbury by the Housatonic Company. The New Canaan Railroad commenced opera- tions in 18G8, and runs to Stamford. The New York and New England Railroad Company, chartered in 1873, was partially graded a few years since, and runs through Danbury from the west to Boston, and will become a grand trunk line through the county, making more direct communication with New England and the West. The first savings bank was organized at Bridgeport in 1842, from which time there have been 17 monetary insti- tutions of this kind formed in the county, with deposits amounting to nearly §14,000,000. The first newspaper published in the county was the "Fairfield Gazette," 93 years ago, at the county seat. The oldest newspaper published in the county is the " Republican Farmer," still a flourishing paper, with a large circulation. The "Farmer's Journal" was established at Danbury the same year (1790). The " Norwalk Gazette " was first brought out in 1818, and still maintains its leading posi- tion in the south-western part of the county. In 1829 the " Stamford Advocate " was first published. The " Republican Standard " of Bridge- port first made its appearance in 1842. The "Evening Standard" was the first daily paper published in the county ; its initial number was issued in 1854. The next daily paper successfully established was the " Even- ing Farmer," also of Bridgeport. In 1876 the " South- port Chronicle" came into existence; and the "South Norwalk Sentinel " was first issued in 1870. The world- renowned "Danbury News" was first established in 1870, having grown out of the consolidation of the " Danbury Times " and the " Jeffersonian." The centen- nial issue of the "News," printed in blue ink, gave a graphic account of the great celebration in Danbury July 5, 1876, when the people rejoiced for the final vic- tory which was achieved over the torch of Gov. Tryon. There are now 21 weekly, and two daily papers in the county. The population of Fairfield County has increased, next to New Haven and Hartford counties, with greater rapidity than any other in the State. In 16G9, there HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. were only about 165 freemen in the county, which then comprised the four plantations of Stratford, Fairfield, Norwalk and Stamford, not including that of Rye. In the j-oar 1756, the population was 19,849; in 1870, 95,370 ; and now the county has an estimated population Of 106,450. Towns. Bridgeport, most favorably situated on Long Island Sound, 58 miles from New York, has a population of about 25,000. This thri\ing city is in first-class rail- road communication with New York and Boston, with the West from Albany, and with the Naugatuck Valley ; and there are 70 arrivals and departures of trains daily at this point. Its facilities for commerce are unsur- passed, having within its limits the Bridgeport, and one- half of the Black Rock, harbors. That part of the city known as East Bridgeport is connected with the other part by five free public bridges across the Pequonnock River ; and there is an ample foot-bridge on the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad biidge. A large portion of the population are skilled artisans, who are employed in a very great variety of manufactur- ing ; and among the long list of productions, which may be named to show the extent of this industiy, are machinerj', steam-engines, boilers, and castings of all descriptions ; cast-steel and car-springs, springs, perches and axles, brass ware, pumps, locks, hardware, cutlerj', Sharpc's rifles and sporting guns, bits and braces, silver-plated goods for carriages, saddlery and horse trim- mings, and electro-plating in gold, silver and nickel ; and sewing-machines, for which the Wheeler and Wilson Com- pany occupies four entire blocks, with a capital stock of 81,000,000, employing 1,200 hands, with a monthly pa}-- roll of $100,000, and producing about 600 machines per day ; while the Howe Company, with a capital of $1,000,- 000 also, and having a branch house in Glasgow, Scot., is doing an enormous business. There are here two patent-leather companies of $100,000 each, of which the Patent Leather Company handles and finishes about 20,- 000 hides per annum, and the John S. Way «& Company produces russet grain leather to the amount of 35,000 sides annuallj- ; and besides annually dresses 9,000 buffalo robes, running two factories and emploj-ing about 80 men. Cartridges are also manufactured here, with $300- 000 capital, and a working force of 450 men ; also per- cussion-caps, and paper and metallic shells, paper and paper boxes, carriages and coaches, coach-lace and coach-lamps, hats, furniture, shirts (employes number- ing about 300, with about 400 who take work outside the factory) , ornamental wood, wood-finishing goods, novel- ties and toys (emplojing several hundred hands), sad- dles and harnesses, cement, sewer and drain pipes, hav- ing branches in many places in western Connecticut; silk ribbon, varnish of a superior quality, soap, water- moters, jewelry of a cheap grade, boots and shoes, &c. The commerce of the city is mostly in the coasting trade. The business of the custom-house for the Fair- field district is located here. The Bridgeport Steamboat Companj- despatches two first-class steamers, the •' Bridge- port" and the "Laura," to New York daily. The monetary institutions consist of five national banks and a mutual fire insurance com|)any. There are nine most attractive public school buildings, one of which will accommodate over 1,000 pupils, a high school, a young ladies' semi- nary, and numerous private schools. The Bridgeport Library contains over 9,000 volumes. The city has two daily, two weekly, and three semi- weekly newspapers. Its water supply is ample. The streets and avenues are kept in a cleanly condition ; are well curbed and thoroughly lighted with gas ; the walks are mostly of stone and concrete, and the system of drainage is effected by over 18 miles of sewer pipes. A well-equipped horse railroad and its branches accommo- date the people from the centre to the suburbs of East Bridgeport and Fairfield, and to the cemetery and the parks. Mountain Grove Cemetery, on the extreme western limits of the city, covers about 80 acres. It is laid out with most exquisite taste, and is adorned with massive and costly monuments. This city cannot be surpassed for its favorite drives and popular pleasure- grounds. Seaside Park is a most charming place for recreation and pleasure. Here, in this most appropriate spot, has been erected an imposing and costly granite monument, adorned with marble statues and bronze medalUons, to the memory of the soldiers and sailors who fell in the late war. Washington Park in East Bridge- port, containing a fine grove of old forest trees, is also an attractive place. The city is not deficient in fine blocks of buildings and public edifices. Some of those that attract attention are the Bridgeport and People's Savings Bank buUdings, the City National Bank ; the court-house, built of freestone at a cost of $75,000 ; Wheeler's Block, which contains the public library ; the Standard Association Building, and two opera-houses, one of which is a fine structure. The churches of the city are 29 in number. St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church is a massive Gothic edifice, built of granite at a cost of about $150,000. St. Mary's Catholic Church, in East Bridgeport, is of a strik- ing architectural design. St. John's Episcopal Church is of handsome Gothic design, and cost about $100,000. CONAECTICUT. 307 The First Prcsb} temn Church edifice is of a pecu- liarl)- novel design througliout It is of undressed bkic stone trimmed with light gianite ■with a tower about 150 fett in height. Nathaniel Ilewit, D. D , an eminent pulpit orator and i o former, was born at Jse^" London, Conn., in 1788 Ik graduated at Yale College and studied law, which Ik abandoned for the ministn lie was installed ovei the Second Congi-egational Chui c h at Bridgeport in 1830 lud o\'er the First Presbj'tenan Church in 1853. He died in February, 1867. Hon. "William D. Bishop i native of Bridgeport, has been a member of Congress and commissioner of patents He wis a long time p"csuknt I Besides the Hige of the New York, New Haven anel Hartford Railroael | here, anel others. Company. ^^ _^_ Hon. P. T. Barnum, V- ~ - : iX Z^--- -"^"""^^^ , born in Bethel, Conn., in 1810, is not onl\- the ^ greatest showman of the age, but a good lecturer and a popular temperance ad\ ocate He has also been ma\ oi of Bridgeport. The City of Soitii norwalk, axi) tiif Borough and T()a\n of NoRWALK. — The clt^, situated on the west — side of Nor walk haibor, is one of the most iin portant st.ations on the line of the New 1 oik. New Haven and Hut ford Railroad. It h i an estimated population of about 5,000 The manufacturing interests at this point are quite extensive; its nearness whcelle^ hloc^ to the great metropolis, and its first class water and railway communication rendering it one of the most desirable lo- cations for carrying on the gi eat industries. Among some i the most important manu- 1 letuies are locks, knobs and 1 I onze ware ; steam-engines and the celebrated Earl's steam-pump at the Norwalk Ii on Works ; fine hats by five I Ikieiit companies, also straw I its , boots and shoes on an \tensive scale, and paper 1 jxes There are also two II ge planing-mill companies )nig a heavy business. At- tuition is also largely given to shipbuilding. The situation of the city leneleis its commerce of great impoitance to its growth. numbei ot vessels built and owned engaged in the coasting trade, the transportation lines of -— - steamers are continuall}' engageel in a profitable business. White's Line — foi New York runs apas- 'stngei and two freight b^ats Boats are also run by the Steam Freighting Company. The city is growing ripidh , having about doubled its population duiing the last decade. It has some fine blocks of builelings and church edihces and a hand- s me opera-house. The kool facilities arc ex- 11 nt The religious II teicstsarerepresented h\ fl\e churches. The n itei works arc among the most complete in 'fVN-^P N I w England. ^ The borough of Nor- walk IS situated in the HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. centre of the town, on the river, nearly one and a, half miles north of the citj-. It contains about 7,500 inhab- itants, and has five banks, six churches, and several manufacturing establishments. There are two academies in the borough, and four newspaper offices. The town of Norwalk contains about twentj- square miles of territorj-, and has a population of some 15,000 persons. Hon. Thomas Fitch -was boin about 1697 ; was deputy- governor of the Colony for four years from 1 750 ; governor for twelve consecutive years from 1754. He was a lawyer, distinguished for great abilities and large acquire- ments. He died July 18, 1774. Hon. Thomas Belden Butler was born Aug. 22, 1806 ; graduated at the Yale Medical School, and settled at Norwalk in 1829, as a physician, but on account of his nerA'ous temperament abandoned that profession, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1837. He was a member of Congress one term ; was elected a judge of the Superior Court in 1855 ; of the Supreme Court in 1801, and was made chief justice in 1870. He resigned this office in 1873, because of ill health. He was the author of an elaborate work on the atmospheric system ; an inventor, and obtained several patents, and took an active interest in agriculture. He died June 8, 1873. Clark Bissell, LL. D., was governor of the State, and a judge of the Supreme Court of Errors from 1829 to 1839. Hon. Orris S. Ferry was bom at Bethel, Conn., Aug. 15, 1823; graduated at Yale College, and settled at Norwalk in the practice of law. He was a member of Congress one term, and colonel and brigadier-general of volunteers in the late war. He took his seat as United States senator in 1867, and was re-elected in 1872 for a six years' term. He died in 1876. Danbury, the northern terminus of the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad, has a population of about 10,000. No town in the State manifests a more lively interest in education, and the ample school buildings and grounds are made most attractive. Although the central part of the town is not yet a city, it is an incorporated borough, containing a population of about 8,500, and is one of the most attractive, as it is also one of the most enterprising places in New England. The religious denominations are represented by eight churches. The newspapers, besides the "News," are the "Democrat" and "Globe," which are ably-con- ducted journals." The borough contains two national banks. One of the places of interest is Deer Hill, the location of beautiful residences. There are two delightful lakes. Neversink and Kenosha, the last of which is a fashionable resort for picnic and excursion parties, about two miles west of the centre, and is tlie source of Still River, which runs through the borough, and affords a good water power. The AVooster Cemeter3-, embracing an enclosure of about 100 acres, with its evergreens, tastefully laid out mounds, walks and drives, its artificial lake, and costly and attractive monuments, is a fit and pleasing place of sepulture. Near the entrance, on a sightly elevation, stands the monument erected to the memor3- of Maj. Gen. David Wooster. It is of freestone, and about 40 feet high. The coat of arms of Connecticut is carved on one side of the shaft : his deeds of valor are recorded ou another, and on the third, the fact of his having organized the first lodge of Freemasons in Con- necticut at New Haven. Rev. Ebenezer Baldwin, born July 3, 1745, and a, graduate of Yale College, was ordained at Danbury in October, 1770. He was a chaplain in the Revolutionary army at New York in 1770, and, amid the hardships of the camp in attending the sick and suffering, contracted the disease of which he died. He was a man of great talents and culture. lie died Oct. 1, 1770. Stamford has a population of about 11,000. The borough is situated on i\Iill River. The commerce is principally with New York. Palatial steamers make 1 dail}' trips to and from New York, and the freight of the transportation companies is heavy. The manufacturing interests are somewhat varied, and among them ma}' be noticed the productiou of iron, brass and copper ware. A large busiuess is carried on in the manufacture of stoves, hollow ware, hot-air and cooking ranges and castings. There are also camphor refineries, I and dyewoods of all kinds are quite extensively manu- | factured, as are boots and shoes, edge tools and wire, i locks, carriages, woollen goods, billiard-tables, fire-brick, [ drain-pipes, marble, granite and flagging-stone. j This is one of the most popular localities for residences of the business men of New York, and those who wish to retire to live in wealth and luxurj- ; and the town is beheved to have more elegant private residences than anj- other of its size in the State. About 20 passenger | trains leave here on the N. 1'., N. II. and II. R. R., and 18 arrive dail}' from New York. The town is one school district, having seventeen common, and several private schools. There are also four graded schools and two i academies. The religious interests are maintained by 1 twelve churches. Some of the church edifices are models , of architecture. The town hall, of brick and Ohio stone, with a tower \ 100 feet high, was built at a cost of $140,000. CONNECTICUT. "Woodland Cemeterj- is an attractive spot. Tlie drives in the vicinity of Stamford are cliarming, and tlie views of tlie Sound and the surrounding country from the adjoining hills are magnificent. Abraham Davenport, grandson of the Rev. John Davenport, the founder of the New Haven Colonj-, was a resident of Stamford. His true Christian integritv, vigor and uncommon firmness of mind, were prominent traits of character. In the legislature of Connecticut May 18, 1780, on the famous daxk day, which was thought to be the judgment day, on a motion to adjourn, he said : "I am against an adjournment. The day of judgment is approaching, or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment ; if it is, I choose to be found doing my dutj-. I wish, therefore, that candles maj^ be brought." While sitting as chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas at Danbury, after being struck with death, he heard a portion of a trial, charged the jury, and retired for the night to be found with life extinct soon afterwards. Charles Ilawley, born June 15, 1792, gi-aduatod with honor at Yale in 1813, and opened a law office in Stam- ford about 181G. He left an estate probablj' larger than VLuy lawj'er has accumulated from his profession alone in the State, and stood in the first rank of the profession. He was lieutenant-governor from 1838 to 1842, and died Feb. 27, 1866. The remaining towns of Fairfield Countj' are : Green- wich* (population, 8,000), having several business cen- tres, whose local newspaper needs are served by the crisp and sprightly " Greenwich Observer ; " and is noted principally for its fine villas and residences of men doing business in New Yorfe. Fairfield f (5,000) , embracing, in its extreme south-western part, at the mouth of Mill River, Southport, which, lilce Greenwich, is a most charming suburb of New York, and has a small though deep and commodious harbor. NEWTOw>f, an agricultu- ral town, 3'et favored with the business of the New York Belting and Packing Compan}', the oldest manufacturers of vulcanized rubber fabrics in the country ; as also with the manufacture of car-springs, solid emeiy vulcanite wheels, antiseptic linen hose, rubber-lined linen hose, &c. Stratford (3,600), situated on Long Island Sound, at the mouth of the Housatonic River, a level * On tbo eastern limit of the town of Greenwich is the hill noted as the place of the daring feat of Gen. Putnam in the Revolutionary war. t In Ihc western and nppcr part of the town is Greenfield Hill, one of the most sightly elevations of the region. From the church steeple here 23 church spires in Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, Reading and other places can bo seen, also .about half a dozen light-houses from Stratford Point to the Norwallc Islands. A public avenue now runs over the cele- brated " Sasco Swamp " of earliest Indian warfare fame, near Southport. township for the most part, whose meadows at the mouth of the river are of \ery rich alluvial formation ; and its village is characterized by one long, fine street, pleasantly lined with elegant residences, and well shaded with a variety of ornamental trees. Westport J (3,500), a town noted, like several of the foregoing, for its beautiful residences of those still in business in New York citj', as also of those who have retired from active life. New Canaan (2,800), a mountainous, yet grow- ing town at the terminus of the New Canaan Railroad, whose manufacturing interests are in boots and shoes, and whose local paper is the well-esteemed "New Canaan Messenger." Bethel, an incorporated borough of 2,500 inhabitants ; a growing, prosperous place, whose leading industry is the manufacture of hats, and whose recently-completed water-works are justly the pride of the town. Ridgefield§ (1,900), lying in the western part of the county- bordering on New York, the principal street of whose village, with its lawns, walks and shade-trees, imparts to the place a wonderful home- like appearance, and whose newspaper, the " Ridgo- flcld Press," has deservedly an excellent circulation. Darien (1,900), a small township situated on Long Island Sound, a favorite resort for purposes of residence [ of New York business men, and withal of ger.tbmcn of leisure. Wilton, an agricultural town of 1,850 in- habitants. Reading, a sparsel}' settled, strictlj- agri- cultural township, with a population of about 1,600. Huntington (1,600), having quite extensive manufac- tures of silver ware and paper, and a growing place. TrumbullII (1,300), its people being largely given to husbandry, though shirts are quite extensively manu- factured here ; as also paper, at Beers' Mills. Monroe (1,200), an agricultural township, with an uneven sur- face, though quite productive soil. Easton (1,200), an irregular township lying north of Fairfield ; a farming and eminently "well-to-do" community. Brookfield (1,100), a farming town, though giving some attention to the manufacture of lime, luats, &c. Weston (1,000), which has an iron foundry and machine-shop at Valley Forge ; a plough and hay-cutter manufactor}', and a flour and plaster mill at Lyon's Plains. New Fairfield (800) , an agricultural town lying adjacent to the New York State line. Sherman (800), the most northern town in t On a bend of the river, at a point near the Sound, is the elevation known in Revolutionary history as Compo. § Some parts of this township are so elevated, that a view can be had of Long Island Sound at a distance of M miles, and of East iind West Roek at Now Haven, and of (he Highlands of the Hudson. II Tashua Hill, in this town, is a signal-station of the United States Coast Survey, and is the first land visilile when approaching this coast. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. the count_v, wedged in between Litchfield Count}- and the State of New York, and whose people are nearl}' all farmers. All these towns have the usual complement of churches, quite all being of the so-called Evangelical order, the Congregatioualist and Methodist, perhaps, predominat- ing ; and of schools. Rev. Isaac Lewis, D. D., born Jan. 21, 1746; Y.ale College, 1765; settled at Greenwich Oct. 18, 1786; was a fervent Revolutionar}- patriot, and at one time a regimental chaplain. In the onl}- house left standing at the burning of Norwalk, he preached an appropriate sermon from Isa. Ixiv. 11-12, the inhabitants having assembled on the occasion for the purpose of fasting and praj-er. He died Aug. 27, 1840. Joel Lindsley, D. D. (1793-1868), was long the esteemed pastor of the Greenwich Congregational church. Hon. Gold Selleck Silliman, born at Fairfield in 1732 ; Y^ale College 1 752 ; a distinguished law3-er, and a briga- dier-general of militia in the Revolution ; was the father of the late Benjamin Silliman, LL. D., of Y'ale College. His death occurred Jul}- 12, 1790. Philo Shelton, A. M., fonner rector of Trinitj^ Church of Fairfield (1754-1825; Y'ale College, 1778), is be- heved to have been the first Episcopal clergj-man ordained in the United States. Roger Minott Sherman, LL. D., a native of Fairfield, one of the most eminent lawj-ers of his day, and son of Roger Shennan, one of the signers of the Declaration, was one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Errors of this State from 1839 to 1842. The Rev. Samuel Johnson, D. D., one of the founders of Episcopacy in Connecticut (1696-1772; Y'ale Col- lege, 1714), an author of note, a man of great talents and personal dignity, was settled at one time over the church in Stratford. Maj. Gen. Daniel Wooster, a native of Stratford (1711-1771; Y'ale College, 1738), having entered the military service, was captain of a companj- in the expe- dition against Louisburgh in 1745. He was a general in the French wars ; commander of the troops sent to guard New Y'ork in 1775 ; went to Canada, and was chief in command after the death of Gen. ISIontgomery. He was appointed major-general of the State militia about 1776 ; and, in 1 777, learning that the British had landed at Compo, pursued them to Danbury, and was mortally wounded at Ridgeficld April 27, 1777. Hon. David Plant, a native and life-long resident of Stratford, a graduate of Y'ale in 1804, was a member of Congress from 1827 to 1829, and died Oct. 18, 1851. The Rev. Jonathan Ingersoll, installed pastor of the Ridgefleld church Aug. 8, 1739, was a chaplain in the Colonial armj- on Lake Champlain. He died Oct. 2, 1778, in the 65th year of his age, and the 40th of his ministry. The Rev. Samuel Goodrich, father of the renowned Peter Parley, was, for upwards of 25 years, the faithful pastor of the Ridgefleld church. The Rev. David Ely, D. D., settled at Huntington Oct. 27, 1773 (1749-1816; Y'ale College, 1769), was so zealous in the patriot cause during the Revolutionarv war, that the Tories in this section threatened to hang him, when the rebellion should have been crushed, on an oak tree in the public square. The Rev. James Beebe, pastor of the Congregational church at Trumbull for 38 years, took an active part in ' the capture of Ticonderoga during the French and Indian wars, and was very instrumental in stirring up the j enthusiasm of the people during the Revolutionary war. Mr. Samuel Staples, a noted man of his time, founded the celebrated academy in Easton, by giving a fund i which made it a free school, and a number of acres of i land for the benefit of the school. Rev. Samuel Sherwood (1730-1783; Y'ale College, * 1749), was ordained at Weston Aug. 17, 1757. Espous- ing the colonial cause in the Revolutionary war with such zeal as to become obnoxious to the British and Tories, it was not deemed safe for him at one time to sleep in his own house. A pubUshed Fast-day sennon, delivered by ' him in 1774, was recently deposited in the library of Yale College. Rev. Maltby Gelston (17GG-1856; Y'ale College,] 1791), was installed pastor of the church in Sherman ■ April 26, 1797, at a salary of £100, and a few cords of wood. He was proverbial for his wisdom, elevated piety, [ industrj- and punctuality. After an active ministry of j 45 years in this town, where he always resided after his j installation, he died at the advanced age of 90 years. CONNECTICUT. HARTFORD COUKTY, BY WILLIAM I. FLETCHER. At the time of discovery, the Connecticut EiverVallej- was inhabited by several small tribes of Indians, allied to the Nan-agansetts and the Nehantics, and, like them, subject to the constant attaclcs of the more powerful and warlike Pequots. Thej' wore also in a condition of enforced vassalage to tlie mightj' Iroquois or Mohawk confederation, which bounded them on the west, and wliose warriors levied arbitarj- tribute upon the Connect- icut tribes, and in case of resistance devastated their villages. Many of the river Indians had been driven from their original homes and had migrated to eastern Massachusetts, where thej' were found by the Pl^-mouth settlers. Within the limits of Hartford County were several fortified villages, where the remnants of these tribes were entrenched as a protection against their numerous enemies. At Pyquag, now Wethersfield, Capt. Block held an interview with " Sequin," sachem of a tribe resident there ; and he also makes mention of a village a few miles farther north, inhabited by the " Nawaas " tribe. Upon the Tunxis River was located the tribe of that name, and the Podunks occupied the eastern shore of tlie Connecticut, opposite Hartford. Suckiage, the location of Hartford, had probably been seized bj' the Pequots, as the Dutch, who were first to make a purchase of land at this place treated with a Pequot sachem. In the spring of 1631 Wahquimacut, a sachem of one of the river tribes, e-vidently impressed with the idea that the English would prove powerful allies against his relentless foes, the Pequots and Mohawks, visited the Massachusetts settlements and invited emigration to his countrj', extolling its natural advantages and guarantee- ing reasonable terms for the land and bounties to actual settlers. Gov. Winthrop of Massachusetts Bay seems not to have been favorably impressed by the proposition, and took no action, but Gov. Winslow of Plj-mouth deemed the matter of suflicient importance to warrant a journey to the Connecticut. He was soon followed by other explorers, and projects for emigration were warmly discussed b}' the Massachusetts colonists. As tlie early settlers were anxious to remain near navigable water, the towns in the vicinity of Boston were already' com- plaining of overcrowding, and the Connecticut Valley was regarded with longing ej'es, although the govern- ment of Massachusetts Bay continued to discourage the proposed migration. But advocates of the measure were continuallv arriving from England, and the govern- ment soon found itself In the minority. In June, 1C33, Jacob Van Curter, an agent of the Dutch West India Company, purchased about twenty acres of land at what is still known as Dutch Point in Hartford, and erected thereon a fort and trading-house, which he named the " House of Good Hope." In October, 1633, Plymouth Colony, having in vain endeav- ored to secure the co-operation of Massachusetts Bay, despatched a vessel to the Connecticut Eiver, under com- mand of Wilham Holmes, who established, near the mouth of the Tunxis River, on the site of the present town of Windsor, a trading-post. During the summer of 1634 a companj' from Water- town settled at Wethersfield. It seems certain that a portion of this compan}' remained through the winter, thus constituting this tlie first actual settlement of Hart- ford County. June, 1635, the church at Dorchester, of which the Rev. John Wareham was minister, located at Windsor, near the trading-post established hy Holmes. The Plymouth government regarded this as an invasion of their rights, but took no active measures to dispossess the Dorchester people. The matter was compromised several years later hy a grant of land and the paj-ment of a stipulated sum of mone3-. Among the Dorchester emigrants was Roger Ludlow, lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts Bay, and several other men of distinction. During this summer the colony at Wethersfield was greatly strengthened by new arrivals. After erecting the necessary buildings, the Windsor settlers returned to Jlassachusetts for their families. October ITith a party of about 60 started from Dorchester to travel overland to their new home. Winter closed in luiusuall}' early, and the journey was accomplished with great difficulty, a portion of their live stock perisliing on the waj'. Before they reached their destination snow fell to a great depth, and the Connecticut River was covered with thin ice, rendering crossing extremely difficult. The}- had taken HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. but a limited stock of provisions, their winter's supply, together with their household goods, having been shipped by water. Manj- of the vessels were wrecked, while others were compelled to return to Boston. The situa- tion of the little band of colonists was truh- deplorable. The severity of the weather frustrated all attempts to obtain provisions, and thej- were destitute of the blank- ets, &c., necessar3- as a protection against the intense cold. Man}' of the settlers, after suffering incredible hardships, found their waj" through the wilderness back to Massachusetts, while those who remained in many instances were forced to subsist on nuts and acorns. But spring opened earlj-, and with the return of mild weather matters improved A-ery rapidlj-. Those who had been driven away by cold and starvation returned, bringing with them large reinforcements. A fort was erected at the mouth of the river, to prevent the encroachments of the Dutch, and the permanency of the Colony seemed assured. A third settlement was commenced at Sucki- age, and was named Newtown, the colonies at Wethers- field and Windsor, respectively, taking the names of Watertown and Dorchester. April 26, 1G3G, the first court was held at Newtown, Mr. Ludlow presiding. The present names of the towns were given by the General Court in February, 1637. The name of Hartford is taken from that of Hertford, Eng. During the spring of 1636 the Rev. Thomas Hooker and his assistant, the Rev. Samuel Stone, pastors of the church at Newtown, now Cambridge, Mass., headed a party of about 100 persons, including women and chil- dren, in an overland journey to the valley of the Con- necticut, and laid the foundation of the city of Hartford. At the close of the year 1636 the total population of the three settlements was about 800. The Pequots early manifested symptoms of hostility against those who had wrested from them their pos- sessions on the river, and had either restored these lands to their rightful owners, or had purchased them from such owners. Thej- A-iewed with alarm the rapitjlc, and contains a me- moriil dining-hall, elabo- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. ratel}' finished in oak. About one mile south of the c.apitol are located the admirable-adapted buildings of the Eetreat for the Insane, an institution which has had almost unparalleled success in the treatment of lunaej-. Near by is the Hartford Hospital, a model institution of the kind. I The Wadsworth Athenteum building, on Main Street, ! contains the Watkinson Free Library- of Reference, having over 30,000 carefully selected volumes ; the Hartford Librarj', of nearlj' the same number of volumes ; the rich collections and library of the Connecticut Historical Soeietj-, and a valuable gallerj' of paintings and statuary. There are 36 churches in the city, maiij^ of thein models of tasteful architecture. The Church of the Good Shepherd, erected by Mrs. Samuel Colt as a memorial of her deceased husband and children, is re- garded as one of the finest ecclesiastical ediQccs in the countr\-. The Roman Catholic Cathedral, now being erected, ■will be au ornament to the city. The Catholics have several large schools, that connected with the con- vent of Mt. St. Joseph having an established reputation as an educational institution for j'oung ladies. The Hartford Female Scminarj- acquired great celebrity under Miss Catherine E. Bcecher, who was its principal for several years, and under its present management retains much of its former prestige. Hartford is a centre of the insurance business of the country, the various life and fire comiianies located here having an aggregate capital of nearly $9,000,000. There are 12 banks, with a capital of $11,000,000; a,nd also eight savings banks ard trust companies, with deposits of $15,000,000. Sixtj-'four manufacturing companies, representing a capital of $20,000,000, have their princi- pal offices in this cit}-, although many of their works are located elsewhere. The principal manufacturing establishment in Hartford is the works of the Colt's Fire-arms Manufacturing Com- pany. This extensive factorj' is situated on the river meadow, just south of the mouth of Little River. The site was subject to overflow from the river, and Col. Colt protected it by building an embankment or dilvc, about two miles long, enclosing some 1 20 acres of land, at a cost of $80,000. The buildings are of Portland stone and brick, and the floor contains an area of nearly seven acres. Feb. 5, 18C4, a large part of the works was destroyed by fire, causing a loss of $2,000,000 ; but they were immediately rebuilt. Portions of the shoijs are now leased to dilTcrent parties, and a varict}- of arti- cles are manufactured on the prcmis'js, including the celebrated Gatling gun, the invention of Dr. R. E. Gatling, a resident of Hartford ; the "Wardwcll sewing-machine. lawn-mowers, gold and stock indicators, conductor's punches, &c. In addition to the manufacture of Colt's improved fire-arms, the compan}- are also sole producers of Baxter's steam-engines. The works have a capacity for the employment of 1,500 hands. The leather-belting manufactory of P. Jewell & Sons is one of the most extensive establishments of the kind in the world, consuming wcekl}' the hides of a large herd of cattle. Smith, Bourn & Co. are extensive manufac- turers of harness, collars, saddles, &c. The Pratt &■ Whitne}' Manufacturing Companj' are manufacturers of machinerj', fine tools, &c. Near their establishment are the works of the Weed Sewing-Machine Company. The Plj-mpton Manufacturing Company has the contract for envelopes for the United States, testing the utmost capacity of a large factory, requisitions for several mil- lion envelopes being sometimes received in one day. The Cheney Brothers' silk manufacturing company ha\e a factory here, employing some 200 hands, in addition to their extensive works at South Manchester. The pub- lishing of subscription books is an important branch of Hartford industry, and several extensive printing estab- lishments are located here. That of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company is scarcely surpassed in the country. The main water supply of the city is from four reser- voirs in "West Hartford, which are fed from small streams and springs, having a total capacity of 1,200,000,000 gallons. There is also a pumping-cngine on the ri\'er, which supplies the lower part of the city in times of cbrouth. The citj' has a paid fire department and a fire- alarm telegraph. Its railroad facilities are ample, it being on the thi-ough line from New York to Boston, and about midwaj- between the two cities. The New York and New England Railroad, now open to Waterbury, will probably be completed to the Hudson River during the present j^ear, giving Hartford a new route to the West. By its connections at Millerton and Canaan, the Connect- icut Western line aff"ords a convenient route to western Massachusetts and Albanj-, while the Connecticut Vallcj' brings the seashore within eas}- roach. The Connecticut Central furnishes a new route to Springfield. The New I'ork, New Haven and Hartford line has extensive con- struction and repair shops at this point. During the season there is a daily Ime of steamers to New York, and a tri-weekly line to Long Island ports. The Opera House is one of the most conmiodious and best-appointed places of amusement in New England, its seating capacity being equal to that of the largest metro- politan theatres. There are also several large halls, well adapted for lectures, concerts, &c. CONNECTICUT. Thcro arc manj- elegant private residences in the city. His son Samuel, born in 1632, died in 1709 ; graduated Annsmear, the home of Mrs. Samuel Colt, is surrounded from Harvard in 16.53, and was a magistrate from 1G54 by extensive ar.d beautiful grounds, laid out with great | to 1684. Hezekiah, son of Samuel, was secretary of the taste, and ornamented witli statues and foun- tains. The conserv- atories are of great extent. Cedar Hill Ceme- terj-, incorporated m 1865, lies about three miles south of the cap- itol, and contains 268 acres. It is laid out upon the lawn s^'stem, without fences, and is rapidly developing into a beautiful " citj of the dead." Theie are many elegant and tasteful monuments in this cemetery, the most noticeable being that of Col. Colt. The estimated population of Hartford is 50,000. Assessed valuation, $48,527,506. Probablj' a fair esti- mate of the total wealth of the city, invested here or elsewhere, would be $125,000,000. Thomas Hooker, the first minister at Hartford, and one of tlie most prominent men in the early histoiy of Con- necticut, was born at Markfield, Eug., in 158G, and studied at Cambridge ; was a popular preacher in London, but espoused the Puritan doctrines, and was compelled to leave the countiy ; went to Holland, and thence to New- town, now Cambridge, Mass. ; accompanied the first set- tlers in Hartford, where he died July 7, 1047. In con- junction with John Cotton, he wrote a book on church discipline, and a number of his discourses were published in England. A selection from his works, with a memoir by the Rev. E. W. Hooker, was pubUshed in Boston, in 1849. . Edward Hopkins was born at Shrewsbury, Eng., in 1600 ; settled in Hartford in 1639 ; was deputy-governor or governor of the Colony from 1640 to 1654 ; returned to England, where he died in 1657. By his will he devised £1,000 for the establishment of a grammar school in Hartford, which is still in existence as the preparatory classical department of the high school. George Wyllys, a native of Warwickshire, Eng., set- tled in Hartford in 1638, and was deputj^-governor and governor in 1641 and 1642. He died March 9, 1645. HAKTEE 0\K and attained the rank of colonel, appointed major-general of militia, Colon}' from 1712 to 1 7 1 1, and was suc- ci(.d(_d by his son • rLOige, who gradu- itid from Yale in 17_'0 He resigned m 1795, and was in turn succeeded bj- his son Samuel, who re- signed in 1809, mak- ing 98 years during iiuch the office of s tietaryhad contin- ued in this family. Samuel Wyllys was boin in Hartford Jan. 15, 1739, and died theie Juno 9, 1823. During the Revolu- tionaiy war he served with marked ability, He was subsequently The Wyllys man- sion, in front of which stood the famous Charter Oak, was, until quite recently, one of the landmarks of Hart- ford. John Talcott, one of the original settlers of Hartford, was born in England; died at Hartford July 23, 1688. His son, Maj. John Talcott, held various positions of trust, and rendered distinguished service in the various wars against the Indians. Joseph Talcott, son of John, was governor of the Colony from 1725 to 1741. John Trumbull, LL. D., was born in Watertown, Conn., April 24, 1750, and graduated at Yale in 1767. In 17C1 he located in Hartford, where, in 1782, he published his celebrated epic poetn of " McFingal." He was a clear and pungent satirist, and, in cor.jr.nction with Joel Barlow, Dr. Lemuel Hopkins and Col. Humphreys, wrote a series of essays entitled " American Antiquities," which attracted great attention. He was State attorney for Hartford from 1789 to 1795 ; a member of the legis- lature in 1792 and 1800 ; judge of Superior and Supreme courts fi-om 1801 to 1819 ; removed to Detroit, Mich., in 1825, where he died May 10, 1831. Jeremiah Wads worth was born in Hartford in 1743. He was an intimate friend of Gen. Washington, and the first meeting between that officer and Count Rochambcau took place in Wadsworth's mansion. Ho was a member HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. of the convention for the ratification of the Constitution, and six years a representative in Congress. lie receiA'ed honorary degrees from Dartmoutli and Yale colleges. He died April 30, 1804. His son Daniel Wadsworth was the founder of Wadsworth Athenaeum, which occupies the site of the family mansion. Dr. Lemuel Hopkins, — born in Waterbury, June 19, 1750, a graduate of Y"ale and a phj-sician of high repute, — was best known as a writer of poetrj- and humorous prose. He was one of the celebrated coterie of literary- men known as the " Hartford Wits." He died April 14, 1801. Theodore Dwight, born in Northampton, JLass., Dec. 16, 1764, was a proUfic writer on political subjects. He was a representative in Congress in 1806 and 1807, and secretary of the Hartford Convention. He died June 11, 1846. His son Theodore, born March 3, 1796, killed by a railroad accident Oct. 16, 1866, was the author of a history of Connecticut, a gazetteer of the 1 United States, and many other successful works. He i was a finished scholar, and a member of many learned societies. Isaac Toueey, LL. D., born at Newtown, Conn., Nov. 5, 1796, was for manj- j-ears State attorney for Hart- ford Countj- ; a representative in Congress from 1835 to 1839 ; governorof Connecticut in 1846 and 1847 ; attornej'- general of the United States, in 1848 and 1849 ; United States senator from 1852 to 1857, and secretary of the nav}' during the administration of President Buchanan. Gideon Welles, born in Glastonbury, Conn., July 1, 1809, like Mr. Toueey was for many 3-ears a leading Democratic politician. In 1826 he became one of the proprietors of the Hartford " Times," and assumed the editorial management of that journal. Being opposed to the extension of slavery, he identified himself with the Republican party at its organization, and in 1861 suc- ceeded his townsman, Mr. Toucej', as secretary of the navj^ a position which he retained until 1869, when he retired from public life and returned to Hartford, where he died Feb. 11, 1878. Thomas H. Gallaudet, LL. D., was born in Philadel- phia Doc. 10, 1787. He graduated at Yale in 1805, and, entering Andovcr Theological Seminary, was licensed to preach in 1814. He became interested in the education of deaf-mutes, and on his return from a visit to Europe in 1816, he was accompanied by Laurent Clerc, a deaf- mute, who had been a pupil of the Abbe Sicard, with whose aid Dr. Gallaudet established the American As3-lum at Hartford, the parent institution of the kind in the country. Ho remained in charge of the asylum until 1830, when he was appointed chaplain of the Retreat for [ the Insane, which office he held until his death, Sept. 9, 1851. He was the author of several religious books for the 3"ouug. Mr. Clerc retired from the asj-lum on a pension in 1858, and died July 18, 1869. Horace Bushnell, D. D., born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1802, was pastor of the North, now Park, Congrega- tional Church in Hartford from 1833 to 1859. He was a preacher of great power and eloquence, and distinguished as an essayist, and was the author of numerous popular moral and religious works. He died Feb. 17, 1876. Three days before his death the common council of the citj' passed a preamble and resolution, giving to the public park the name of Bushnell Park, in recognition of his earnest efforts to secure this beautiful resort for the city. ■ Lydia II. (Huntley) Sigourney was born in Norwich, Conn., Sept. 1, 1791. In 1814 she opened a select school in Hartford, and in 1819 married Charles Sigour- ney, a merchant of that citj'. She early manifested great ability as a writer of both poetry and prose on religious and moral subjects, and her name has become a household word throughout the entire country'. She died June 10, 1865. Samuel Colt, inventor of revolving fire-arms, was born in Hartford Julj- 19, 1814. When 15 j-ears old he ran awaj' to sea, making a voj^age to the East Indies before the mast. He took out his first patent for revolv- ers in 1835. In 1837, the Florida war having created a demand for revolvers, Mr. Colt laid the foundation of the immense works at Hartford, the capacity of which was gradually increased until 1,000 finished weapons were produced each day. He was also the inventor of a powerful submarine battery. He died Jan. 10, 1862, leaving a verj- large fortune. Thomas C. Brownell, D. D., born at Westford, Mass., Oct. 19, 1779, graduated at Union College in 1804; entered the ministry of the Episcopal Church in 1816 ; was consecrated bishop of Connecticut in 1819, and removed to Hartford. _ He was instrumental in founding Trinity College in 1824, and was its first president, resigning in 1831. He was also prominent in connection with literature. He died Jan. 13, 1865. J. Hammond Trumbull, LL. D., born at Stonington, Conn., Dec. 20, 1861, and graduated from Y'ale in 1838, is a distinguished philologist, especially in the aboriginal dialects of New England. He has published a work upon the Blue Laws of Connecticut, and is a frequent contributor to our best periodicals. His brother, II. Claj- Trumbull, now editor of the "Sunday School Times," was for many years a resident of Hartford, and occupied the position of Now England secretar3' of the American CONNECTICUT. Sunday School Union. He -n-on great distinction as chaplain of the Tenth Connecticut Regiment during the late Tvar. Joseph R. Ilawlej', born at Stewartsville, N. C, Oct. 31, 182G, a graduate of Hamilton College in 1847, com- I monccd in 1850, the practice of law in Hartford. In 1R')7, adopting the profession of a journalist, he became editor of the Hartford "Evening Press," an organ of the Republican partj'. An outspi ilccn and earnest oppo- nent of slaverj-, at the outbreak of the war in 18G1 he was one of the first to volunteer. He rendered distin- guished sernco, winning, meanwhile, rapid promotion to : thedifferentranks I of colonel, briga- dier-general and , brevet major-gen- ' cralofvohmtccr'j. Jlr. Hawley was governor of Con- necticut in 18GG, president of tlie Republican con- vention at Chicago j in 18G8,andrepre- scntative in Cnii- I gress from \>^1- j to 1875. He wns president of the 1 Centennial Com- I mission of 1876, I and to his exer- tions the great success of the Ex- l)osition was large- ly due. He was again elected to Congress in 1878. Other eminent names associated with Hartford are ' Thomas D.ny (1777-1855), a distinguished jurist, and president of the Connecticut Historical Society ; John M. Nilcs (1787-185G), founder of the "Hartford Times," jurist and author, and at one time postmaster- general ; James H. Ward (1806-lSil), a naval officer; Horace ■\Vells (1815-1848), the discoverer of nitrous oxide as an anaesthetic; Thomas H. Seymour (1808-18C8), a law3-er by profession, member of Congress, a gallant officer in the Mexican wax, governor of the State and minister to Russia ; William B. Franklin, a major-gen- ' eral in the war of the Rebellion ; and Marshall Jewell, formerly govemor of the State, minister to Russia and pos' master-general. i/Mf^^ Prominent among the natives of Hartford, who have attained distinguished positions, may be mentioned Gens. Alfred H. Terry, Robert O. Tyler and Griffin A. Stedman ; Frederick E. Church, the artist ; and Thomas S. Preston, Roman Catholic prelate and writer. Many well-known literary people have resided in Hartford during a portion of their lives. Among these' may be noticed Dr. M. F. Cogswell, S. G. Goodrich, Noah Webster, George D. Prentice, John G. Whitticr, Lewis G. Clark, Catherine E. Beecher, Rose Terry Cooke, Robert Bonner, William II. Bradley, Mary A. H. Dodd, Jonathan W, and Tryon Edwards, Charles A. Goodrich, E. C. Stedman, Ci? S*-^^:-J "^-^s*''^*^?' I and Joseph Ti'uni- buU. The dircc- torj' of the cit^- at the present time includes the names of Samuel L.Clemens (Mark Twain), Charles Dudley Warner, Harriet Beecher Stowe and her husband. Prof. C. E Stowe, who are all pennanent res- idents. The Rev. Dr. Joel Ilawes, who was the pas- tor of the Cen- tre Congregation- al Church for nearl}' 50 years, IS widely- known ^^vu^-, hautfoed. through his pub- lished "Lectures to Young IMen," which has reached a circulation of more than 100,000 copies. New BniTAiN, in the southern part of the county, | has a population of about 12.000. The city, which, was originally chartered as a borough, is about one mile square, and lies in the south-west part of the town, occupying a natural amphitheatre among the hills. The location is quite elevated, being about 130 feet higher than the track of the New Haven Railroad, two miles to the east. There are 7 churches, representing all the leading sects. The South Congregational Church is an elegant brownstone edifice, erected at a cost of $150,- 000. The public schools occup}' ten buildings, and include an excellent high school. The State Normal HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. School is located here, and is in a flourishing condi- tion. The Tvatcr-supply of New Britain is probabl}- xniex- ccllcd bj' that of any other city in the country, and was secured at a comparativel3- small cost, by constructing a reservoir in an elevated meadow, some two miles south- cast of the cit3-. This reservoir has a capacity of 100- 000,000 gallons. The distributing reservoir is situated in Walnut Hill Park, a beautiful diversified tract of 125 acres, which was obtained by the town at a cost of onl}- $75,000. It is being improved according to plans by Frederick L. Olmsted, and will ultimately make a charming resort. The view from the reservoir bank is extended and picturesque. The city contains a national bank, and many tasteful and elegant private residences. The New York and New- England Railroad passes through the city. From the carl^- daj-s, when brass andirons were made here, and carried on horseback over the hills to Albany, and when the first tin-ware made in the countrj- was carried from house to house in a basket, manufactures have ever rendered New Britain a place of world-wide reputation. One can but admire the energj' and per- severance of those men who have converted a drear}- swamp into one of the most important industrial cities in the country. Foremost among the corporations which have made New Britain what it is, is the Russell and Erwin Manufacturing Company-, whose w-orks, mostly substantial brick buildings, cover nearlj- six acres, and have a capacity for 1,000 hands. They produce every variety of plain and ornamental hardware, and received the highest honors at the Paris Exposition of 1878. The Landers, Frar}^ and Clark IManufacturing Com- panj-, employing more than 500 hands, are proprietors of the ^tna Cutlery Works, and also of a largo manufactory of general hardware. Other leading manufactures are of cutlery, hardware, tools, wrought-iron goods, cast- ings, underwear, hosiery, wire-mattresses, umbrella stretches, jewelrj-, &c. The amount invested in manu- factures is about $5,000,000. Elihu Burritt, "the learned blacksmith," was born in Nqw Britain Dec. 8, 1811. Ho received only a common- school education ; but while devoting himself to his trade he acquired several ancient and modern languages, and became renowned as a scholar and reformer. He died March 7, 1879. Ethan A. Andrews, LL. D., was born in Now Britain in 1787, and graduated at Y'ale College in 1810. He studioc^ law, and practised for several years. In con- junction with Prof. Solomon Stoddard, ho published a Latin granmiar, which has passed through some seventy editions. He also issued several other popular works of instruction in Latin. He died March 25, 1858. John Smalley, D. D., born in Lebanon, Conn., June 4, 1734, was settled over the First Congregational Church in New Britain, April 19, 1758, where he re- mained until his death, June 1, 1820. He was one of the most celebrated New England divines of his daj'. Enfield, population 7,000, lies in the north-east cor- ner of the county. The Connecticut River forms the western boundaiy, and the Scantic crosses the southern part of the town. A bridge over the Connecticut, 1,000 feet long, connects the town with Suffleld. This bridge was originallj- erected in 1808, and was the first bridge across the river within the limits of this State. The principal village is Thompsonvillc, located in the north- western corner of the town. This thriving village has grown up around the works of the Hartford Carpet Com- pany, which emploj^ about 1,400 hands, and have an annual capacity of about 8,000,000 yards of different grades of carpeting. This village has four churches, and contains many elegant residences. At Ilazardville are the works of the Hazard Powder Company, among the most extcnsi\-e in the countr}-. This company occu- pies over one hundred buildings, covering an area over a mile long and half a mile broad, and is capable of producing upwards of $1,000,000 worth of powder an- nually. During the Crimean war it had an extensi\c contract with the British government, and furnished some 10,000 barrels, while during the civil war in this country the works were taxed to their utmost capacity. Several of the buildings have names suggested by the late war, as " Harper's Ferry," " Bull Run," and " For- tress Monroe." A tract of about 1,200 acres in the north-eastern cor- ner of the town is occupied bj- the Shaker communit}-, founded here in 1787. The societ}- is divided into six [ families, forming nearlj- a circle, with the central or church family as the radiating point. Their lands arc in a high state of cultivation, and their buildings present | the neat and thrift}- appearance common to this sect. Tho}^ are largely engaged in the cultivation of garden seeds, and also produce agricultural implements, &e., to some extent. The New Y'ork, Now Haven and Hartford, and Con- ■ necticut Central railroads pass through the town. James Dixon, United States senator from Connecti- cut from 1857 to 18G9, was born in this town, in 1814. SouTHixGTON is an important manufacturing township in the south-western corner of Hartford Count}'. The Quinnipiac River runs nearly through the centre of the town, frijm north to south, the New Haven and CONNECTICUT. Noi-thampton Railroad following ils course. The two villages of Soutliingtou and Plantsville are located on this river. Among the most important of the manufac- turing industries here carried on are tinmen's tools and general hardware, machine-forged nuts, carriage hard- ware, screw bolts of every description, tinsmiths' ma chines, sausage-fillers, paper bags and cutlery. There are seven churches, representing all the leading denomi- nations, and an academj-. At Hitchcock's Station, and at Marion, in the southern part of the town, are man- ufactories of bolts and of jewelry. Population, about 5,000. Dr. Edward Robinson, the distinguished biblical scholar. Col. Charles Whittelse}-, a gallant soldier of the civil -war, and Rev. Levi Hart, for G9 j'cars minister at Preston, Conn., were born in this town. Bristol is in the south-western part of the county, eighteen mUes from Hartford. Good water-power ii furnished by the Pequabuc River and branches, which has been well improved. The principal or centre vil- lage is divided into two portions, the north and south villages. About two miles north of the north village is Polkville, and about the same distance to the east is Forestville. There are in all seven churches and twelve school-houses. Two of the schools are graded. Bristol has a national, and a savings bank. Tie most prom- inent industry' is the manufacture of brass clocks. Other manufactures are brass in all its A^arieties, spoons for plating, gray iron castings, trunk hardware, furniture laiobs, auger bits and stockinet fabrics. The population is about 5,000, of which over 1,100 are employed in the various manufactories. The town is traversed from east to west bj' the New York and New England Railroad. MANcnESTER, an important manufacturing town, lies next cast of East Hartford. The New York and New England Railroad crosses the northern part of the town, and is connected with South Manchester by a branch, about two miles long. Union Village, or North Manchester, is located at the railroad station on the main line. There are nine school-houses, including an excellent gi-adcd school at South Manchester, and seven chui-ches. The silk manufactorj' of Cheney Bros, at South Manchester (Cheney villc) , employs nearly 1,000 hands, producing dress silks fully equal to those of foreign manufacture. In fact, this companj- has rc\olutionizcd the silk trade in this country. The village of Chcneyville is a model of neatness and good taste, and in summer, with its abun- dant shade and spacious lawns unbroken by fences, is a most attractive place of residence. The Union Manu- facturing Company-, at North Manchester, produces an excellent quality of ginghams. Paper ij manufactured in large quantities in this town. The population is about 5,500. Glastonbury is the largest town in the county, being nine miles long, from cast to west, and six miles broad. An excellent water-power is furnished by Roaring Brook, which rises in the north-east corner of the town, and empties into the Connecticut a little north of South Glastonbury village. Good mill-privileges are also located on Salmon Brook, in the noithern part of the town. Granite of excellent quality is quarried in the town. This granite abounds in feldspar, and there are two mills for grinding this article for potters' use. There are eighteen schools, a private academ}-, and, in the various villages, eight churches. Perhaps the most widolj- known industiy of the town is the manufacture of soap, by J. B. Wilhams & Co., whose works are located cast of Glastonbury village. Nc.ir these works is Brodhead's tannery, one of the oldest in this region. The manufacturing establishment at Naubuc, formerly occupied by the Connecticut Arms and Manufacturing Co., is now vacant. On Salmon Brook arc located the satinet-mill of the Eagle Manufacturing Co , and also tlie Glastonbury Knitting Co., manufacturers of under- wear. At Buckingham Village is a manufactory of horse hoes and cultivators. On Roaring Brook are the paper-mills of Case & Co., and the Roaring Brook Paper Co., Pratt & Post's anchor forge, Hollistcr & Glazier's woollen-mill, Greene Bros.' cotton-mill, and a twine-fac- tory. Population of the township, 3,800. Glastonbury has acquired a national reputation through the determined resistance of the Smith sisters, Julia and Abbj', to the pajinent of taxes, tlic}"^ holding that taxation should earrj^ with it the right of suffrage. The^' have refused to pay their taxes for many jears past, compelling the town authorities to seize upon and sell personal property belonging to them. They have annually appeared before the legislature as petitioners for redress, and have been regular attendants upon woman's rights meetings. Miss Abby Smith died in December, 1878, leaving her sister to fight the battle single-handed. The surviving sister is a scholar of no mean reputation, having made a translation of the Bible, which has been favorably noticed. Not the least re- markable circumstance concerning this anti-tax demon- stration is the advanced age of the ladies concerned. The survivor is nearly ninety years old, and, although in feeble health, still wields a vigorous pen in defence of what she deems her political rights. Gideon Welles, secretary of the navy, was born in this town. (See Hartford.) Alonzo B. Chapin, D. D., a distinguished clerg^'man of the Episcopal church, was IIISTOKY OF NEW EXGLAM). rector of St. Luke's Church from 1850 to 1855, and was the author of a bi-ccntennial address in 1S53, a valuable contribution to the history' of the town. SuFFiELD is eminently an agricultural town, the onl}- branch of manufactures ever pursued to anj' extent being that of cigars and tobacco, for which the town at one time had an extended reputation. Here is located the Connecticut Literary' Institute, founded in 1835 un- der the auspices of the Baptist Education Societ3-. This institution occupies three large brick buildings, located on rising ground just north of the centre of the village, the most modern of which was completed in 187G. The present average number of students is about 100. Suffield village lies in the eastern part of the town, along a broad street, on elevated ground, affording fine sites for residences. There are throe churches in this village. The caual around Enfield Falls is mostl3- loca- ted in this town. At the west village are two churches. The estimated population is 3,000. Phincas Lyman, a native of Durham, Conn., and a celebrated ofiicer in the French and Indian war, was long a resident of this town. Among the natives of Suffield who have achieved dis- tinction may be mentioned Gideon Granger, member of Congress from New York, and postmaster-general ; S3I- vcstor Graham, vegetarian, and founder of the celebrated "Grahamite" system; Timothy Swan, musical com- poser, author of the favorite church-tune, " China" ; and George Tod, a distinguished lawyer and jurist of Ohio. This town has produced several clcrgj-men of note, among them Rev. S. Dryden Phelps, D. D., now editor of the " Christian Secretary" ; Eev. David N. Sheldon, who was excommunicated from the Baptist denomination for heresy, and afterwards became a Unitarian preacher ; and Ecv. Cotton M. Smith, who was settled at Sharon, Conn., from 1755 to 180G, East Hautfokb is a valuable agricultural township on the east side of the Connecticut River, opposite Hart- ford. It contains some of the finest river meadows in the State. The Ilockanum River passes through the central part of the town. The manufacture of paper is carried on at Burnside, and the Hazard Powder Compau}' have a branch mill near the eastern boundary of the town. The New York and New England Railroad crosses the northern part, baling two stations. Large quantities of tobacco are raised. The town contains six churches and a population of about 3,800. East Hartford has furnished two distinguished pro- fessors to Y'ale College, Denison Olmsted, the astrono- mer, and Anthony D. Stanley, the mathematician. ■William Pitkin was one of the first settlers of this town. He held manv important offices, and was governor of the State from 17G6 until his death in 1709. East Windsor is a rectangular township, bounded on the west b^' the Connecticut River. The Scantic River crosses the town from north to south, and, with a tribu- tary. Broad Brook, furnishes good water-power. Al- though the surface of the township is somewhat broken, the soil is generally productive and well improved. The town contains several woollen manufactories, seven churches and twelve school districts. Population about 2,500. The Connecticut Central Railroad passes through the eastern part of the town. John Fitch was born in East Windsor Jan. 21, 1743. He married unhappily, and, separating from his wife, went to New Jersey, where, during the Revolutionary war, he pursued A-arious avocations. In 1786 he success- fully- completed a small steamboat, which attained a speed of eight miles an hour. He was unalile to secure funds to carry out his projects, goveniment lands in Kentucky which he had pre-empted were taken b^' squatters, and he died in Bardstown, Ivy., July 2, 1798, in circumstances of poverty, leaving the advantages of his important invention to be reaped bj- others. ; Thomas Robbins, a noted Congregational divine and j historian, who was born in Norfolk, Conn., Aug. 11, ' 1777, was pastor of a church in this town from 1809 to [ 1827. During the later years of his life he resided in Hartford ; was one of the founders of the Connecticut i Historical Society, and for many years its librarian. ! Although his income was limited, he accumulated an ; exceedingly valuable library, which he bequeathed to the Historical Society.* He died in Hartford Sept. 13,' 1856. His librar}- is particularly rich in earlj' editions of the Bible. Other natives of East Windsor were Oliver Wolcott, one of the signers of tlie Declaration of Independence ; John W. Barber, author of manj- historical works ; and Danforth Marble, the comedian, celebrated for his delineations of Yankee character. Windsor, or " Old AVindsor," as it is commonly called, is an irre.gulari3--shapcd township, lying on both sides of the Farmington River, and bordered on the east bj- the Connecticut. The river meadows arc largo and produc- tive, and the town also contains manj' valuable tracts of upland. At Poquonnock and Rainbow villages, in the • A wcll-authcnticated anecdote of Dr. Robbins is to the effect that when a young man he had begun the accuraula'.ion of his library, when the question of manlage was brought to his serious consideration. His income ivas so sraall that he thought it would be impossible to support a wife, and at the same time indulge his passion for books. He decided the question by the very simple method of tossing up a penny, an 1 J a bachelor ! CONNECTICUT. north-west part of the town, are falls in the Farmington Eiver, which have been extensivel3- improved for manu- facturing purposes. Tlie main village is situated near the mouth of Farmington River, and runs along the Connecticut Vallej' for some distance, forming what is known as "Windsor Street," which is broad and well- shaded. There are many substantial residences, some of these, like the Ellsworth mansion, dating back to the Revolutionarj' period. Like manj' of the towns in the county, it is largel}' interested in the growth of tobacco. There are four churches and ten school districts in the town. The Hartford Paper Company has mills at Po- quonnock and Rainbow. Austin Dunham & Son, wool manufacturers, have two mills at Poquonnock, producing cassimeres and fancy cloths. At Rainbow are located the paper-mills of the Springfield Ptyper Compan}-, Hodge & Son, and House & Co. ; Hodge & Son making a specialty of tissue papers, and House & Co. of press- boards. Population about 3,000. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad passes through the eastern part of the town. OUver Ellsworth was born in Windsor April 29, 1745, and graduated at the College of New Jersey in 17C6. He was a representative in Congress from 1777 to 1780 ; a member of the Council in 1780, and judge of the Superior Court in 1 784 ; was a delegate to the convention for framing a constitution, and United States senator from 1789 to 1795. In March, 1796, he was appointed chief justice of the United States Supreme Court. In 1799 he was one of the envojs sent to France to adjust the differences between that government and the United States. In 1802 he again entered the Council, and in 1807 was elected chief justice of the State, an honor which he however declined. He died Nov. 26, 1807. AVilliam W. Ellsworth, son of the preceding, was born at AVindsor Nov. 10, 1791, and graduated at Yale in 1810 ; studied law, and was professor of law in Trinity College over 40 years ; member of Congress from 1829 to 18.33 ; governor of the State from 1838 to 1842, and judge of the Superior Court from 1847 to 1861. He twice declined an election to the United State Senate, He died at Hartford Jan. 15, 1868. Henry L. Ellsworth, twin-brother of William W., graduated at the same time ; studied law at Litchfield, and practised for several years in Windsor and Hart- ford ; was appointed resident commissioner to the Indian tribes in Arkansas, and was commissioner of patents from 1836 to 1845. He devoted himself especially to the development of the agricultural interests of the country. On his retirement from office, he settled in Indiana, and engaged in real estate business. He died Dec. 27, 1858. Henrj^ W. Ellsworth, son of Henry L., was bom at Windsor in 1814; studied law. and was counsel for S. F. B. Morse in telegraph suits; removed to Indiana, and published a book entitled " Sketches of the Upper Wabash Vallej," and was a contributor to various periodicals. He died at New Haven in August, 1864. The ancestors of ex-President Grant, and of Pres- ident Hayes, at one time resided in Windsor. John S. Newberry, the geologist ; John M. Niles, postmaster- general ; Oliver Phelps, the enterprising purchaser of the Western Reserve ; and the Rev. Henry A. Rowland, the author, were natives of this town. Wetheksfield lies on the west side of the Connecticut River, next south of Hartford. Since Newington parish was made a separate town, in 1871, the area of Wethers- field is much contracted, and it now contains onl}- about eleven square miles. The village, which lies in the north-eastern part of the town, near the river, resembles most of the villages in the Connecticut Valley in having broad streets, lined with large shade-trees. There are four churches, one of which, the Congregational, was erected in 1761, and is one of the most ancient church edifices in New England. The town supports six dis- trict schools, and an excellent high school. The State prison, removed hero from Granby in 1827, is located at the north end of the village. The main buildings and walls of the prison are of Portland brownstone, and have recently been improved at large expense, making this the equal of any penal institution in the country for convenient arrangement and thorough ventilation. The leading industry of Wethersfield is raising and putting up garden-seeds for market. This business has been pursued for nearly a eenturj'. The onion crop, for which this town has always been noted, is much less than formerly, the farmers having turned their attention to tobacco and other crops. Messrs. S. M. & D. Welles are breeders of Ayrshire cattle, their herd being well known throughout the countr}-. Silas W. Robbins has a fine herd of Alderneys. The Hopson & Brainard Manu- facturing Company manufactures iron brackets and othei- light castings. Their works were destroyed by fire in November, 1878, but have been rebuilt. At Griswoldville, a small village in the south-westein part of the town, is a Congregational church, and a fac- i torj- which has been used for the manufacture of edge- tools. The Connecticut Valle}- Railroad passes through the eastern part of the town, and there is a steamboat- landing near the village. Population, 1,900. Silas Deane, a native of Groton, Conn., and one of the ambassadors to Franco in 1776, was for some years a merchant in AYethersfield. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Calvin Chapin, D. D., born in Springfield, Mass., in 1763, was settled over the Congregational church in Wethersficld from 1794 to 1847. Among the natives of Wcthersfield who have attained distinction may be mentioned John Chester, an officer of tlio Revolution; Stephen M. Mitchell, U. S. senator; Eliziir Goodrich, the astronomer ; Harvev D. Little, western editor and poet; Ashiir Robbins, U. S. senator from Rhode Island ; Royal Robbins, the historian ; and Gen. Samuel B. Webb, a distinguished hero of the Revolution. Canton is a largo township in the western part of the county. The Farmington River flows through the south- western part of the town. The principal village, Col- linsviUe, is situated on this river, and was formerly- partly within the limits of Bui'lington. This village is named from the Collins Company, whose extensive man- ufactory of edge-tools was established here in 1826, and gi\es emploj'mcnt to several hundred men. The axes produced by this compauy havo a world-wide reputation for superior quality and finish. A branch connects Col- linsville with the Canal Railroad at Farmington, and it is also a station on the Connecticut Western Railroad. Canton village, about one and a half miles north-cast from CoUinsville, was the location of the first settlement within the limits of the town. The town contains five churches and a population of about 3,000. Rev. II(jman Humphre}-, D. D., president of Amherst College from 1823 to 1845, and Rev. Hector Humphreys, president of St. John's College, Annapolis, from 1831 to 1857, were natives of Canton. Farmington occupies a comparatively level valley, about four miles wide, and lies north of Plainvillc and west of West Hartford. There is much excellent farm- ing land in the town. Farmington River enters the township near the north-west corner, flows south-east to the centre, and then makes an abrupt turn to the north. At Unionville, where the river enters the town, there is an excellent water-power, which has been well improved. The principal manufacturers arc the Union Nut Company, the Plainer & Porter Paper Manufacturing Company and the Cowles Paper Companj'. This village is vcr3- neatlj' laid out, and contains several elegant residences. The main village is situated on an elevated plain, about 75 feet above the river. The soil in its immediate vicinitj- is very fertile, and flowers and vegetables are grown in profusion. Before the completion of railroads Farming- ton was an important trading point, it being on the favor- ite route from Vermont and eastern New York to the seaboard ; and its trade in West India goods at one time exceeded that of Hartford. The village is substantially built, and contains many comfortable and attractive houses. Miss S. Porter's school for j'oung ladies is located in this village. It has a very high reputation, which, with its beautiful natural surroundings, has con- tributed to render it one of the most popular institutions of the kind in the country. Tlie Congregational Church was built in 1771, and is still in a good state of preser- vation, being, next to that at Wcthersfield, the oldest church in the county. The American Board of Commis- sioners for Foreign Missions was organized hero, and held its first meeting in the Congregational parsonage Sept. 5, 1810. There are ten school districts in the town, and six churches. Population, 2,800. The New Haven and Northampton Railroad passes through the central part of the town. The CoUinsville branch fol- lows the course of Fannington River, and has a station on the south bank, opposite Unionville. John Treadwell, governor of the State, and the first president of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions ; James Kilbournc, a member of Con- gress ; Rev. Philip Milledoler, D. D., the distinguished Dutch Reformed clergyman ; Rev. Asahcl S. Norton, D. D., one of the founders of Hamilton College, at Clinton, N. Y. ; Rev. Noah Porter, D. D., president of Yale College ; Rev. John Richards, D. D., a noted Congrega- tionalist clerg3Tnan, and editor; and Timothy Pitkin, a leading Federalist politician, — were natives of Farm- ington. Berlin lies in the soulhern tier of townships in Hart- ford County-. The Mattabeset River rises in the south- western corner, flows north and cast, and then turning south forms the eastern boundary. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad runs through the centre of the town. Berlin village is about one and a half miles south-east from this station. Hero arc located three churches and an academy. Kensington village is a short distance to the west of the station. The works of the Hart ]\Ianufacturing Company, makers of coach and general hardware, are in this village. Hero arc two churches. East Berlin village has a sta- tion on the IMiddlctown branch. Hero are manufactories of corrugated iron and tinmen's tools. Population of the township about 2,500. Jonathan Hart (or Heart, as the name was originall}- spelled), a gi-aduatc of Yale in 17G8, a gallant soldier of the Revolution and in the regular army, killed in a severe battle with the Indians ; John Kilbournc, western author and publisher ; the Rev. John Eliot, for 30 years settled at East Hampton, Conn. ; James G. Pcrcival, the poet; and IMrs. Emma C. Willard, the celebrated teacher and authoress, — were natives of Berlin. CONNECTICUT. 'Windsor Locks is a small township, lying about three miles along the Connecticut River. The \illage is sit- uated on the river in the north-east part of the town, at the locks b3' which the canal around Enfield Falls descends to the Connecticut, hence the name of the town. The surface is generally- hill}' and broken, most of the population being concentrated in the village, and omploj-ed in the various manufactories. There are four churches and two public schools. The town has a variety of manufactures, including paper, school furniture, spool 1 silk, &c. ; and a population of 2,800. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad passes through the eastern portion of the town, crossing the Connecticut River on a substantial iron bridge, one mile north of the village. SiMSBUKY is an irregularlj- shaped township, contain- ing about 28 square miles, and is intersected by a spur of the Taconic mountain range. The Farmington River runs northerly through a portion of the town, and is bor- dered b}' spacious meadows ; but, making an abrupt turn to the south-east, it breaks through the range of hills, and its course where it leaves the town is almost exactly the opposite of the first direction. Simsbury village is sit- uated in the broadest portion of the valley, near the centre of the township. It contains two churches, and tluj safety-fuse manufactory of Toy, Bickford & Co. At Tariffville, in the south-east part of the town, and at one time an active manufacturing point, are three churches. The Canal Railroad crosses the Connecticut Western Rail- road at Simsburj' village. Population about 2,000. Alexander V. Griswold, presiding bishop of the Epis- copal Church ; Hon. Greene C. Bronson, chief justice of New York ; and Anson G. Phelps, the philanthropic mer- chant, were natives of Simsburj'. "West Hartford is relatively one of the wealthiest towns in the State. The surface of the town is gently undulating or level, except in the western jjortion, where it rises into a considerable elevation, known as Talcott Mountain, separating it from Avon. There are three churches and eight school-houses. The New York and New En^;land, and the New York, New Haven and Hart- ford railroads pass through the south-eastern corner of the town. The manufacture of pottery is carried on at this point. Population about 1 ,800. Assessed valuation $2,070,911, or $1,150 per capita. The average valua- tion of the real estate is nearly $C3 per acre. Nathan Perkins, D. D., a native of Lisbon, Conn., was settled over the Congregational church in West Hart- ford from October, 1772, to his death in January. 1838. Among the eminent men born in West Hartford were Theodore Sedgwick, judge of the Massachusetts Supreme Court ; Harry Crosswell, politician, editor and clergj-- man ; Noah Webster, the lexicographer ; and Lemuel Haynes, the celebrated colored preacher. The remaining towns of the county are. South Windsor (population 1,800), Granby (1,500), Bloomfield (1,600), Plainville (1,800), Burlington (1,200), Rocky Hill (1,100), Avon (975), East Granby (850), Newington (850), Hartland (750), and Marlborough (450). Most of these towns are agricultural, but Newington, Granby, Plainville and South Windsor have some manufactures. Avon contains Talcott Mountain, upon whose summit, some 900 feet above the ordinary level of the Connecti- cut River, is a lake of great depth. Near this lake is a stone tower 55 feet high, from the summit of which an extensive view is obtained. A part of Massachusetts about two miles square pro- jects into the town of Granbj- ; this territory was long in dispute, but was finall}' ceded to Massachusetts in 1804. South Windsor is noted as the birth-place of the great metaphysician, Jonathan Edwards, who was born in a house on the river road, about one mile north of South Windsor village. Leonidas L. Hamline, a celebrated Methodist bishop, was born in Burlington. Walter Forward, secretary of the U. S. Treasury from 1841 to 1843, was a native of East Granbj'. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. LITCHFIELD COUNTY, BY WILLIAil KNAPP. The first white settlers of Litchfield County in the State of Connecticut, came from Stratford, on Long Island Sound, in the spring of 1C73, and took possession of the fertile vallc3' of the Pomperaug River, named after a chief of the Pootatuck tribe of Indians. Their emi- gration to this place resulted from ecclesiastical contro- versies between the Rev. Israel Chauncj- and the Rev. Zechariah Walker, ministers of Stratford. At length Gov- Winthrop advised JNIr. Walker and his church and people to remove to a tract of land which should be allotted to them for the settlement of a new town. In the spring of 1672, accordingl3', the General Court having granted to Mr. Samuel Sherman, William Curtiss and others, liberty to erect a plantation at Pomperaug, subsequently named Woodbur}', some of Mr. Walker's church-mem- bers came to the new town in the wilderness, and he, with most of his followers, removed there the next year. Following the Ousatonic River, formerl}' called the Pootatuck, tiU they came to a large river flowing into it from the north, thej' finally reached a sightly elevation overlooking the beautiful valley of their search. The increase of population at the new settlement was rapid, and a few 3'ears after it commenced, in 1686, the town was incorporated by the General Court, the first in the count}'. The new town was represented in the General Court for the first time, in 1684, by Capt. John Minor and Lieut. Joseph Judson ; while the first meeting- house built in the county was erected here in 1681. Col. Robert Treat, Thomas Clark, Jonathan Baldwin, and 110 others, chiefl}^ of Milford, Conn., by authorit}' of the General Court at the October session in 1703, purchased of the Colon}', at a cost of about $484, a tract of 84 square miles of land, called by the Indians Wean- tinogue, and situated in the south-western part of the present county on the Ilousatonic River, which was at that time named New Milford by the General Court. • This chief had his wigwara on a high bluff near the Great F.ills on the Housatonic River, near the present village of New Milford. The abrupt bluff at these falls is now known as Lover's Leap. The most authentic tradition of the origin of the name is, that the lovely daughter of the chief had given her affections to a wliite settler, while her father had, with great care, selected a brave warrior to receive her hand, whom she, however, did not love. One fine day, the lovers remained on this The first white person who came to this place, not a proprietor, was John Noble, in 1707, from Westfield, Mass. The town was incorporated in 1712, with a pop- ulation of about 70 persons, the first minister settled here being the Rev. Daniel Boardman of Wethersfield, the same ha^^ng been ordained over the Congregational Church and society in 1716. The second meeting-house built in the county was erected here in 1719. Col. John Read had studied for the ministry in his youth, and the first sermon the settlers heard here was preached by him. This town was first represented in the General Court, in 1725, hy John Bostwick and Capt. Stephen Noble ; and it ma}- be remarked that the first bridge built across the Housatonic River was erected here in 1737. When the first white people came to this county in 1672, the Indian tribes occupied the valley of the Housatonic River chiefly. Here they found congenial places for their wigwams and villages, and good opportunities for fishing, and for the culture of maize and beans, their chief vegetable food. At this time the Pootatucks were the most powerful tribe in the western part of the Colony, with clans in the present county at Nonnewaug, Bantam, Weantinogue, and on the Pomperaug River. Their prin- cipal seat, however, was on the north-east side of the Ilousatonic, just below the present line of this county, at Southbury, in New Haven County, with a central point at Woodbury. But this tribe soon commenced to migrate to the north and west, either to escape their enemies, or to find better fishing and hunting grounds, until they became absorbed in other tribes, and finally utterly disappeared. The chief Pomperaug was buried in Woodbury, as was his brother, a powwow, and the places are designated by heaps of stones. The last chief of the tribe was Mauquash, who died about the year 1758- ! and was buried in Woodbury. About the year 1735, Weraumaug, or Raumaug,* i cliff till long after sunset, and she successfully besought her father to allow her suitor to lodge at the palace that night, which so excited the jealousy of the warrior that, in the morning, he told her he would have the scalp of his rival before nightfall. The two lovers met again at the same romantic place, where they were found by the enraged warrior, and, to make a sure escape, ivith clasped hands, they leaped from the giddy height into the surging waters. CONNECTICUT. Pootatuck chief, and a greAt councillor at the principal council-fires of Ms people, was visited, during his last sickness, by the Kev. Mr. Boardman, who toolc great pains to instruct him in the doctrines and principles of the Christian religion. The great sachem died shortly after, and was buried in the Indian ground a short dis- tance from his residence. His grave is now plainl}' dis- tinguishable. His tribe has entirclj- passed awa}', and the only traces of its existence are the arrow-heads, pipes, and other relics that are verj^ often unearthed by the ploughshare, as is the case in other parts of the county where the Indians _ once lived. A tribe of Schaghticoko Indians, occupjnng an inter- val on the west side ol the Ilousatonic Eiver, came under the influence of the ]Mora\ian missionaries aliout the j-ear 1742, and Gideon, their chief, was the first convert, and was baptized in 1743, as were 150 others very soon afterwards, and many hundreds still later.* At the time of the first settlement of Salisburj' there was an Indian village at Wcatog, the Indian name of the town, consisting of about 70 wigwams. Their trail through Cornwall to the Bantam clan at Litch- field was well known.f The lands of this count}' were generally purchased of the Indians by the settlers, together with the Colony title, as appears b}- the names of the chiefs appended to deeds on the records of many, if not all, of the earlier settled towns. The Indians were friendlj' to the first settlers, and supplied them with provisions in manj' instances, and defended them from hostile attacks. The next settlement bj' whites in the dense western woods of the county was at Bantam in 1720, by a grant * There are now about 54 who are considered as belonging to this tribe, scattered around in different towns, and are the only remnants of the red-men left in this county. Eunice, a grand-daugliter of their re- nowned chief, died in 1860, at the great age of 103 years. They now possess about 300 acres of land situated on Schaghticoko Mountain, and a fund of $5,000 ; and are under the ch.irge of an overseer appointed an- nually by the District Court in the county. t Chaugum, the last man of a small tribe in New Hartford, lived till near the close of the last century ; and his descendants iu the female lino kept up the council-fires till quite recently. The descendants of his UOUSATONIC RIVEtt— KAPIDS NEAB, WEUAU from the Colony to John Marsh of Hartford, and John Buel of Lebanon, and 57 associates, of a tract of land ten miles square, an-c gcnerall}- remained unchanged in the general organization, the Suijcrior and Supreme courts sitting at stated times at the countj^ town. Towns. Winchester and the Borough of Winsted. — The interval lands along the streams of this town are shut in by high hills and mountain ridges. The highest eleva- tion is in the old Winchester parish, where mountains in Massachusetts and New York can be seen. The town is situated in the green-woods district of the county, 35 miles by rail from Hartford. Long Lake, extending from the Torrington line northerly about three and one- half miles, is the largest body of water. Its surface is 150 feet above the centre of Winsted village near b}-. Still and Mad rivers are the principal streams. Lake Stream, running from the lake through a wild and nar- row ravine into Mad River, furnishes a water-supply for many factories. Winsted, situated on Lake Stream, Mad and Still rivers, is the largest place in population, and in the extent of its industrial interests, in the count}', and con- tains about 5,000 inhabitants. These three streams HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. afford a great supply of -water-power, which is used extensivelj- for manufacturing purposes ; there being, on :Mad River one dam, to about ever}- twenty rods in its course through the borough. A very large variety of es- tablishments are in successful operation, using both steam and water power. Among the manufactures are scythes and agricultural implements, brass clocks and cases, carriages, springs, undertakers' hardware and furnishing goods, bar-iron, railroad axles, pocket cutlery, pins, hardware and carpenters' tools, spool silk, machine screws, castings, mill gearing and pulleys, leather, &c. There are seven churches, a Catholic literar3- and theo- logical seminary, and a Cath- olic academy for young la- dies, with a parochial school and convent. The town has three flourishing banking institutions. Music Hall, a capacious brick and iron structure, contains a fine public hall. Another hall, now in process of construc- tion, will be used for town and borough purposes. Wa- ter for extinguishing fires, and for domestic purposes, is obtained from Long Lake. Park Place , a beauti ful green , is adorned with evergreens, maples and elms. James Boyd, a man of indomitable energy and perfect integrity, — who, with his partner and brother-in-law, Benjamin Jenkins, was the pioneer manufacturer of the place, — died Feb. 1, 1849, aged 78. Solomon Rockwell, Esq., one of the founders of Winsted, and an active promoter of its busi- ness interests, died Aug. 1, 1838, in the seventy-fifth 3-ear of his age. Wm. S. Ilolabird, a lawyer by pro- fession, was U.S. district attornej' for four years, and lieutenant-governor in 1842 and '44. He died May 22, 1855, at the age of 61. Other prominent natives are Gideon Hall (1808-67), a judge of the Superior Court ; John Bojxl (1799-), for three j-ears secretary of state; George Dudley, Roland Hitchcock, and F. D. Fyler. New Milford, one of the most important towns in the county in the diversity of its industrial interests, is situated in the south-western part of the county, 90 miles by rail from Hartford. It has a population of about 4,000, and is the largest town in the county. The Housatonic River is here spanned by five bridges. The township is mountainous, and its agricultural interests predominate largely in the production of milk and to- bacco. The principal centres of intercourse outside of the village are at Northville on the Aspctuck River, Gaj'lords- ville and Merwinsville in tlie north part of the town on the Housatonic, and Lanesville in the south part on Still River, where there is the best water-power in the town. ' The town has nine religious organizations, eighteen public schools and one academy. One national and one savings bank accommodate the business of the locality. The Housatonic Agricultural Societ}' occupy fine grounds near the village. Agricul- ture is not the entire occu- pation of the inhabitants, there being important man- ufactures of manilla and wrapping paper, vegetable- ivory buttons, plough cast- ings, iron fences and cast- ings, refrigerators, cigars and fire-brick. There are in the town seven saw-mills and five grist-mills. The \illage is one of the most beautiful and thriving in New England, having most of the conveniences of a city organization. There are two weeklj- newspapers published here. There are also nine tobacco-warehouses in the -Nillage, with several outside, emploj-ing about 400 men in the season of assorting and packing. There is an elevator in the village, and the business of suppl3-ing tlie sur- rounding towns with all kinds of grain, flour and feed, shipped from the West, is extensively carried on. The Housatonic R. R. runs through the town. More business is done from this point than at anj- other in the county on the road. The village is supplied with water from a reservoir on Cross Brook. Concrete walks, some of them eight feet wide, have been laid in the village. There are some fine buildings and resi- dences in the place, including the two bank buildings and the town hall, the latter standing on the spot where Roger Sherman once resided, and being a fine brick building, with high red sandstone basement, erected at a cost of about $45,000. Rev. Nathaniel Taylor, born Aug. 27, 1722, and a graduate of Yale, was ordained second pastor of the New \LL, NMT MILiORD CONNECTICUT. Milford Church in June, 1748. During his ministry he prepared many J'oung men for college. He died here Dec. 9, 1800, after having been ordained 52 j-ears. He was chaplain of a Connecticut regiment at Ticonderoga and Crown Point in 1759. Elijah Boardman, a successful merchant, was a United States senator at the time of his death, Aug. 18, 1823. His brother, Hon. David S. Boardman, a graduate of Yale in 1793, and chief justice of the county court, died Dec. 2, 1864, in the 96th year of his age. Eogcr Sherman, signer of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, came to New Milford on foot from Massachu- setts, with his shoemaking tools on his back, in 1743, when he was 22 j^ears of age. He was clerk of the first ecclesiastical society, and a deacon of the church for several years. He was admitted to the bar in 1754, and removed to New Haven in 1 761. Orange Merwin, one of the most Influential men of the town, and at one time member of Congress, died Sept. 4, is:)3. Perry Smith, a United States senator during the ad- ministrations of Jackson and Van Buren, di^'d in 1852, at the ago of 69 years. David C. Sanford, a native of the town, born in 1798, and, at the time of his death in 18G4, a judge of the Supreme Court of Errors, was long a prominent and influential man. George Taylor, M. D., Rev. Charles G. Acly, a retired Episcopal clergjman, and Hon. A. B. Jlygatt, U. S. Viank examiner for Rhode Island and Connecticut, are among the distinguished and honored residents of the town. TonRiNGTON, one of the most regularlj- laid-out town- ships in the count}", with a hilly surface and fertile soil, is 45 miles from Hartford. The water-power is princi- pally on the east and west branches of the Naugatuck River. The business centres are the Hollow, New- field, Torringford, Wrightville, Burrville, Daytonville, and "Wolcottville, in the extreme southern part of the town. The latter is a place of about 2,200 inhabitants, and one of the most important manufacturing centres in ths county. The manufacturing industries are varied, • Peter Brown, his Pilgrim ancestor, came over in the " Mayflower," and lived near to Miles Standish, in Dtixbuiy, Mass., and most likely was one of his soldiers. Tlio Life of John Brnwii, wlio died as a martyr to American slavery, has been well writtru hy F. 1'.. Saiiboi-n, Esq., and incorporated as part of Orcott's "History of Turriiiston." Tlio house whcr; he was born is still stinding, an object of much inter- est to the curious. t Mr. Mills was the father of Samuel J. Mills, who was born in Tor- rington, April 21, 1783, and who died at sea in June, 1818, returning from Africa, whither he had gone to establish a site for a colony, in the inter- est of the American Colonization Society. Samuel, Jr., was one of the and among the goods produced are hardware, notions, American scissors, upholsterers' brass and iron goods ; black doeskins, ribbed and diagonal goods are also produced. Rolled and sheet brass and copper, for cartridges especially, brass, copper, and German-silver ware are extensively manufactured. The last-mentioned manufactures are carried on in buildings co\-ering not less than three acres. Two hundred and fifty men are emploj'ed here, and the annual aggregate of the business amounts to about $1,250,000. Sewing-machine needles, supplying the Wheeler and Wilson Company' with 150,000 needles per month, are also made. Skates, leather goods, iron and brass fer- rules, employ about 100 men. Carriage and furniture establishments are in successful operation* There are seven churches in the town, a savings bank, and a weekly newspaper. A new and beautifid granite Congregational church edifice has been erected at Wolcottvillo at a cost of $32,000. The Naugatuck R. R. runs through the town. This place is supplied with water from INIinc Brook. The reservoir has an area of five and one-half acres of surface, capable of holding 16,000,000 gallons of water. The whole population of the town, inclLidiug Wolcottville, is about 3,500. Prominent among the notable characters connected with Torriugton in times past maj- bo mentioned Gen. Russel C. Abernethj-, merchant, mauufaciurcr, and general of State militia ; Blr. Owen Brown,* a tanner, and the father of John Brown of Kansas and Harper's Feny (Vii.) fame, who was also born in Torrington in 1800 ; Dr. Samuel Woodward (Nov. 8, 1750— Jan. 26, 1835), a beloved physician, and an exceptionably noble man ; Rev. Samuel J. Mills t (May 17, 1743— May 11, 1833), pastor of the Torringford Church for 50 j-ears, and who, to rare humor and deep sensibility, imited great strength of intellect and originalit}' of miml ; William Battelle, Esq., an old-time successful mercliant, and Israel Coe, who established the batter}' manufacture of brass-kettles at Wolcottville, the first of the kind in the county, and who was justice of the peace after he was 80 years old. Hon. Lyman W. Coe is actively identified with the interests of the town. Rev. Samuel Orcott is the historian of Torring- immortal three yonng men (Gordon Hall and James Richards being the other two), students in Williams College, who, in the first year of this century, by the "Haystack" (where the monument now stands), prayed into existence the work of foreign missions, and consecrated themselves to it. A gi-adnato of AVilliams and of Andover, he united with Messrs. Judson, Newell and Nott, in 1800, in memorializing the General Association of Mass.achusetts on tlic suliject of missions, a step which resulted in the formation of the A. P.. C F. M. Wlicn tlir history of American missions to the heathen is written, his name imi.-t stjind first and foremost, and will live long after those of military heroes are forgotten. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. ton, to whoso work the writer acknowledges his indobt- Salisbury is of importance as being the locality of the celebrated iron of that name, and is also one of the best agricultural towns in the count}-. The north-western town in the State, having the llousatonic River as its eastern boundary, it has an area of about 58 square miles. The population is about 3,700. It has five churches, three graded and several district schools. At Lakevillc is a well-managed school for imbeciles. Lakes Washining and Washince are the largest and most beau- tiful sheets of water in the town. The business centres are at Salisburj-, Lakevillc, Lime Rock and Falls ^'il- lago ; the latter on the llousatonic River, where the extensive building and repair shups of the llousatonic Railroad Company are located. The business of manu- facturing cast-iron car-wheels is carried on here exten- sively. The foundry is at Lime Rock, and about 10,000 railroad wheels are produced annually. There arc aljout 600 men emploj-ed at the furnaces and the wheel factory. A fine town hall is in process of erection. There are extensive grounds at Falls Village, used for agricultural fairs. The Conn. Western R. R. runs through the town. Among the notables of Salisbury have been "William Ray, a naval officer and author ; Samuel Church, LL. D., (1785-1854), an eminent jurist; Rev. Jonathan Lee (1718-88), pastor in the town for 45 3-cars ; Gen. Elisha Sterling, a distinguished law3'er ; and Col. Elisha Sheldon, a Rovohitionarj' officer. Hon. AVilliam II. Barnum, formerly U. S. senator, Frederick Mills, M. C, and Hon. Alexander II. Holley, ex-governor of the State, are residents of the town. Litchfield, the shire town of tlie count}-, is 58 miles from Hartford, b}- rail, and has a population of about 3,000. The township is on high land, with strong soil. Bantam Lake, the largest body of water in the county, is situated partty in this town. The village commands a beautiful and extensive prospect, and has a fine park in the centre, in which stands a monument to ccmmemorate the lives of those who fell in the late war. The prominent buildings arc the old court-house, with its turret and bell ; the jail, and a new Congregational church edifice costing about 830,000. "With its beautiful shade-trees, the village, at present, is a most delightful resort for thos6 in quest of pleasure and recreation. The Lakeviev.- House, capable of accommodatii g sev- eral hundred people, is a sightlj- place, and a fuvcrite resort for metropolitan guests during tha heated term. The city of New York, distant about 115 miles by rail, is reached l)y the Norwalk, llousatonic, Shepaug and Naugatuck railroads. The churches i;i the town are six in number ; and there are two banks, one newspaper, and 20 public schools. Manufacturing is carried on to .a greater or less extent at East Litchfield, Bantam Falls, Milton and Northfield. | Among the eminent men of Litchfield have been Oliver "Wolcott (1720-97), the commander of a company in the French war, first sheriff of the county, delegate to Congress in 1775, and signer of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, and governor of the State at the time of his death; Benjamin Tullmadge (1754— 1835), a colonel in the Revolutionarj- war, serving with distinction in many battles, several times a representative in Congress, audi instrumental in causing the capture of Mnj. Andre; Gen. Uriah Tracj- (1755-1807), congressman and U. S. senator ; Hon. O. S. Seymour, LL. D., former member of Congress and chief justice of the State; George c! Woodruff, formerl}- a member of Congress ; Gideon H. Ilollister, author of a standard histor}' of Connecticut; and Charles B. Andrews, governor of the State. New Hartford is a thriving mountainous town, containing about 3,500 inhabitants, and having five churches. There are in the place five saw-mills, while heavy duck and cotton goods, brass and iron casters, furniture casters, paper, carriages, coaches and sleighs, and carpenters' tools arc manufactured here. j Among the more prominent citizens of this place, past and jDresent, may be named : Hon. William G. Williams, an eloquent advocate, and connected with the distin- guished AVilhams family of Massaciiusetts (his father' being a nephew of Col. Ei)hraim AVilliams, the foundarl of Williams College) ; Roger Mills, Esq., a lawyer of note ; Hon. Jared B. Foster; John Richards, Esq ; and Hon. Edward M. Chapin. Chloe Lankton, the mart3r to disease, — still living, but dying a slow death, — has spent most of her life m\ New Hartford. She has been an intense sufferer, confinfid to her bed for 4G j'cars, thus furnishing in her life a pattern of long-suffering and patience, rival- ling Job, in that she is never known to murmur or com- plain. Sharon, situated on the west side of the Housa- tonic River, is 71 miles from Hartford, and contains about 3,400 inhabitants. The eastern part of the township is mountainous, while the western section is part of a large and beautiful valley. The soil is fer- tile, and agriculture is the principal occupation of thoj people ; the chief productions being grain, tobacco, and milk for the New York market. The three most thickly settled places are Sharon Valley, Sharon Village and nitc"ticock's Corner, all on the New York State line, and Ellsworth, in th3 south-eastern part of the town. The I CONNECTICUT. churches are five in number. There is a furnace for smelting the Salisbury ore at Sharon VaUe}-. Noted men : John WiEiams, town clerk for 40 years ; Rev. Cotton Mather Smith (1731-180G), pastor of the Sharon church for 62 years ; John Cotton Smith, LL. D., son of the foregoing, member of Congress, judge of tlie Supreme Court of the State, and governor from 1813 to 1817; John Cotton Smith, son of the governor, a popular orator and author ; Anson Sterling, at one time a member of Congress ; and Gen. Charles F. Sedgwick, an able lawyer. Woodbury, 45 miles from Hartford, has a population of a little less than 2,000. The village is surrounded b}' high hills. The main street, running lengthwise of a charming and fertile valley, extends into Hotehkissville, so that the places are now really one. The localities of interest in the town are Weekeepeemee, Flanders, Nonnc- waug Falls, of more than 100 feet descent; Castle Rock, one of the Indian guarding heights ; Orenaug Rocks, near the lightning's play-ground ; Deer Rocks, Middle Quarter, and some others that still retain the old Indian names. Shot-bags, belts, cassimcres, shears anl cutlery are made in this town. The Masonic Hall, witli pillars around it, built on a bluif of trap rock, about 30 feet above tlie street, is the best in the count}-, and is a prominent object of admiration upon entering the village. Eminent men : Jabez Bacon (1731-180G), a native of !Middletown, and a very successfid merchant ; Dr. Daniel Munn (1C84-1761), probably the first native physician of the county; Russel Abcriiethy, M. D. (1774-1851), a celebrated physician ; Judge Noah B. Benedict (1771- 1831) ; Judge Nathaniel Smith (1702-1822), congress- man and judge of the Supreme Court of the State ; and Judge Charles B. Phelps (1788-1858), an eminent jurist. The remaining towns of the county, mostlj- devoted to agriculture, w ith their respective populations are Plym- outh (2,500); Thomaston (2,500), so called for Seth Thomas, the founder of the extensive manufactory at • Seth Thomas was bom about 1817, and came from Wolcott alx)ut 1808 to Hoadleyville for the purpose of making clocks, and moved to Plymouth Hollow in 1812, where he began the clock-making business on a large scale. From this beginning a new era in the history of the town, which now bears his name, may be dated. t In the south part of the town is a wild and rugged chasm, about 600 feet high, where a wonderful echo is formed. On tlie eastern side of Lake \Varamaug is a pinnacle supposed to bo the highest point in the State. Tlic lake just mentioned, romantically situated among the hills, is much frequented, during the heated term, by tourists and pleasurc- Ecckcrs. X The Honsatonic Falls, at this place, are 60 feet high. The whole descent, including the rapids, above and below the falls, is 160 feet. § There is In Cornwall Hollow a natural curiosity consisting of a remarkable rock weighing about 200 tons, perched upon two bowlders. that place of the clocks known by his name ; * Water- town (1,800), a favorite suimner resort ; Washington! (1,G00); Canaan (1,200); J North Canaan (1,800); Cornwall § (1,700), presenting, with its loft}- mountains and deep valleys, some of the most wild and romantic scenery; Kent (1,700) ; Norfolk (1,000) ; Barkhamsted (1,000) ; Goshen || (1,200) ; Colebrook (1,100), amoun- tain town ;Roxl)ury^ (900) ; IIarwinton( 1,000) ; Bridge - water (800); Bethlehem (700), like Bridgewater an agricultural hill-town ; Morris (050) ; and Warren (000). Rev. John Trumbull, an eminent divine, after a min- I istry of 48 years at Watertown, died Dec. 13, 1787. John Trumbull, son of the foregoing, born April 24, 1750, educated at Yale, admitted to the bar in 1773, was the author of McFingal. He died at Detroit, Mich., in 1831. Gen. John Sedgwick, an ofllicer of the war of the Rev- olution, and born in 1742, was a man of frank, familiar, and most estimable qualities. He died Aug. 18, 1820, aged 77 years. His remains repose in the Cornwall HoUow (-'eraetery. Major Gen. John Sedgwick was a native of the town of Cornwall, born Sept. 13, 1813, and graduated at AVest Point Military Academy with honor in 1837. He was engaged in the Seminole war in Florida ; was employed under Gen. Scott to remove the Cherokces to their western reser\'ation ; fought in Mexico under Gen- erals Worth, Scott, and Ta}-lor ; called to the Army of the Potomac, he fought at Fair Oaks, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and the battles of the Wilderness ; was killed near Spottsylvania C. IL, Va., May 9, 1804, and was buried in the Cornwall Hollow Cemetery. Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D. D , the settled minister of Norfollc for over 40 years, died in 1870, at about 70 years of age. William W. Welch, M. D., an eminent physician of Norfolk, has been a member of Congress. about 4 feet apart, with room for a person to pass under it in an upright posilion. II It is an interesting fact that in one of the village streets of Goshen the rain-fall on the front roof of the houses is said to run into the Hous- atonic River, to the west, while that, on the back roof of the same houses, finds its way into the Naugatuck. H Roxbury is famous as having been the birth-place of Col. Seth Warner, who was bom in 1743, and with only a common-school ednca^ tion of the times, early became distinguished for his energy and per- severance. Ho was the commander during the contest of the Colony with New York, and although rewards were offered by the governor of Kew York for his arrest, be always evaded their vigilance. Ho was in command of the parly th.it took Crown Point, and was in several engagements in the war of the Revolution, but had to bo relieved on account of sickness. He was more than six feet tall, well proportioned, and was a gallant officer. He died Dec. 27, 1784. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Hon. Truman Smith, born in Roxburj, graduate of Yale, was an eminent lawj-er, also U. S. senator, and argued a case in court in his 86th j-ear. He at present resides at Stamford. Rev. Joseph Beilam_y, D. D., born in Cheshire in 1 719, graduated at Yale in 1735, was ordained in 1740, and continued to ser\-e as pastor of the Bethlehem Church for 50 jears. He was greatly- distinguished as a theological instructor, and as an educator of joung men. lie held high rank also both as a preacher and as a writer on theological subjects. MIDDLESEX COUI^TY. BY PROF. THOMAS EMMETTE. The legislature of Connecticut in Maj-, 1785, foi-med the county of Middlesex by taking the towns of Middle- town, Chatham, Haddam and East Haddam from the county of Hartford, and the towns of Saybrook and Killingworth from the county of New London. In May, 1790, Dui-ham, from the county of New Haven, was annexed to Middlesex. An English settlement was commenced in Saybrook in 1G35, in Middletown in 1650, and in Haddam in 1662, all on the west side of the Connecticut River. From these, in due time, proceeded the towns on the opposite side of the Connecticut. The settlement in Killingworth began in 1663, and that in Durham in 1698. The settlers, in some instances, came direct from Eng- land, but the greater number from older settlements in Connecticut and Massachusetts. This region was, in general, a wild, irregular tract of country, mountainous, and covered with forests, the alluvial soil being found on the banks of the river and on the shores of Long Island Sound. Some parts afforded comfortable means of settlement ; the rest afforded the Indian a place of retreat after he had sold his jiatrimony to the white man. The glory of the county is its noble stream. The granite formation begins just below the city of Middle- town, at a place called the Straits, where the river, hemmed in by bold hills, is only 35 rods wide, and runs nearly to the mouth at Saybrook. The scenery in this part is positively beautiful, green with wealth of trees in summer, and literally revelling in brilliant colors in the fall. This charming region is classic ground. During the profligate and unlicensed reign of Charles I., several gentlemen of distinction contemplated a removal to Amer- ica. They obtained from the Earl of Warwick, March 19, 1631, a patent of all that territory " which lies west from Narraganset river, a hundred and twenty miles on the sea-coast ; and from thence in latitude and breadth afore- said to the South Sea." John Winthrop, son of the governor of Massachusetts, who was then in London, was appointed their agent, and was instructed to build a fort at the mouth of the Connecticut, and to erect houses for himself and his men, and for the reception of persons of quahty. To enable Winthrop to carry out their designs, they constituted him governor of Connecticut [ River, and of the harbor and places adjoining, for one i j'ear after his arrival. Thus commissioned and furnished with men and supplies he arrived in Boston on Oct. 8, 1631, where he discovered that some people had just left Massachusetts and settled upon the Connecticut River within the patent granted by the earl of Warwick. Being assured by the governor of the Colonj- and the magistrates that the settlers should remove or satisfj- the patentees, he despatched his men to the mouth of the Connecticut and superintended their labors until the ex- piration of his commission. The level tract of ground west of the river known as Saj'brook Point was the place of the new settlement. On this several streets were laid out with some pretensions to a town, and the fortification was entrusted to the care of Mr. David Gardiner, an engineer whom the patentees had procui-cd for the pur- pose in England. The whole was secured by a pali- sade stretching across the landward side of the point, "In 1639 Col. George Fenwick, one of the patentees, arrived from England, and gave to the tract about the mouth of the river the name of Saj'brook, in honor of Lord Sa^' and Seal, and Lord Brooke, his principal asso- ciates." He governed the inhabitants until 1644, and then disposed of his jurisdiction to the Colony of Con- necticut, as hia associates in the patent had abandoned the idea of seeking a home in the wilds of America on ac- CONNECTICUT. count of the trouble to be apprehended from the Indians and the opposition in high quarters to their leaving England. Owing to this disaffection, the little colony was driven back on its original resources. These were strengthened by a few more arrivals from Hartford, and thus the nucleus of a river population was formed under the protection of the friendly fortification. The settle- ment at Sa^brook was intended as the residence of Oliver Cromwell, Pym, Hampden and Ilasselrigg, four of the great Commoners of the daj', and it-is said that they actually embarked in the Thames. Thej' remained at home to do a greater work than the narrow field of Saybrook afforded, but it would be well to ask, "Were not the early settlers of this count}' men of the Cromwell stamp? They were simply battling for the same cause under different conditions. These earlj* settlers did not escape the ferocities of the Indians. It was not long before the utility of the fort at Saj-brook was demonstrated. The Indians who roamed the territory in the vicinity' of the fort were subject to a warlike and powerful nation, known as the Pequots, who inhalnted the region of the mouth of the Thames. They were inveterate in their malignity against the English, and influenced other tribes against them. In 1634, thej' murdered Captains Stone and Norton with their crew, consisting of eight men, just above Saybrook Point, plundered the vessel, burnt and sunk her. Yet they held a treatj' with Winthrop, and conceded to the English their right to Connecticut River and the adjacent country. This was merely a cunning expedient to secure con- fidence, for all the while they meditated treacher}' ; for early in October, 1636, a band of Pequots concealed in the grass at Calves' Island, four miles north of the fort, surprised five men who went there to get the haj', caught one of them named Buttei-field, and put him to death by torture. The place was named from this circumstance Butterfield's Meadow. The rest escaped to their boat, one of them being wounded with five arrows. A few days after, Joseph Till}^ master of a bark, anchored off the island, and taking one man with him, went on shore for the purpose of fowling. A large number of Pequots, concealed as before, waited until he had discharged his piece, killed his companion, and captured him. They barbarously cut off his hands and his feet. In this tor- tured state he lived three days, exciting the admiration of his inhuman captors by his stoical endurance, not al- lowing a groan to escape him. This single but horrible incident demonstrates but too clearly the moral and physical courage of the settlers. The place has ever since been called Tilly's Point. The enemy still maintained his system of surprises. Within a fortnight, a force 100 strong, suddenly attacked a house erected two miles from the fort, and held by six of the garrison. Three of them were fowling near the house, although the lieutenant had strictly forbidden the practice. Two of these were taken ; the third cut his Vfay through them, wounded with two arrows, but not mortally. During the ensuing winter the fort was in a constant state of siege, all their outl3-ing propertj' was destroyecf, and no one could leave the fort without hazard. The Pequots, em- boldened b}' their successes, became more troublesome as the spring advanced. In the month of March, 1637, Lieut. Gardiner with a dozen men went out to burn the marshes. Just as thej' had got clear of the palisades the enem3' killed three, and wounded a fourth, who died in the fort next day. Gardiner was slightly wounded, but was enabled to retire with the rest of his men. The Indians then surrounded the fort, till the guns, loaded with grape-shot, caused them to retreat. Their next exploit in their design of extermination was to attack a shallop with three men on board. Thej' shot one of them through the head with an arrow, who fell over- board ; they rii)ped the other two completely open, split their backs, and then suspended them on trees. One of the Indians concerned in this barbarity named Nepan- puck, a famous Pequot, for this and similar atrocities, was beheaded at New Haven in 1639. The Colon}- of Connecticut became ver}' apprehensive for the safety of the little band of settlers in the fort. The fort com- manded the river. It had already beaten off a Dutch war-sloop, and so far had checked the ravages of the Indians, but the Pequots were not only warlike, but numerous, and swaj'ed the neighboring tribes. Unless they could be subdued, it was quite evident that the set- tlement must succumb and the general safety be endan- gered. Capt. John Mason (a great colonial celebrit}-) was sent from the Hartford settlement with 20 men to re-enforce the garrison. He was strengthened by 20 men under the command of Capt. John Underhill, sent b}' the Colony of Massachusetts. On the 1st of May, the General Court of Connecticut Colon}-, seriously alarmed at the hostile attitude of the Pequots, resolved upon im- mediate and vigorous war. Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies, alive to the necessities of the occasion, resolved to aid the sister Colony. Capt. John Mason was ap- pointed commander of the Connecticut troops, 90 men in all, the whole number that Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor could furnish. Uncas, sachem of Mohegan, his ally, contributed 70 men. The whole force embarked at Hartford, in three small vessels, and fell down the river for Saybrook fort. Arrived at what is now Chester, the Indians quitted the boats and proceeded on foot. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. They fell in with 40 of the enem}-, killed six, and took one prisoner, whom thej' murdered. In five da3-s from their departure they reached Say- brook fort, ha^ing been delayed several times by one or other of the vessels getting aground. Capt. Underbill, with 19 men belonging to the garrison, joined the expe- dition, and 20 of Mason's men were sent back to protect their friends up the river. An account of the expedition to the Pequot fort, and the subsequent extermination of the tribe, is elsewhere given. With the close of these hostilities, the importance of the fort began to decline. Lieut. Gardiner, who com- manded the garrison, removed in 1639 to Manchanoc, now Gardiner's Island, and became the first English set- tler in the State of New York. His descendants reside on the island to this day, the patent being granted by the crown. His son David was born at Saybrook, April 29, 1636, and is supposed to have been the first white child born in the territory which now comprises Middle- sex County. In the year before George Fenwiek sold the jurisdiction of Sa3'brook, his wife. Lady Anne But- ler, commonly called Lady Fenwiek, died. The tomb, an unganily structure of brown stone, without inscrip- tion, isolated and neglected, remained until very re- cently. Capt. John Mason, at the request of the settlers, took up his abode at Saj-brook in 1647, and was ap- pointed to the command of the fort. He resided there for thirteen years, and then removed to assist in the set- tlement of Norwich. The country to the west of Say- brook became known to the colonists by means of the pursuit of Sassacus in that direction ; it opened up fine sites on the Sound, and these were speedily occupied. Other settlements were formed up the river in a few years, but Saybrook must be considered the parent town of Middlesex County, and its historical fort the preser- vation of all the country within its influence. The first inhabitants of Saybrook, who endured the trials peculiar to the early settlers, sat under the minis- trations of the Rev. John Higginson, whose teachings were "suitable, seasonable and profitable, according to the then present dispensation of Providence." He ar- rived in this country from England in 1629. After three or four years' ministrj' in Saybrook, he removed to Guilford. The first church was established there in 1643. He remained there untU 1660, and then removed to Sa- lem, and died on Dec. 9, 1708, in the 93d year of his age. The first church in Saybrook was organized in 1646. Among the early inhabitants distinguished for learning and piety, or for some excellence, may be men- tioned the Hon. Robert Chapman, ancestor of tlie Chap- mans in Saybrook, East Haddam, and other parts of the State. He arrived there in 1636, and was a particular friend of George Fenwiek while he remained iu the country. He died in October, 1687. Mr. John TuUy came into the town a lad ; he was possessed with a mind original and ingenious ; became a teacher of arithmetic, navigation and astronomy, and published the almanacs of New England from 1681 to 1702. Mr. David Busli- nell, another genius, was the inventor of several ma- chines destined to annoy the British shipping in the Revolutionary war. He served during the war as a cap- tain in a company of sappers and miners. The first building in the county designed as a colle- giate school was erected here, since named Yale College. It was of one story, eighty feet long. Fifteen com- mencements were held here, and more than sixtj' young men graduated from it. Here, also, a confession of faith' was instituted, upon the principles of which the college was to be conducted. This was the origin of the famous Saybrook Platform in 1708. The college was removed from this place to New Haven. Encouraged by the security in which Saybrook seemed established, and by the Constitution of 1639, which was superseded by the more liberal charter of Charles II., a committee was appointed to explore the lands in the Indian territory of Mattabeset. Sowheag, its great sachem, who appears to have been a peaceable man for an Indian, ruled the tribes who dwelt within a considera- ble circuit on both sides of the river. His stronghold was a hill about a mile west of the river, — a position dominating the surrounding country. Before any settle- ment had commenced, Sowheag negotiated with Gov. Haynes for the sale of his territory. The Indian title did not, however, become extinct until about twelve years after, when certain chiefs, aware of the deed of Sowheag, for a further and full consideration disposed of all that land " to run from the great river the whole breadth east six miles, and from the great river west as far as the General Court of Connecticut had granted the bounds should extend " ; reserving a tract on the west side of the river for Sawsean forever, and three hundred acres for the heirs of Sowheag and Mattabeset Indians on the east side. On Oct. 30, 1646, the General Court appointed a Mr. Phelps to join a committee for the planting of Mattabe- set. Few settlers came at first, but more towards the close of 1651 ; for in Septemlwr of that year the Gen- eral Court ordered that Mattabeset should be a town. In 1652, the town was represented in the General Court, and in November, 1653, the General Court further ap- proved "that the name of the plantation commonly called Mattabesecfc should, for time to come, be called CONNECTICUT. 345 Middletown." The name was probably given to it on account of its Ijing between the towns up the river and Saybrook at its mouth. It has been considered that the name was taken from a place in England endeared to some of the settlers. This we consider as not very prgbable. Who the first settlers were we have not the means of ascertaining ; the first few pages in the town records are lost, and others are nearly obliterated. The number of taxable persons in 1G54 was thirty-one, and I sixteen years after they had only increased to fifty-two. The planters — as they were called in colonial phrase — came from the mother country, Hartford and Wethers- j field, and a few from Massachusetts. A large number I of the inhabitants of Middletown, at this day, are direct descendants from these planters. It may truly be said, that in a population of 10,000 persons, their names large 1}^ predominate. The occupation of these settlers was in fact that of planters ; they had no other source of living but the products of the soil ; they manufactured their garments I for the family ver3' imperfectly, owing to their deficient means ; thej^ were scantil}' supplied with fanning imple- ; ments, and had but few mechanics in the community. They reserved a lot worth one hundred pounds as a temptation for a blacksmith to cast his lot among them. In September, ICGl, one appeared, who agreed to do the necessary smithing for the town for four j'ears. The condition of their lives never reached ordinary comfort for half a century. Trade was carried on by barter. In 1680, they only owned one small vessel of 70 tons ; onlj' one other was owned on the river, and that at Hart- ford, of 90 tons. Half a century later, two vessels only were owned here ; their united tonnage, 105 tons. There was only one merchant here in 1680, and only 24 in the entire Connecticut Colony. They are mentioned in Gov. Leete's Eeport to the Board of Trade and Planta- tions in England, as doing but little business. Their condition must have been hard and difficult indeed, but they were neither better nor worse than the colonists of New England in general. The settlement was divided into two parts, with the Little Elver, a narrow stream falling into the Connecticut, between them. That por- tion to the north of the stream was called The Upper Houses ; that to the south. The Lower Houses. The Upper Houses of those days is now the town of Crom- well. On Feb. 2d, 1052, it was voted by the town that a meeting-house should be built; it was only " twenty feet square, ten from sill to plate, and was enclosed with palisades." In May, 1680, the second meeting-house was erected, "thirty-two feet square, and fifteen feet between joints." The population of the Upper Houses increased so much that in January, 1703, "the town agreed they might settle a minister and build a meeting-house, pro- vided they settled a minister within six, or at most twelve months from that time." In May of the same year, the Upper Houses were incorporated as a parish. By slow degrees, the inhabitants began to spread out over the neighboring country ; a settlement was begun in Middlefield in 1700, and in Westfleld in 1720. The former did not become a parish until 1744, and West- field not until 176G. On the east side of the Connecti- cut, now the site of Portland, no parish was formed until May, 1714, although the land was of good quahty. It was then called East Middletown. Middle Haddam, in the south-eastern part of the township, was not formed into a parish until May, 1749. It was mostly settled by people from East Middletown. East Hamp- ton, another settlement in the south-east corner of the township, was incorporated in May, 1746. The next township in the order of date, and that a very interesting one, is Haddam, settled in 1662. It covered that tract of country lying between the confines of Middletown to the north, and Saybrook to the south. Some nidividuals contemplated this settlement two years before. The legislature appointed a committee to pur- chase the tract from the Indians. This was completed in 1662 for the consideration of 30 coats, probably worth $100, the Indians reserving Thirty-Mile Island, so called from being that distance from the mouth of the Connecticut, as the river runs, and 40 acres at Patta- quonk, now Chester meadows ; also the right of fishing and hunting where they pleased, provided they did not injure the settlers. Twenty-eight young men settled upon these lands ; but they soon discovered that they were interfered with by their northern line encroaching upon the territorj' confirmed to Middletown, and a con- siderable tract to the south encroached on that claimed by Saybrook, owing, no doubt, to the loose manner in which the Indians held their original right. The legis- lature settled the difficulty, in 1668, by advising the con- testants to divide the disputed territory equall}^, and the division was made accordingly. The settlers do not seem to have been fully satisfied by this reduction of their purchase, for the legislature, in 1673, granted them as compensation all that tract of land on the east side of the river, now the township of East Haddam. They came from Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor, and the descendants of most of them are in the town or its vicinity to this day. Town privileges were accorded them in 1668, and the settlement was called Haddam, after a place in England. IIISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. Shortly after this, Richard Walkley from Hartford, John Bates, William Sco^•ill and others joined the settlement. On Feb. 11, 1G86, a patent was granted to the town by the Assembly, confirming the settlers and their heirs forever in the possession of all the lands, appurtenances and privileges previously granted. The growth of popu- lation was exceedinglj' slow ; for 40 years the inhabi- tants were confined to the western bank of the river. The ancestors of the families of Dickinson, Hubbard and Ray settled here about the commencement of the last century ; and at later periods, those of the famihes of Lewis, Hazleton, Tjier, Higgins, Thomas, Knowles and Burr. The Indians appear to have had no specific name for the township at large ; the northern part they called " Higganompos," since changed to Higganum. The western part they called " Cockaponset," since changed to Punset. Thej^ remained on their reservation at Pattaquonk and Thh'ty-Mile Island for man}- years ; a few had a place of resort in a hollow on Haddam Neck, within the township on the east side of the river. Some were in existence within the memory of people who were living in the early part of the present century. With that due regard for the maintenance of public worship which ever distinguished the early colonists, the proprietors reserved one right for whoever should be their first minister, and another right for the support of the ministi-y forever. David Brainerd, the missionary, direct descendant of Daniel Brainerd, one of the ori- ginal settlers, was born in this town in 1716. His efl'orts to christianize the Indians in different parts of North America have been highlj' praised. In Great Britain he was considered a model missionary. In October, 1663, it was resolved by the legislature that the tract of ground to the west of Saybrook, known by the name of Hammonasset, should be formed into a township. Twelve planters moved into it the same month; in two or three j'ears they were joined by 16 others, and the town was divided into 30 rights ; viz., one each for the settlers, one for the first minister who should be settled there, and the last for the support of the ministry forever. In 1667, the new township was called KenU worth, after the celebrated Kenilworth in England ; according to tradition, the first settlers emigrated from there. The name is so written in the earlj- records of the town and Colon}-. By coiTupt spelling or worse pronunciation the romantic Kenilworth has been changed into the unmeaning Killingworth. The Indians were very numerous in the southern part of this township ; they dwelt on the shores of the Sound, and on the banks of the small streams, immense masses of shells now indicating their places of resort. While Col. Fenwick lived at Saybrook he bought up most of their lands. On Nov. 20, 1669, Uncas, the Mohegan sachem, disposed of the remainder of his lands in the township to the settlers, resenang six acres on the east side of the harbor, and the usual liberty of hunting and fishing. They lived here in great numbers to 1730 or 1740. " On the 26th of January, 1686, the Assemblj- granted to the inhabitants of this town, the lands north of their bounds, and of the bounds of Guilford, and west of Haddam, up to Cochincaug swamps ; which, by agree- ment, were surrendered to the township of Durham in 1708." Durham being an outlying section was very diflficult of settlement. The lands were purchased from the Indians by Samuel Wj-llys and others on Jan. 24, 1672. The colonists do not appear to have been verj- expert surveyors ; the grants from the legislature when measured, in some cases, encroached upon others, and in the case of Durham, the grant was not suflBcient, — a large tract being left out. The legislature granted many lots or farms in it to persons who had rendered distinguished services to the Colony, and in this waj' 5,000 acres became the property of people who were not resident there. The difficulty was ultimately adjusted by the patent granted by the legislature in May, 1708. The colonists soon manifested their maritime inclina- tions. It has alreadj^ been said that in 1730 only two vessels of small tonnage were owned on the river. Shipbuilding began on the eastern side of the stream in the neighborhood of Middletown and the settlement of Haddam. " The first vessel built in Chatham parish was launched in October, 1741 ; this was a schooner of 90 tons," supposed to have been built at Lewis's yard, where manj- A-essels have since been built. Shipbuilding was begun at Churchel's yard in 1795. From the beginning of 1806 to the close of 1816, 12,500 tons of shipping were buUt here. In this parish were built, during the Revolution, the "Trumbull" of 700 tons, 36 guns, and the "Bourbon" of 900 tons. Other war vessels of large capacitj' were subsequently built. In the yards at Middle Haddam, 18 ships, 9 brigs, 11 schooners and 1 sloop were built from 1805 to 1815, amounting to 9,200 tons. Shipbuilding appears to have been done on the west shore of the river, — at Middle- town, Higganum and Haddam. Out of this shipbuilding enterprise grew the West India trade. Prior to the Revolutionarj- war, the shipping was mostly employed in West Indian adventure. Several merchants at Middle- town embarked in the trade, exporting mules, cattle, corn and meal, and importing, in turn, molasses, sugar and CONNECTICUT. rum. This trade not only enriched the firms who were engaged in it but stimulated commerce in the county generally. By this time the best parts of the lands had been gotten under cultivation, the necessary stock could be raised for exportation, and the gi'owth of cereals was more than the inhabitants could consume. Ever3'thing favored the West Indian trade. Articles of the most useful description were brought to the doors of the colonists. Large numbers of families were maintained by the necessary labor to pursue the trade, — the county alone did not present a field large enough to consume the valuable imports, so by opening up the roads they carried the cargoes across the mountains to distant places in New England ; the merchants became their own carriers, and an ordinarily quiet agricultural com- munity soon became transformed into enterprising mer- chant adventurers. They were on the highway to wealth, and many attained it. The Revolutionary war suspended but did not destroy this trade. It was resumed with great vigor after the war, and did not finally decline till 1812. Small as the population of Middletown, Haddam and the other towns must have been at the breaking out of the war of inde- pendence, yet they appear to have contributed their full quota of men and means, and to have borne a most dis- tinguished part in the military achievements in which they were engaged. The passage of the Boston Port Bill by the British Parliament, and the arrival of Gen. Gage in May, 1774, to enforce it by stopping the trade of the town, caused the patriots of this county to rise in righteous indignation. On the 15th of June of the same year, 500 inhabitants of the township of Middletown assembled and passed ringing and patriotic resolutions. It is not known whether the other towns passed such resolves, but the evidence is sufficient that they shared the same sentiments, and were faithful in sustaining them. The delegates from Massachusetts on their way to the first Continental Congress, stopped at Middletown. Dr. Rawson, Mr. Alsop, Mr. Mortimer, Mr. Henshaw and others, called upon them to pay their respects. They assured the delegates that they would abide by the deci- sion of the Congress "even to a total stoppage of trade to Europe and the West Indies." Nothing could be more patriotic, as the gentlemen who made the assertion were very deeply interested in the West India trade. What- ever laws were passed by the Colonial Assembly for the safety or governance of the people, committees were immediately fonned to ascertain if they were attended to or to see their provisions carried into efiect. One thing they particularly did ; to see that the inhabitants took the oath of fidelity to the State, and the records of the towns of Middletown and Chatham, year after year, abound with such subscriptions. It was discovered, early in the war, that Washington required regular soldiers and not militia, and Continental battalions were ordered by the State. The towns of this county filled up their quota cheerfully ; they did much for the support of the families of the soldiers by assigning them to the care of com- mittees or of iniiividuals. Chatham and Middletown, in 1777, voted that the selectmen distribute to the officers' and soldiers' families, the salt belonging to the town as they should think it needed. In 1779, Middletown voted that every man in the town that has a team, be desired to furnish the light dragoons with wood. Return Jonathan Meigs raised a company of light infantry in Middletown in 1774, and in 1775 he was appointed captain. Immediatel}' after the news of Lex- ington, he marched his company "completely uniformed and equipped," to the environs of Boston. Capt. Sage was there with his troop, and Capt. Silas Dunham with a military company from Chatham. At this time the miU- tia companies in Middletown and Chatham were formed into a regiment. In May, 1776, " large detachments of militia were ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march at the shortest notice, for the defence of any por- tion of Connecticut, or other adjoining Colonies." In June, seven regiments were ordered to join the anny in New York ; James Wadsworth, Jr., of Durham, was appointed brigadier-general, and among the seven colo- nels then appointed, was Comfort Sage of Middletown, who went with his troop at Boston the year before. Mid- dlesex County not being in the theatre of war, her inhab- itants never ceased in their efi'orts, military or commis- sary, to contribute their utmost to the common cause. The drafts of militia ordered to New York in August, included the militia of Middletown and Chatham. The brigades were commanded bj' Maj. Gen. Joseph Spencer of East Haddam, by Brig. Gen. James Wadsworth of Durham, and Samuel H. Parsons of Middletown. " They signalized themselves in all the achievements," and were distinguished as well for tlioir suflerings as their valor. So great was the strain upon the resources of the country' in 1776, that no less than five drafts were made upon the militia of the State. If we begin with the inquiry. Who went to the war from the towns in Middlesex County ? we would end by inquiring, Who did not go ? The towns of this county endured also their share of privation and captivity, and sufl'ered their proportion of loss in killed and wounded. The prisoners who were kept on board the horrible prison ships in New York, were largely from these towns. Many li\'ing on the Con- necticut River embarked in the tempting but hazardous HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAJCD. business of privateering. The sloop-of-war, " Sampson," built at Higganum, Tvas commissioned for this purpose. She was captured, and the officers and crew, 100 in all, were consigned to the old prison-ship "Jersey." The commander, Capt. Da\'id Brooks, Lieut. Shubael Brainerd, and several men died there. Middlesex County produced a distinguished soldier. Gen. Return Jonathan Meigs, bom in Middletown. In I 1775, he accompanied Arnold's expedition up the Ken- nebec to Quebec, and has left the best account of that perilous and ill-starred undertaking. He was taken pris- oner, and on being exchanged in 1777, was appointed lieutenant-colonel, with power to raise a regiment. He was then selected to undertake what proved to be one of the many dashing minor exploits of the war, no less than the surprisal and capture of a body of the enemy stationed at Sag Harbor, L. I. He crossed the Sound with 230 men in thirteen whale-boats, and arrived within three mOes of Sag Harbor at one o'clock at night. They attacked the enemy at five ditferent places. Hav- ing come within twenty rods of them in the greatest silence and order, they rushed upon them with fixed bay- onets and captured the whole ; another company mean- while securing the wharf and the shipping. Six of the j enemy were killed, 90 taken prisoners, twelve vessels destroyed and a large amount of forage and pro%'isions. Col. Meigs recrossed the Sound with his prisoners, and arrived at Guilford in twenty-five hours from the time he left it, without the loss of a man. Congress presented the brave commander with an elegant sword. He after- wards commanded one of the regiments which assisted in capturing Stony Point. It is worthy of mention, showing the spirit in which non-combatants supported the war, that the people of Durham sent two oxen to Gen. Washington at Valley Forge. They were driven through a country almost exhausted by the war, yet one of them weighed 2,270 pounds, after a journey of nearly 500 miles. After the war the count}' greatlj- suffered from the depreciation and finally the total collapse of the Con- tinental scrip or paper monej'. The mercantile portion of the population returned to their West Indian trade, which flourished as ^-igorously as ever until the war of 1812. Ship-building was carried on energetically, and the fisheries were extended ; farms began to midtiply, and the population soon repaii-ed the waste of war-. The numerous streams running into the Connecticut and the Sound were utilized as means of manufacture, and an- \ other interest destined in the future to assume large pro- portions was coming steadily into favor; viz., the Port^ j land quarries. The towns we have been describing were taken to form the county in 1785, just after the close of the war, Durham being added in 1799. Of the naval force employed by the United States in the war of 1812, the citizens of the river towns of Mid- dlesex County, contributed largely in men and material, and although the Connecticut was not within the field of general operations, it was the scene of a foray by vessels from the enemy's fleet then blockading New Lon- don. On the 7th of April. 1814, two of these anchored off Saybrook bar in the evening, and despatched two launches, each canying 9 or 12 pound carronades and 50 to 60 men, and four barges with 25 men each, under the command of Lieut. Coote, thoroughly supplied with torches and combustible materials for the work of destruction the}- meditated, and which unfortunatel}- they accomplished. They were seen to enter the mouth of the river at 11 o'clock, and many of their men entered the old fort which was altogether abandoned and neglected. They rowed between five and six miles, and arrived at their destination, Pautapong Point, at four o'clock in the morning, when the work of conflagration was immediatel}' begun. Pickets of the enemy searched the houses for arms and ammunition, while the main force was busy setting fire to the vessels in the river and those on the stocks. At 10 o'clock, Fridaj-the 8th, Ihey retreated, taking with them a brig, a schooner and two sloops. The wind shifting directly contrai-y, they set fire to the brig and the sloops, and anchored the schooner a mile and a quarter from where they had taken her. Twenty-two vessels and other property, computed in all at §160,000, were destroyed. The British were all day in the river, and did not succeed in gaining their ship- ping until 10 o'clock at night. They were opposed by forces collected on both banks, but the opposition was only annoying and not efllectual. Had the fort which played such an important part in the early days of the settlers been mounted and properly garrisoned, the Brit- ish probably would not have undertaken the expedition. With the close of this war, the last remnants of the West India trade, which had been carried on so long and so prosperously, died out. The merchants principally engaged in the business at different periods of its rise and decline were, Richard Alsop, George Phillips, Mat- thew Talcot, Elijah and Nehcmiah Hubbard, Lemuel Storrs, George and Thompson Phillips, Gen. Comfort Sage, of Revolutionary renown, and Joseph W. Alsop, all of Middletown. The growth of the county from this period partakes of the growth of the age. Quarrying and carrying the brownstone of the celebrated Portland quarries became an immense business, quite a lai^e fleet until very recently being employed in it. Quarrying CONNECTICUT. another kind of stone at Haddam, largely increased the industrj- of the river. Small steamboats began to pl3- between Hartford and Saybrook. and a line of first-class Sound steamboats now maintains the traffic be- tween Hartford and Ne\\ York. The southern part of the count\ is cut b3' the Shore Line Railroad between New- Haven and New Lon- don, crossing the Con- necticut between Saj- brook and Lyme, I13 a magnificent bridge with a large draw in the cen- tre. The Valley Rail- road skirts the -western shore of the river from Hartford to Saylirook r.,iut. The direct Air Line Railroatl from New Haven to AVillimantic crosses the river at Mid- dletown over a magnificent structure constructed with ' England cities. It stands on a large bend of the Con- a diaw. I necticut, on its -western shore, and runs backward to the Churches, colleges, schnnls. nErricnltnrp and mannfar- i hill-tous for tlm di^tnnr-e of n milo. The traveller can tures flourish see but little HIGH STKFIT, MIDDLETOW^ in moments of -nctory or in periods of disaster. They contributed their utmost in material as -well as in men, and were never behind the larger cities in their efforts to promote the welfare of the national cause. Di- rect descendants of the earl J' settlers have laid their lives on the altar of Uberty in 1776, 1812 and 1861 ; they have assisted in creating and sustaining other Terri- tories and States in the far West, true to the motto of Connecticut, that ' ' he who trans- plants still sustains." Towns. MiDDLETOWN, a half- shire town of Middlesex County, and a port of entrj-, is one of the most beautiful of New equal to the requirements if of the da}-. ^ The popula- tion of the county at the last census i .f 1^70, was::' .- 117. Mirldh- sox is but a small county in a small State, whirh has nobl}' an- swered to the calls of duty in all cases of national exi- gency, and especially' in the late civil of the city from any of :*- approach- Iv lanl jpl(t(h !>, It I mbosomed 1 m till foliage [ of tin maple and tht elm which ha■^ iwin to It th. ^M\\ 111(1 n 1 name of lli( Ioi.-.t (1 , "ol Ni« England. The population of the town is 11,14.3. It was incorpo- war. The several towns sent their hundreds to the field of I rated as a city in 1784. Its colleges and schools, its honor, where thej- ever distinguished themselves whether numerous spires, its enterprising industries and numerous WESLETAN CNIVEBSITY, MIDDLETO-flTN. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. banks, all tell the stoiy of the collected wealth of two centuries. High Street, 180 feet above the river, is built up of costly and elegant residences, set in the most cultivated horticultural grounds. The arching sweep of the elms forms a superb vista of enchanting foliage. The view from this street is sui-jjassingl}' beau- tiful. The Wesleyan Universitj' fronts on High Street. The buildings which comprise it stand a little distance from the street, and in a straight line ; the intermediate space of lawn, trees and gravel walks forming a fine campus. The buildings are chiefly of brownstone from the adjacent quarries at Portland. The most modern of these, erected at the exj^ense of Orange Judd, Esq., is the Orange Judd Hall of Science. Its museum of natural history' and ethnology is very extensive and remarkably well arranged under the supervision of Prof. W. N. Rice. The Scientific Association of Middletown holds its meetings here once a month. The library' con- tains about 27,000 volumes, and is endowed with a fund for its continued increase. The Memorial Chapel is enriched with a graceful spire, which makes quite a landmark for miles around. The observatorj- is fur- nished with a splendid telescope by Clark. There are about 180 students and a large bod^' of professors. Dr. CjTus D. Foss, is the efficient president. The Berkeley Divinitj' School, on Main Street, is designed for the training of J'oung men for the ministr}- of the Episcopalian Church. The Right Rev. John Wil- liams, D. D., bishop of Connecticut, is the president and dean. Attached to the school is a beautiful Gothic chapel, the gift of Mrs. Thomas D. Mutter, as a memo- rial of her husband, in which ser^aces are held daily. Middletown has long been famous for her schools. The high school draws a large number of scholars from all parts of the county, and every year graduates a large class. The building is most convenient and sub- stantial, built of brick, with brownstone facings, and having two wings. The CathoUcs maintain a good par- ish school, wliich is well attended, and a most excellent convent school, under the charge of the Sisters of Mercy. The private schools of Middletown contribute tlieir share to the educational reputation of the city. The churches compare well with those of larger cities. The first church was established in 1661, and for a ceuturj' the people were chiefly Congregationalists. Other denominations gradually crept in, and at the present day, the leading religious orders are well repre- sented. The town is improved by fom- church edifices of considerable architectural pretensions ; one of them, the most modern, the First Congregational Church, — known as the North Church, — is as graceful and as imposing a church edifice as anj' in the State. Its spire, reaching to a great height, is beautiful in its proportions. The South Congregational, the Episcopal and the Roman Catholic chm'ches are also of fine architectural design. Middletown is the centre of the monetary institutions of the county, and contains seven banking institutions and two flourishing insurance companies. On a commanding eminence in the south-east part of the town, overlooking the river and city, and embracing a wide and varied prospect, stands the State hospital for the insane. No site could be more appropriate or better adapted for the humane puiposes of such an institution. The building, of Portland brownstone, is a most impos- ing one, and a conspicuous feature in the landscape for man}' miles. On an eminence in the western part of the town is another State institution : the Industrial School for Girls, established in 1870, designed for the care and education of homeless and neglected girls from 8 to 21 j-ears of The educational facilities of Middletown are consider- ably enhanced by the Free Russell Library, the generous gift of Mrs. Samuel Russell, in memory of her husband. Middletown has several cemeteries and old buiying- grounds. In an old cemetery' in the south part of the town the grave-stone can be seen of Capt. Return Jona- than Meigs and his family. In another is the tomb of Commodore McDonough, the hero of Lake Champlain. The principal cemetery, and one of the most beautiful in the State, is situated on Indian Hill. The prospect from the summer-house on the crest commands the amphi- theatre of hills which surround it at a distance of four miles. Above these can be seen the ranges of the more distant hills until they gradually lose themselves in the dim forms of Mount Tom and Mount Holyokc in Mas- sachusetts. A wide sweep of the river is in full view in the midst of a most charming pastoral country. The smoke of distant cities may be seen, and although Mid- dletown lies at its feet, nothing more than the spires are in sight, on account of the trees. The cemetery is beautifully laid out in gravel walks ; the monuments are elegant, and manj' of them verj' costly, several being made of the polished Scotch granite. There is a fine monument in memory of Maj. Gen. Mansfield, U. S. A., who fell leading his brigade at Antictam. A brownstone chapel, Gothic in design, which all denominations can use, is another of the gifts of the benevolent Mrs. Samuel Russell. Middletown has extensive and varied manufactures. Among the leading establishments may be mentioned the Russell Manufacturing Company, which makes heavy CONNECTICUT. cotton belting and hose for mill purposes, suspenders and webbing ; Messrs. W. & B. Douglas, the oldest and largest pump-makers in the world ; the Middletown Plate, the Victor Sewing-Machine, the Wilcox Lock Manufac- turing and the Stiles and Parker Press companies. Be- side these there are manufactures of silk, hardware, saddlery and harness trimmings, articles from bone and ivory, &c. The city is a central point for railroad communication, and has considerable coasting trade in coal, u-on, and other heavy materials. Staddle Hill, an outlying district of IMiddletown, contains the largest waterfall in the county, and several factories. ' Chatham, so called, from its shipbuilding, after Chat- ham in England, embraces the villages of Middle Haddam, Cobalt and East Hampton. It has a population of 2,771 . Cobalt takes itN name from a min- eral discovered I there in 1762. |^ East Hampton is the great seat of industry- of Chat- ham township. In this small place, nestled among the bold and rugged hills of the gran- ite formation, is made nearly ev- erj' sleigh-bell which now tinkles throughout North America. Those made in other places are manufactured by men from East Hampton. It was not until 1 743 that East Hampton was settled, the gi-eat attraction being the beautiful sheet of water known as Pocotopogue Lake, one of the prettiest in the State. In the same year a forge was established at the outlet of the lake. Iron was in great demand at this time for shipbuilding and for other purposes, and for the first forty years the business done at this forge was considerable. The village owes its importance, however, to the fact that William Barton moved hero in 1808, and introduced the manufac- ture of sleigh and hand bells. lie had worked with his father in the armory at Springfield during the Revolu- tionarj' war, and had acquired considerable experience in the casting of metals, to which he added great mechani- cal skill. The business he introduced expanded ; others shared the benefit of his industry, and thus the founder gave to East Hampton its pecuharlj- distinctive charac- &REAT LXCiVATIO ter. He died in East Hampton July 15, 1849. His grandson, WiUiam E. Barton, is now engaged in the same manufacture. It maj' be taken for granted that almost every house and hand bell and gong bell in use comes from this village. Toy bells are also made on a large scale. Pocotopogue Lake is resorted to in the summer months by many tourists, attracted by the fishing for which this sheet of water is famous. The landscape is grandly set oflFby a beautiful island in the centre of the lake, covered with a crown of foliage, and once a gi-eat resort of the aborigines, as shown by the numerous Indian relics which have been discovered there. W. G. Buel, a descendant of one of the earlier settlers, and proprietor of the Poco- topogue House, where he has been for 50 j-ears, has col- lected quite a museum of natural curiosities fi-ora the sun'ounding dis- ^^r^^^S; trict and from all parts of the world. Middle Had- dam, a place of landing on the river, is a highly- respectable vil- lage, once the busy scene of a large shipbuild- ing industry. It formerly sent great quantities of cord wood to New York. Portland, with a population of 4,094, so called after Portland, Eng., on account of its famous quarries of brown sandstone, is invested with national interest. The township is mostly agricultural. Shipbuilding is carried on at Gildersleeve's Landing on the Connecticut, where many vessels of large tonnage have been constructed. Its world-renowned and um-ivaUed quarries are situated on the banks of the river, occupying a frontage of nearly two miles. They yield a hard and durable brown sand- stone, similar in grain and color to the stone quarried at Portland, Eng. There are three companies, whose property is contiguous. The Middlesex Companj', own- ing the quarry situated highest up the river, is the largest of the three, and does an immense business. The middle quarry is worked and owned by Brainerd & Co., and the quarry to the south of this is carried on by the Shaler & Hall Compan}-. These quarries have been in opera- tion for two centuries. The excavations, reaching iu IDDLESLX QUARRY, PORTLAND HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. many instances to a depth of 150 feet from the original surface, cover 40 acres. It was ascertained by means of the diamond drill that at a depth of 313 feet below the deepest point of excavation, the stone still ran down- wards. In seasons of ordinary trade, the three com- panies employ 1,500 men, work 250 cattle and 100 horses, and, with their own and chartered vessels, make quite a fleet, which conveys the stone to all the principal cities on the Atlantic seaboard. The gravestones of the early settlers for miles round the country, and even on Long Island, were made of stone from these quarries. The oldest stone we know in the old liur\iii<;-tii-ouiiil of STRATA OF EOCKb IN AND CU S ULAKKi PUKTLAND The landscape is rugged and mountainous, but the wealthy growth of trees which covers the surface, even to the mountain ridges, gives it a most romantic and charm- ing aspect. The granite is quarried from the hill-tops, just a little below the surface, and, in busy seasons, is the principal source of wealth of many families. It is harder than the brown sandstone of Portland, and not so well adapted to the finer operations of the cliisel. It is in great demand for pavements and curbing, also for steps and other portions of buildings. Vessels in connection : with the quarry convey the stone to the different Atlantic ! ports. Haddam has long been noted for its academj"-, founded by one of the many Brainerds. It is a fine struc- i tuie of gray stone, and has done ,uat service to the community in its time. Higganum, quite a large village in the township, enjoys great manufac- tuiiug facilities on account of the stieam of the same name which falls into the Connecticut. Here are made I lie jiloughs by the Higganuin Manu- 1 Ktuiing Company, which have con- tiibuttd so much to the fame of \iueiican agricultural implements at i lume and abroad. The Russell Man- j 111 ictuiing Companj- has quite an ex- tensi\e mill here, and Sco^-ille Broth- els make a hoe which has acquired some celebrity. Haddam Neck, a 1 1 )untainous strip of land across (liL Connecticut, also belongs to this to^^nship. It was organized in i MidcUetown bears the date 1698, as clear and legible as when it left the hands of the mason. Portland stone resists the effects of atmosphere and fire better than any other building-stone. This was proved by the great fires of Chicago and Boston. Portland maintains veiy good schools and churches of the different denominations. The new Episcopalian church, built of the quarry stone, is one of the most com- plete and handsome in the State. John Stancliff was the first white man who lived among the Indians on the Portland side of the river. He took up his residence here in 1C90. Haddam, population 2,000, is the other half-shire town of Middlesex County. It possesses a very fine granite quarry, which has been in operation for several years. East Haddam i.-; a township of about 3,000 inhabi- tants, on the east side of the Connecticut, embracing the villages of East Haddam, Moodus, Leesville and Milling- ton. It is built on a high bank of the river, dense with foliage, and the village is consequently hid from the traveller on the river. It has two landing-places ; the upper landing to the north and Goodspeed's Landing to the south. The latter takes its name from a gentleman of most active business enteqmse, who has materially enlarged the influence of the town bj' his spirited under- takings. He is a principal proprietor in the line of steamboats running between Hartford and New York, maintained by three handsome and powerful Long Island Sound boats, Goodspeed's (in local parlance) being their headquarters. Mr. Goodspeed has erected a palatial- CONNECTICUT. looking structure on the landing. The surface of the township is rocli\', hillj' and romantic, being in the very heart of the granite formation. Tobacco is grown in large quantities. Luther Boardman & Son conduct a plated-spoon manufacture on a large scale, which fur- nishes emploj-mcnt to a great many hands. The vicinitj' of the landings is the central point for all the business of the town, the products of the interior being brought here for shipment. The Maplewood Seminar}- has attained a great and well-deserved degree of celebrity. Students from all parts of the Union come here to receive a thorough musical education. In connection with the seminar}' is an extensive opera- house. Moodus is quite a thriving manu- facturing village, and noted for its cotton-mills. Any sketch of this vil- lage vrould be considered incomplete without some reference to the loud noises proceeding from some, as yet. unexplained natural causes. Thi \ appear to issue from a mountain near the village, and have been heard more or less frequentl}' from the time of tlio early settlers. The Indians called the place Mackimoodus, meaning the place of noises. Mr. Ilosmer, the first min- ister of the town, saj'S in a letter to Mr. Prince of Boston, dated Aug. 13, 1729: "I have mjself heard eight or ten sounds successively, and imi- tating small arms, in the space of five minutes." He states further that he has heard them by several hundreds within twentv years, some more or less terrible ; that thej- first imitate slow thunder, come nearer, and then exploding with a noise like cannon shot, " shake houses and all that is in them." Ordinary grumblings they called Moodus noises ; the heavier explosions of sound they called earthquakes. They were terrific in 1791, and since then appear to have gradually- subsided. Old Saybrook, the parent of the county, with a popu- lation of only 1,200, is the headquarters of the shad- fishery, the home of retired sea-captains and private families, and a great resort of excursionists and tourists in the summer. Its principal street is broad, and the houses indicate respectable and wealthy owners, which give the place a verj' retired, but very aristocratic air. The tomb of Ladj' Fcnwick, which has stood for two centuries on the point of Saj'brook, in the vicinity of the old fort, and which was visible from the river, has at last disappeared. It was removed, we believe, to make room for the railroad from Hartford, which has its terminus here, and a handsome modern monument was erected on another spot in lieu thereof. A company has built a very fine hotel on the point, called the Fenwick Hotel. A lighthouse is close to the mouth of the river, the bar which forms just outside being dangerous to vessels of heavy draught. The bar was a great source of danger and discouragement in the times of the early settlers. Essex, a riverside town, with 1,664 inhabitants, was formerly a parish of Saybrook. It enjoys considerable commerce, and has every convenience for coasting ves- sels and fishing craft laying up for the winter, bj- means of two large coves connected with the river. The strip of land between the coves is known as Pautopoug Point, the scene of the destruction committed b}- the British in the war of 1812. The spires of the churches built close together on the hill-top, which commands the town, are well-known objects to travellers on the Connecticut. The granite formation begins to lose itself here, and the scenery to change ; the wooded heights giving place to a more level landscape. Centre Brook, a village in the township, two miles inland, boasts a national reputation on account of its extensive and exclusive business in the manufacture of HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. articles in ivory. Cheney, Comstock & Co. employ a very large capital in the enterprise. The machinery used for cutting and preparing the ivory for work, and for executing the delicate processes of manufacture of which ivory is capable, is of the most costly and in- genious description. The glass sheds, with then- roofs sloping to the south, would extend the length of an ordi- nary city street. In these, the thin strips of ivory are placed for the purpose of bleaching in the sun. Both faces are bleached and also the sides ; this process alone is a work of time. The ivory is received direct from Africa by the importer in New York, and every tusk finds its way into this district. Chenej', Comstock & Co. run two extensive estabhshments, one for the manufacture of combs, and other small articles, such as billiard balls, fans, paper-cutters, rules, and such fancy ornaments as fashion may demand ; the other exclusively for the manu- facture of keys for pianos and organs, and also for the keyboard complete. With the trifling exception of some German hand-woi-k in New York, or articles of import, the ivory keys used all over America come from this little inland village of Centre Brook. Cromwell, a small town of nearlj' 2,000 inhabitants, lies to the north of Middletown, and was known as Upper Middletown until it was made a separate township in 1851. The strata of the Portland quarries, on the opposite side of the Connecticut, run under the bed of the river and crop out again in the centre of the village, where a large brownstone quarry has been excavated, and has materiall}' enhanced its interests. Toys and other hardware and lamps are manufactured here on a large scale. A private asylum for the insane has re- cently been established in this town. The first cotton goods ever shipped to China were made here by Henry G. Bowers, about the time of the second war with England. MiDDLEFiELD, a parish of Middletown, but recently formed into a separate township, contains a population of about 1 ,000. It is a verj" fertile part of the county containing largo level and undulating pasture-lands. Some of the best cattle in the State are bred here. In the more elevated parts of the town a laige reser- voir, secured by a dam of powerful construction, has been constructed to supply the city of Middletown with pure water. Clothes-wringers and other articles of wooden ware have been made here for years. The set- tlement of this part of Middletown began in 1700 by three settlers from the first or parent society. The late David Lyman of this town, was one of the earliest and most energetic projectors of the Boston and New York Air Line Railroad. Durham, adjoining Middlefield, has a population of 1,000. It maintains a good academj' and several churches. A very respectable tin-ware manufactory furnishes employment to many ; but the pursuits of the community are mainly agricultural. The scenerj' is very pastoral, exhibiting long stretches of land under the most careful cultivation, and bears in manj- respects a similarity to the best husbandry in Old England. Killingworth, Chester, Deep River, Westbrooli and Clinton, the remaining towns of the county, have a respective population of 800, 1,000, 1,200, 1,000 and 1 ,400. The oyster fisheries of the latter place have risen into importance. The town contains a fine high school, founded and liberally endowed by Mr. Morgan, a native of Clinton. NEW HAVEN COUNTY.* BY S. R. DENNEN, D. D., AND CARRIE R. DENNEN. New Haven County has special interest for its colo- nial history. It was the youngest of the four Colonies that formed the New England Confederation. The men who came hither acted under no commission and had no • The following is a list of towns in New Haven County, with date of incorporation and present population : — Bethany, incorporated 1832; population, 1,135. Branford, 1,644; 2,488. Cheshire, 1780; 2,344. Derby, 1675 ; 3,168. East Haven, 1785 ; 2.714. Guilford, 1639; 2,576. Hamden, 1786; 3,028. Madison, 1826; connection with any chartered company or commercial association in England or elsewhere. They felt at liberty to form for themselves such government as should, in their opinion, be best suited to the ends they had in 1,814. Meriden, 1806 ; 10,495. Middlebury, 1807 ; 696; Milford, 1640; 3,405. New Haven, 1639; 60,000. North Branford, 1831; 1,035. North Haven, 1786; 1,771. Orange, 1822; 2,634. Oxford, 1798; 1,338. Prospect, 1827"; 551 ; Southbury, 1786 ; 1,318. Wallingford, 1672 ; 3,676. Watcrbury, 1682 ; 10,826. Wolcott, 1796 ; 491. Woodbridge, 1784 ; 830. CONNECTICUT. view when thej' came to this country. The original Colony, or jurisdiction, embraced colonies beyond the present limits of the county, and indeed of the State. The Colony of New Haven was composed of six planta- tions, — New Haven, Milford, Guilford, Stamford, South- old (L. I.) and Branford. Of these the first three, and Branford, lie within the limits of New Haven Countj- and come under the notice of this narrative. The first three of these were tho fruit of a simultaneous exodus from three contiguous counties in England, — York- shire, Hertfordshire and Kent. The Yorksliire men came to New Haven, the Hertfordshire men to Milford, the Kent County men to Guilford. They came first to Boston in two ships ; thence to New Haven in April, 1638. Here they remained some fifteen months before the}- made any formal ci\'il or ecclesiastical organization. Tliese months were by no means dormant. The}- selected their lands and made purchase of them from the Indians. Each compauj' acted for itself, although they remained to- gether. The Indian deed of New Haven, at first called Quinnipiac, was made to Theophilus Eaton, Jolm Dav- enport and others, Nov. 24, 1G38; that of Milford to "Wilham Fowler, Edmund Tapp, Zechariah "Whitman and others. Fob. 12, 1C39 ; that of Guilford to Henry 'Whitefield, Eobert Kitchell, William Leete and others, Sept. 29, 1639. Branford was not organized as a ci\'il community until much later, in 16-t-i. The New Haven Colony was the first to take posses- sion of its purchase and organize its political and eccle- siastical government. There seems to have been some sort of agreement entered into by those forming the Colony before coming to New Haven. This compact appears to have been entered into either before leaving England, or while tarrying at Boston. It is hardly supposable that men of such character and intelligence would have risked such an amount of capital, £36.000, and their own safet}- and welfare, without some articles of agreement binding them together. This compact they call the " Planters' Covenant." "Whatever it may have been, they seem to have been in no haste to be rid of it, for it was not until the 2oth of October, 1639, that a civil government was instituted and installed. A meeting was called June 4th (com- monly known as the meeting in Mr. Newman's barn) " to consult about settling civil government accortling to God, and about nominating persons that might be found of all fittest for the foundation work of a church." The result of that meeting, one of the most remarkable ever held in a barn, surely, is thus stated : First, the free planters without a dissenting vote, after fi'ee discussion, adopted this " Fundamental Agreement : " " tliat church members only shall be free burgesses — and they onlj- shall choose among themselves magistrates and officers to have the power of transacting all public, civil affairs of this plantation, of making and repeahng laws, dividing inheritances, deciding of differences that may arise, and doing all things and business of like nature." Secondlj-, twelve men were chosen to designate among themselves, or from others whom they should publicly nominate as candidates for that trust, the seven founders of the church and of the State. These seven, bj- this act of founding the church, became free burgesses of the com- monwealth, the nucleus of the ci^il organization. They were to choose other free burgesses " out of like estate of church fellowship." On the 25th of the following October, these seven men, " who were in the foundation of the church," viz., Theophilus Eaton, John Davenport, Eob't Newman, IMath. Gilbert, Theo. Fugill, John Punderson and Jereni}- Dixon, assembled to form the new government. This was to be permanent, and to supplant all former con- tracts. The term "Court" is applied to this body — these " Septem^-ires," as the old Romans would name them. Once organized, after most solemn praj-er unto God, they proceeded to ordain : — 1st. " All former power, or trust, for managing an}- pubUc affairs in this plantation, into whose hands soever formerl}' committed, is now abrogated, and is hencefor- ward utterly to cease." 2d. All those who have been received into the fellow- ship of this church since the first gathering of it, or who, being members of other approved churches, offered themselves, were admitted as members of this court." That is, became citizens of this commonwealth. Sixteen members were thus admitted. As these new members came in, they took the oath of allegiance "to the civil government here settled." Tlioy owned no allegiance as due to the king of England, or any other government on the footstool. This is worth remembering. The3-then proceed — after Mr. Davenport expounded to them two texts — Dent. i. 13 ; Ex. xviii. 21 : " Take ye wise men, and understanding, and known among 3"0ur tribes, and I will make them rulers over you ; " " More- over, thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, and place such overmen," — to nominate and elect officers. Mr. Theophilus Eaton — the chief man of the Colony, one answering the above description — was chosen magistrate for one j-ear. Four deputies were chosen. Each received a solemn charge on being inducted into office. Thus the commonwealth was launched. Their laws HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. were all summed up in the simple enactment, " That the word of God shall be the only rule to be attended to in ordering the affairs of government in this plantation." This is further explained, later in their records, " as the judicial law of God, given by Moses, and expounded in other parts of Scripture, so far as it is a hedge and fence to the moral law, and is neither ceremonial nor typical, nor had any reference to Canaan ; this hath an everlast- ing equity in it, and should be the rule of their proceed- ings." All other systems of jurisprudence, ei^il or canon law, were excluded from this Colony. On this unique and model foundation thej- built their civil state. This " Fundamental Agreement," as it was called, continued, with small modifications, to be the organic law of the colonies, which, on Oct. 23, 1G43, were united under one jurisdiction. After the combination, the name magistrate disappears, and that of governor is substituted. The colonies of Milford, Guilford, Stam- ford, Branford and Southold sent delegates to the Gen- eral Court at New Haven. Besides this, they had their own magistrates and magistrates' courts. They had also a planters' court, corresponding to our police ard jus- tices' court. This same year, also, 1G43, a combination was formed between the four Colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven, called the '"United Col- onies of New England." This combination was entered into for purposes of mutual defence, and was of great value to the several Colonies, especially in King Philip's war, which threatened at one time to wipe out in blood and carnage all the English settlements. Under their simple government, built upon the Word of God, administered bj' wise, generous, good men, without charter or patent from an}' king or anj- bod}- corporate under heaven, they continued to thrive. As the two Colonies of Connecticut and New Haven, being contiguous and ha\'ing so many interests in common, grew, it became, to wise men in both of them, more and more apparent that their union under one government was desirable. Gov. Winthrop, of the Connecticut Col- onj-, went to England to procure a royal charter for this and other purposes. The charter was secured in 1662. The Connecticut Colony claimed that this charter cov- ered New Haven jurisdiction, and they, nolens volens, were part of Connecticut. This was stouth' resisted as absurd, as it was. No one had anj- authority to bargain them away, or put them under the control of an3body, against their will. After a few j^ears, it was clearly seen and felt, on all hands, to be best that the union should be consummated. This was done Jan. 5, 1065. The government of the Colonies was so modified as to fit this new relation. The modification was merelv technical, touching in no essential particular _ the "Fundamental Agreement " of the earlier colonists. The stoiy of this charter, and its presenation when Andros came to Hartford to secure and destroy it, will be told elsewhere. Would space admit, we should speak with real enthu- siasm of the government of New Haven Colon}'. So much ignorant aspersion has been cast upon it, that when the writer began this examination, he did so with much prejudice, expecting to find those blue laws that have haunted so many persons' brains. He found in- stead, laws that would seem somewhat strange to us, printed on blue paper, and so called "blue laws"; but the laws themselves were generous, and just adapted to the ends and times they were made to serve. One con- stantl}- marvels that a government so simple, so demo- cratic, so equitable, so efficient, and, on the whole, so humane and kind, should have been framed here in the wilderness, without a precedent to go b}-, or anj- guide but the Word of God. We read the record of their courts, on which ever3-thing is spread out, and marvel at the scrupulous fairness, and painstaking candor, and gentle firmness witli which their laws were administered. True, there were things punished as crimes which we should not think of punishing now. But we must not compare their times and legislation with our own, but with the times and governments that preceded them. We shall then find occasion to admire. No witches were hanged or burned here ; no man suffered persecution or punishment for his religious faith, if he kept the peace, and did not disturb the "settled order of things." They purchased all their lands, pajing a fair equivalent. Thej- protected the Ind- ians from the violence and rapacitj' of the settlers, and lived in peace with them all their days, — more than our government now does. No house was burned, no life taken b}- the reil-mcn of the forests. They limited, it is true, the right of suffrage, but only so far as to secure the ends for which they exiled themselves from their homes in the Old World. They fled from persecution, and meant only to secure and protect themselves against its repetition. It remains 3'et to be seen which com- mitted the greatest folly, they by narrowing, or we b}- extending, the right of suffrage. When the struggle for om- independence from England came on, the New Haven Colonies were found among the foremost and bravest. They furnished their full quota of men and means, and suffered all the privations and losses sustained b}' any of the thirteen Colonies. This has been eminentlj' true of them ever since. AVe have been called upon to bear no strain, or to endure CONNECTICUT. any loss or privation, that New Haven County has not stood nobly in her lot and place. This historical sketch would not be complete without some mention of the churches, which were the real nu- cleus of the commonwealth. The church was the first care of all the New England colonists. In some few instances, the church, as an organization, came along with them across the waters. Where this was not the case, one of their first cares was to found one, that the foundations of ci-\al and social order might be laid upon God's truth. They were godly men, seed-corn sifted from the very best. They came for liberty to worship and serve God as they pleased. The}' kept this end in \-iew at everj- step. The churches at New Haven and lUilford are supposed to have been formed on the same day. The method was the same in all the colonies constituting the New Haven jurisdiction. After some discussion between Sir. Davenport and Mr. Samuel Eaton, his colleague, on the nature of a "civil government in a New Plantation, whose design is religion," it was determined, on the 14th of June, as we now reckon (on the 2d of June, old style), to hold a public meeting of "all the free planters" "for the purpose of laying with due solem- nities the foundations " both of church and state. This meeting was held in Mr. Newman's barn. The first church in this wilderness land, like its head, was born in a manger. The result of their deliberation and voting was to select twelve of their best and most approved men, who were to confer and consult together and select from their own number, or elsewhere, seven men who were " fit for the foundation-work of the church." The seven hewn pillars chosen were the same seven who laid the foundation of the state, — Eaton, Davenport, New- man, Gilbert, Fugill, Punderson and Dixon. These seven persons first covenanted together, and then received others into their fellowship. Thus the first church of New Haven was founded on the 22d of August, 1039. It is in place to say here, that although church and state are twin-children of the same womb, and have the same parents, they are entirely dist'nct. It was never the purpose of these men, who had fled into the wilderness from a state church and hierarchy, that the church should govern the state. Thej' never allowed that the church, as such, had any power to choose civil magistrates. In- deed, church officers were ineligible to civil offleo There was no confusion of church and state, and no purpose that the one should transact the business of the other. "Many could debate and vote in church-meeting who could have no voice at all in the government of the civil state." They affirmed and insisted that ecclesiastical and civil order must have different laws, different officers, and different powers. Though they may have the same ultimate end, they have different proximate ends, one the "preservation of human societ}-," the other "the conversion, edifieatinu and salvation of souls." Although the right of suliraiio was limited to church-members, and none could be freemen and eligible to office who were not members of some acknowledged church, there was no blending or confusing of the two. For this we have every reason to be grateful. Mr. Davenport, whose strong and marked impress is seen in all the ecclesiastical and civil framework and management of both church and state, a man to whose clear head and sound heart, and broad views and Chris- tian firmness, we owe so much for the cast and character of our government, our New England type of civilization, was the first pastor of this wilderness church. He con- tinued to serve both it and the state, when occasion called for it, until the Colony he had so much to do in planting and training became a part of the Commonwealth of Connecticut, much to his grief. He was followed in this office by a succession of men. who were distinguished alike for their scholarship and virtues, — Pierpont, Whittlesey, and Dana. One thing demands especial notice. Much denun- ciation has been lavished upon the New England fathers for the compulsory support of their churches, levying taxes to pay the salaries of their ministeis and other current expenses. The New Haven Colony, to its honor, is an exception to this evil rule. It should be remem- bered, to their credit, that for many years after the set- tlement of their Colon}-, the church was supported by voluntary contributions, which were made on every Lord's day at the close of service. Not as now by passing the contribution-box, but every one came up to the deacon's seat and deposited his own contribution, returning quietly to his place. It was not until a much later day, when perhaps men had become less godly and conscientious, that it was thought necessary to compel men, by assessing them, to support an institution so obviously for the public weal. It must seem strange to us in our quiet tranquil times, to recall the fact, that in all those early years the people never met for public worship without a complete military guard. We find in 1G40 this order upon their records : " Every man that is appointed to watch, whether masters or servants, shall come every Lord's day to the meeting completely armed ; and all others also are to bring their swords, no man exempted save Mr. Eaton, our Pastor, Mr. James, Mr. Samuel Eaton, and the two deacons." Seats were placed on each side of the front door for the HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. soldiers. A sentinel was stationed in the turret. Armed watchmen patrolled the streets. Twice before each ser- vice the drum beat from the turret and along the main streets. When the congregation came together the^' re- seml)led more a garrison than a congregation of wor- shippers. Yet how peaceful and sacred these Sabbaths. From evening to evening no noise, no business, the whole pop- ulation in church. Thus the j-ears went on with changes, trials, sorrows, death, until the fathers slept and others rose in their stead, upon whom their mantles fell and who stood in their places. The New Haven colonists were intense lovers of learning. Here the free school found a welcome and rose to prominence. For many years the people con- tributed annually to the support of Harvard College, sending up their wheat and wampum to keep it alive, and sending their sous to enjoy its privileges and bear away its honors. This, however, did not satisfy Mr. Davenport, who, during his later years, urged again and again upon the Connecticut Colonies the importance of founding a college of their own. He was a scholar and student himself, and early saw the necessity of education of every grade to the life and perpetuity of the common- wealth, as well as the Christian religion. Although he did not live to see a college founded, he certainly was father of the thought. The seed he sowed sprang up in later years, and bore fruit in the noble institution, with- out a rival, if not without a peer in our land. The Hopkins Grammar School, to-daj' one of the best preparatory schools in the country, is the oldest school in the State. The literary atmosphere of New Haven, its fine culture and excellent schools are no new things, but they have been true of it from the begiiming. May it never cease to be the home of learning, refinement, and real Christian worth and excellence. A few words of biography need to be appended to this sketch of colonial times. Foremost among the great names of the colonists is Theophilus Eaton. He was born at Stratford, Eng., 1.591, and was the son of a clergyman. He came to this country, first to Boston in 1637, then to New Haven in 1G38. He was chosen first governor of New Haven Colony, and remained in office imtil his death, Jan. 7, 1658. Mather calls him "the Moses of New Haven." " He carried in his verj' countenance a majesty which cannot be described." He was a magistrate of strict impartiality and inflexible honor. He had clear views of civil government far in advance of his times ; he had a singular love of justice, and very decided opniions of the divine nature of human government as built on the Word of God. To him the New Haven Colony owed its existence, and to him and Mr. Davenport all those features which distinguish it from the other Colonies, its zeal for education, its impartial administration of justice, its freedom from frivolous and extravagant legislation. He was wont to say : " Some count it a great matter to die well, but I am sure it is a greater matter to live well." This is the key to his character, than which there is not a nobler in all our colonial history. John Davenport, one of the two chief men in founding New Haveu Colony, was born in Coventry, Eng., 1597. He was educated at Oxford ; became vicar of St. Stephen's Chui'ch, Coleman Street, London ; soon became a non- conformist ; resigned his benefice and fled to Holland, to escape the warrant that was out against him ; preached to the English Church at Amsterdam for a season ; became involved in difficulties about the indiscriminate baptisms of children, and resigned, when he emigrated to New England, reaching Boston on the 26th of June, 1637. The following spring he came with his company to New Haven. He and Mr. Eaton built their houses opposite each other on the same street, and became the leading spirits in the Colon}'. He continued pastor of the church, as well as a direct- ing and controlling power in the state, until near the close of his life. He lost hope somewhat when, against his decided opinion, the New Haven jurisdiction united with the Connecticut Colony. He saw a growing disposi- tion on the part of the state to get control of the churches, a most serious evil, from which Connecticut suffered for many long years. Just at this time came a call from Boston. He made up his mind that '• Christ's interests in New Haven Colony were miserabl}' lost." His roots were loosened, and he was readv to leave his home and the child he had done so much to rear. Be- sides this, the action of the synod in establishing what was called "the half-way covenant," he opposed with all the vigor and ardor of his. soul. The battle was to be fought in Boston. He wanted to be in the thickest of the fight. These considerations determined his removal to that city in 1668. thirty j-cars after his settlement in New Haven, when he was more than 70 3-ears old. The " dead line " was not quite so near in those days. The church in Boston was divided. The odious and mis- chievous "half-way covenant" prevailed. He died on the 11th of March, 1670. A fine scholar, an able preacher, a clear-headed, far-seeing man, his views and opinions found an ample vindication in subsequent ex- perience. The measures he maintained were just ; those he opposed proved disastrous in the extreme. Stephen Goodycare, from the organization of the gov- CONNECTICUT. emment until Ms death, was associated almost unifonnly with Gov. Eaton as lieutenant-governor. He was a fine business man, and of great service to the Colon j-. Thomas Greyson was another of the leading men, and was intrusted with much important public business. Francis Newman, whose barn figures so largely in the early records of the Colony, deserves mention. He suc- ceeded Gov. Eaton in oflace, the Joshua who came after Moses. Thomas Fugill, secretary' of state, John Punderson and Jeremiah Dixon were among the seven pillars, both of church and state; Master Ezekiel Cheever, the father of New England school-masters, shines in the colonial records. The boj's had good reason to remember him. Thomas Leete of Guilford, lieutenant-governor under Francis Newman, and first governor of the united Colo- nies of Connecticut and New Haven, was a man of wis- dom and executive abilitj'. Goffe and WhaUej-, commonly known as the regicides, from their participation in the execution of Charles the First, found a retreat and an asylum in New Haven. On the accession of Charles the Second, thej' were compelled to flee the country. Thej' came to Boston Julj' 27, ICCO, first, and resided for some time openly in Cambridge. Their situation there becoming too exposed, thej' fled to New Haven March 7, 16C1, and were concealed for awhile in Mr. Davenport's house. A roj-al proclamation was issued for their arrest. They were sought for bj- officers in New Haven, but could not be found. Fearing lest they should bring trouble upon their friend, Mr. Davenport, and others, thej- off'ered to surrender them- selves to Lieut.-Gov. Leete. He was in no haste, how- ever, to arrest them. After showing themselves openly in the streets of New Haven, so as to clear their friends from an}- complicit}' with their concealment, they fled to a cave near the summit of West Rock, known now as Judges' Cave, where thej' remained for awhile. They occupied another place near bj-, called the Lodge. They left New Haven and went (August 19) to Milford, and in 1CC4 to Hadley, where thcj' remained until they died. It is believed that their bodies were brought to New Haven and buried bj- Dixwell, their companion in exile. John Dixwell, the other regicide, came to New Haven in 1672 under the name of James Davids. He lived here in quiet security for 1 7 j-ears. The last years of his life he became verj^ intimate with Mr. Pierpont, the minister. There seemed to be a strange and wonderful friendship between them. At his death he revealed his true character, and requested that a plain stone should mark his grave, with the initials J. D., Esq., inscribed on it. This was done as he wished. Three avenues in the north-western part of the citj' perpetuate the names and memory of the regicides. Yale College. — This college was founded in 1700, and, traditionalh-, on tliis wise : ten eminent clergj-men, roused to the importance of pro^-iding some means for a more liberal and thorough education for their sons, and others who were to become leaders in church and state, met at New Haven to consult concerning a coUegiate school. At a subsequent meeting in Branford, these men brought forty folio volumes, and laid them down on a table with these words : "I give these books for the founding of a college in this Colony." This body of men, acting for the churches and ministrj- of the Colonj' of Connecticut, by this act founded the institution now known as Yale College. In October of the following 3"ear, a charter was ob- tained from the legislature. In November, the trustees met for the first time in Saybrook, and passed this order : " that there shall be, and hereby is, erected and founded a collegiate school, wherein shall be taught the liberal arts and languages, in such place or places in Connecti- cut as the said trustees shall from time to time see cause to order." Why found another college so near Han-ard ? It has been affinned that a distrust of the theological soundness of this college was the real root-cause of the founding of Yale. But when you recall that the number of the Con- necticut colonists was now 20,000, and also that the territorj- was an almost unbroken wilderness, the distance to Cambridge, and inconvenience and expense of travel were so serious, you will find the real reasons which moved these good men to found a college in their own Colony. This, and not bigotrj-, is the seed-thought of this noble university. The plan differed in some very essential par- ticulars from that of Harvard. It was more unique and original, having less of the European type. It was more indigenous, and more in accord with the spirit of the times. It was homogeneous, ha^-ing all its board min- isters ; though this last is a doubtful advantage, and gave rise to disaffection in later years. After a protracted and somewhat heated controversy, the new college was finally located in New Haven in 1717. In 1718, came the great benefaction of Gov. Elihu Yale, a donation of books and other goods to the amount of £S00. As a compliment to him the new building, recently erected, was named for him. This name passed by degrees from the building to the whole institution in 174.5. The college passed through colonial times with various and alternating success. It came near extinction, however, during the Revolution. Its students HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. NEW CHVPFL and officers were dispersed, and its functions, in a meas- ure, suspended. Tlic irregularitiesof the times, financial embarrassment, difficulties of subsistence, and the actual occupation, at one time, of New Haven by P^nglish troops, reduced the collec;e to tiie lo-vct p"''n* In 1792 a change took pi ice in the charter, which g u e it i new lease of life, and bi ought it more closelj- into s\ nip ith^ with the popular heait * Its prosperity was now assuitd Great changes ha.M ti iii^ pired in college custom-, ^iii those early Provinci d d i \ - It was a no uncommon thiiij; for derelict j-ouths tin n t > haA^e their ears soundly b< in the presence of the f k and students. The foim and respect at that tune dt manded on the part of pre m- dent and faculty, seems to us almost ludicrous. The freshmen in those earlier times, held an almost menial position, being mere errand-boys for the upper classes. With the incoming of more demo- cratic ideas, however, these Old Country notions and cus- toms have long since naturall}' and happily disappeared. From these small and adverse begin- nings, Yale College has grown to its pres- ent commanding po- sition. Its power in ever}- department, in church and state, sci- ence and art, in liter- ature and philosophy, has been wide imi beneficent. Itsgi:i untes are everj-nhc i ■ They nobly sustain and fulfil her prou( yet modest motto — '•Lux et Veritas." The first president, or rector, of Yale College was Abraham Pierson, son of Rev. IMr. Pierson, one of the first settlers and first minister of Branford. He grad- uated from Han-ard College in 1GG8. He was a good student, an able diA'ine, a wise, judicious man. He • This change consisted in the admission of laymen as members of the coi-poration. PKAH011T MU; instructed and governed the infant collegiate school, with general acceptance, from 17U1 until 1707. The subsequent presidents of Yale have been. Rev. Timothy Cutter, S. T. D., chosen 1719; Rev. Elisha Williams, 1720- Rev Thomas Clap, 1739; Rev. Naph- _ __ thali Daggett, S. T. D., 17G6 ; ~~~ Rev. Ezra StUes, S. T. D., LL.D., 1777; Rev. Timothy Dwight, D. D., LL.D., 1795 ; Rev. Jeremiah Day, D. D., LL.D., 1822; Rev. Theodore D. Woolsey, D. D., LL. D., 184G ; Rev. Noah Porter, D.D., LL.D, 1871. Presidents Stiles and Clap were men of exceptionally groat learning ; while Dr. 1 )wight, a grandson of Jona- llian Edwards, was one whose powers as a thinker, gifts as a poet, and eloquence as a preacher, were surpassed only by tlie fervor of his piety and the urbanit}' of his con- versation and manners. The present incumbent of the presidential chair, Rev. Noah Porter, D. D., LL. D., was born in Fann- ington Dec. 14, 1811, and is considered to be one of the ablest of Ameri- can metaphj'sicians. Besides the presi- I "^^Vf^gs^- . \ dents there have been k ^~~^* -; I professors of world- » • ; wide fame and splen- did and varied acqui- sitions ; Dana, Fitch, Goodrich, Marsh, Sil- liman, Packard, Had- lej', and man}' others, have adorned their departments, and ad- ded to the power and fame of the college. Maiy of its graduates have filled the highest offices of trust and honor. No institution has exerted a wider and more positive influence upon the culture and pohtical character of the countr}'. The buildings are man}', and some of them of great excellence. Battcll Chapel is new and one of the finest buildings in design, materials and solid elegance, in the land, for that purpose. The Art School building, on the COLLEGE. CONNECTICUT. south-west corner of College Square, is one of consitler- able pretension and is admirable for its purpose. The Peabod3' Museum, named in honor of George Peabody of London, its most liberal benefactor, one wing of which is completed, stands on the corner of High and Elm streets, just across the street from the College Square. It is now an imposing building. When finished it will be one of the finest museums in the world. The various cabinets and specimens are among the best, as far as thej- go. The East and West Divinity halls, with Marquand Chapel between them, a gem in its line, the gift of the gentleman whose name it bears, are substantial and ele- gant buildings, affording fine accommodations for tlii« department of the universitj . The ShLtin School, an institution of great merit and thoroughness, found- ed by Joseph Sheffield, Esq , constitutes another department of the university, and has sub- stantial and commodious budd- ings at some distance from the College Campus, on the home- stead of Mr. Sheffield. The departments of law and medi- cine have accommodations in other sections of the citj-. Towns. New Haven, the chief seat of the New Haven jurisdic- tion, is situated on a plain Ijing between two ranges of hills, on the east and on the west, and is limited, partly', on the northern side, by two mountains, called East and West rocks, which terminate abruptly at this point and form a marked feature of the scenerj-. It is at the head of a shallow harbor, between West and Mill rivers, including also the neck between Mill Eiver and the Quinnipiac, where a part of the town called Fair Haven is situated. The town was originally laid out in nine squares. The central one is open and is styled the Green, the upper half of which is a beautiful slope, and was form- erl3' a bur3ing-ground ; but, in 1831, the monuments were removed and the ground levelled. The lower, or level half, is surrounded by stately elms. It is divided in the centre b3- Temple Street, on which the churches are situated. Magnificent elms on either side of this broad street form a perfect arch, and make it one of the grandest in the world. There are three churches and the Old State House on the Green. Altogether it is one of the finest spots in the United States or Europe. The | original squares, which cluster about the central square or Green, are divided each into four squares by streets running from north-west to south-east, and from north- east to south-west. The same general features have been measurably preserved in the extension of the modem city. The city and town have distinct organizations and separate officers, a feature which has come down from colonial times, a sort of two-headed concern, not at all satisfactory or equitable in its representation in the legis- lature. The administration of justice is in the hands of a city court, while other courts, both of the State and the United States, hold sessions in the city. The cit\ IS well supplied with schools of a high order. Manj-of the school-houses are commodious and elegant. The Hillhouse High School is one of great excellence. There arc various private schools, Tvhich, together with Hopkins Grammar School, the oldest in the State, and Yale College, ni its various departments, urnish the highest educational antages. New Haven is a port of en- try, and has considerable coast- wise and some foreign com- merce. Manufactures are the principal source of its pros- perity, and carriages, guns, builders' hardware, rubber-goods, articles from iron, clocks, &c., arc made. There are many fine public buildings. Among these are several church edifices, college and seminary build- ings, an elegant city hall and court-house, a commodi- ous and well-managed State hospital, insurance building, music hall and opera house. There are forty churches of all denominations. Many fine streets and elegant residences adorn the city. Hillhouse Avenue, Whitney Avenue, Prospect, Orange and Chapel streets are among the finest. The new, or lower Green, is a gem of beaut}-, surrounded with elegant houses. The old cemeterj-, on Grove Street, contains the ashes of Eaton, Clap, Stiles, Hum- phreys, Dwight, Eli Whitnej', and manj' others of world- wide and national fame. Evergreen Cemetery, on the banks of the West River, is one of more modern preten- sion, and is an ornament and honor to the city. Four daily papers, and nearly or quite as many weekly, HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. keep the people well-posted on current events. There .ire also several college papers as well as ponderous quarter- lies. New Haven is the largest city in the State, and the third in New England. Few cities in location, in historical interest, in educational institutions, in wealth, beauty and culture surpass it. Among the most distinguished residents here is Leonard Bacon, D. D., for 50 years pastor of the First Church, and now professor in the theological department of Yale College, a man of great culture, an able preacher, a fine debater, and thoroughly versed in the colonial and eccle- siastical history of New England. Ex-Governors English i and Ihgersol, also have their homes here. Mr. Sheffield, the founder of Sheffield Scientific School, is among the most honored citizens. Watekbury was viewed by a colony from Farmington with reference to a settlement in 1G73. Aug. 21, 1G74, ! land was purchased, on both sides of the Naugatuck, of the ' Indians " for £39, and divers other good causes." King I Philip's war put a check upon its immediate settlement ; j but after peace was established the settlers returned to their purchase and commenced work in earnest. In j 1G84, they made a new purchase of land from the Indians, I making in all a temtor^^ 18 miles in length and 10 miles in width, containing the present towns of Waterburj', Watertown and Plymouth, together with most of Middle- burj-, half of "Wolcott, and a small part of Oxford and Prospect. This large, fine territory was gravelj- reported to the General Assembly " as capable of supporting 30 families." One wonders at the size of the families of those days, since the same territorj- now supports 20,000 persons, or more, and is not half occupied. The original town was located on an eminence on the western banks of the rivet, about a mile from the present location of the city. For ten years the settlers were without a minister and the regular ordinances of religion. In 1689, Jeremiah Peck was settled among them, and remained until his death in 1699. Their first house of worship had no glass until 1716, a dark place in which to preach a gospel of light and life. Waterbury is located on the Naugatuck (which runs its entire length) and the JIad rivers, both of which fin-- nish fine water-power. Hills rise on either side, forming an amphitheatre, in which the present city is mainly located, although many fine residences are creeping up the slopes of the hills. It has extensive and widely celebrated manufactories, with a capital of more than $6,000,000, seven churches, some of them among the finest in the State, two national banks, besides other banking institutions, a fine city hall, a hall for public amusements that scats 1,400 people, and is altogether one of the thriftiest and most energetic communities in the State. The Bronson Library contains 18,000 volumes, the gift of Cyrus Bronson of New York. The water- works are among the best in New England. It has a handsome park and fine cemetery. There are also several schools of considerable note located here. St. Margaret's Diocesan School for young ladies, the Acad- emy of Notre Dame (Convent School) , and Waterbury English and Classical School for boys. It has one daily and two weekly newspapers. To such a goodly citv, the fifth in the State, has the wilderness settlement grown. Eev. Samuel Hopkins, D. D., of such wide fame and remarkable powers, was a native of this town. He began life as a farmer's boy. At the age of 15 he commenced his studies in Woodburj-. He entered Yale College at the age of 16, and graduated in 1741. After graduating he went immediatel}- to Northampton, Mass., where he studied theology with Jonathan Edwards. After he was licensed to preach, in 1642, he remained still at Northamp- ton, pursuing his studies and occasionally preaching. He was settled in several small towns in Massachusetts and Connecticut. In April, 1770, he went to Newport, R. I., where he remained until the war of the Revolution interrupted his labors. In December, 1776, when the British took possession of Newport, he retired to Great Barrington. In 1780, he returned to Newport, only to find his old church and congregation too much diminished to provide for his support. He, however, continued to preach for them for what they could collect b}' a weekly contribution and the aid of generous friends, until he died, Dec. 20, 1803. Few men more influenced the re- ligious thinking of his age. His writings were numerous, bold and forcible. He was author of a system of divinity, that bears his name and perpetuates his memory. Lemuel Hopkins, M. D., was also another of Water- burv's great sons. He was as renowned in medicine as Samuel in di\-inity. He was founder of the Connecticut Medical Society, and also the author of several poems of considerable note. Guilford was one of the colonies constituting the New Haven jurisdiction. The first settlement was commenced in 1639, the next j-ear after New Haven. The first set- tlers were Mr. Henr}- Whitefield, and several members of his church and congregation in England, to the number of about 40 persons. They were drawn to this spot from the resemblance it bore to the homes they left behind them in England. They secured the land In- peaceful purchase from the Indians. As a place for the security of all, a stone house was built, and is now stand- CONNECTICUT. ing, probablj- the oldest house in the United States. The first marriage in this town was solemnized in this build- ing. Tlie sumptuous marriage-feast consisted of pork and peas. The government was at first administered by four leading planters. When a Congregational church was formed in 1G43, all power and authority were foiinally passed over to it, and the church, as in so many New England towns, became the nucleus and germ of the town. The government was in nearly all respects similar to New Haven, church-members alone being freemen and allowed to vote. Guilford is situated 1.5 miles east of New Haven, on Long Island Sound, and on the Shoic Lino Railroail Farming and fishing are the puncipil puisuits Thtu are five churches and a fine stone school house. Sac Ik n Head, a picturesque point of land ^ ^_. _^ — _ _ reaching out into the Sound, is a favorite summer resort, as aie nian> other places in this nolile old tow n Off the coast is Leete's Islui named from Gov. Leete, one ot 11 most distinguished men of coloiu times, and the first go\einoi ol Connecticut. His house on this island was set on flre dunng the Revolution. This place was iKo the home of the famous Chittenden family. Derby is situated 9 miles noitli- west of New Haven, at the conflu- ence of the Naugatuck and Hou^i- tonic rivers. About the j ear 1053, Lieut.-Gov. Goodyeare and others of New Haven pur- chased the land, and the year ensuing, some few settle- ments were made. It was incorporated in 1675, and the name changed from Paugassett into Derby. Derbj- Landing is at tlio head of navigation on the Housatonic River. Humplire^s- ville, four miles above Derby Landing, is famous as the home of Gen. David Humphreys, who established here a large wooUen-factory , one of the first in the United States. He was a warm personal friend of Gen. Washington, one of his aids, ambassador to France under Jefferson, and afterwards to the court of Portugal. The modern town- ship is divided into Derb^' Village, Birmingham and Ansonia, named from Hon. Ansou G. Phelps, of Phelps, Dodge & Co., who have largo iron-works hero. North Haven, on the N. Y., N. II. & Hartford R. R., was formerly a part of New Haven. It lies on both sides of the Quinnipiao River. The gardens of North Haven are celebraled for early vegetables and fine small-fruits. The extensive salt-meadows produce immense quantities of grass. The first settler of North Haven is believed to ha\e been William Bradlej-, who had been an officer in Crom- well's army. He lived here soon after IGGO, on land owned b}' Gov. Eaton. The settlement was slow, and for nearly forty years the people attended church and luiried their dead at New Haven. The women usuallj- went on foot, attended two long services, and returned, model pedestrians as well as model Christians. The Indians were numerous, but harmless, sen-ing only to frighten women and children, never to injure them. The fine fi'^hlng and hunting grounds about the rivers dKw thun into this legioii. They swarmed at times il il ti -ims, holding their " powwows," much to the teiror and disgust of the people. ^™ North Haven is the birth pjace of l>(_^ Ezra Stiles, one of the most I kbrated of Connecticut's great liKu, and for more than h.alf a ( ntuiy, the home of Dr. Benjamin 1 1 umbuU, the historian of Connec- ticut He was born in Hebron in 1735 , graduated at Yale in 1757 ; settled in North Haven in 1760, wheie he remained nearly GO j-ears. He wrote 4,000 sermons, published iblc essaj^s on the inspiration of the Scriptures, wrote a histoiy of Connecticut, and also of the United States. He received high honors fiom his alma mater, and was widely known and esteemed as an able divine and accu- rate historian. MiLFORD was one of the settlements of the original New Haven Colony. The purchase of land was made from the Indians about the same time as those of New Haven, and settled in 1G39.* The original settlers were fnjm the counties of Essex and York, and came over with Messrs. Eaton and Davenport's company, and remained with them one 3ear before making a permanent settlement. Thej- located themselves on cither side of Mill River and West-end Brook, for convenience of themselves and cattle. The town was named Milford in commemoration of their native town i;i England. • The purchase price paid for the land was six coats, ten blankets, and one kettle, toijcther with a number of hoes, knives, hatchets and glasses. The Indians, however, made a reservation of about 20 acres, wliich w.as snbsiqucntly bought in IGfil, for six coats, two blankets and two pairs of li"ccches. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. A court of five judges was directed to set out a meet- ing-house lot in such niauuer as thej- should judge most convenient for public good. The site was the one occu- pied by the present meeting-house of the First Society, where it stood until 1727. The first settlers being godly men and women, they formed themselves at once into a church, according to their peculiar views. It was formed in New Haven on i the 2d of August, 1639. Peter Pruden was the first minister. In 1741, 47 persons, being dissatisfied with ' Mr. "Whittlesey's moderate opinions, declared their dis- ■ sent from the estabUshed church, professing themselves to be Presbyterians, according to the Church of Scotland. I They were stoutly opposed by the First Church, having, I in this respect, a common experience with all new , churches in both the River and Sound colonies, and a protracted and bitter opposition, sometimes persecution even, followed. They were not invested with their full legal rights for 19 years. In 1 648 a famous battle was fought near the town be- tween the Mohawk and Milford Indians, resulting in the utter defeat of the former. In all the wars in which the county has been engaged, Milford has furnished her full quota of brave men. There is a quarry of beautiful serpentine marble in the eastern section of the town. The harbor, never deep, has been gradually filling up since the first settlement. Milford Island, containing ten acres, is about three- fourths of a mile from the shore. Milford Point, at the south-west extremitj- of the town, is a place of some note, and also a summer resort. There are five houses of worship, three Congregational, two Episcopal. The first church was organized in 1727, under Rev. Jonathan Merrick. The general intelligence I of the people is evidenced from the fact that it has fur- 1 nished more J'oung men, who have been liberally edu- I cated, than anj' other town of its population in the State. Wallingford * formerly belonged to the original pur- chase made by Gov. Eaton and John Davenport, in 1638. The settlement was projected in 1669, and called New • One f the most remarkable tornadoes ever known yisited W.^lling- ford Aug. 9, 1878. A Large number of houses were caught up and whirled from their foundations, and crushed into fragments. One church was demolished, the upper story torn from the fine new high school house, and large trees were twisted and uprooted along the ti-ack of the whirlwind. Several persons were killed, others maimed for life, and much property destroyed. The scars of the terrible tornado still re- main. It will not soon pass from the minds of those who witnessed its power or looked upon its desolation. It awakened much interest in scientific circles, and a careful study of this strange and unusual phe- nomenon. t Beacon Mountain lies within the limits of this to\TOship, and pre- sents fine pictm-esque and geological features. Haven Village. The first minister was the Rev. Samuel Street. The houses were fortified during King Philip's war, and much anxiety felt for the safety* of the people. It is watered by the Quinnipiac River, and lies on the N. Y., N. H. and Hartford Railroad, 12 miles from New Haven. It contains four churches, fine schools, one hotel, extensive manufactories of britannia and silver ware, one newspaper, one boot-manufactory, and a ma- chine shop. The WaUingford Community, a branch of Oneida Community, was founded here in 1850, by John H. Noyes and Heniy Allen. It comprises 340 acres, 150 of which is covered by a valuable water-power belonging to the Community. Their business is agriculture, horti- culture, job-printing, and book-making in all forms. Lyman Hall, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was a native of this town. He graduated at Yale in 1747, and first studied theology, but after- wards medicine. He subsequently removed to Georgia, and was a delegate to the general Congress in 1775, and afterwards became governor of Georgia. The remaining towns of New Haven County are Bethany, t originally- a parish in the town of Wood- bridge, and famous for being the scene of the celebrated Dajton robbery, committed bj- a company of Tories from Long Island ; Branford, which owes its final settle- ment to a religious controversy and dissension at Weth- ersfield, beautifully situated on Lake Saltonstall, and hence much frequented as a place of summer resort J ; Cheshire, originally a part of WaUingford § ; East Haven, incorporated and taken from New Haven in 1735, and noted as being a favorite place of resort of the Indians, as also on account of the first iron-works in Connecticut having been established here in 1655 ; Hampden, II also originally a part of New Haven, em- bracing several manufacturing villages, among them Whit- neysville, so named from Hon. Eli Whitney-, the inventor of the cotton-gin ; Madison, formerly a part of Guilford, and sharing in all the colonial glor}- of that old town — a favorite summer resort ; Meriden,^ a thrifty, enterprising. X Off the coast is a fine cluster of islands in the Sound called Thim- ble Islands, among which is Money Island, where Capt. Kidd is said to have concealed large sums of money. In this town also was once the home of Montowise, an early Indian chief. The place is the summer residence of several wealthy gentlemen. § A religious society, with Rev. Samuel Hale as pastor, was formed in 1724. This town is the seat of an Episcopal academy, founded in 1801. II Mount Carmel, one of the most elevated eminences in the State, is in the northern part of the town, and is visible far out on the Sound. H The famous regicides, Gofie and Whalley, are said to have stopped in their wanderings on the banks of the stream west of the churches, and gave it the name of Pilgrim's Harbor, — a name it still bears. CONNECTICUT. manufacturing town, — a city of ten churches, and well known, especially for its extensive manufactures of silver and plated ware ; Middleburt, in which town is Broak- Neck Hill, on whose summit the armj' of Gen. Lafaj-ettc, while on their way to the Hudson, is said to have en- camped ; North Branford, and Orange (so called for William, Prince of Orange, King of England), noted as the place where the British landed when they invaded New Haven in 1779; Orford, famous for its mineral spring, called the Pool, whose waters are said to heal salt-rheum and otiicr kindred complaints, and which are reported, moreover, never to freeze, even in the coldest weather, nor ever to foil in times of the severest drought ; SouTHEURT ; WooDBRiDGE,* named for the first minister, Benj. Woodbridge, settled here in 17*42; Prospect, and WOLCOTT. NEW LONDON COUNTY. BY ASI-IBEL VrOODWARD, M. D. New London County, as originally constituted hy the General Court in 1GG6, embraced territory extending from Pawkatuck River on the east, to the western bounds of Homonascet Plantation on the west, and from the interior settlements on the north, to Long Island Sound on the south. (Col. Rec. II., p. 34.) As now con- stituted. New London County is bounded north by Tol- land and Windham counties, on the east b}^ Windham Count}- and Rhode Island, on the south by Long Island Sound, and b}' the Connecticut River and Middlesex County on the west. Its average length from east to west is 26 miles, and it has a medium breadth of 20 miles. The face of the county is diversified by hill and dale, and is well supplied with streams of water. The soil is of varied fertility, but generally adapted to grazing and fruit growing, and moderately to general agriculture. Its na\'igable waters are extensive, and unsurpassed, for maritime purposes, by those of any section of equal extent upon the coast. Notwithstanding these natural advantages which ren- dered it an in\-iting locality for the early English settlers to improve, more than one-fourth of a century elapsed after the planting of a Colony at Plymouth, before an attempt was made by the emigrants to settle upon any portion of this domain. A principal cause of this delay was doubtless the fact that the territory was pre-occupied by the Pequots,t a tribe of Indians belonging to the wide-spread Algonquin race. This powerful tribe of • The regicides, Goffe and Wlialley, were concealed in several places in Woodbridge, the most famous of which is called the Lodge, or Hatchet Arbor, near an eminence which overlooks New Haven harbor, 'viicre they were concealed for nearly six months. + The Pequot wa8 originally an inland tribe, dwelling east of the savages had, by their cruelty, become the dread of the whites, far and near. It had, in fact, grown into a settled conv-iction on the part of the colonists, that it was only by their complete overthrow that eastern Connecticut could be colonized. This tribe inhabited a broad extent of territory, but their central seat was between the Thames and Mystic rivers in the eastern part of the present town of Groton. Their principal hamlets were over- looked and guarded by two fortifications, the one on Pequot Hill, and the other on Fort Hill. The Colony of Massachusetts had already- failed in her attempt at their subjugation. At this junctm-e a company of 90 men was raised in the vicinity of Hartford, and placed under the command of Maj. John Mason, to chastise and sub- jugate the offending tribe. He was accompanied by Uncas, the Mohegan chief, and friend of the white man, at the head of 70 warriors. After a circuitous and well- planned march, Capt. Mason reached their fortress on Pequot Hill on the morning of June 5th, 1637, undis- covered by the Indians till too late to make a successfid defence. The English won a decisive victorj- over their savage foes. Their fort was destroyed, their dwellings consumed, and half the entire nation slain. By this single contest, in the overthrow and annihilation of the Pequot nation, the fate of eastern Connecticut and the adjoining country was decided. Unlike what till then had taken place elsewhere, eastern Connecticut was obtained by conquest. Hudson, in the vicinity of Albany. It bclonscd to the family of abo- rigines termed Mohicans. Either by the might of the Iroquois, or per- haps to secure more ample hunting-grounds, this warlike clan, by a suc- cession of migratory movements, finally reached the seaboard, and there became established. : HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. New London Couutj- was the arena of militav}' events scarcely less exciting during the Revolutionar}' period. On the Glh of Sept., 1781, a large part of the town of New London was laid in ashes by that infamous traitor, Benedict Arnold. The British troops burnt Go dwell- ings, containing 97 families, 31 stores, 18 shops, 20 barns, and 9 public edifices, including the court house and several churches. Fort Griswold, on Groton Heights, after an obstinate resistance, surrendered to the enemy. The vali.nnt Col. Ledj-ard w^as, after the surrender, slain with his own sword. Seventy offi- cers and privates were also murderrd. _^ During the war of 1812, the southern portion of the county was again menaced by the enemy. At this time the attack was made upon Stoninr:;- ton. On the 9th cf August, ISU, Sir Thomas Hardy, in command of Iho Brit- ish squadron, ap- proached Stonington and bombarded tl e place vigorouslj- fm several hours. The attack was renewed each day till the 12th, and then, as all th( ii efforts to burn th town had proved al )oi - tive, the encni}- \Mth- drew. In possession of rare maritime ad^an- tagos and railroad facilities, the count}- of New London has, during the past half century, greatly prospered, its population having increased from 35,943 in 1820 to G6,570 in 1870. i Towns. New London, as originall}- organized, included all the 1 territory extending four miles on each side of the " Mo- hegan River," reaching north six miles from the sea. I The Indian name of the prospective township was 1 Pequot. (Col. Rec. I., 192-3.) A settlement was com- i menccd here in 1G46. The place v.as then known as Nameaug. In March, 1G48, the General Court recom- mended that the town from that date should be called New London, and the river named Thames. (Col. Rec. II., pp. 310, 313.) New London was constituted a town in 1649. The names of John "Winthrop, .Jr., Esq., Rev. Richard Blinman, Samuel Lathrop and Robert Allen were prom- inent among the early settlers. The town is situated on the west bank of the Thames, three miles from Long Island Sound. It is four miles ^ _^ in length from north to south, and has an average breadth of three-fourths of a mile. New London WIS constituted a cit}' ni 1784. By the act of incorporation the entire township is in- cluded within the city limits. New London IS also a half-shire town and a port of entrj'. Owing to the uncvenncss of the sit", the cit}- is, for the most part, irregularl}- hid out. Tet it con- tan. s many handsome public and private stiuctures. Possess- ing as it does, one of the finest and most capacious harbors on the coast, it occupies a prominent rank among the commer- cial cities of New England. On the Groton side of tho harlior, a navy yard is in process of construction. The site is most eligible, and, if the project receives proper encouragement, the selection of the location v.ill prove to have been most judicious. The maritime surroundings of New London have had a marked iniluence in developing the business of the place. The whale and seal fisheries have at times con- stituted an important branch of commerce. The place is defended by Fort Trumbull, which stands upon the west side of the Thames, about one mile below CONNECTICUT. the citj'. It is situated on a rocky elevation, which extends eastward into the river. This fort is manned bj- U. S. soldiers. The population in 1870 reached 9,576. Eev. Simon Bradstreet, eldest son of the Hon. Simon Brad street, long time a governor of Massachusetts, was born in 1C38 ; graduated at Han-ard College in 1G60 ; began to preach at New London, Conn., in IGGG ; was ordained in 1G70, and died in 1683. His mother was a daughter of Gov. Thomas Dudley, and is best known as "Anne Bradstreet, the poetess." Gen. Jedcdiah Pluntington, son of Gen. Jabez Hun- tington, was born in Norwich in 1743, and graduated at Harvard in 1763, on which occasion he pro- nounced the first Eng- lish oration delivered in that college at com- mencement. He was colonel of a Conti- neiHal regiment at Cambridge in 1 775 ; and in Ma}', 1777, he was commissioned by Congress as a briga- dier-general, which office he filled during the war with honor and ability. He re- moved to New Lon- don in 1789, on re- ceiving from President Washington the ap- pointment of collector of customs for that port, an office which he continued to hold for 26 years. He died Sept. 25, 1818. His first wife, Faith, a daughter of the senior Gov. Trumbull, died at Dedham, Mass., in 1775, while he was on his way to join the army at Cam- bridge. Richard Law, LL. D., son of Gov. Jonathan Law, was born at Milford, March 17, 1733 ; graduated at Yale in 1751 ; was admitted to the bar, and settled in New London, where he died Jan. 26, 180G. He held succes- sively the offices of representative, member of the coun- cil, judge, and chief justice of the Superior Court, member of the Continental Congress, judge of the Dis- trict Court and mayor of New London. This last muni- cipal office he held 22 years. THE ACADEMY, NORWICH. Rev. Gurdon Saltonstall, son of Col. Nathan, and grandson of Sir Richard Saltonstall, was born at Haver- hill, Mass., March 27, 1666, graduated at Harvard in 1684, and was ordained, Nov. 25, 1691, minister at New London, where he continued to discharge the duties of his sacred office in a most satisfactory manner till elected governor of the Colony in 1708, which office he held until his death in 1 724. John "VVinthrop, F. R. S., son of Gov. Winthrop of Massachusetts, was born in Groton, Eng., Feb. 12, 1605. His fine genius was improved by a liberal education at the universities of Cambridge and Dublin, and by travel on the Continent. He first came to New England in 1G31, but three 3-cars later returned to Eu- rope. While there, he was empowered liy Lords Sa3' and Brook to make a settlement upon Connecticut Riv- er, and was commis- sioned as governor of the plantation. On his return to the New World in 1635, he did not press his claim to the chief magistracj', but caused a fort to be built at Saj'brook, and otherwise gave aid to the settlers. In 1645, acting under a commission from the General Court of Mas- sachusetts, he began the infant settlement at Pcquot, now New London, and the next year removed his family thither. The first settlers of Stonington in 1646 began their plantation under the direction of the j-ounger Winthroi). He continued to reside at New London, and was identified with the pubUe affairs of the town until elected governor of the Colony in 1657. Subsequently he resided in Hartford. He held the office of governor of Connecticut and of the united Colonies to the time of his death in 1676. He not only took high rank as a magistrate, but was particularly distinguished in the science of medi- cine. Fitz John Winthrop, son of the preceding, was born March 14, 1639. In 1689, he was, with the rank of HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. major-general, commander of the armj" sent to operate against Canada. Subsequent!}- he was an agent of the Colonj- to Great Britain, and rendered such service that the legislature presented him with £500 sterling. In 1G38 he ■was ekcttd governor of Connecticut, md wis I annudl} le-elccted to the ofRce till the tune of his death, No\. 27, 1717. In an enfccbkd state of health, he ST lATRICKb ClIVIlCll, NOU'WICH Visited Boston for medical aid, and died wtuie mere, greatly lamented by the people of Connecticut. Norwich. — The domain Ijing between the Yantic and Shetucket rivers was by the Indians termed " Mohegan." In May, 1G59, the General Court authorized the planting of a colony in the Mohegan countiy, and in the next month, Uncas and his brother "Wawequn, for the con- sideration of £70, ceded to the English a portion of their territoiy nine miles square, including within its limits the present towns of Norwich, Franklin, Bozrah, Lisbon and Spraguo, wilh portions of other towns. (Col. Rec, I., p. 33G.) In the spring of ICGO, 35 proprietors, under the guidance of Maj. John Mason and Rev. James Fitch, removed from Saybrook hither, and established themselves in the locality' now known as Norwich Town, ilie n ime Norwich \\as given to the settlement in 1CG2, m honor of ^oiwieh in England. In the old Saxon lau- guige it signifies North Castle, and the tow ering rocks found here might easih' -^ suggest the idea of battlements. The township has an average length from north to south of seven miles, and a medium breadth of tlu-ee miles. The suifuc is diversified bj* hills and plains, \\hKh give to the place a picturesque appear mce. The prevailing soil is dark- colored loam, which is generally feitile. Noi V, leh is favored with excellent water- pi mlcges. The Shetucket from the north-east, and the Yantic from the north-west (after dashing over high roeks at Norwich Falls, and rushing through a narrow, winding chasm in the co\e below), unite, and in their union b( eome the Thames. The entire length of the Thames, thus constituted, to Long I-^hnd Sound, is 14 miles. Norwich Town is situated about two miles above the navigable waters of the 1 hames. This place, for two-thirds of a _, , ei nturv, was the principal centre of busi- ^ ^ ! lies 111 the town. It was also the seat ' ^-' ' of the courts till comparativelj'- a late j I d itc The buildings, though not modem 111 fettle, are quite respectable in appear- iiue The location had good natural 1(1 vantages for the planting of a town at til it d ite. Norwich City was incorpo- 1 itc d IS such in 1 784. At an early day it w as known as Chelsea, or the Landing, being situated at the head of the Thames. Aiiuougu iiie locahij' possessed rare maritime and other advantages, they remained unimproved till about 1726. At first it required great labor to remove the rocks and ledges, and reclaim the low, swampy grounds before eligi- ble sites for the streets and for their buildings could be secured. But by unremitting effort these obstacles have been overcome, and now a pleasant, romantic city crowns these rugged hillsides. The public buildings include the court-house and jail, the free academy, and several elegant churches. Almost the entire distance from the CONNECTICUT. town plot to the city is studded with elegant and sub- stantial residences. The vast water-power of Norwich has, to a large ex- tent, been brought into use. The Shetucket has been dammed at Green%nllc, at Taftville, and at Occum, and large mills have been erected at each of these A-illages for manufacturing purposes. Greenville is pai-ticularly dis- tinguished for its mammoth paper-mills. The waters of the Yantic Eiver have been utilized at the Falls, and at other villages higher up the stream. The Yantic Cemeteiy , on the east bauli of the Yantic Eiver, was consecrated in 1844. It includes an extensive area of grounil. agreeablj' diversified, in a romantic section . and already contains man}- elegant and costly monuments. The ancient Indian cemetery was located at the head of the cove. It contains a gran- ite obeUsk that commemorates the name of Uncas. The eomer-stone of this monument was laid by President Jackson in 1833. The historj- of Norwich from its first settlement to the present time has been characterized by stead}- improvement. The population of the town and city in 1870 was 1G,G.53. Samuel Huntington, LL. D., born in Windham in 1731, was admitted to the bar. and settled in Norwich, where he soon rose to the front rank in his profession. In 1775, having previouslj' held the office of judge of the Supreme Court, he was chosen a delegate to the Continental Congress, and, on the 4th of Jul}-, 1776, he appended his name to the Declaration of Independence. In 1779 he was chosen president of Con- gress, and was re-elected to the same office in 1 780. In 1 783 he was re-elected to Con- gress, and during the following j-ear he was appointed chief justice of the Superior Court. In May, 1786, he was elected governor of the State, and was annually re-elected until his death in 1796. Gov. Huntington, though not a graduate, had received honorary degrees from Dartmouth and Yale. Rev. Nathaniel "Whitaker, D. D., was born in 1710, gradu.ated at Ilan-ard in 1730, and was installed as the first minister of Chelsea, in Norwich, in 1761. As Mr. Whitaker was a man of fine talents, and of prepossess- ing appearance, and had also manifested a deep interest in the welfare of the Mohegan Indians, he was, in 1766, selected to accompany Occum in his mission to England and Scotland. The selection proved to be judicious, for the collections from this source amounted to more than £10,000. His publications were quite numerous, consist- ing of sermons, tracts, &c. He died in Virginia in 1795. Rev. James Fitch was born at Boking, Eng., in 1622, and came to New England in 1638. He was for seven years in Hartford under the instruction of Messrs- Hooker and Stone. In 1646 he was ordained over a nCH, NORWICH. chirrch at Saybrook, where ho remained until 1660, when he removed, with the bulk of his people, to Norwich, and in that town passed the remaining active days of his life. When the infirmities of age obliged him to cease from his pubHc labors, he retired to the home of his children in Lebanon, where he died Nov. 18, 1702. He became accjuainted with the language spoken by the Mohegan Indians in the neighborhood of Norwich, and often preached to them in their native tongue. For his second wife he married Priscilla, daughter of Maj. John Mason, by whom he had seven sons and one daughter. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Benjamin Huntington, LL. B., was born in Norwich in 1736, graduated at Yale in 1761, and, being admitted to the bar, settled in his native town, and soon rose to eminence in his profession. He was a member of the Continental Congress from 1780 to 1784, and from 1787 to 1788, and a representative to Congress from 1789 to 1791. He was a judge of the Superior Court from 1793 to 1797. Ou the incorporation of Norwich City in 1784, he was chosen its first ma3"or, in which office he seized until 1796. He died in 1800. Maj. John Mason, the mihtary leader of the early set- tlers of the Colonj' of Connecticut, was born in England about the year ICOO, and was bred to arms in the Netherlands under Sir Thomas Fairfax. During the civil disturbances in England in Cromwell's time, Fairfax requested him to join his standard, and assist those who were contending for the liljerties of the people, but he did not comply with the request. Mason arrived at Dorchester, Mass., in 1630, in com- pany wilh the Rev. John Wareham and others, and in 1635, he removed to Windsor, Conn., and assisted in laying the foundation of a new Colon}-. The historj- of the part he acted in the Pequot war in 1637 is given in detail elsewhere. He removed from Windsor to Saj'brook in 1647, and from thence to Norwich in 1660, where he died in 1672. He was successively commander-in-chief of the militia of Connecticut, a magistrate from 1642 to 1G60, and deputj--governor of the Colony until he retired from public life in 1670. He was wise and prompt in planning and energetic in executing whatever he deemed best for the general good. At the request of the General Court, he drew and published a brief historj- of the Pequot war, which has since been reprinted. Benedict Arnold descended from an honorable Rhode Island family, where one of his ancestors, bearing the same name, held the office of governor for 15 years. Two brothers of this family, — Benedict and Oliver, — removed from Newport to Norwibh in 1730. The elder Benedict, the father of the traitor, soon became engaged in business, and not long after his arrival in Norwich, married Mrs. Hannah King, whose maiden name was Lathrop. Benedict was born in Norwich Jan. 3, 1741. Earlj' in life he was apprenticed to Dr. Lathrop, a drug- gist in Norwich, with whom he remained during his minority. He subsequently embarked in the same busi- ness in New Haven, and while there became captain of a company of militia. After the battle at Lexington he made a hasty march to Cambridge at the head of his company, and volunteered his services to the Massachu- setts Committee of Safety. With the ranii of colonel in the Continental army he joined Ethan Allen and assisted in the taking of Ticonderoga. Having been wounded at Quebec and at Saratoga, and so rendered unfit for active field serv-ice, he was placed in command at Philadelphia, after that place had been evacuated b}- Carleton, in 1778. He was at this time a major-general in the Continen- tal army. While in Philadelphia, Arnold married the ; daughter of Judge Shippen, a Tory. At his own earnest solicitation he was, in August, 1780, appointed by Wash- | j ington to the command of West Point. His eternally infamous act of treachery soon followed. Arnold re- } ceived from the British government the stipulated reward of his perfidy. He was made a brigadier-general in the British ser\-ice, which rank he held throughout the war. In childhood Arnold was quarrelsome, untruthful and i disobedient ; and in manhood was ambitious, perfidious, 1 dishonest and revengeful. He died in disgrace at Glou- ! cester Place, London, in June, 1801. Ston-ixgton. — " Southerton, or Stonington, was for a time claimed by Massachusetts by virtue of assistance rendered to Connecticut in the conquest of the Pequots. And fui-ther, this place was supposed to be included in a grant to them by the Earl of Warwick and Council for British America, Dec. 10, 1G43, and was settled bj- per- sons* who went thither under John Winthrop, Jr., in 1646. It was assigned to Connecticut by commission- ers of the United Colonies July 26, 1647. This order being revoked, the settlers at Southerton petitioned to JIassachusetts that they might be a township, which was granted Oct. 25, 1658, and they were united with Suffolk Count}-. They continued to sustain this relation, and entered into a voluntary compact on the SOth of June to govern themselves and conduct their own affairs. But after Connecticut obtained the Royal Charter in 1662, the town, being included in the grant, was re-annexed to Connecticut." (Felt's Statistics of Towns in Massachusetts, p. 24.) In October, 1665, the General Court gave to the set- tlement the name of Mystic. In May, 1666, the name was changed to Stonington. The Indian name was Pawcatuck. The water-privileges of the town, including the Mystic Eiver on the west, and the Pawcatuck on the east, with the several intermediate streams known as Copp's Brook, Stony Brook and Anguilla Brook, are cf great value. All these streams discharge their waters into the Sound, thus aflSording excellent manufacturing and maritime pi ivi- leges. Add to these natural advantages tlie "Point," » The principal planters were Samuel Cheeseborough, Capt. George Denison, Thomas Shaw, Thomas Stanton and Walter Palmer. Tlic first settlement was made at Wequetequock Cove, two miles north-east ■ I of Stonington. CONNECTICUT. with its harbor, breakwater and railroad, and it will be made clear how so many large and self-sustaining villages have grown up within the township. These are the Borough, on Fisher's Island Sound, which was incor- porated as such in 1801 ; Mystic Bridge, Greenmanville and Mj'stic on M3'stic River ; and Stillmanville and Paw- catuck Bridge, on the Pawcatuck River. These have in the past been largelj' dependent upon shipbuilding and other maritime interests for their prosperity, and have in turn been efficient nurseries for the production of an able body of seamen. The population in 1870 was 6,313. Capt. Thomas Miner, born in England in 1608, came to New England in 1630, and was one of the original settlers at New London, being associated with Winthrop, in 1647. In 1653 he removed to Stonington and made that place his future home. He was for a long period engaged in civil affairs, and during King Philip's war rendered efficient service as a military leader. lie died at Stonington Oct. 23, 1690. Thomas Stanton, "The Indian Interpreter," came to this countrj' in 1636, and with almost unparalleled facility, acquired the masterj"^ of the dialects spoken b^' the aborigines in New England. In 1638 he was ap- pointed to the office of interpreter by the General Court of Connecticut. He also received the appointment of interpreter-general from the commissioners of the United Colonies. His peculiar qualifications as an interpreter rendered his services quite indispensable throughout New England. He was one of the early settlers of Stonington. His long-established residence was on the Connecticut side of the Pawcatuck River, where he died in 1678. William Cheeseborough, the first permanent settler of vStonington, was born in Boston, Eng., in 1594. He came to New England with Gov. Winthrop and first settled in Boston. In 1649 ho settled in Ston- ington. He held the office of first selectman of that town for a succession of years till his death in 1667. Capt. George Denison, born in 1618, came to New England in 1631, in company with the Rev. John Eliot, and settled first in Roxbury, Mass. In 1651 he became a resident of New London and there remained till 1654, when he removed to Stonington, where he became per- manently estabUshed. From 1671 to 1694, he repre- sented Stonington in the General Court. As a militar3' leader he became distinguished. He participated in the Narragansett Swamp fight in 1675, where he rendered important sendee. In March, 1676, he, with others, made an incursion into the Narragansett country and made Canonchet, the chief sachem, a prisoner. The savage, when offered his life on condition of living in peace said, " he chose to die before his heart grew soft." The prisoner was shot at Stonington by Oneco, son of Uncas. During the year 1676, Capt. Denison and his volunteers killed and took as prisoners 230 of the enemy. He died at Hartford in 1694, while attending a session of the General Court. Groton was constituted an ecclesiastical society in 1703, from the section of Pequot country lying east of the Thames River. It was incorporated as a town in 1705, from territory' which originally belonged to New London. It was named in honor of Groton, Suffolk County, Eng., the birthplace of John Winthrop, Jr., the first governor of Connecticut after the union. The township is uneven, being hilly and abounding in rocks. A narrow tract extending along the Sound, and another extending up the Thames to a considerable distance from its mouth, are pleasant and fertile, but the remainder is difficult of cultivation. The town is watered b^' the Mystic and Poquonoc rivers, which discharge their waters into the Sound. There are five villages in the township, in each of which is a post-office, — Groton Centre on the north. Mystic River on the east, Noank and Poquonoc on the south, and Groton Bank on the west. Mystic River is navigable for vessels of 400 tons bur- den to Mystic Bridge. Shipbuilding has been carried on to some extent at the head of Mystic. A monument has been erected on Groton Heights in memory of those who were slain in Fort Griswold in 1781. Its foundation stone is 130 feet above tide- water, and the monument itself rises 127 feet above its base. The population in 1870 was 5,124. John Ledyard, the distinguished traveller, was born in Groton, Conn., in 1751. He sailed with Capt. Cook on his third voyage of discover^', and witnessed the tragical end of the great circumnavigator at Owyhee. After extensive travel in the sparsely inhabited provinces of Europe and Asia, he was finally employed by the African Association, which had been organized under the direction of Sir Joseph Banks, to make a thorough exploration of the interior portions of the African con- tinent. He engaged in the service of this companj- with great enthusiasm and sailed from London on his tour of discovery June 30, 1788. After repeated delays at Cairo he died at that place greatly lamented, Jan. 17, 1789. Col. William Ledyard, brother of the above, was also a native of Groton. In 1781 he was military commander of the district which included Fort Griswold on Groton HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Heights. The fortress was not strong nor sufficiently manned to resist a large force. When a detachment of British troops, numbering about 900 men, under the command of Col. Eyre were advancing toward the heights, the brave Ledj-ard remarked : " If I must lose to-day honor or life, those who know me best can tell which it will be." With onl3- 150 men he made a brave but ineffectual resistance, for, overpowered by numbers, the fort was carried by assault with the bayo- net. Col. E^Te and Maj. Montgomery ha-sdng been slain, the command devolved upon Maj. Bloomfield, who inquired who coimnanded. Ledyard rephed, "I did command, sir, but you do now " ; and presented to him his sword. The ferocious officer instantlj- ran him through with his own sword. All the Americans in the fort, numbering about 70, were brutuallj' slain after thej- had surrendered. Silas Deane was born in Groton, Conn., graduated at Yale in 1758, and became a resident of Wethersfield. In 1774 he was chosen a member of the Continental Congress, and while acting in that capacity was ap- pointed as an agent from his own government to the Court of France to enlist the sympathies and secure the co-operation of the French people in our struggle for independence. He arrived in Paris in July, 1776. Through his influence Lafayette, Eochambeau and others were induced to aid the patriot cause. With Dr. Frank- lin and Arthur Lee, he was commissioner for negotiating treaties with foreign powers, lie died at Deal, in Eng- land, in 1789. SpRAGtiE was incorporated as a township in 1861, from the territory of Franklin and Lisbon. It is well supplied with streams of water, which afford extensive manufac- turing privileges. It is washed bj- the Shetucket the entire extent of its territorj' from the north-west to the south-east boundary. Little Eiver waters the eastern section of the town, and Beaver Brook the western. Sprague was organized principally as a manufacturing town. In the village of Baltic, in the central part of the town, upon the Shetucket River, is located the mam- moth cotton-miU of A. & W. Sprague. In the same village, are two woollen-mills on Beaver Brook, which there unites with the Slietucket. At the village of Han- over, two miles north-east of Baltic, is located a woollen- mill, on Little River ; and at the village of Yersailles, two miles south-east of Baltic, is another woollen-mill on the same stream. The population in 1870 was 3,463. Colchester. — The General Coui-t, in October, 1698, enacted that a township should be organized at or near the place called Jeremiah's Farm, on the road to New London. This locality was then in Hartford Count}'. In October, 1699, it was called Colchester, and an- nexed to New London County. Some of the names prominent among the original planters were those of the Rev. John Bulklej-, Samuel Gilbert, Michael Taintor, and Joseph Pomeroy. The face of the township is un- even. The soil is a gravellj- loam, of medium fertilit}-. The borough of Colchester was incorporated in 1824. The borough contains a pleasant village, centrally situated upon elevated gi'ound, of perhaps 50 or 60 houses. Bacon Academy is located in this village ; also a Congregational church. The extensive works of tlie Hayward Rubber Company- are located a short distance east of the v-illage. Tlio population of tlie borough in 1870 was 1,371 ; of the town, including the borough, 3,383. Rev. John Bulkley, first minister in Colchester, was a son of Rev. Gershom Bulkier, who had been pastor of the churches in New London and Wethersfield. His mother was a daughter of President Chauncj' of Har- vard College. He graduated at Cambridge in 1699, was ordained in 1703, and died in June, 1731. He was regarded as one of the most ijrofound and learned men in New England. He was thoroughly versed in the- ology, law, medicine, and science in general. Griswold was constituted the North Society in Pres- ton in October, 1716. It was incorporated as a town in 1815, and received the name of Griswold. The Indian name of the settlement was Pachaug. The surface of the township is uneven. The prevailing soil is a grav- elly loam, of medium fertility. Jewett City is the prin- cipal village in the town. It is located on the east side of the Quinebaug River, and contains about 1,000 in- habitants. The village has three cotton-mills, several stores, the Jewett City National Bank, and a Congrega- tional church. Hopeville is a small manufacturing village, situated on the Pachaug River, about 2J- miles east of Jewett City. Doanevillo and Glasko are two manufacturing villages located quite on the eastern border of the town. Glasko contains the Griswold paper-mill. The population in 1870 was 2.575. MoNTViLLE was Constituted the North Paiish in New London in May, 1714. It was incorporated as a town in 1786 from territorj' which originallj- belonged to New London, and received the name of Montville. Montville was originally the royal seat of Uncas, the Mohegan sagamore, and continued to be the residence of the royal family till it became extinct. In the east- ern pai-t of the town was located a large Indian reser\-a- tion, which was held bj'the Indians in common till 1790, I CONNECTICUT. when it was divided among tlio families Iw the legisla- ture of Connecticut. Since that period thoj' have been under the care of guardians. Their interests have been carefull}' guarded, and much has been done to improve their condition. Still, the tribe is -wasting, and but a remnant now remains. This resen'ation has for some 3-ears been favored with a convenient church edifice. Though agriculture is the principal business of the in- habitants, there are jet two manufacturing villages on the Oxoboxo Eiver, in the southern part of the town. These are Uncasville and Montville, and each has a post-office. The population in 1870 was 2,495. "William Hillhouse was the son of the Rev. James Hillhouse of New London, now Montville, where he was born Aug. 25, 1728. He was for more than fiftj' j-ears a member of the legislature, and for forty years a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. From 1783 to 1786, he was a member of the Continental Congress. In 1792, he received the honorary degree of A. M. from Yale College. He died Jan. 12, 1816. James Hillhouse, LL. D., son of the above, was born in Montville, Oct. 21, 1754, and graduated at Yale in 1773. He was an officer in the "War of the Revolution ; in 1791 was chosen a member of Congi-ess ; from 1796 to 1810 was a member of the United States senate ; from 1810 to 1825 was commissioner of the school fund of the State; and from 1782 to 1832 was treasurer of Yale College. He died at New Haven, Dec. 29, 1832. Rev. Sampson Occum, an Indian preacher of the Mo- hegan tribe, was born in the present town of Montville in 1723, and received his education from the Rev. Dr. "Wheelock, the founder and first president of Dartmouth College. From a roving savage he became a humble Christian, and for about ten years was emploj'ed as a teacher among the natives on Long Island. In August, 1759, he was ordained b}' the SufiFolk presbyterj-. In 1766, he was sent on a mission to England by Mr. "Wheelock, to promote the interests of IMoor's Indian charity school. From February, 1766, to July, 1767, he preached nearlj' 400 sermons in various parts of Eng- land and Scotland, and everywhere immense throngs of people flocked to his meetings. Large contributions were made to the school, which was soon transplanted to New Hampshire, and formed the germ of Dartmouth College. He was often employed as a missionarj' among the different tribes of Indians. He died near Utiea, N. Y., in July, 1792. Uncas, sachem of the Mohegan Indians, was a Pequot bj- birth, and of roj-al descent. To the English he was uni- formlj- friendly from the first settlement of the country. The triumph of ]\Iaj. ]\Iason over the Pequot Indians in 1G37 was largely due to the support of Uncas and his warriors, and to the information which he imparted. He was shrewd to plan, and brave to execute, and generally the victor. After a lapse of forty years from the victor}' on Pequot Hill, and at a time when all the Indian tril^es in New England were banded together under the leader- ship of King Philip for the utter extermination of the whites, Uncas, at the head of 200 warriors, accompanied Maj. Talcott to western Massachusetts, and rendered important service to the settlers. He died in 1683, probably not less than 80 years of age, and was buried in the royal Indian burj-ing-ground in Norwich. Lebanon. — ■ It was ordered by the General Court in October, 1697, that the new plantation situated west of Norwich be cajled Lel)anon.* Lebanon was originally constituted of four distinct proprieties, known as the five-mile purchase, the one-mile purchase, the Clark and Dewej' purchase, and the "Whiting purchase. These dif- ferent tracts were united by agreement, and in their union obtained an act of incorporation as a township in 1700. "\Yindham County, constituted in 1726, included Lebanon within its jurisdiction. It was annexed to New London County in 1824. Agricultiu-e is the principal business of the inhabitants. The town has three flourishing par- ishes, known as Lebanon Proper, Goshen and Exeter. These have church edifices of the Congregational order, and high schools. This historic town has given birth to six distinguished individuals, each of whom has risen to the rank of chief magistrate of a State in our Republic. Of these, five became governors of our own State, and the sixth of a State in the far "West as will appear from the annexed biographical sketches. The population in 1870, 2,211. Jonathan Trumbull, son of Capt. Joseph Trumbull, was born in Lebanon, Conn., in 1710, and graduated at Harvard College in 1727. Early in life he consecrated himself to the ministry, but the exigencies of the times called him to a different, if not to a higher sphere of public exertion, and consequently^ he sei"ved as governor of the Colony and State for 15 j-cars, commencing in 1769. He was the only governor of a Colony that-remained true to his people during the war of the Rc-\-olution. In Revolutionary times he was almost universallj' known as "Brother Jonathan," having been so called by "Washing- ton in token of his filial regard and confidence. He died Aug. 17, 1785. * At the original organization of tlio settlement a large cedar swamp was included within tbo southern boundary of tlio plantation. It has been said that this circumstance led the Rev. James Fitch, on the princi- ple of association, to suggest the name of Lebanon for the new toiraship. HISTORY OF KEW ENGLAND. Jonathan Trumbull, son of the preceding, was born in Lebanon, Conn., March 2G, 1740, graduated at Harvard College in 1759, and settled in his native town. From 1775 to the close of the campaign of 1778, he was paj'- mastcr to the army in the northern department. In 1 780 he was appointed secretarj- and first aid to Washington, in whose family he remained till the close of the war. In 1789 he became a member of Congress, and two years later was elected speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1 794 he was elevated to a seat in the Senate of the United States, and in 1798 became governor of Con- necticut, which position he continued to hold for eleven years. He died Aug. 7, 1809. Joseph Trumbull, LL. D., grandson of the senior Gov. Trumbull, was born in Lebanon, Dec. 7, 1782, graduated at Yale in 1801, w.as admitted to the bar in 1802, and in 1804 removed to Hartford, where he became permanentl}'' established. He was a member of Congress from 1839 to 1843, and in 1849 was elected governor of Connecticut. He died in Hartford Aug. 4, 18G1. Clark Bissell, LL. D., was born in Lebanon in 1784, graduated at Yale in 1806, was subsequently admitted to the bar and became established at Norwalk, where he soon rose to eminence. He was a judge of th3 Superior Court from 1829 to 1839, governor of the State for the years 1847 and 1848, and professor of jurisprudence in Yale College from 1847 to 1855. He died in 1857. William A. Buckingham, LL. D., was born in Lebanon in 1804. Early in life he became successfullj' engaged in business in Korwich, represented that town in the State legislature, was for a long period mayor of the city of Norwich, and from 1859 to 1866 was governor of the State. From 1869 to the time of his death in 1875, he was a member of the L^nitcd States Senate. He was hon- orablj- known as the " War Governor of Connecticut." Kelson Dewey, son of John Woodward Dewey, was bora in Lebanon early in the present centurj'. Removing to the West, he became a resident of Lancaster, Wis., and, during the years 1849 and 1850, served as governor of his adopted State. WilUam Williams, son of the Rev. Solomon Williams, D. D., was born in Lebanon, April 8, 1731, and graduated at Harvard in 1751. In 1755 he participated in the battle of Lake George, being then a member of the staff of Col. p4)hraim WiUiams. After protracted senice in the legis- lature of his own State, he was, during the years 1 776 and 1 777, a member of the Continental Congress, and as such signed the Declaration of Independence. He made great sacrifices for the cause of Ms country. He married a daughter of the elder Gov. Trumbull. Jlr. Williams died at Lebanon, Aug. 2, 1811. Preston. — Permission was gi-anted to Thomas Parke, Sr., and others, by the General Court in January, 1686-7, to make a plantation east of Norwich bounds. In October, 1687, it was by the same court named Preston. Preston was incorporated as a town in 1786, just a cen- tury after its first settlement. The Indian name of the locality was Poquetannock. There are three villages in the township. Poquetan- nock is situated at the head of a cove of the same name about two miles east of the Thames. It contains about 40 dwellings and several stores. Preston City is a village located in the eastern part of the town, which contains about 30 dwelling-houses and two churches. The other village is situated upon the south-bank of the Shetucket, opposite to the citj- of Norwich. Laurel Hill, situated near the junction of the Shetucket and Thames rivers, was, till recentl}-, included within the Preston limits. It now constitutes an inviting section in Norwich city. The population of Preston in 1870 was 2,161. Ltjie. — The General Court authorized the division of Sajbrook in May, 1649, the section east of Connecticut River to be known as East Sajbrook. It was first settled in 1663, and was incorporated as a distinct township with the name of Lyme in 1667. The Indian name of the locality was Nehuutic. The surface of the township is rocky, and parts of it hilly and mountainous. The soil is hard, and does not admit of a general cultivation of crops, but affords tolerable grazing. Farming is the principal business of the inhabitants. The principal vdllages in the town are at Hamburgh and North Lj-me. Both are situated upon Eight-Mile River. The population in 1870 was 1,181. Matthew Griswold, LL. D., was bom in LjTne, March 25, 1714. After sening as a representative, member of the council, chief judge of the Superior Court, and lieut- enant-governor, he was from 1784 to 1786, governor of the State. In 1788 he was chosen president of the con- vention which adopted the Constitution of the United States. He died April 28, 1799. His mansion was located at Black Hall, near the mouth of the Connecticut River. Roger Griswold, LL. D., son of the above, was born in Lyme, May 21, 1762. He graduated at Yale in 1780, and being admitted to the bar, located in Norwich, and soon rose to eminence as an advocate. In 1811 he was elected governor of the State, having previouslj' held the officcsof judge of the Superior Court and lieutenant-gov- ernor of the State. He remained in office until his death, in October, 1812. East Lyme was constituted the East Parish in Lvme CONNECTICUT. in October, 1721. The Indian name of the locality was Neanticut. A moiety of the territory now constituting East Lyme was an Indian reservation for the Western Nehuntics, when the towns of New London and Lyme were incorporated. This reservation was afterwards claimed by each town, but by mutual agreement the ownership was decided by a pugilistic contest between two combatants from each town in the field. L3Tne be- came the winner, and the territory was annexed to that town. The surface of the township is diversified. Hills and rocks prevail in the northern portion, while on the Sound the grounds are low and marshj*. The ■\'illage of Flanders is located at the head of Niantic Eiver, while Naintic Village is seated at the mouth of the same river on the Sound. Population in 1870, 1,506. Old Lyme was re-incorporated as a township in 1855, wholly from the territorj' of Lyme. At first the new town was called South L3-me. This name was sulise- quently changed to Old Lyme. The settlement of East Saybrook, at the mouth of the Connecticut Eiver, prima- rilj' led to the early incorporation of the town of L^-mc. Agriculture gives emploj-ment mainly to the inhabitants. Lj-me Village is situated about 12 miles from the Sound, and one mile east of Connecticut River. The main street runs parallel with the river, and contains a Congregational church edifice and the LjTne post-office. Black ILill, the ancient seat of the Griswold familj', lies directly upon the Sound, near the mouth of the Con- necticut River. The population of Old Lyme in 1870 was 1,362. Fkanklin was originally included in the territorj^ of Norwich. It was constituted the Second Ecclesiastical Society in Norwich in October, 1716, with the title of West Farms. Its settlement was almost coeval with that of the present township. In 1663 measures were taken to apportion the ten-itory within the present town limits to the original proprietors then residing at Norwich town. Soon thereafter settlements actually commenced on the hillsides aud up and down the streams, and shortly a thriving community occupied the most desirable por- tions of the new settlement. Among the early settlers are names that still honor the town, as Aj-er, Huntington, Kingsbury , Mason and Tracj'. It was incorporated as a town in 1786, and received the name of Franklin. Its population in 1870 was 731. The face of the township is diversified bj- hills and valleys. The soil is a loam, well adapted to grazing, grain-growing and fruit-culture. There is no village within the limits of the town, and but one church edifice, and that a Congregational. Agriculture has been the principal pursuit of the inhab- itants, which has been successfullj- conducted, but not to the neglect of more important interests. The common school has ever had the watchful, fostering care of the inhabitants, and to the credit of the community it maj- be said that, with a limited population, more than 40 of her sons have graduated with honor at the different colleges in our country. Rev. Samuel Nott, D. D., was born in Saj-brook, Jan. 23, 175-4. He graduated at Yale in 1780, and was set- tled in the ministry at Norwich, now Franklin, May 13, 1782, where he remained until the close of his long and useful life. His ministry covered a period of more than 70 years. His death occurred May 26, 1852, from the effects of a biu-n. He published a large number of sermons. Hon. Uriah Tracj', born in Franklin, Feb. 2, 1755, graduated at Yale in 1778, read law with Judge Reeve of Litchfield, and settled in that town in the practice of his profession. He often represented Litchfield in the legislature, and in 1793 was speaker of the House. From 1 793 to 1 796 he was a representative in Congress, and from 1796 to 1807 was a member of the Senate, and in 1800 was president p?-o tem. of that body. He rose to the rank of major-general of militia. Gen. Tracy was a leader of the Federal party, and an intimate friend -of Hamilton, Ames, Morris, and their associates. He died at Washington, July 19, 1807, and was the first person interred in the congressional burying-ground. North Stonington was constituted the North Parish in Stonington, in October, 1720, and was by the General Court named North Stonington in May, 1724. The In- dian name of this locality was Wcquetequock. It was incorporated as a town in 1807, from territorj- which was originally a part of Stonington, It is an agricultural town, and is watered by the Shanock and Pawcatuck rivers, which afford sites for mills. The only village in the town is now known by the name of North Stonington. This place was anciently called Milltown. It contains about 30 dwelling-houscj;, half-a-dozen stores, and two churches. The population in 1870 was 1,759. Ledyakd was made the North Parish of Groton by the General Court in October, 1 725. It was then known as North Groton. It was incorporated as a town in 183G, and named from the hero of Groton Heights. Agriculture is the principal business of the inhabitants. A small remnant of the Pequot tribe of Indians still remains in the north-eastern section of tiie town. The principal village in the town of Ledyard is at Gale's Ferry, on the east bank of the Thames, which may consist of about 30 dwelling-houses. The population in 1870 was 1,392. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. S.U.EM. — In May, 1728, a pai-ish was constituted from sections of the towns of Colchester and L3'me, to which the name of New Salem was given. This was incorpo- rated as a town in Ma3-, 1819, and received the name of Salem. There is no village in the township of magni- tude. There are three houses of public worship — Con- gregational, Methodist and Episcopal. Agriculture is the principal business of the inhabitants. The popu- lation in 1870 was 717. BozRAH. — Bozrah was constituted a society within the limits of Norwich in May, 1737, with the name of New Concord. It was incorporated a town in 1786, with the name of Bozrah. Among the earlj' settlers the names of Waterman and Hough and of Fox were prominent; names not uncommon at this date. The face of the township is generall}- uneven, consisting of hills and val- leys ; its geological character is granitic ; the soil is gravelly loam, moderatelj- fertile. Fitchville, located near the centre of the town, and Bozrahville, two miles above, are both manufacturins; villages, and both situated upon the Yantic River. The central part of the town is li miles fiom New London and 33 from Hartford. The population in 1870 was 984. Lisbon was originally included within the limits of Norwich. It was constituted the north-east parish of the parent township in May, 1718, and received the name of Newent in October, 1722. It was incorporated as a town in 1786, and given its present name. The Indian name of the locality was Shetucket. Agriculture is the leading business of the inhabitants. The population is eonsequentlj' scattered. The number of inhabitants in 1870 was 582. Waterford was incorporated as a township in 1801, including all the remaining territorj' of New London except the citj-. The Indian name was Tawawaug. A valuable quarry' of granite is extensively worked in the south-western section of the town. A small village, to which the name of Graniteville has been given, is located near the quarry. Agriculture is the principal business of the inhabitants. The population in 1870 was 2,482. TOLLA^'D COUXTY. BY MRS. EUNICE F. ANDERSON. ToLLAXD CouKTY, the j'oungest and the least in area, except one, of the Connecticut counties, was incor- porated by the General Court, at New Haven, in October, 1785, and included Tolland, Stafford, Bol- ton, Somers, Hebron, Willington, Union and Elling- ton. The act establishing the county was conditioned upon the building of a suitable court-house and jail in the town of Tolland. In May, 1786, the General Court re-enacted the act of 1785, and added Coventrj- to the lists of towns. This number of towns has been increased to thirteen bj- the creation of Vernon out of Bolton in 1808 ; bj- the transfer of Mansfield and Columbia from Windham Count3' in 1827, and b}- the organization of Andover out of Covcntr}' and Hebron in 1848. All of the towns were settled long before the county was organized, and most of them were incorj^o- rated before its organization. About one-quarter of this county was bought of Indians — Joshua, a Mohegan sachem, and others. Some of it was sold bj- the Colony. The countj- lies, a small part of it, at the base, and a larger part among the hills which rise out of the Connecticut Valle}' about 12 miles east of Hartford, and extend beyond the eastern border of the count}-. I\Iany of the early settlers came from Norwich and vicinity, and from the Connecticut Valley, as those regions became more thickly populated. Among the earliest were many from eastern Massachusetts. The original settlers were of the Pilgi-im and Puritan stock, and brought with them the purpose to make their settlc- monts rehgious communities. Their first care, after finding habitations for themselves, was to establish the regular weekly worship of God, and to provide a house for this worsliip. The next public care was to open a school. The earliest industries of the count}- were prineipallj- farming — clearing tracts of land and getting the soil in proper condition to raise produce for the maintenance of the familv — and the manufacture in each home, of hand- spun and hand-woven woollen and linen cloth for the wear of the family-. CONNECTICUT. The streams of this county give numerous facilities for manufacturing, and, in later years, they have been utilized, and have furnished water-power for factories which have drawn to themselves that domestic manufac- ture which before was scattered over the hills, and gave activity to every household. It may be said of this county, as a whole, that it has well improved its manu- facturing facilities. In 1870 there were onl)- two counties — Windham and New Haven — that had a larger ratio than Tolland County of capital invested in manufacturing, in proportion to the total valuation of property. The brooks and rivers of the county gather a portion of the waters that unite at Norwich to form the river Thames. The Willimantic is the principal river in the county, and has contributed much to the support of the inhabitants. In early times shad and salmon were caught in large quantities up as far as Tolland, and prob- abty higher. Large tracts of heavy woodlands remained in this county 30 year? ago, especially in the eastern part of it. It is estimated that full one-half of the forest trees then standing have been since cut off. The New York and New England, and the New London Northern are the principal railroads in the count}'. The Boston and New York Air Line runs into the borders of two of the southern towns, and there are besides two or three short branch roads. There are now in Tolland County 22 Congregational, 6 Baptist, 12 Methodist, 3 Episcopal and 3 Roman Catholic churches, and one of the Universalist denomi- nation. There are also in this county four national banks, four savings banks, and three weekly newspapers. AVhen the last census was taken there were 238 manu- facturing establishments. The people of Tolland County have always been law-abiding and orderly. There have been less crimes and fewer criminal trials than in any other county in the State. Only one person has ever been executed for murder in the count}', and only four capital trials have occurred from its organization to the present time. The first of these occurred about 38 j'ears after its incor- poration. The criminal was convicted of murder, and publicly hung in the presence of a vast concourse of people, who had come from every town in the count}' to witness so unusual a spectacle. The execution took place on an eminence near the county jail. The county in Connecticut has no legislative functions. It is empowered to establish roads, and to prosecute offences against the laws. As a county it has no rep- resentative in the General Assembly, and has no political life. The town is the unit, and it is not county-wise but town-wise that the people act as citizens of the Common- wealth of Connecticut. The history of the county is therefore to be found in the town records, and we turn to the towns for the history of the civil and religious life of the county. These were so much one in the colonial period, that any history of Connecticut would be partial and incomplete which should attempt to separate the civil from the religious history, and give one without the other. Indeed, the dominating religious purpose of the Colonies necessarily makes any faithful history largely a religious history. The population of the county in 1790 was 13,106. The present population is 22,000. Towns. Mansfield was originally a part of Windham. Settle- ments began to be made as early as 1690, several years earlier than in any other town in the county. From that time the inhabitants gradually increased in numbers until they began to petition the General Coui-t of the Connecticut Colony to make them a distinct town on account of the great difficulties and hazards to which they were exposed by reason of the " deep and danger- ous river" between them and the meeting-house in Wind- ham. In May, 1703, the Court granted the petition, and the town was incorporated. Among the original gi-antees are the names of Shubael Dimmock, Joseph Hall, Samuel StoiTS, Robert Fenton, Peter Cross, John Royce and Peter Crane, nearly all of whom have lineal descendants in the place at this time. Mansfield was incorporated on condition the petition- ers should settle over them an ' ' able and orthodox " minister of the gospel. Worship was regularly held and a pastor sought continuously until in 1710 Mr. Eleazer WilHams, son of Rev. John Williams of Deerfield, Mass., accepted a call to settle. The church was organ- ized and the pastor ordained the same day. The second pastor was Dr. Richard Salter, whose ministry extended into and through the war of '76, and who helped to give the tone of patriotism which distinguished eastern Con- necticut in the early days of that conflict. Mansfield was divided into two parishes — the north j and south — in 1737; and in the same year that Mr. Salter was ordained over the first church, Mr. William Throop was ordained the first pastor of the second church, Sept. 19, 1744.* • It is noteworthy that the second and third pastors of the second church were father and son, — Daniel Welch and Moses Cook Welch, — whose united ministry covered 70 years. It is an interesting fact that another member of the Welch family,— Moses Cook Welch,— a grand- son and namesake of the second Mr. Welch, has been in recent years a pastor of the same chiuch. lie sei-ved as chaplain during the late war. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. About the time that Mr. Salter and Mr. Throop were ordained Mansfield had its experience of the troubles produced bj' the Separatist movement.* A Separatist church -was organized in Mansfield, consisting in large part of members of the two established churches in town ; but as it was the first church of the kind in that section of the State, seccdcrs from the established cluirches in adjoining towns united with them, and Mans- field gained a certain notoriety as being the headquarters of the Separatists in that viciniij-. This church called itself Congregational. It was not in any sense an active protest against Congregationalism ; it was a protest against the want of tolerance in the colonial laws and in the spirit of the churches. But the protest, as is usual in such cases, was urged -with an intolerance which emu- lated the intolerance of which they complained. This Separatist Church maintained its organization an uncer- tain number of years, and was disbanded sometime before the end of the century. As early as 1793 there began to be Methodist services in town, and a Methodist meeting-house was built in 1797, in the eastern part of the north parish. A Baptist society was organized in this town in 1808, and the societj' erected a meeting-house in the centre of the town the same year. Tolland County, together with the rest of eastern Connecticut, was profoundlj' stirred by the arbitrar}' pro- ceedings of the British Parliament in the Boston Port Bill and the Quebec Bill, and i^reviouslj- in the Stamp Act. In town meeting, October, 1774, the citizens of Mans- field expressed their affliction at the oppressive measures which threatened the inhabitants with total loss of lib- erty, and (le(;lared it to be their duty to oppose cruel and unjust measui'es, and to maintain freedom; and resolved that the}' would be faithful subjects of King George the Third, so long as the crown maintained inviolate the stipulated rights of the people ; and that they would defend with their lives and their fortunes their national and constitutional rights. As early as February, 1775, Mansfield directed her * This peculiar religious movement was the natui-al outcome of several causes, some of which lay far back in the history of the Colony. There had lirst been brought into the churches, gradually, through the half-way covenant, an element which loosened the discipline and led to decline ill the piety of the churches. Along with tliis, and perhaps a result of this, there grew a demand for a closer union of the churches, and some judicial authority outside of the individual church. This desire found expression in the Saybrook Platform, w hieh organized the Con- sociation. This ivas a court of judicature over Congregational churches. The General Court was in sympathy with this feeling and made the Platform the rule of the churches. Then came, in 1735, '-11 and '42, powerful revivals which awakened an eanust spirit of active piety mingled with a self-confident enthusiasm. New proofs of being in a state of grace were demanded, and censorious judgments were pro- representatives to move in the General Court that a proper number of men be levied aud equipped for the defence of the Colony- ; and in October they were directed to move the Court to dispose of lands belonging to per- sons inimical to the cause of liberty. Mansfield has been from a verj' early period a manu- factming town. There is record of a fulling-mill in 1731, and of a spinning-mill in 1734. The early raising of silli-worms, principall}- \>y women and girls, and the manufacture of silk by hand, gave distinction to the town. In 1788, thirtj^-two persons of this town peti- tioned the General Court to be incorporated for the man- ufacture of siDc. The request of the petitioners was allowed, and silk-culture graduallj' became a leading industry in Mansfield. Nearly every farmer raised mul- berry' trees, aud his wife and daughters fed the silk- worms, and spun the silk. The introduction of machinery run by water-power, for spinning silk, made a revolution in domestic silk manufacture. The first experiments in this new method were made by Rodney Hanks, and his nephew, Horatio Hanks, in 1810, with machinery- invented hy themselves, and made with their own hands. The Hanks family, in several generations, has been noted for its inventive genius, which has, from time to time, produced vaiious new machines and implements for facilitating labor in different branches of industry. It was several j-ears, however, after the Messrs. Hanks began to spin silk bj- water-power, before a silk-factorj- of considerable dimen- sions was built in the town. Before that time, two cot- ton-spinning factories were erected in the western part of Mansfield, on the Willimantic River, and the women in the town were employed to take home the factory-spun yarn, and weave it into shirting and sheeting in hand- looms. After the use of water-power had become suc- cessfully established for weaving as well as spinning, the household manufacture of sewing-silk, and of woollen and linen cloth, gradually declined, and many of the girls left their fathers' houses, and worked in the mills. Then began a great change in the social life of the town.f nounced upon such church-members as were not in sympathy with the revival. Churches were divided into parties. The " New Lights," or promoters of the revival were disciplined. L.aws were enacted re- straining liberty of worship outside of the "established order." Many of the " New Lights " paid no regard to these laws, but with- drew from the established churches and organized churches of then: t When the girls began to leave the hillsides for the manufacturing villages, the young men and boys also sought business away from their homes, and few liesides the elderly \vn\Ac remained by the old liresides. Farms were less widely ruliivair.l ; ^i : - uliu; ' J .lined; tlie long- established churches dimiui>hr,l III 1 ii> I- 111! iv.altli.aud the inher- ited eustnms and old New Kii.-laii.l lial-u- m nr .. , .lianged as to forever separate the modern from the old New England life. CONNECTICUT. There arc now in Mansfield six silk- factories, — • two in Gurloj-v'ille, one on Hanks Ilill, one in Chaffeeville, one in Atwoodville, and one in Cor.ant\'illo ; one factorj' in Eagleville for the manufacture of cotton cloth, one in JIansfleld Hollow for the manufacture of cotton thread, and one stockinet factorj' at Morrow Station. The oldest burying-ground in Tolland County was laid out in 1696, in what was then called the Pondc-place, — now the first parish of Mansfield, — seven j'ears before Mansfield was made a distinct town. Here was buried Samuel Storrs, who came from England, and who was one of the original proprietors of the town, — the great ancestor, not onlj' of the families of Storrs in Mansficlh language. lie claimed to be a native of them. But, on the ICth of March, one came boldly advancing to their rendezvous, and cried out, '• AVelcome Englishmen ! welcome Englishmen ! " He was tall, straight, and of commanding mien. His face was smooth, but his jet-black hair hung down from his head behind in wavy tresses. His onl}' clothing was a leathern girdle about a span long. In his hand he held his bow with two arrows, the one headed, the other unhcaded. He was received with hospitulitv. A Norseman's coat was tkrown around him, and a simple meal of biscuit and butter and cheese and a piece of a mallard was set before him, of wliich he partook with evident Satisfaction. He had learned some broken English amongst the Englishmen that came to fish at Monhiggon, and knew bj' name most of the captains, commanders and masters that came there. He was ready to talk, and the Pilgrims were pleased to hear him. He informed them that the name of that place was Patuxet ; that the people who once occupied it and the adjacent countr}' were all swept off by a great plague four j-ears before, the ravages of which were so great that there was neither man, woman nor child remaining ; that he did not belong there, but to a country Ijiug hence a day's sail b^- agreat wind, and five days' journej^ by land. lie told them of the whole countiy ; of the vaiious tribes and their sagamores, of which he was himself one, and of their numbers and strength, but especially of the chief sachem, Massasoit, whose lands none could claim nor rightfully molest. Ha continued his discourse until night-fall. He lodged in the house of one of them, and was dismissed the next daj' with the request that he should come again with some of Jiassasoit's men, and bring beaver-skins for traflic. This Indian sagamore was Samoset, the strong friend and ally of Massasoit. The next daj- he returned with five other men. Every man had a deer-skin on him, and most of them had also a wild-cat's skin on one arm. But, as it was Sunday, the Pilgrims did not care to trade with them, but told them to bring more another day, and they would truck for all. Setting before them food, they partook of it %erv fully, and all left except Samoset, who stayed two or three dajs longer. On his departure they gave him a hat, a pair of stockings and shoes, a shirt, and a piece of cloth to tie al)out his waist. On tlie 22d of March Samoset came again, bringing with him an Indian called Squanto.* They brought a few skins with them for traffic ; also some red herrings, newly taken and dried, but not salted. It is said, that Patuxet, and the only one whom the plague of 1617 had spared, and his escape was owing to the fact that he was at that time absent from the country. RHODE ISLAND. at that time the herring so largelj- abounded, that, in its passage from the sea to the still waters of the lakes and ponds, the Intervening small streams were choked by them, and that the Indians annually' caught large quanti- ties, taking the fish from the water with their hands with- out the aid of nets or weirs. Those not used for food were used to enrich their planting-grounds, appljing one herring to each hill of growing corn. They reported that Massasoit, with his brother, Quada- quin, and a company of men, were near at hand ; and, within an hour, thej' appeared on the top of a hill in sight of the Pilgrims, — the royal persons having a retinue of sixtj' warriors. They were received with friendly salutations, and refreshments were set before the great sachem and his immediate attendants, while the others still remained at the top of the hill. After a parlej-, conducted with considerable cei'eraon}' and dig- nit^-, a treat}' was ratified which stipulated that " neither Massasoit nor any of his people should do hurt to the English ; and if the}- did, they should be given up to be punished bj- them ; and that if the English did any harm to him or an}- of his people, they would do the like to them. That if any did unjustly war against Massasoit, the English would aid him, and he would do the same in his turn." Massasoit was greatly pleased with this treaty, and it was applauded by his followers, he verbally adding that " he was content to become the subject of our sovereign lord the king, his heirs and successors, and gave unto them all the lands adjacent to them and their heirs for- ever." After this treaty was ratified, Massasoit and his company returned home. Subsequently he was duly visited by the authorities at Plymouth.* The way opened by the interchange of visits between Massasoit and the men of Plymouth became in time a well- beaten path. The products of the chase and Indian corn were exchanged for the implements of civilization used in husbandry and in hunting. Friendly relations continued without interruption for many years, and were alike bene- ficial to the Wampanoags and the settlers of Plymouth. * This was not the first visit m.-ulo to this chieftain hy white people. In the month of May, 1G19, Capt. Thomas Dcnucr came to Patuxet, when he alt-o had the kind offices of Squanto, whom he calls his savage. t In 1623 Massasoit was very sicli, and sent a messenger to Plymouth fur help. Mr. Winslow was despatched at once with some medicines and cordials. Hobbamock attended Winslow as interpreter, and an English gentleman from London, spending the winter at Plymouth, desiring much to see the Indian country, also accompanied them. Arriving near to Mattapoyset they were told that JIassasoit was dead, and buried that day. This report was shortly after contradicted, and they pushed on to Sowamset. They found him alive, surrounded by numerous friends greatly excited and alarmed. Massasoit was glad to SCO the men from Plymouth, who assured him of their sympathy and Squanto proved to be of great service to the Pilgrim Colony, but he lived only about two years, dying at Manamoyk, — now Chatham, — of a fever, in December, 1G22. Just before his death he desired the governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishman's God. He also bequeathed " his things to sundry of his English friends as remembrances of his love." Hobbamock, one of Massasoit's sub-chiefs, was an- other great friend to the English. About the end of July, 1621 , he went to Plymouth, where he was so much pleased with the white people, and they in turn were so much pleased with him, that a mutual friendship sprimg up that continued as long as he lived. He soon went to Plym- outh, and continued to reside there until his death. The friendship of Massasoit was confirmed by subse- quent acts of kindness on the part of the English, f In 1632 the Narraganscts, under their chief Canoni- cus, waged war against the Wampanoags ; but the Eng- lish joining forces with Massasoit, he was victorious, and the war ended in a short time with but little blood- shed. Massasoit deemed it fitting to commemorate the event by changing his name, as it was a custom among savages to commemorate important events in this way. From this time he took the name of Ousamequin. Of the year of Massasoit's death we are not certainly informed. It probably occurred in 1661 or '62, when his age exceeded fourscore years. He never swerved from his friendship to the English, and during all his life remained true to the terms of the treaty ratified at Plym- outh on the 22d of March, 1621 . "He was a remarkable man. He possessed an intrinsic dignity and eneigy of character which gave him unbounded influence over his subjects and inferior sachems. The native qualities of his intellect and his heart were so commanding and so peaceful that he gained the loyalty, controlled the extrav- agant passions and secured the personal confidence of his subjects, and for nearly half a century preserved peace and harmony between them and our fathers. He was highly valued and much respected by his English neighbors, and greatly beloved by his own people." | sorrow for his distress. They administered to him medicine and cor- dials and he soon began to revive. At length he recovered and expressed his gratitude in these words : " Now I sec the English arc my friends and love mc ; and whilst I live I will never forget this kindness they have shown mc." + The veneration in which he was held found expression in the lament of Hobliamock when it was falsely reported that he was dead ; " My loving S.ichem ! many have I known, but never any like thee. While you live you will not meet the like of Massasoit among the Indians, lie was no liar, nor bloody nor cruel like others of his race. In anger and passion ho was soon reclaimed. Ho was easy to be reconciled toward such as had offended him. His reason was always open and he governed his people better with few blows than others did with many." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. ]\Iassasoit had two sons and one daughter, and prob- ably other children of whom we have no definite account. The name of the elder son was "Wamsutta, and of the other Motacom, or Pometacom. Wamsutta succeeded his father as grand sachem of the Wampanoags, and soon after, by his request, re- ceived from the English at Plymouth the name Alexan- der, which he retained till his death. About the year 1G53, Weetamoe, the " squaw sachem of Pocasset," be- came his wife. He lived but a short time after he became chief sachem, his death occurring the same year. He always professed friendship for the English, although he was suspected of plotting with the Narragansets against them. Pometacom, -who had received at Ph-mouth the name Philip, succeeded his brother as chief sachem. Like his brother, he at first professed great friendship for the English, and made to them numerous sales of land, which thej' occupied unmolested. This policy continued until the territory of the Wampanoags was limited to the lands about Mount Hope, embraced in the town of Bristol as that township was first incorfjoratcd. The royal seat of King Pliilip was at the base of Mount Hope fronting the bay, near a Imng spring of water which still bears his name. Philip was killed near Mount Hope the 1 2th of August, 167G.* In dealing with the Indians the Plj-mouth Colony acknowledged them to be the rightful proprietors of the soil, and, prior to King Philip's war, took no possession except by honorable purchase. Gov. Winslow, writing in May, 1676, said: "I think I can clearly saj' that before these present troubles broke out the English did not possess one foot of land in the Colonj- but what was fairly obtained by honest purchase of the Indian pro- prietors ; nay, because some of our people are of a covet- ous disposition and the Indians in their straits are easilj' prevailed with to part with their lands, we first made a law that none should purchase or receive by gift any land of the Indians without the knowledge and allowance of the Court." In 1641, the Rev. Samuel Newman and his associates purchased of Massasoit a tract of land about ten miles * " Never, perhaps," says Dr. Fowler in his history of Fall River, " did the fall of a wanior or a prince afford mere scope for solid reflection. Philip was certainly a man of great powers of mind, and his death in retrospect makes different impressions from what were made at the time of the event. It was then considered as the extinction of a virulent and implacable enemy ; it is now viewed asthcfallof a great warrior, a pene- trating statesman, a mighty prince. It then excited universal joy and congratulation as a prelude to the close of a merciless war; it now awakens sober reflection on the instability of empke, the destiny of the square — embraced in the present towns of Rehoboth, Seekonk, East Providence and Pawtucket — which was confirmed to them bj- the Ph-mouth Court in 1044, and they were constituted a town b}- the name of Rehoboth, a name taken from the Scriptures and selected bj' Mr. ; Newman. At different times inhabitants of Rehoboth made purchases of land contiguous to their town, and by act of Ph-mouth, the town government was extended over them. Subsequentlj-, from these various purchases other towns were partitioned oft'. In 1645, John Browne, Sr., a prominent man in Reho- both, who, with his son James Browne, had come into this plantation, purchased of the Indians for £15 ster- ling the north-western part of Barrington Neck, called Wannamoiset. 1053, William Bradford, Thomas Prince, Edward Winslow, Miles Standish and others of Ph-mouth Colon}-, purchased of the Indians " Sowams and Parts Adjacent," which embraced Barrington Neck, called by the Indians Popanomscut, being the south-eastern part, and all the meadows around the various and several shores of Bris- tol, WaiTcn and New Meadow Neck. This territorj- was conve^-ed to the proprietors b}^ Massasoit, who was then known as Ousamequin, and his son Wamsutta, afterwards known by the name Alexander, in a deed still preserved on record. The consideration named in this deed is £35 sterling. The deed is dated 29th March, 1653, and is witnessed by John Browne, James Browne and Richard Garrett. It is supposed to be the last deed which Massasoit ever signed. The lands thus jjurchased were divided into shares, and to each share was assigned a portion of upland, both timbered and cleared. Each share embraced two lots of about 80 acres each. The meadow lands adjoin- ing the creeks and rivers were divided into lots of ten acres each, as far as could be. In some cases the lot was in two localities, in order that an equal qnahty as well as quantity might be embraced. Certain lands were set apart for the " Minister " and the "School Teacher," and the remaining patches of iindinded lands, l_nng in parcels of a few acres each in different localities, were called " Common lots," subject at an}- time to the disposal of a majority of the proprietors, and the pro- aboriginal race and the inscrutable decrees of Heaven. The patriotism of the man was then overlooked in the cruelty of the savage, and httle allowance was made for the natural jealousy of the prince, on account of the barbarities of the warrior. Philip, in the progress of the Eng- lish settlements, foresaw the loss of his territory and the extinction of his race, and he made one mighty effort to prevent the catastrophe. Had his resources been equal to those of his opponents, their ruin would have been entire. This exterminating war would perhaps never have been knoivn to succeeding ages of civilized man." RHODE ISLAND. cecds to be for their common benefit. Fences were erected around the lots of individual proprietors, each proprietor being required to fence the one end of his lots, and thus secure the enclosure of the whole plantation. A common fence was thus erected as a boundary between this and the Eehoboth settlements ; also across Mount Hope Neck adjoining the lands still in possession of the Indians. Public roads were laid out for the convenience of the general travel, varj-ing in widtli from two to eight rods ; also, bj'-waj's somewhat narrower for private advantage. The original proprietors of these lands resided at Plymouth and the neighboring towns, and usually met at Plymouth to transact business relating to the di%ision and settlement of the territory. The liberal inducements offered led a number of persons to purchase and settle here. The treaties of the Indian chiefs Massasoit, Alexander and Philip with the Plymouth Colony, secured to them their rights to the land unless parted with by honorable purchase, but recognized the jurisdiction of the Colony under the English crown over the entire territory. In 1669, the Plj'mouth Court granted 100 acres within the present hmits of Bristol to Mr. John Gorham, " if it can be piu'chased of the Indians," and the remainder to the town of Swanzea " for the promoting of a way of trade in this CoUonie." On the first of July, 1672, Mr. Con- stant Southworth, Mr. James Browne and Jlr. John Gor- ham were appointed b}' the Court " to purchase a certain p'cell of land of the Indians granted bj' the Court to the said John Gorum lying att Pappasquash Neck." After the close of Philip's war, on the l.jth of July, 1677, the Court " ratified, established and confirmed the aforesaid one hundred acres of land to John Gorum's heirs and successors forever." This land was north of the North Cemetery of Bristol, between the Necli Road and the Baj', and remained in the Gorham name and famOy for several generations, down to a quite recent date. In 1 680, the Plymouth Colonj- granted to John Walle}-, Nathaniel Oliver, Nathaniel Bjiield and Stephen Burton, four merchants of Boston, for £1,100, all that portion of territory not previously sold, included in the original township of Bristol. The whole of Pl3-moutli Colony was then settled except this territorj-, which was the last spot left uncovered in the western m.irch of English popula- tion. Mr. Oliver sold his share of this purchase to Nathan IlajTnan, another merchant of Boston. These gentlemen obtained from the Colony special privileges and made liberal provisions for the settlement of the plantation. Among the fonner were exemption from all Colon}' taxes for the term of seven years ; the privilege of sending deputies at once as other towns, according to the number of freemen ; a Commissioners' Court to try and determine all actions and causes under ten pounds, with liberty to appeal to the Court of Plymouth ; also, when sixty families were settled, the organization of a new county, with this as the county or shii'e town. Among the latter were the laying out of broad and regular streets, crossing at right angles and foi-ming large squares on street frontings, with building or " home" lots of convenient size on them ; the dona- tion of large tracts of land for the support of the min- istr}- and schools ; the reservation of a large and beauti- ful square in the central part of the town for a Common or public training-ground ; and the donation of 600 acres for the common improvement of the settlers and designated as " The Commonage." The proprietors retained for themselves, each one-eighth part of the original purchase, and, with the above donations, put the balance into the market for sale at reasonable prices. The liberal inducements offered soon drew a number of families here, chieflj' from Boston, where the proprietors resided, and from Pljmouth Colony. The proprietors themselves also settled here with their famihes, and closelj' identified themselves with all the interests of the plantation. The towns of tills countj', as already' stated, were not originally embraced in the colony of Roger Williams, but of Plj-moutli. Barrington and Warren were orlginallj' comprised in the town of Swanzea, and their early history is therefore identified with that town. Swanzea* was founded by Baptists, associated with the Rev. John Myles, who was a leading minister of that denomination in the principaht}' of Wales in Great Britain, where he became pastor of the church in Swan- j zea in Glamorganshire, in 1649, the first j-ear of Crom- ] well's Protectorate. In 1662, two years after the restoration of Charles II., the Act of Uniformit}' was passed, bj^ which 2,000 of the most pious and useful ministers of England and Wales, not conforming to the requisitions of the established church, were ejected from the places thej^ had occupied during Cromwell's reign. Among these non-conform- ing ministers was the Rev. John Myles, who, imme- diately after his ejectment, came with several of his brethren to New England, bringing their church records with them. They probably landed first at Boston or Salem, but learning that there were men. of the Baptist faith in Rehoboth, they came hither, and at the house of one • Sec Swansea, p. 112. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. John Butterworth organized a now church, consisting of John Myles, pastor, Nicholas Tanner, James Browne, Joseph Carpenter, John Butterworth, Eldad Kingsley and Benjamin Alby. The organization of this church, and the setting up of a separate worship in the hmits of Rehoboth, without consent or authoritj^ from the Plym- outh Court, was regarded as an offence and prejudicial to the interests of the Rehoboth plantation. The mem- bers -were fined £5 each, ordered to desist from their meeting for one month, and were advised to remove to some other place where they might not prejudice any other church. They accordingly removed to Wanna- moiset, on the John Browne lands, not then included in anj^ town. Permission was afterwards given to Mr. Myles to purchase land and reside in Rehoboth, but their first meeting-house was erected at Wannamoiset, a few rods south of the Rehoboth line, and a little south of the main road now leading to Prowlence. This was the nucleus of a new town, which was not long after formed under the jurisdiction of Plymouth Colony. On the 30th of October, 1667, the PhTQouth Court, according to the encouragement previously given, made to the founders of this church, along with others, a grant of land to be called Swanzea, after the name of the church and town which Mr. Mj'les and his friends had left in Wales. This grant included all the district called AVannamoiset and parts adjoining, described in general bounds as embracing " all the lands between the salt water and river and the bounds of Taunton and Reho- both," to be held by Mr. Mj'les and his friends for their accommodation as an incorporated town, within which they were at liberty to exercise all their rights of con- science as members of a Baptist Church. The territorj' thus granted under the incorporated name of Swanzea then embraced not only what is now Swansea in Massa- chusetts, but also the present town of Somerset in the same State, and the present towns of Warren and Bar- rington in Rhode Island. These men were authorized by the Ph-mouth gi-ant to determine the conditions on which they would receive strangers as members of the town. They decided " that no erroneous person should bo admitted into the town- ship either as an inhabitant or sojourner ; that no man of any cvtI beha^-iour as a contentious person should be admitted ; and that none should be admitted that maj- become a charge to the town." It was not intended to restrict the privileges of settlement to Baptists alone, but to grant liberty of conscience, while the predomi- nating influence was for the Baptist faith. Capt. Thomas AViUet, one of the founders of the town, and a foremost man in it, was not himself a Baptist but a member of the Reformed Church of Holland, yet he cordially united in these conditions of settlement, as did many others. A peculiar measure earl}' adopted by this town (Feb. 7, 1671), was the division of the inhabitants into three ranks or grades, to be entitled to certain privileges ac- cordingly ; a certain committee, or board of censors, having meantime been appointed, authorized to degrade or promote, from one rank to another, at their discretion. At a town meeting the 19th of December, 1G73, "it was voted and ordered that a school be forthwith set up in this town for the teaching of grammar, rhetoric and arithmetic, and the tongues of Latin, Greek and Hebrew ; also to read English and to write." This vote was passed unanimously. Forty pounds in current monej- was fixed upon as the salary' of the schoolmaster. Mr. John Myles, the pastor, was appointed schoolmaster, with authority- to appoint a suitable person in his place if he chose. Not long after the Indian war broke out, which over- whelmed Swanzea in the first blast of its rage, and left this thriving settlement in less than a week a desolation and a wreck. At the beginning of the war the church still worshipped in their first meeting-house, about a mile and a half west of Miles's Bridge, the place now known as BarneysAoUe. The ground occupied by the present village of Warren, though then a part of the Swanzea gi'ant, was still occu- pied by the remnants of the once powerful tribe of the AA'ampanoags. Although one-half of the dwellings in Swanzea were laid in ashes during the war, the inhabitants immediately after its close began to spread themselves in various directions, and some of them repaired to the site on which the village of Warren now stands. In a short time the eastern part of Swanzea became thickly settled, and, as there was no other place of wor- ship but the Baptist meeting-house before referred to, they began to agitate the question of securing a more central place for the accommodation of their wide-spread congregation. Accordinglj' the town voted, on the 29th of March, 1680, to assist the church in erecting a new meeting-house on the site of the old gravej-ard at Tyler's Point, just below Kelley's Bridge. This was done, and a house for worship was erected. At the same time a dwelling-house was built close bj- for the minister, which the town transferred to the Rev. Mr. Myles to indemnify him for money which he had advanced in de- fraying the expenses of the Indian war. Here Mr. Myles lived and labored until Februarj', 1683, when he died, deeply lamented. His grave is among the unmarked mounds on T3ler's Point, but his life-work, noble and grand, left an enduring impress upon the character of RHODE ISLAND. the people with whom he so long walked as teacher and guide. After the death of Mr. Myles, in 1685, Capt. Samuel Luther, who had sustained every office of honor and trust which the proprietors of the town could bestow, was ordained to the work of the ministry, and became pastor of this ancient church. He continued to serve in this capacity until his death on the 20th of December, 1716. He possessed an ample estate, and resided on the west side of the Kickemuit Elver, one mUe east of the present village of Warren, and was buried in the old gravej-ard near his residence, where a tombstone still stands over his ashes. He had a large posterit3f, who settled in this ■\'icinitj', and has descendants living to this daj- in Barrington, Warrea and other places. The population continuing to extend northward and eastward into what are now the towns of Swansea and j Somerset, in Mass., in the course of twenty years after the meeting-house was built at Tyler's Point, it became necessarj', for the convenience of the large majority of the people, to remove it to a more central location. This was accordingly done, about the j'ear 1700, at a spot west of " Cornell's Tavern," in North Swanzea. Tradition says that it was moved across the Warren Eiver on the ice. Here it stood until 1717, when an- other was erected in its place. When, in 1692, Plymouth and Massachusetts were united under the new charter brought by Sir William Phips, a new order of things was instituted, which interfered somewhat with the ideas of this people on matters of religious liberty. Although the prevailing sentiment of the PljTiiouth Colony was decidedly Con- gregational, or Puritan, as in the Colony of Massachu- setts, they had allowed the existence of the Baptist church in Swanzea, and the rights of conscience had been maintained strictly according to the terms of the act of incorporation. The majority of the people were Baptists, and the Congregationalists among them readilj- acquiesced in the essential doctrines of liberty of the Rhode Island Colony. But soon after the charter of union, a warrant from the Court of Quarter Sessions required the town to choose a minister, recording to law. The town meeting at which this warrant was read and debated adjourned for one half hour. The church met and returned, by Lieut. Cole, the reply that " they had a minister that thej' apprehended was according to law, viz., the Elder Samuel Luther." The tithing-man had been an unknown officer in Swan- zea. At the adjourned meeting in October, the town conformed to the letter of the new requirement, and elected Elder Samuel Luther minister, and four tithing- men. But they were careful to select good Baptist brethren as tithers, who had no sjTnpathy with the law, and suffered it to fail in its execution. The voluntary system still continued to be maintained by the inde- pendent townsmen. During the ministrj' of Elder Luther, certain supple- mentarj^ notes were added to the original covenant with reference to baptism and communion, which were dis- tasteful to the Congregational element, and served to divide the hitherto united parties. The removal of the church edifice from New Meadow Neck seems to have been another element of division. These divisions, to- gether with the fact of the prevailing policy of Massa- chusetts, led to the earnest discussion of the question of establishing a new church of the Congregational order, and Anally to the organization of the town of Barrington. Towns. Barrington. — The dwellers on Phebe's Neck, added to those on New Meadow Neck, favored the organization of a new church. They saw no way to secure this object but by the establishment of a new town, wherein the tithes of the people, as in other towns in Massachusetts, should support the ministrj' of the ruling order. A peti- tion to the General Court in Boston, on the 30th of Maj-, 1711, set forth the circumstances, and asked for the granting of " a township according to the limits of Capt. Samuel Low's militarj' Co. in Swanzea, thereby enabling us to settle and maintain a pious, learned and orthodox minister for the good of us and our posterity," so that "Godwin be glorified, Christ's kingdom enlarged, and will oblige your most humble petitioners ever to pray." On the 24th of October following, the Council passed the following order : " That this Court see no reason as yet to divide Swanzea into two distinct towns, but ap- prove the good and laudable inclination of the petitioners to encourage religion in that part, and recommend to them the establishment and support of a learned ortho- dox minister of good conversation, and to endeavor bj' subscription for his comfortable and honorable main- tenance." Again, in 1712, the petitioners renewed their efforts for a new town, and were again opposed and defeated. For the next five j'ears they sat down hj this defeat, and endeavored to establish a Congregational church in ac- cordance with the advice of the Court. The organization was probablj' at once effected, and public services insti- tuted at New Meadow Neck. But the new church did not flourish as its friends hoped, and on the 14th of May, 1717, a petition was presented to the town, "to have IIISTOEY OF NEW EXGLAXD. six score pounds raised to support ye ministry-, or to have said town of Swanzea divided, or a precinct by some of the inhabitants on the west side of New Meadow River." The only answer of the town to this was, " that all the inhabitants of the town of Swanzea should enjoy their conscience libertj", according to the foundation settlement of the town, and are obliged to uphold, maintain the ministry and worship of God in the several churches or congregations where thej' respectively belong or assem- ble, and not obliged in anj- other church or congregation but where the}- partake of the teaching as it is expressed in said foundation settlement." The " troublesome body on the west end of Swanzea" made a third attempt to secure a division of the town hj petition to the Boston Court in November, 1717, and though again opposed as before, they were this time successful. On the 18th of November, 1717, Phebe's Neck and New Meadow Neck within the town of Swan- zea were legally erected into a township by the name of Harrington. The definite boiinds were soon established, and the new town was duly organized in March, 1718. The name Harrington was doubtless chosen by the petitioners, and in memory of a small parish of the same name in Somersetshire, Eng., from which place, it is supposed, some of the first settlers came. The town was established primarily on account of its religious necessities, and the management of ecclesiasti- cal affairs took a large share of pubHc attention. At the second town meeting, on April 21, 1718, the Rev. Samuel Torre}' was elected the town's minister, with £100 as a settlement, and £70 a year as salary, "the said sum to be collected by the constable, paid to the town clerk, and by him to be paid to the Minister." On the -Ith of August following, Mr. Torrey signified his accept- ance of the call, and became the second pastor of the church in this place, the first pastor, the Rev. James Wilson, having left prior to the establishment of the new town. The third pastor was Mr. Peleg Heath of Roxbury, who continued to dwell here until his death in 1748, aged 49 years. His widow survived, and their descendants to this day have resided in the town, an honorable and honored line, among the most valued of citizens. • His wife, Martha, died young, and he never married again. He is described as a man of spare frame, thin in flesh, with long, gray hair, bald head, and a large nose. His dress was plain ; in summer, a gay- colored chintz morning-gown, and a cocked hat and short breeches, with knee-bucliles ; in winter, a long coat and green small-clothes. At his death, he was laid out in a black broadcloth suit purchased by his Mr. Heath's successor, the Rev. Solomon Townsend, was born in Boston in 1715, graduated at Harvard Col- lege in 1 735, and commenced his labors in Barrington in 1743, continuing therein until his death, the 25th of December, 1796.* Next to the support of the gospel ministry, the care for public education claimed the attention of the citizens. In 1722, the selectmen were authorized to provide a schoolmaster for four months, " to teach to read, write, and arithmetic," the great work of religion and education thus together with other interests of the town, going on under the Massachusetts methods of management, until the transfer to Rhode Island in 1747. For thirty years from 1717, Barrington had had an honorable corjjorate existence. When transferred from the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Bay Colonj' to that of Rhode Island, she was united with another portion of the ancient town of Swanzea, and her historj' for a time was merged in that of the new town. Meanwhile, hav- ing enjoyed the experience of a separate corporate ex- istence so long, the citizens did not take kindly to the new arrangement, especially as they saw the centre of trade drifting away from them, and the growing pros- perity of the new village on the other side of the river. Feeling awakened discussion, and discussion led to peti- tion and remonstrance to the General Assemblj- of May, 1770, for dividing the town of Warren into two towns. Both parties plead earnestly, the one for division, the other for continued union. The petitioners for division succeeded in convincing the General Assembly of the propriety of their claim, and on the 11th of June, 1770, it was enacted that the town of Warren be divided into two distinct and separate towns, and that the bounds between them be as the river between Bristol and Rum- stick extends itself northerly to Miles's Bridge, and that the town so divided from Warren shall be distinguished and known by the name of Barrington. Thus the old town emerged from the eclipse of twenty-three years, obscured in name as well as in fame by the growing enterprise and prosperity of Warren. The time approaches which tried men's souls for the growing persecutions of Old England against her infant Colonies. In common with other towns in New England, Barrington prepared for war. They resolved and gath- ered their forces for action, and pledged their Uves and people, who revered " old Father Townsend," and cherished his with undying affection. He was frugal in his habits, and scrupulously economical. It was soon after his settlement that the ton-n became a part of Rhode Island, when the tomi system of tithing and church sup- port ceased, and the support of the minister was limited to the free contributions of the people, which were often meagre and insufficient. RHODE ISLAND. fortunes to those principles which so clearl}- foreshadowed the Declaration of Independence.* The Congregational Church, whose organization and earlj' history, as sketched above, were identified with the civil history of the town to the time of the transfer of territory' from Massachusetts to Rhode Island in 1746, continued to thrive under the system of voluntary sup- port, which has always existed in this State from the beginning. One of the most eminent pastors of the church here was the Rev. Samuel "Watson, a native of the town, son of Matthew Watson, Jr., and gi-andson of Matthew Watson, Sr., one of the carl}' settlers. He was a gradu- ate of Brown Univcrsitj' in 1794, and was ordained and commenced his ministry here in 1798. After his settle- ment he married Miss Martha L. Bicknell of Attle- borough, a young lady whom ho first saw in the congre- gation at Grafton on a Sunday when he exchanged pulpits with its minister. Attracted by her appearance, he sought an introduction, which resulted in a happj- marriage. He was a talented and able preacher, and the people were harmonious and united in his support. His ministry continued man}' j-ears, when he died, high in the esteem of all, and deeply lamented. The first meeting-house of this Congregational church, it is said, stood on Tj-ler's Point, just north of the bur}-- ing-ground. There is no record concerning it. The second house of worship, the first of which there is any authentic account, stood on the main road near Max- field's Corner. In 1734 this house was taken down and rebuilt on the site occupied by the third and present house, which was erected in 1805-G, and thoroughly re- modelled and repaired in 18G1. Until 1858 the Congregational was the only church in town. An Episcopal church, called St. Mark's, was organized that year. The interests of public education, which were so well cared for in the early historj- of the town, are fostered to the present day. With only occasional interruption, one or more schools, free to all the children of the town, have alwaj-s been maintained. In 1870, Mr. Isaac F. Cady opened at the Centre "Prince's HiU Family and Day School," designed to afford local facihties for pursuit of advanced liranches of study and to accommodate a limited number of boarding pupils. The buildings for the home and school were erected at a cost of about $8,000, and are admirably adapted to their purjDose. The school, under the direc- * A company from Barrington under the command of Capt. Matthew Allen, occupied the right of the American lines under Gen. Putnam at Roxbury and Dorchester Heights jr.st before the famous battle of tion of its founder and proprietor, has been ver}' success- ful, and is an honor to the town. Mr. Cady has been engaged in teaching longer than any other in the State, and stands among the first in the profession. For many j'ears the occupation of the people in Bar- rington, who were not engaged in maritime trade, was chiefly agricultural, but more recently persons doing business in the city of Pro^'idence have made this their permanent home. The beauty of its natural scencr}-, and salubrity of its climate, have also attracted many persons of wealth and culture, who have their summer residences here, while passing the winter in the city. The Provi- dence, Warren and Bristol Railroad, which passes through this town, affords an easy access to the city, and has doubtless helped the growth of the town in this direction. The Narraganset Brick Company, a very important manufacturing interest, is located in the western part of the town, near Nayatt Station. Brick were first made here in 1846, and the company was chartered the follow- ing year. The company is still flourishing, and has always found a ready market for its products, chiefly in the cit}' of Providence, where its office is located. Barrington is the most northern town of Bristol County. The town is well watered by the Warren and Ban-ington rivers, on the latter of which are extensive beds of oysters, and its south-western border is washed by the waters of the Narraganset Ba}'. The town adjoins East Pro\idence on the north-west, and is about seven miles from Providence. The population by the State census in 1875 was 1,185, and is annually in- creasing. Warren. — When the town of WaiTen was incorporated in 1747, its population chieflj- resided within the limits of the Barrington section. The town was named in honor of Admiral Sir Peter WaiTen, who, in June, 1745, com- manded the English fleet that, in conjunction with the colonial army of 4,400 men, under the command of Gen. William Pepperell, captured Louisburg and the Island of Cape Breton after a six weeks' storming and siege. By clearing the coast of French ships of war. Admiral Wan-en rendered a valuable sen-ice to tliis population, who were largely interested in maritime trade. The first town meeting was held on the 10th of Febru- ary, 1747, at the house of Mr. John Child, which stood on the north side of Market Street, in the present village of Warren. The number of freemen electors was 76. Prior to 1747 two public ferries had been in regular operation across the river which separated the two sec- Bunker Hill. His brother, Capt. Thomas Allen, afterwards general, commanded troops on Rhode Island and at Tiverton during the move- ments of the British by land and by sea in that quarter. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. tions of the town ; one near the present bridge leading from the main street in Warren village, and the other from the foot of Washington Street. After the incor- poration the population on the east side began to increase, and soon the chief seat of trade was withdrawn from the west side to this. The attention of the people was at that time almost whoUj- given to navigation and ship- building. The site of the present village of Wan-en was as early as 1671 named in the Swanzea town records as " Brooks' pasture." In 1679 this was surveyed by order of the town, and found to contain 300 acres ; convenient high- ways and house-lots were ordered to be laid out, and measures were taken for the settlement of this section. On account of the advantages of the deep water in the river, a portion of the population of Swanzea was drawn to this vicinity for the purposes of shipbuilding and navi- gation. In 1756 there were 20 dwellings in WaiTen v'illage. There was a blacksmith shop on Main Street, a school- house on Market Street, and one or two stores on the shore. At the same time there had been erected and were in use three of the present whai-ves. The town continued to grow in its population, and in the increase of its business. The chief dependence of the people was on maritime trade in its various forms of sliipbuilding, coasting. West India and foreign naviga- tion, and the whale fishery. In 1777 the population of Warren, bj' census taken per order of the town, was 789. The people of Warren -VTllage usually worshipped with the Baptist churcli in Swanzea, of which manj' of them were members, until in 17G4 a colony from that church was organized as a separate church, and the ordinances of worship were here instituted. The organization of this church grow out of the circumstances in which Brown University originated, both being formed at about the same time, and mutuallj- connected in the agency by which they were established. For many j"ears there had been an earnest desire on the part of the denomination of Baptists to secure the foundation of a college which should more full}- satisf)' their needs than any institution then existing. The " rhiladelphia Baptist Association" took initiatory steps for the founding of such a college in Rhode Island, " in which education might be promoted and superior learning obtained free from" any sectarian religious tests." But to the Rev. Morgan Edwards, a celebrated Baptist clerg3'man of Wales, who, in 1761, left his native country, and, arriving in Philadelphia, became tlie pastor of the First Baptist Church in that eit}-, belongs the honor of putting forth the necessary energies which cul- minated in the foundation of this excellent institution of learning. Mainly through his efforts, seconded by those of other friends, monej- was raised at home and abroad, books obtained, and a charter secured, and the " Rhode Island College " was born. The Rev. James Manning, a graduate of the College of New Jersey, was chosen as the first president to organize the college in this village ; also to gather and organize the Baptist church of which he became the first pastor. The church was organized the 15th of Novem- ber, 1764, consisting of 58 members, 35 of whom were from the Swanzea church. Mr. Manning immediatelj' opened a prepai-atory Latin school, which prospered from the beginning, and, in 1766, the Hon. David Howell, a graduate of the New Jersey College of that year, was appointed the first tutor in the college. Shortlj' after the organization of the church and the college, a house of worship, about 44 feet square, was erected near the site of the present meeting-house ; also on the same lot a spacious mansion for the double pur- pose of a coUege and parsonage. The first commencement was held in the meeting-house Sept. 7, 1769, when seven J'oung men were graduated. Several others, graduates of other colleges, on this occasion received the houorarj' degree of Master of Arts. It was a glad occasion to the manj^ friends of the college, who felt assured that though its beginning was small, and it was still in its infancy, it was destined to grow and become a mighty power in the land. It soon attracted public attention far and near. As no public edifice was j-et erected for it, applications from various places came pouring in to the corporation for its removal and establishment among them, each holding out strong inducements in competition with this town for the honor of its location. Prov-idence and Newport were the two ablest competitors in this contest. At length, after an earnest discussion on the merits of the conflicting claims, the corporation, on the 7th of Febru- ary, 1770, decided by a vote of 21 to 14, "that the edifice be built in tlie town of Providence, and there be continued forever." Dr. Manning had been identified with the college from the beginning, and was the soul of its prosperitj-. He had also been identified with the church in Warren as its first pastor, was devotedly attached to his people, and they as devotedly attached to him. Now one or the other posi- tion must be given up. The alternative was hard to decide. Both the corporation of the coUege and the Warren parish urged their respective claims with strong pleas. At length he decided to resign his charge of the RHODE ISLAND. church, and in the following May, 1770, removed with his undergraduates to Providence. The grief of the church in the removal of their admired and beloved pastor, had its counterpart in the dissatis- faction and chagrin of the town in losing half of their territory the same year when Barrington was partitioned off and erected into a separate township. In connection with the founding of the college in Warren was formed the ' ' Warren Association," embrac- ing a number of Baptist churches in New England, who made this %dllage a place of resort and a general rall3'ing point for the denomination. Its annual meeting was connected with the anniversary of commencement, so that all who came from a distance might have the opportunity of attending on both occasions. This is the oldest Bap- tist association of the kind in New England, and has continued to thrive during all its historj', and is still one of the largest and most important in the denomination. After the removal of the college to Providence, and the consequent resignation of Dr. Manning as pastor of the Baptist church, the Rev. Charles Thompson, the valedic- torian of the first graduating class, became pastor, being ordained the 3d of July, 1771. He was then 23 years of age. His ministry of four j'ears was verj' prosperous, the church nearly doubling its membership during that time. On the breaking out of the Revolutionary war in 1775, Mr. Thompson was appointed a chaplain in the American army, which office he held till 1778, when, being at home on a visit, he was taken a prisoner by the English, and carried to Newport on the morning of the 25th of May. At the same time the meeting-house, parsonage, an arsenal and several private dwellings in Warren were burned by the enemy. In about a mouth he was released from imprisonment, and preached awhile at Ashford, Conn., but, in 1779, became pastor of the church in Swanzea. So great was the shock which this population sustained by the calamities of the war, that no pubUc religious meetings were held for several j'ears. The members who remained in town generall3' resumed mem- bership with their mother church in Swanzea, and were glad to unite with them in receiving as pastor one whom they had in the days of their prosperitj' loved and re- vered. The condition of this union was that they should have full liberty to be dismissed when the pro\-idence * In town meeting, assembled May 6, 1766, it was voted to employ suitable persons to make np powder and ball into cartridges, and all persons that possessed lead or balls were desired to bring them to the town treasurer; all the militia and alarm-men were also required to bring their guns, that cartridges might be made to fit them. A quota of ten men being called for by the State, the town voted, Sept. 16, 1776, to send twelve, and to pay every soldier who should equip himself com- of God should permit the Warren church to be re- organized. The period of the Revolutionary war was an exceed- ingl}' trying one to this community as well as to others. But Warren met the crisis, and unflinchingly did her part in the great struggle for American liberties.* On the 25th of May, 1777, the town was attacked by about 500 British and Hessian troops, who came up from Newport the night before by water, and landing at a place about half a mile south of Peck's Rocks in Bristol, advanced by the main road on Warren in the early morning, dispersed the inhabitants, disabled several pieces of cannon and then hurried on to the Kickemuit River, where a large number of boats had been collected b}' the Americans to facilitate a contemplated expedition against the enemy. These boats they piled up and burned, then returned to Warren, burned the Baptist church, parsonage, powder magazine and several other buildings, pillaged dwellings and took a number of the citizens prisoners and departed. Though during this period the sufferings and losses of the citizens of Warren were very great, they yet stood nobly by the cause and gave freely blood and treasure for American liberty. Business was almost entirely driven from the place. Besides the destruction of build- ings and militarj- stores, much valuable shipping belong- ing to the inhabitants of Warren was lost, and the population was greatly reduced. In the course of a few years after the Revolutionary war the business of the town revived and soon acquired a basis of permanent prosperity. Various branches of commerce were pursued, but chiefl}' that of shipbuilding, which became quite celebrated. The town has con- tinued to thrive to the present time, and is still growing in population and in business enterprise. After the close of the war, on the 5th of February, 1784, the Baptist church, which had during this period been merged with the mother church in Swanzea, re- solved to build another house of worship on the same spot where their former house had stood, which was done dm-ing the following year. On the 29th of August, 1785, a charter was obtained from the General Assem- bly and an ecclesiastical society organized, with a fund started for the support of the ministry. In Sep- tember, 1786, the former members of the church, with plete with gun, bayonet, knapsack, cartridge-box and blanket, twenty shillings. A '• test act " was adopted Oct. 14, 1776, by which every man was required to assert his principles. On Feb. 5, 1777, it was voted to raise an artillery company, of which Daniel Fisk was chosen captain, and Benjamin Cole lieutenant ; and on the 12th of the same month it was voted to purchase firearms and equipment for the only two men who were unable to equip themselves. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. others, were reorganized on the basis of their former covenant and plan of union ; and the next month the Rev. John Pitman became their pastor. The first Methodist church in Warren was organized in the autumn of 1792 by the Rev. Ezekiel Cooper, preacher in charge of the circuit. Until 1794 the societj' held their meetings in a spacious barn, fitted up and made convenient for their accommodation. That year a neat church edifice was erected which was the first belonging to the Methodist denomination in Rhode Island, and the second in New England, the first being in Lynn, Mass. It was dedicated the 14th of September, 1794, the ser- mon being by the Rev. Jesse Lee. In 1844 a fine new church was erected, one of the best in New England at that time. In 1869 extensive altera- tions and repairs were made on this edifice, greatly improving its appearance and convenience for the con- gregation. About 55 pastors in succession have served this church, and it is one of the most flourishing of the denomination in the State. The St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Warren was organ- ized on the 10th of November, 1828, at the house of Freeborn Sisson, Esq. This enterprise was promoted chiefly through the efforts of the Rev. Mr. Ilenshaw (afterwards Bishop of the diocese) and of the Rev. John Bristed of Bristol. A neat church edifice was erected in 1829. The first rector was the Rev. George W. Hathaway. The parish is prospering finely, having i about 150 communicants in its membership. The St. Mary's Catholic Church was begun here in 1850, when a church ediflce was erected under the pasto- rate of the Rev. Father Tucker. The business interests of Warren for many years have been chiefly manufacturing. Several cotton-mills are in successful operation at the present time, giving employ- ment to a large number of operatives. The Warren Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1847. It has three mills, four and five stories high, with 500 looms and 27,000 spindles. The machinery in all these mills is adapted to the manufacture of fine sheetings, although print-cloths are made to a large extent. The Cutler Manufacturing Company was organized in 18G9 for the manufacture of double and twisted yarns and knitting- cotton. Its mill has 16.000 spindles and employs about 230 hands. The Mechanics' Machine Company was organized in Providence in 1871, but removed to Warren the following year. Its first building and contents were destroyed by fire in 1873. The company immediately rebuilt and continued the manufacture of machines until 1876, when business was suspended on account of the depression of the times. The Inman Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1866 for the manufacture of cotton braid. Its capital stock was $100,000, and it has done a large business. The firsti banking institution in Warren was the War- ren Bank, incoq^orated in October, 1803, with a capital of $85,000. There are five other banks in the town ; four for discount and one for savings. The first newspaper in Warren was " The Northern Star," started in 1826 by Messrs. Fowler & Randall, and continued as a weekly publication untill 1855, when it passed into the hands of Albert R. Cooke, who started a semi-weekly called the "Rhode Island Telegraph." In 1859 the establishment passed into the hands of E. F. Applegate, who continued the publication about two }-ears, when it was discontinued. The " Warren Ga- zette," a weekly publication, was started in 1-866 by Capt. Barton. In 1876 it passed into the hands of the present proprietors, George II. Cooraer & Co. Warren is the central town of Bristol County, and contains more than 3,000 inhabitants. It has a fine harbor on the Warren River, which flows into Narragan- set Bay. Bristol was the last settled town of the territorj- em- braced in Bristol County, although it is the largest in population, and from the first has been the county seat. The proprietors of Bristol and their associates were fully imbued with the spirit of the Puritan and Pilgrim com- monwealths, and took early measures to secure an able gospel ministry. During the first year of the settlement they obtained the ser\-ices of the Rev. Benjamin Wood- bridge, son of the Rev. John Woodbridge of Andover, Mass., who continued labor about six years. There being some opposition to him, and consequent difficulties which interfered with his usefulness, he retired from the field. The first public religious service in Bristol was in the dwelling-house of Dea. Nathaniel Bosworth, a building still standing, and forming a part of the dwelling-house of the late James De W. Perr3-, Esq. Afterwards ser- vices were held in the " lower south room" of the min- ister's dwelling on Byfield Street, a house owned by Nathaniel Byfield, Esq. In this room the town also met for their civil business. On the 24th of October, 1683, at a town meeting, £250 were ordered to be raised to build a meeting-house. The house was built on " the Common," fronting High Street, on the spot where now stands the county court- house. There is no record of its exact dimensions, but it is described as " spacious, square in form, clapboarded inside and out, having double galleries, one above the other, with a cap-roof, surmounted in the centre with a RHODE ISLAND. cupola and bell, from which a rope was suspendocl, b}- which the bell was rung; a dormer window over the pulpit, and on all sides double rows of windows for the ingress of light." Square pews were constructed, from time to time, by citizens who obtained leave of the town to do so, and several j-ears elapsed before the floor was all covered. This "meeting-house" was used for both religious and civil purposes. For more than 40 j-ears it was the only sanctuar3' in town, and it continued to be the home of the First Church of Clii-ist for a hundred j-ears. The First Church was not formally organized until after the retirement of Mr. Woodbridge, although the ordinances of religion were regularly maintained from the beginning. The Rev. Samuel Lee, D. D., an English dissenting minister, celebrated as a man of ardent piety and profound learning, who had recently arrived in Bos- ton, accepted a call to the Bristol church, and began his labors April 10, 1687. Soon after Dr. Lee's settlement, on the 3d of Maj', 1687, the church was formallj' organized bj' the mutual consent and agreement of the following persons ; viz., Maj. John Walley, Capt. Nathaniel Byfield, Capt. Ben- jamin Church, Nathaniel Reynolds, John Carey, Hugh Woodbury, Goodman Throup, and Nathaniel Bosworth, whom they elected deacon. Thus was the first church gathered in Bristol, the first of the Puritan or Congrega- tional order within the present limits of Rhode Island. At the organization, and for manj' years afterwards, it was known as " The Church of Christ in Bristol." In 1784 it began to be called the " Catholic Congregational Church," and by this title was known until, in 1869, in order to hold and administer charitable funds given to its care, it was incorporated by the General Assembly as the " First Congregational Church in Bristol." The ministry of Dr. Lee in Bristol was eminently suc- cessful. He died in France in December, 1691. Dr. Lee was the author of several published works, which gave him wide celebrity. He was regarded as one of the most learned and pious men of his day, and was called " the light of both Englands." Cotton Mather wrote of him, that, "if learning ever merited a statue, this great man has as rich an one due him as can be erected : for it must be granted that hardl}- ever a more universally learned person trod the American strand." In 1688, the year subsequent to Dr. Lee's settlement in Bristol, the number of families in town, as appears from a record stiU preserved in Dr. Lee's own writing, was seventy. A commodious and elegant edifice of stone was built by this society in 1856. The church is one of the largest and strongest in the State. Its active member- ship is about 350. The congregation of St. Michael's Church (Episcopa- lian) was first gathered in 1720. A house of worship was erected on the site of the present church, at the corner of Church and Hope streets, upon land given by Col. Mackintosh, a wooden structure which served the church until its destruction by British soldiery in the war of the Revolution. In 1786 a new church edifice, simi- lar to the first, was erected on the same site, which gave way in 1833 to a much larger and more costly one. It was destroyed by fire in 1858, and was replaced by the present beautiful stone structure, at a cost of $37,000. The first minister of this church was the Rev. John Orem, an Englishman. The late Bishop Alexander B. Griswold was once the pastor of this church. The Methodist Church was organized in 1791 ; the First Baptist Church Aug. 22, 1811 ; the South Christian Church in 1833 ; the Second Advent Church in 1843 ; and Trinity (Episcopal) in 1875. The first edifice of the Roman Catholic Church in Biistol was dedicated in October, 1855. The citizens of Bristol have always taken a deep inter- est in the cause of public education. The first proprie- tors, who provided so liberally for religious institutions, also set apart lands for the support of a public school education, which lands continue to be held in trust for this purpose. The interest thus early manifested has continued unabated to the present time. The B3-ficld School, erected in 1873, is a very fine edifice. Its cost, mth furnishing, was nearly $45,000. From the beginning the commercial interests of Bristol held a high rank, and at one time it was among the first commercial ports of New England. Numerous vessels were owned here. An important branch of trade was that to Cuba, where many of the early merchants had sugar and coffee plantations. An extensive trade was also carried on with the Baltic and Mediterranean ports, and along the coast of the Middle and Southern States. This commercial trade has long since disappeared, and in its place has come the introduction of various manu- facturing interests, including cotton-mills, boat and yacht building, and an extensive manufactory of all kinds of rubber goods. There are also many excellent farms. The waters of Bristol are of unrivalled beauty. The harbor is in the form of a basin, capacious and safe, and of sufficient depth for the entrance of the largest sized vessels and steamers. The fisheries form an important branch of industry. The town of Bristol took a conspicuous part in the war of the Revolution, and was not a whit behind her HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. sister towns in sacrifices for the promotion of the Amer- ican cause. Tlie war was brought homo to licr very doors. British vessels were frequentl3- in the harbor of Bristol, and the town was threatened with destruction. All males from 18 to 70 j-ears of age were required to arm themselves for the protection of the town, and women and children were sent abroad for safetj-. Sev- eral companies of militia were formed, and the people were held in anxious suspense. On tlie morning of the 7th of October, 1775, the British squadron under com- mand of Capt. "Wallace, that had been lying at Newport for several months, came up the bay and anchored abreast of Bristol. Soon a cannonading was commenced, wliich was kept up about two Lours, and threatened the entire destruction of the town. A parley was at length had, and hostilities ceased on the pledge of furnishing the squadron's commander with 49 sheep, which was punctually performed at 12 o'clock. The damage to the town was not so great as was at first feared, and onl}' two lives were lost. The Rev. Mr. Burt being confined to his house by the camp-distemper, felt compelled to leave for safety when the cannonading commenced, but was overcome with exhaustion and perished in a neigh- boring cornfield. A child of Capt. Timothy Ingraham, having been removed in the rain, died from exposure the next day. The guns of the vessels were elevated so high, that their contents, for the most part, passed over the town, landing on the rising ground in the rear. The British still continued to annoj' with threats and other demonstrations, and kept the people in constant sus- pense. At length, on the morning of May 25, 1778, about 500 British and Hessians under command of Col. Campbell, coming up the bay from Newport in a ship of war, landed above Poppasquash on the eastern shore, for the avowed purpose of destroying botli Warren and Bristol. After visiting Warren and doing there what injury they could, they returned by the main road to Bristol, and marched on through the town to the foot of Wallcy Street, plundering the inhabitants and takin' many prisoners, setting fire to and destroying the dwell- ings, and also St. Michael's church edifice, supposing it to be Parson Burt's meeting-house. Here they were checked by American troops, but fleeing before them to the ferry, they escaped on board a ship which had re- turned to this point to receive them. Bristol was thus left in a verj^ crippled and distressed condition, which continued until after the war, when many who had left town returned, and general business was resumed. A few years sufficed to bring back prosperity, and when in 1812 another war broke out with Great Britain, Bristol had reached the zenith of its commercial renown and wealth. Immediatelj' upon the outbreak of hostilities her mer- chants turned their attention to privateering, and the " Yankee," " Montgomery," " Yankee Lass," and other vessels owned at this port, were very successful in cap- turing prizes, and yielded large profits. At the close of the war commerce soon resumed its accustomed channels, and all the varied interests of the town received new life. In 1857 the railroad connecting Providence and Bristol went into operation, and in 1867 a line of steamers was established between Bristol and New York. The mag- nificent steamers "Bristol" and "Providence," were built expressl}' for this line, and commanded bj' Bristol men, were run here until 18G9, when the brisk and ruinous competition compelled a compromise and they were transferred to the Fall River line. A line of steam- ers running dailj' between Fall River and Providence, and touching at this port, was established in 1830, and still continues. In the war of the Rebellion in 1861 Bristol contributed her full quota, and many of the battle-fields were stained b3- the blood of her choicest sons. The September gale in 1815, which was so disastrous in man}' places, was verj' destructive in Bristol, laying waste an immense amount of private and public property, and material!}- checking commercial interests. The gale of 1869 also destroyed much property. The population of Bristol at the present time does not vary much from 6,000. Manufacturing establishments are over GO in number, furnishing employment to nearly 1,500 operatives. The valuation of the town by the State in 1873 was $5,293,979. Tlie "Pha?nix,"an enterprising journal, is under the management of Col. C. A. Green. Eligibly located on the peninsula which separates the Narranganset and Mount Hope bays, and having one of the finest harbors in the world, few towns can com- pare with Bristol for beaut}- of situation and natural at- tractions. These attractions, with its healtliful climate, pure water and facilities for communication, are making Bristol more and more the resort of multitudes seeking to escape from the crowded city to the more congenial atmosphere of the country and the quiet simplicity of rural life. RHODE ISLAND. KENT cou:n^ty. BY JOS. W. CONGDON, ESQ. Kent CocNrr consists of the four towns of Warwick, East Greenwich, Coventry and West Greenwich. It was originally a part of Pro^'iclence County, and was set off from that county, and East Greenwich made the county town June 15, 1750. The eastern portion of the eountj', bordering on Nar- raganset and Coweset baj-s, and east of the Stonington Railroad, is comparatively level. The soil along the Pawtuxet River and near the shore is often very good. Along the coast are the well-known shore resorts of Rock}' Point, Oakland Beach and The Buttonwoods, with some others of less importance. These places, particu- larly Rock}' Point, are annuall}' visited b}' man}' thou- sands from all parts of New England during the excur- sion season, and many boarding-houses and hotels are filled with more permanent visitors. Various portions of these pleasant and beautiful shores are occupied by gen- tlemen as summer residences. Between this belt along the shore and the Stonington Railroad is a very level and mostly sterile tract known as Old Warwick Plains. Along the shore of Coweset Bay, from the village of Apponaug, — which lies at the extreme head of the bay, — to the village of Greenwich, a ridge of moderate ele- vation extends near the shore and parallel with it, which affords many pleasant situations for country residences, and is princi[)ally occupied by gentlemen's country- seats. The rest of the town is mostly of a very uneven surface and poor soil. This part of the town, however, is the seat of its principal industries. It is very largely occu- pied for manufacturing purposes, — principally for manu- facturing, bleaching and printing cotton goods, — and maintains a very large, industrious and thriving popula- tion. The peninsula of Potowomut is nearly level, and of a poor and exhausted soil, where it has not been preserved or restored by high cultivation. It is now principally occupied for summer residences by diflferent members of the Ives and Goddard families. The population of Kent County is 20,348, divided among the several towns as follows: Warwick, 11,614; East Greenwich, 3,120; Coventry, 4,580; and West Greenwich, 1,034. Towns. Warwick, originally known by its Indian name of Shawomet, was one of the four towns which constituted the Colony under the first charter of 1643, granted by the Earl of Warwick as governor-in-chief of the Planta- tions, and his associated commissioners appointed by the Long Parliament. The first settlers of Warwick were the noted Samuel Gorton and his followers. The exact time when they first established themselves in the place is unknown, but was probably about 1638. The deed of their first pur- chase of land bears date Jan. 12, 1642. The circumstances attending the first settlement of Warwick were such as to render it worth while to relate them somewhat in detail. Samuel Gorton, named above, was a man of very peculiar religious and political views, and of a somewhat impracticable and turbulent temper. A native of England, he emigrated to New England in 1636, and landed at Boston. Here he immediately began to propagate his peculiar views, which were decidedly antagonistic to those recognized as orthodox by the existing authorities of the Colony, and he soon gained some adherents. These proceedings, however, soon brouglit him into conflict with the civil and ecclesi- astical autliorities, by whom he was at different times fined and threatened with imprisonment, and was finally banished. He retired with his followers to Pl}mouth. Here, also, he soon got into diflBculties of the same nature, and removed again to Aquidneck on the island of Rhode Island, then in possession of William Coddington and his associates, where he was kindly received. Ilis old fortune, however, followed him here, and he soon found it advisable to withdraw to Providence, at that time the general asylum of all in the neighboring Colonies whose opinions did not harmonize with the established churches of their respective Colonies. In Providence he created so much trouble and disturbance that some of the settlers applied to Massachusetts and were willing to submit themselves to her jurisdiction for the sake of getting rid of him. Under these circumstances he retired with his followers to the tract then known as Shawomet, but now as Old Warwick and Warwick Neck, where HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. thej' made the purchase of land as alreadj- stated. They did not, like the neighboring towns, form them- selves into a ci^il communitj-, conceiving that they had no right to take such steps without authority from the parent State of England, and considering all the governments set up voluntarily in this and the neighboring Colonies as wholly illegal and void. They contented themselves with a simple voluntarj- asso- ciation for the regulation of their common interests. This circumstance, added to the obloquj- with which they were regarded, furnished a pretext for other settlers in that vicinity to acknowledge the jurisdiction and invoke the interposition of Massachusetts. That Colonj- imme- diately notified the inhabitants of Shawomet to appear before the General Court and submit themselves to her jurisdiction. No attention having been piid to this summons, in the autumn of 1643, the government of Massachusetts sent soldiers to arrest the inhabitants and bring them before the authorities of that Colonj' by force. The inhabitants having sent their wives and children to places of safet}' in the neighboring planta- tions assembled at a house and awaited the attack. After being besieged in this house for several days, for- tunately without loss of life, they yielded to superior numbers, were convejcd as prisoners to Boston and lodged in jail. In October they were tried on mingled" charges of heresy and sedition, were all found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment. Gorton himself came verj- near being condemned to death. In the following spring, however, they were all released and banished from Mas- sachusetts and Rhode Island under pain of death. They returned to Shawomet to find their families scattered and their settlement broken up. They retired to Aquidneck and remained there until the arrival of the charter of 1643, in 1644. This charter, by recognizing the three towns of Providence, Newport and Portsmouth, and bj' including the disputed territory of Shawomet within their jurisdiction, enabled them to return home in 1644. In 1646 the Earl of Warwick and his associated commis- sioners ordered the Colony of Massachusetts not to dis- turb their occupation until the question of jurisdiction should be finally decided. From this time their posses- sion was for the most part undisturbed, and in 1C47 thej- organized as a separate town or plantation, and were recognized as such by the rest of the Colon3-. Gorton commenced proceedings before the Privy Council to re- cover damages from his persecutors, but no result fol- lowed. He and his followers henceforward enjoyed their peculiar views in peace. Gorton's account of these transactions, entitled " Simplicity's Defence against Seven-Headed Policy," has been republished in our own daj- as an historical relic and antiquarian curiosity, and as such maj- be found among the other antiquarian volumes in our public libraries. His opinions, when left to stand or fall on their own merits, without the stimulus of per- secution, gradually died out, and his sect, as such, has long been utterly- extinct. j In 1655 the town of Warwick contained 37 freemen ; that is, freeholders, admitted to be voters. Among these j were many representing families whose lineal descend- ants — if we may judge by their names — are still found among the natives of the town or of its immediate vicinity. For some years there was little noteworthy- in the historj- of Warwick. An Indian sachem named Pomham had refused to acknowledge the authority of the deed of Mian- tonomo, and had continued to occupj- Warwick Neck not- withstanding the sale to Gorton and his followers, and '. had been supported bj' Massachusetts in his refusal to remove and deliver possession of that portion of the tract conveyed by the deed. In 1665, however, the king's commissioners required Pomham to remove before the next spring, on Warwick's paying him the sum of twenty pounds. This order having been carried into effect, the inhabitants of the town were relieved from the vexa- tions naturally arising from an Indian settlement in their midst. Though sharing, in common with all the settlements on the main land, the fears, vexations and losses natu- rally resulting from the Indian war of 1676, or King Pliilip's war, in consequence of which most of the inhab- itants at one time took refuge on the island of Rhode Island, Warwick escaped without any special injury, thus faring much better than Providence, which was burned in that year by the Indians. After the close of the Indian war, the histor}' of the Colony for a long time is principally occupied with the conflicting claims of Connecticut, Plymouth and Rhode Island to the Narraganset country, the northern bounds of which were somewhat uncertain, and were sometimes claimed to include Warwick and sometimes not. This controversy, invohing the whole of the territory which is now Washington Count}', naturally belongs to the history of that county, and will consequently be referred to here no farther than it especially affects the different towns of the county of Kent. After the charter of 1663, the jurisdiction of Rhode Island over the town of Warwick, though contested, was never seriously threatened. Even in 1683, when the royal commissioners reported in favor of the claim of Connecticut to the Narraganset country, they recog- nized the rights of the Warwick settlers, and the juris- RHODE ISLAND. diction of Rhode Island, and it does not appear that there was ever afterward an3- serious controversy on the subject. Though principally agricultural, yet, in common with a large portion of the inhabitants of the Colonj', the population of Warwick also became largely interested in commerce. This commerce, whether between different towns of the Colony, or with other Colonies, was neces- sarily carried on by water. In addition to a very large trade with the mother countr3% a more or less illegal commerce with the "West Indies was, at one time, extensively carried on. The citizens of Warwick naturall3- S3mpathized ar- dently with the Colonial cause. One of the most famous and decisive acts which marked the prelude to the Revo- lutionary drama, the burning of the "Gaspee" took place on the shores of this town. This vessel had become exceedingly obnoxious by the indiscreet zeal with which its commander, Lieut. Dudingston, strove to enforce the revenue laws of the mother countrj', causing him to commit many acts of unnecessarj-, and some of illegal rigor. He had seized some rum, the property of Jacob Greene & Co. of Warwick, and sent it to Boston for condemnation, instead of libelling it at the vice-admi- ralty court of the Colony at Newport. This was directly contrary to the law. He had also long been in the habit of stopping and examining every vessel or boat, without reference to size or character, — a course which, at a time when commercial intercourse between the different parts of the Colony was very largely- carried on by small craft upon the waters of Narraganset Ba3', created much annoyance and irritation. Still, it cannot be de- nied that the greatest grievance, in the minds of the people, was the strict enforcement of the revenue laws against the almost universal illicit trading of the colo- nists. In pursuance of the plan of absolutely appropri- ating all the trade of the Colonies to Great Britain, a series of exceedingly stringent and absurd acts had been passed, which, if strictly enforced, would have annihi- lated the trade of the Colonies. It was impossible to really enforce these acts. The whole seaboard popula- tion of the Colonies was united in a tacit conspiracj^ to ignore and defeat them. Immediately after the peace of 1763, a great effort was made to enforce them. Rhode Island, with its large inland waters, was a principal seat of this illicit trade, and owed to it much of its prosper- ity. Hence the presence of the " Gaspee," and the duty assigned her, were exceedingly obnoxious to the whole population, and a favorable chance to got rid of her was eagerly sought. At last it came. On the 9th of June, 1772, in pursuing a schooner of lighter draught, she grounded on Namquit Point, now Gaspee Point, about a mile south of the mouth of the Pawtuxet River. Here, about midnight, she was boarded by a large companj- of men, principally from Providence, under the leadership of John Brown, a well-known merchant of Providence, and captured before resistance could be made. Her captors shot and severely wounded the commander, car- ried off what they pleased, removed the officers and crew, and set fire to the vessel, which was wholly con- sumed. There is little doubt that Jacob Greene, one of the owners of the rum above referred to, was one of the party. The lieutenant and his crew were taken ashore at Pawtuxet, where the lieutenant stayed till he suffl- cientl}- recovered to return to dut}'. This affair made a tremendous stir, both in the Colonies and in Great Britain. AVhile the storm was gathering, and preparations were making for armed resistance, Wai-wick was not behind any of her sister towns, and contribut'ed her full share of men and means for the conflict. Among the natives of Warwick who were conspicuous during the war, the name of Nathaniel Greene stands pre-eminent. Though at the actual outbreak of the war a resident of Coventry, he was born and reared to man- hood in that part of Warwick known as Potoworaut, where a branch of his family still possesses the old home- stead which belonged to his father. Gen. Greene, the hero of the Southern campaigns, and, in the judgment of almost all, second to Washington alone in abilities and character, commenced his military career in 1774 as a private in the Kentish Guards, an independent military companj', then newly organized in the neighboring town of East Greenwich. Promoted to be brigadier- general of the "army of observation" raised by the Colony in 1775, soon after the war began he was trans- ferred to the Continental service. From that time his historj' forms no small part of the great conflict itself, and is inseparably associated with its glorj* and success. Warwick is also honorably associated with the Revo- lutionary war in the person of another eminent citizen. In 1779, William Greene of Warwick was chosen gov- ernor, and continued to hold that office during the re- mainder of the war. During that period tlie office of governor of Rhode Island was no mere empty honor. The duties connected with it were exceedingly various, laborious and important, and they were honorably and successfully performed by Gov. Greene. Gov. Greene lived on his ancestral estate, a little west of the village of Greenwich, and just on the War- wick side of the boundarj'. His house, which is now the residence of his grandson, Hon. William S. Greene, HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. late lieutenant-governor of Rhode Island, was originally- built in 1694. Though considcrablj- altered from time to time, it still presents substantially the same external appearance as it did when the residence of the Revolu- tionary governor. After the Revolutionary war, came the contest be- tween the friends and opponents of large emissions of paper money. Warwick, like most of the country towns, sympathized with the paper-money party. After tlie Supreme Court of the State rendered the decision whicli struck a mortal blow at the enforced circulation of the bills of credit emitted by the General Assemblj-, War- wick in town meeting passed very strong and even vio- lent resolves in favor of the most stringent measures of enforcement ; but before the year was out the sober second thought of the people prevailed, and all the reso- lutions were rescinded. After the adoption of the Constitution, and the for- mation of the two' great parties- of those days, Warwiclc for the most part adhered to the Federal party. The history of these party struggles is too obscure, and of too little general interest at present, to make even the briefest account of them interesting. We pass over, therefore, the political history of the town from that time to the present with the single remark that, during the existence of tlie Whig part}', Warwick was a stanch Whig town, and since the organization of the Republican party has been almost always strongl}- Re- publican in its politics. During this long period, War- wick has produced many men of local eminence, but few of national reputation. , During tlie greater part of tliis century, manufactures, principally of cotton cloth, have been the dominant in- dustry of the town. The first attempts in manufacturing cotton in this town seem to have been made about 1794, at Centreville. About 1807, operations were com- menced at Natick and Compton ; in 1809, at Lippitt ; in 1810, '11, '12, at Phenix, Pontiac and River Point. Clyde Print Works, Arctic, Hill's Grove and the Orien- tal Print Works at Apponaug were much later, the first two beginning about 1831-34, and the other two not earlier than 18G7. All these villages, after passing, in the case of the earlier ones, through man}' vicissitudes and changes of ownersliip, have become great establish- ments, with extensive buildings, employing, some of them, hundreds of workmen, with annual products amounting to millions. East Greenwich forms the south-eastern portion of the countj'. The ridge, extending southwards from Ap- ponaug, enters this town and follows the shore south- wards for some distance. Along its eastern slope, and on its nearly level summit, lies the large village of Greenwich (2,400 inhabitants), occupying the north- eastern corner of the town, and extending across the line into Warwick. In and near this village are manu- facturing establishments of some magnitude : — the Baj- Mill Company, popularlj- known as the Shore Mill, at the north end of the village, the Union Mill, as it is usuallj- called, near its southern end, and the Greenwich Print AVorks, on Maschachoge Brook, about half a mile south of the village. With the exception of one small mill, the country portion of the town is exclusively agricultural. West of the village, the eastern half of the town con- tains some tracts of excellent soil, but the western half is very hilly, and of a thin and sterile soil. In 1 750 the four towns of East Greenwich, Warwick, Coventry and West Greenwich were formed into the new county of Kent. There was an earnest controversy whether East Greenwich or Warwick should be the county town, but the former prevailed. A military organization, known as the Kentish Guards, and which rendered good service in the Revolution, has maintained its organization in this town down to the [jresent time, and has rendered many services to the State. During the troubled year 1842, they were called into service and were stationed at Pawtucket, under the command of Col. George W. T. Allen. It was while the}' were guarding Pawtucket Bridge, that in repelling the attacks and insults of the crowd, they fired upon the people, and killed the only man who fell in the famous " Dorr war." During the late war they furnished nearly a whole company to the 2d Rhode Island regiment, and rendered other important services. The commerce of this town was once large and flourish- ing, extending to the West and East Indies. During the later colonial period, indeed, and for many years after- wards, this had been its principal industry, but subse- quently it gradually decayed, and is now almost extinct. Nor has any other branch of industry really taken its place. Though three manufacturing establishments of some magnitude exist in the town, they have never been really profitable, and there is no inducement for new enterprises of the kind. The village has become a pleasure residence, especially for those who have retired from business or live on fixed incomes. They find its quiet streets and inexpensive habits congenial to their feelings or suitable to their means. During the first half of the centmy the most distin- guished citizen of East Greenwich was probably Gen. Albert C. Greene, who was a native of the town, born here in 1792, and was a nephew of Gen. Nathaniel Greene. For many years he was the leading man of the Rhode RHODE ISLAND. Island bar, and was attorne}--general of Rhode Island for nearly 20 years. In 1845 he was chosen United States senator, and served one term. He died in Providence in 18G3. We maj- properlj- close this account of East Greenwich bj- a brief notice of its literary institutions. In 1802 the leading citizens of East Greenwicli and vicinit}', by their united efforts obtained the moans of erecting an academy, known as the Kent Academj-. A charter was obtained from the General Assembly, and a stock corporation was formed, the shares of which were distributed among the a term in Congress, became United States minister to Peru, are among the number. After the academy passed into the hands of tlie Con- ference, its position was greatly changed and improved. Having become the property of a large, wealthy and liberal denomination, whose means from time to time have been freely contributed for its benefit, it has for the most part been a large and flourishing school. At the present time, with a healthful and pleasant situation, fine buildings with suitable apparatus, and well-tried and excellent teachers, it deservedly holds a high place among AOADEMT, EAST GREENWICH, R. I. subscribers to the fund. The building was completed, suitably furnished with maps, globes, bell, and other apparatus, and was ready for use in October, 1804. A school was immediately established there, and maintained with some intervals, and with varying success until 1841, when it passed into the hands of the Providence Confer- ence of the Methodist Church. During this period, though the enterprise failed to be pecuniarilj' profitable, and the ownership of the property was repeatedly changed, 3"ct as a school, as a centre and focus of intellectual and moral illumination, it yielded abundant and profitable results. From time to time men of great ability and subsequent eminence were among its instructors. Joseph L. Tillinghast, who, in after 3ears, was a leading lawyer and representative in Con- gress, and Hon. Christopher Robinson, who, after ser\'ing the educational establi'shments of New England. Its present name is the Providence Conference Seminary and Musical Institute. In 18G7 a few gentlemen organized under the laws of the State the East Greenwich Free Librar}' Association, for the purjiose of maintaining a free librar}' in East Greenwich. Within the next four years nearly 2,000 volumes were collected, and a neat and appropriate building erected. While many have generously con- tributed their time and means to the work, Hon. William Greene of Warwick has been b}' far the largest contribu- tor, and maj' fairly be considered its real founder. Coventry is the largest town in the county. Its sur- face varies from level sandy tracts to hilly, and more or less rocky or sterile ones. Only a small portion of the town has a really good soil. In the greater part of it HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. the soil is poor and the population scanty. Manufactur- ing interests are largely predominant in the eastern por- tion of the town. The new town, when first established in 1741, was wholl}' agricultural and very thinly inhab- ited. The most noteworthy circumstance in the early history of the town is that Nathaniel Greene, shortly before the Revolutionary' war, removed to Coventry and resided there until after the war. P*revious to the Rev- olution he represented the town for several years in the General Assembl}-. West Greenwich lies between Coventry on the north and Exeter on the south. Its surface is generally ver}- uneven, some of it is sandy, and most of the rest is hilly and rocky. There are tracts of good soil, but the great- er part is either too sandy, too rocky, or too cold for suc- cessful cultivation. Still the industry of the town is principally agricultural. The lack of water-power and of means of communication, have prevented the estab- lishment of manufactures. Two or three small mills .are found near Nooseneck, the principal village, but they can scarcely be called successful. West Greenwich was separated from East Greenwich in 1741. Its settlement and early history- are accordingly found under the head of that town. Since the organiza- tion of the town, all the surrounding circumstances have been unfavorable to its growth and prosperity. Its com- paratively sterile soil, even in the earlier times, kept a large portion of its inhabitants in povertv, wliile its sit- uation, cut off from all direct intercourse with the world outside, helped materially to prevent general progress in cultivation and refinement. Only once has West Greenwich enjoyed the benefit of direct communication with the great centres of intelli- gence and activity. About 1815 the New London Turn- pike was built, passing diagonall}' through the eastern section of the town. It became the gi-eat stage-route between Boston and New York. The stage-house where the coaches stopped for dinner, was within the town, and was a great establishment for those days. But the steamboats that ran from Providence to New York, and finally the Stonington Railroad, annihilated the stage- lines, the through travel ceased, and the turnpike, which had been once a great thoroughfare, became an ordi- nary county road, which the disgusted stockholders some 3-ears ago turned over to the several towns through which it passes, to be maintained by them as a public highway. Since that time no railroad or telegraph line has invaded the town, and nothing else has taken place to give any impulse of growth or improvement. The con- sequence has been that while all the other towns of the county have been increasing in population, wealth and comfort. West Greenwich has not even held her own but has steadily retrograded. NEWPOET COUNTY BY GEORGE E. MASON. Newport County embraces the city of Newport, and the towns of Portsmouth, Middletown, Tiverton, Little Compton, Jamestown and New Shoreham. Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth are on the island of Rhode Island. Tiverton and Little Compton are on the main- land, and make the south-eastern part of the State. Jamestown is on the island of Conanicut, and New Shoreham is on Block Island. There are a number of small islands in the county. Prudence belongs to Ports- mouth ; Coaster's Harbor, containing about 100 acres, makes a part of Newport, and is used by that city as an asylum for its poor ; Gould Island is included within the limits of Jamestown ; and Goat Island, and the almost uninhabited Rose Island, are the property of the United States government. Towns. Newport. — The Antinomian controversy in Massa- chusetts ended in 1638, but the drawing to a close of a war of words did not heal wounds that had been received in the long and violent struggle, nor did it soften the bitter animosities growing out of it. When those who smarted under the decrees of court reviewed the situa- tion, they felt that they could not longer live with men who had condemned them for " erroneous opinions," — that it would be better to go out into the wilderness and found a new home, rather than to remain longer within the jurisdiction of their oppressors. Accordingly they chose John Clarke and William Coddington as leaders, and turned southward, having in view a settlement on Long Island. But when they reached Providence they RHODE ISLAND. ■were advised hj- Roger Williams to settle on the Island of Aquidneck, now Rhode Island ; and to encourage them to take this step, he went with them to the island, to learn its character and to see what inducements it really held out for a permanent settlement. The result of the visit was encouraging. They found the climate genial, the land fertile, the waters navigable and abound- ing with fish. Under the circumstances it did not take the exiles long to decide, and with the aid of Roger Williams and Sir Henry Vane, a bargain was struck with the Indian sachems, Canonicus and Miantonomo, for the purchase of the island. The purchase money haxing been agreed upon, the settlers paid the price, " forty fathoms of white peagc" ; to this was added ten coats and twenty hoes to the resident Indians, and five fathoms of wam- pum to the local sachem. This done, tlic settlers entered into a formal ci\il compact at Provi- dence, which thej- signed on "The 7th day of the first month, 1638." A settlement was com- menced on the north end of the island, March 7, 1G38, at a point known by the Indians as Pocas- set. The following spring, their numbers having in- creased, some of the mem- bers removed to the south- ern and western side of the island, and formed a new set- tlement known as Newport. A town was at once laid out on the site of the present city. Four acres were assigned for each house-lot, and in addition to his lot, Mr. Coddington was granted six acres for an orchard. Jan. 22, 1C40, the population numbered 96 persons. That j-ear the first General Court was held in Newport. William Coddington was elected governor, William Brenton deputy governor, and Nich- olas Easton, John C'oggeshall, William Hutchinson and John Porter, assistants ; Robert Jeffreys of Newport, and William Baulstone of Portsmouth, were chosen treas- urers. Up to this time there was no connection between the settlement at Pocasset, known as Portsmouth, and New- port, but they were now brought under one jurisdiction, OLD CODDINGTON the local afl'airs of each town being left to its own management. In 1644, Roger Williams returned from England with the charter granted to the three Rhode Island Colonies, under the head of "The Incorporation of the Providence Plantations in the Narragansett Bay in New England." The union of the Colonies does not appear to have been a happ3' one, and Coddington having failed to detach Newport from the other towns, sailed for Europe, in January, 1649, without making his purpose known at home, to procure for it a separate charter. la April, 16i31, he succeeded in obtaining a commission to govern the islands of Rhode Island and Conanicut during his life, with a council of six men, to be named by the people and approved by himself. Coddington's course was not agreeable to the freemen, and, at their request, John Clarke and Roger WiOiams went out to England, to pro- cure a repeal of the ob- noxious commission. In October, 1652, an order of coimcil was issued, vacating the commission of Coddington. The war between Hol- land and France, in 1667, led the colonists to fortif3- the seaboard town, and provision was made to supply Newport and some loxsc, ^E"vvFOI^T. ^ ^i "^ ,, of the other towns with ammunition. In August of that year, the first troop of horse, nimibering 21 well-mounted men, reported for duty at Newjiort. This was the first organization of the kind in the Colon}'. During King Philip's war, Newport became the home of many who fled to it for shelter. Two j'cars later, Gov. Benedict Arnold died. He had resided in Newport during a period of 25 years, and here he was buried. For five jears he was president of the Colonj- under the old patent, and was the first governor under the second charter, to which office he was elected seven different times. Arnold will alwajs be remembered in Rhode Island for his stand in favor of religious freedom, as was shown on various occasions, and particularly when called upon to expel the Quakers. Gov. Coddington soon fol- lowed, dying but a few months later, Nov. 1, 1678. He HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. was the first judge or chief mngistrato of the Colony-, and continued to be governor till the union of the sev- eral towns was perfected. He was the first person in Newport to engage in commerce. Within t^o jcars of the death of Coddington, Gov. John Cranston died (March 12, 1G80), the third gov- ernor who had died in office. He had taken an active part in the militarj' organization in the Colony, and was tlie first to hold the office of major-general. His son Samuel held the office of governor longer than any other man elected bj- a popular vote, hanng been returned for 27 years. He was a man of character, and was de- scended through a long line of noble ancestors. He died in 1727. During the closing j'ears of the seventeenth century, the peace of the Colonj' was disturbed b}- pirates, and it was claimed that, as Newport was largely engaged in commerce, it should exert itself to free the sea from freebooters ; but piracy had grown out of privateering, which Newport had found ver^' profitable, and while the people were by no means disposed to encourage pirac}', thej' were unwilling to give up privateering. So, when Lord Bcllamont appointed a commission to secure, if possible, the arrest of some of the associates of Kidd, who were at large, nothing was accomplished. Ha;ing failed in his efforts. Lord BeUamont placed the governors of Rhode Island and Connecticut under bonds. In a letter to the Board of Trade he denounced Gov. Crans- ton for " conniving at pirates, and making Rhode Island their sanctuary." Later, a decided stand was taken against the pirates. July 19, 1723, twenty-six were hung at one time in Newport. In 1710, a town crier was elected for the first time. In the early part of the eighteenth centurj-, the lottery sj'stem exerted a great deal of influence, and it became a settled thing, when a wharf was to be built, a street to be repaired, or a steeple was wanted to a church, to obtain a license for a lottery ; and as Congress in time established lotteries to raise funds, it onlj' strengthened the hands of those who were fond of this species of gambling. Even for the relief of a prisoner in jail, a lottery was granted in 1749. In 1739, the hardy mariners of Newport were again in their element, war having been declared between Spain and Great Britain, and immediately the privateersmon pushed out to sea ; Godfrey Malbone, John Brown and George Wanton taking the lead, by sending out a ship armed from the public stores. Fort George, on Goat Island, was garrisoned, and a battery and troops were sent to Block Island. At this time, a sloop of 115 tons was ordered to be built for the defence of the coast, and five privateers, manned by 400 men, were fitted out b}- the merchants of Newport. Dm-ing these exciting times, when the war feeling was uppermost, George AVhitefield came to Newport, preached in the meeting-houses and in the open air, and made many converts. But when it was known that France was likely to become the allj- of Spain, greater attention was paid to militarj' matters than to religion. Fort George was enlarged, a powder magazine was built, stores were provided, and additional companies were raised in New- port, and when the attack was made on Louisburg, Newport troops and sailors were actively- engaged in the enterj>rise. In the movement against Crown Point they also took an active part. The vigor with which the home government pressed the Acts of Trade and Navigation was met with much opposition in Newport. To crush out this spirit still more decided measures were adopted, and Lord Coville stationed H. B. M. ship " Squirrel" in Newport harbor, "for the encouragement of trade b}' the prevention of [ smuggling." The Sugar Act, about to ex]5ire bj' limita- tion, was to bo revised and more finnlj' estalilished, and it was known that a scheme for taxing the Colonies was under consideration. This so exasperated the people 1 that when Lieut. Hill, of the schooner " St. John," gave some offence to the inhabitants of Newport, his A-cssel was fired upon from Fort George. It was the beginning of long years of strife ; the next act of opposition to the crown, of an}' moment, being the burning of the schooner " Gaspee," June 10, 1772. The houses of the stamp-masters were plundered by rioters, and the ofli- cers themselves barely escaped the wrath of the mob. The excitement was intense, and a plan was on foot to take possession of Fort George, then to cut out a sloop that had been seized bj' the sloop-of-war " Cygnet," and, if the latter resisted, to sink her witli the guns from the fort. But the autlioritics succeeded in controlling tlic people, who, while they ceased for a time from open violence, refused to buy a stamp. A year later, the Stamp Act was repealed, but the people of Newport never forgot what the}' had been subjected to. Thcv resisted the revenue officers, and when Capt. Reid, of the armed sloop " Libert}-," exceeded the bounds of his commission, they boarded his vessel, scuttled her, and then burned his boats. The first meeting in Rhode Island in opposition to the introduction of tea by the East India Company was held in Newport, and this town was the first in the Colony to adopt the advice of Congress for the preservation of sheep, but the people were sorely let and hindered when the "Rose" frigate and other armed vessels were sta- RHODE ISLAND. tioned off the port ; for while the}' were there ostensiblj- to keep the peace, thej' were a continual annoj-ance to the commerce of the Colon}-. The war opened, and Newport, in its exposed situa- tion, suffered terribl}-. Its trade was gone ; many of its leading families were driven into exile ; its public build- ings were converted into hospitals and stables, and many of its dwellings were razed for firewood. For three j-ears it was in the hands oif the enemy, and when at last they evacuated the town, it was a wreck.* An event of some importance, while the island was in the possession of the British, was the capture of Gen. Prescott, the commanding officer of the British forces, bj' a band of men mider Col. Barton. He was at the time quartered at a house on the west road, about five miles from Newjjort. When taken from his bed, he was hurried to the water, where a boat was in waiting, and ere morning he was landed at Warwick Neck, on the opposite side of the baj'. Another event of great moment was the battle of Rhode Island, which Lafaj'ette said was the best-fought battle of the war. Count d'Estaing had arrived off Newport, with twelve ships of the line and four frigates, on the 29th of July, and while the British garrison with- drew to Newport, their ships sought refuge in the har- bor. A number of these vessels were destro3'ed to pre- vent their falling into the hands of the French. The British retired within their lines at Newport, preparations were made for the expected battle, and the opposing squadrons mancBu%Ted for the weather-gage ; but before they came into action, a terrific storm scattered and dis- abled the ships to such an extent that they were no longer in a condition to meet each other. This was a serious loss to the Americans, who had depended upon the French ships for assistance. Lacking this aid, the remaining one-half of the reserves were called out to take the place of tlic French troops. The Rhode Island troops, under Gen. Sullivan, numbered 1,600, and the whole number of Americans engaged was about 5,000. Of these onlj' 1,500 had seen service. They were all encamped on Butts' Hill, in Portsmouth, about five miles from Newport. Early on the morning of Aug. 29, the British troops marched out in two columns, and the battle that fol- lowed raged for more than seven hours. Three separate charges were made by the enemy, but each charge was repelled with severe loss, — so severe that nearly one- • J. P. Brissot de 'Warvaie said of Newport, when he visited it in 1788 : " The reign of solitude is only interrupted by groups of idle men, standing with folded arms at the comers of the street ; houses falling to ruin; miserable shops, which present nothing but a few coarse fourth of the twent3--second regiment of Hessians were left upon the field, and sixty Hessian bodies were found piled in one spot. At the commencement of the battle a number of Brit- ish ships rendered assistance to the forces of the enemy, by throwing shot into the American camp ; but a return fire from a few pieces compelled the ships to retire. The British finally retreated, and had it not been that the American armj- had gone without rest and food for 36 hours. Gen. Sullivan would have followed up the retreat and have attacked them in their works. The American loss was 211 ; that of the enemy 1,023. The following day it was ascertained that D'Estaing could not return, and that the British were to be reinforced. Under these circumstances it was deemed prudent to retire, and all the American forces on the island were withdrawn. The British forces retired from the island Oct. 25, 1779. Before leaving they burnt the lighthouse at Beaver Tail, levelled the north battery, and broke up their barracks. At sunset the fleet sailed, having on board with the troops 46 loyalists and their families, and carrying off the records of the town. The vessel having these valu- able papers on board was sunk at Hurl Gate. Three 3'ears later the papers were rdcovered, but in such a damaged condition that it has been impossible to deci- pher many of them. In 1780 the labor of raising the British ftigates sunk in the harbor commenced, and in July Admiral de Ternay, with a fleet of 44 sail, and 6,000 troops, under ' Count de Rochambeau, arrived. Admiral de Ternay ! died suddenly, December 15, and was buried with great pomp in Trinity churchyard, March 6, 1781. Wash- j ington arrived at Newport to arrange with Rochambeau for an active campaign, and was received with honors. The town was illuminated, and the French officers gave a ball in honor of the illustrious chief. The campaign was successful, and peace soon followed. When it was known in Newport, Apr. 25, 1783, that there was a cessation of hostilities, there were great rejoicings ; in the midst of which the efllgy of Benedict Arnold was hung, and then burned. In November Gen. Greene returned to his family in Newport, and was received by the town with an address of welcome. Every effort was now made by the people of Newport to recover their former standing, and to revive trade and commerce. In May, 1784, the legislature incorporated the city of Newport, and George Hazard was chosen stuffs, or baskets of apples and other articles of little value; grass growing in the public square, in front of the court of justice ; rags stuffed into the windows, or hanging upon hideous women and lean, unquiet children." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. maj'or. In 1787 the charter, through some political in- fluence, was withdrawn, and the people returned to a town form of government, to which thcj' adhered till 1853, when the cit}- was again incorporated. Aug. 16, 1790, Washington visited Newioort, and had a formal reception, followed b^' a pi.blic dinner. New- port has repeatedly had opportunities to welcome the presidents of the United States. The stone bridge, connecting the island with the main land, was commenced during the closing 3ears of the last century'. It was formerly' owned bv a corporation. It is now used only for local travel. Newport was earl^' engaged in the whale fishcrv, and her seamen were the first to cany the business as far as the Falkland Islands. All fishing for whales in those da3-s was done in boats. The first regularl}' equipped whaleman from Rhode Island arrived at Newport in 1 733, having on board 114 barrels of oil and 200 pounds of bone. The manufacture of spermaceti oil and candles, intro- duced into Newport from Portugal, b^- Jacob Rod Rivera, contributed greatly to the prosperitj- of the town. No less than 17 manufactories were in operation at the same time, and, up to the Revolution, Newport enjoyed almost a monopolj' of the trade. The commerce of the place was very extensive, and a direct trade was carried on with the West Indies. In 17G9 there were ten distilleries in Newport, engaged in making ram. Nearly all the merchants were ruined bj- the war, and those who had saved anj-thing were not disposed, on the return of peace, to come back and resume their business ; nor was it till some years after the adoption of the Con- stitution, that the trade and commerce of the place began to revive. From 1795 to 1800 the trade of New- port was in a most promising condition. The frigate "General Greene," built at Warren, was rigged and fitted for sea in Newport harbor. In this vessel Midshipman Oliver Hazard Pcrrj' first went to sea, and made two voyages to the West Indies, under his father, Capt. Christopher Raj-mond Perry. On each return V03-age this ship brought the jcllow fever to New- port. The slave trade was carried on from this port, in com- mon with man}' otlier New England seaports, prior to the Revolution. Newport, as " the metropolitan town of the Colony," received a grant, for seven years, of funds derived from the importation of slaves, for the purpose of paving some of its principal streets. The trade in negroes was deemed proper and legitimate, and it was continued till the war brought it to a close. In 1813 Capt. Oliver H. PeiTj-, who had been in com- mand of certain gunboats, left Newport with a number of men, to take command of the American squadron on Lake Erie. His subsequent victory is well known. The news of peace reached Newport Feb. 14, 1815, and was received with every demonstration of joj". The people had suflTcred much through the interruption of trade, and the closing of all their commercial relations. It was long before the place recovered from this second shock. From 1808 to 1832 hardl}' a new building was erected, if we except the asjlum for the poor, on Coast- er's Harbor Island. Of shipping there was none ; mer- chants had gone elsewhere and located, and the pros- pects for the future were anything but encouraging. But the will of the people surmounted these obstacles, and ere long Newport had quite a respectable whaling- fleet afloat. A disastrous gale swept over the town Sept. 23, 1815. The tide rose tliree and a half feet higher tlian had ever been known before ; two dwellings and nine stores and workshops were swept awaj' ; a large three-storj' store, containing hemp, flour, &c., was lifted from its founda- tion and floated into the harbor. In one house on Long Wharf five persons perished. Steeples were partly blown down, and the roofs of churches were greatlj- damaged. Families were driven to the upper rooms of their houses, and women and children were taken from chamber windows. In 1825 the work of building Fort Adams was com- menced at Brenton's Point, which was verj- beneficial to Newport, giving, as it did, employment to a large num- ber of persons. It was not many years before there were several cotton-factories in operation. In 1838 two of these factories turned out 40,000 yards of cloth per week. Three of these, however, have since been burned, and but one has been rebuilt. At the present time there are two mills in operation, the Perry and the Aquidncek, both fine stone structures. The Toqiedo Station is located on Go.at Island. From the earliest histor}' of Newport there has been a fort on that island, which was earl}' known as Fort Island. The fort has had various names : at one time Fort Anne, at another Fort George, and it is now known as Fort Wol- cott. Here classes of young officers are regularly in- structed in the use and management of torpedoes. On the north end of Goat Island there is a break- water, built of granite, 1,200 feet in length, and at the outer end there is a lighthouse. In mid-channel, between Newport and Conanicut, there is a small island belonging to the government, and known as Rose Island. Upon it are the remains of bar- RHODE ISLAND. racks and a small redoubt, long since abandoned. On this island there is a liglithouse, showing a red light. Coaster's Harbor Island, connected with Rhode Island by a stone causewaj-, contains the city asylum for tlie poor. Besides the asylum, there are two funds, — tlie Coggeshall and the Cranston fund, — bequests, the inter- est of which is devoted to the support of persons who are known to be in need}' circumstances. Tlie Home for Friendless and Destitute Children was organized in 18GG. Mr. Christopher Townsend gave through the war of 1812, was active in suppressing the Dorr rebellion, and, quick to respond to the first call for troops in the late war, the blood of its members was freely poured out on the field of Bull Run. The New- port Artillery is the body-guard of the governor of the State. One of the most beautiful burial-places in the city is known as the Jewish Cemeter}-, at the corner of Kaj' and Touro sti-eets. Through the liberality of members of the I Touro family, the place has been put in admirable order. $10,000 to be funded for its support. It has also the income of the Fry Orphan Fund, a bequest to the city of Newport from the late Christopher Fry. The Newport Hospital was opened for the reception of patients in 1873. Newport is well supplied with banks, having eight for discount and three for savings. The National Bank of Rhode Island dates from 1795. The oldest military organization is that of the New- port Artillery, which was chartered in 1711. This com- pany is identified with the history of Newport, and on its roster maj' be found tlie names of manj' of the most prominent citizens. It did duty on the island until the American forces were driven off by the British ; it sen-ed In the Island Cemetery there is a monument erected by the State of Rhode Island, to the memory of Com. Oliver Hazard Perrj*. Com. Periy was buried at Trini- dad, in 1819, and in 1826 his remains wore brought to Newport, in the sloop-of-war " Lexington," and re-in- terred with great honor. Over his remains the State placed the present monument, a granite shaft above a marble die, on which there is an appropriate inscription. In Touro Park there is a bronze statue of Com. M. C. Perry, ver}' beautifully wrought and veiy artistic in de- sign, the gift of his son-in-law, August Belmont, to the cit}' of Newport. And in the vestibule of Trinity Church there is a monument to the Chevalier de Ternay, erected bj- the French government. HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. Pro^nsion was early made here for education. In 1640, the j-car after the settlement was made, the Rev. Robert Lenthall, a clergj-man of the Church of England, was chosen as teaclior. The first schoolmaster appointed by the town council was the Rev. John Callcnder, in June, 174G. lie was the author of the first " centurj- sei-mon," and died in Januar}', 1749. In 1773, Mrs. Mary Brett, wife of Dr. Brett, a German ph3-sician residing in Newport, opened a free school for the instruction of blacks, the funds for its support ha\-ing been furnished by a number of elerg>-men in England. In 1800, the General Assembly authorized the town to raise the sum of $800 " for educating the white chil- dren (boj-s) of the town who are not otherwise provided with the means of education." This was followed in 1827 bj- a similar pro-\-ision for girls. In 1828 there was one free sc' ' "-■''■ '"""' -i-"!"-" and 42 private schools ha-\ ing about 1,100 scholiis The population was 7 "10 At the present time ]Se-\\ port has one high, and 3U schools of a lower giade The Rogers High School, established in 1873, grew out of a bequest of $100 000 from the late Wm S Rogers, a native of New- port. The building is an elegant structure, and the school of the highest ( 1 1',^ The Newport Histoucal 1856. It is gradually ni ilvi documents connected with the hibt.ij of the State, Its collection is deposited in the Redwood Library. The " Old Stone Mill" has been the subject of study among antiquarians for more than a century, and the question as to its origin and object has still to be settled. There are a number of noticeable public buildings in Newport, all tlie work of Peter Harrison, an English architect of note. Among these maj- be mentioned the Redwood Library building, in Roman Doric, the Citj' Hall, and the State House. In the Senate Chamber of the State House there is a full-length portrait of Pres. Washington, by Gilbert Stuart. When Dean Berkeley was in Newport, in 1728, he gathered around him the best minds in tlie place, formed a philosophical society, and made quite a collection of books. This led one of the number, Abraham Redwood, to contribute the sum of £500 sterling for the purchase ~~IUCl>- \\ 1-) Ul_ /I 11 r 1 colkction of pipers and of more books, and out of it grew the Redwood Library. From this time forward the librarj- was successful, and it has gone on increasing its store, until now it embraces 22,700 volumes. Another public libraiy is known as the People's Librarj'. It was founded bj' Mr. Christopher Townsend, who has devoted to it more than $80,000. The hbrarj' now con- tains 18,000 volumes. The first printing-press brought into the Colon}' was set up in Newport in 1729. This was the fourth press brought into the American Colonies, and was owned by James Franldin. That j-ear Frankhn printed an edition of Robert Barclay's " Apologj' for the True Christian Divinity, as the same is held forth and Preached bj' the People called in scorn Quakers." In 1730 he printed the Charter granted by King Charles II., and Sept. 23, 1732, he issued the first number of a small sheet called the " Rhode Island Gazette." In 1758, James Franklin, son of James, began the publication of the " New- port Mcrcurj'," a paper -which has been brought down to the present day. Solomon Southwick was one of the most energetic of the earlj' New England printers. He bought the " Newport Mercury," and as early as Dec. 18, 17G9, ad for the motto of his , , 1 Li 1 III I b\ 1m Luts — we'll die or be tree ' The puss in !N(\\poit is now represented by the "Mercury," the " Dailj' News," established in 1846, and the " Journal," a weekly. The first artist who came to Newport was John Smi- bert, who landed here with Dean Berkclej-. Samuel King was a portrait-painter in this place for man}' years, and at one time both AUston and Malbone, then quite youthful, studied under him. Gilbert Stuart was born in Narraganset, but when his parents came to Newport to reside he accompanied them, and remained here till he went to Europe. There are several of his pictures in the city. His daughter, Miss Jane Stuart, is an artist, and resides here. Edward Malbone, a native of Newport, was probably the finest miniature painter in America. Among the distinguished men who have been identified ■with the history of Newport, are the following : — William EUer}', a graduate of Harvard, and a signer RHODE ISLAND. of the Declaration of Independence ; Henry Collins, a merchant, and a benefactor not onl}^ to the Eedwood Librarj-, but to the whole town of Newport; William Channing, the attorne3--general of the State from 1777 to 1787, when he was made United States district-attornej- ; Rev. William EUery Channing, his son, widely known as a scholar and a clergyman ; and Rev. Samuel Hopkins, D. D., the pasitor of the first Congregational Church, and one of the earliest advocates of emancipation. The Wanton family have left a long and honorable record. Four of its members be- came governors of the Colon}', and the others took a conspicuous part ^v ',* in public aifairs. John and Wil- liam were personally rewarded 1 > y Queen Anne for their bravery in taking a piratical ship that had been a terror to the colonists. Rev. Ezra Stiles, D. D., was settled over the Second Congre- gational Church prior to 1755. He was a man of great learning and ability, and in 1777 was made president of Yale College. George Hazard, the first mayor of Newport, was a member of the convention which adopted the Federal Constitution. Caleb Gardner was a soldier holding the post of lieutenant in the war against France in 1756. He piloted in the large French fleet under Admiral de Ternay, when it entered Newport harbor. William Vernon was president of the Eastern Navy Board, at ikjmi^ n i Boston, and his energies were directed to the formation of the first American navy. At the close of the war he again entered upon a commercial life at Newport, and died here in 1806. Maj. John Handy read the Declaration of Independence from the steps of the State House, Julj' 20, 1776, and from the same place at the expiration of 50 j'ears. The name of Henry Bull .appeals in the list of the first settlers, and his descendants have always taken a lively interest in the affairs of Rhode Island. The Wards have been conspicuous in the affairs of the State. Christopher and George Champlin were both distin- guished merchants. George Champlin took an active part in politics, and was a presidential elector in 1792, 1796, and 1800. Christopher G. ChampKn, son of Christopher, was a representative in Congress, and also a United States senator. WOliam Hunter, United States senator from 1811 to 1821, was also Minister Plenipotentiar}' to Brazil. His son, William, is the present assistant-secretary of State at Washington. William Brenton was president of the Colony from 1660 to 1662, and afterwards governor. He was the largest land-owner on Rhode Island. His son, Jahleel, was the first collector of Boston appointed bj- the king. Among his descendants were Jahleel Bren- ton, admiral of the British Navy, ,iiid Brenton Halliburton, of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. Both were natives of Newport. The founder of Trinity Church was Sir Francis Nicholson, lieuten- ant-governor of New York under Sir Edmund Andros. The Rev. j\Ir. Lockyer, an Episcopal clerg}-- man, was called to Newport about 1098, and began the formation of a church. In 1702 a small place J of -svorship was erected, and in 1701 aid was obtained from the " Society for Propagating the Gos- pel m Foreign Parts," which soci- ety sent out Rev. James Honjman as missionary. Queen Anne pre- scntcd a bell in 1709. In 1724, Ml Ilonjinan urged the erection ( t I more suitable structure, and It icsulted in the building of the " ^^"' "" piLsent edifice in 1726, which was said at that d.ay to be the most beautiful timber structure in America. In 1762 the edifice was greatly enlarged. The organ, made of English oak, was presented b^' Bishop Berkelej^ who identified himself with this church during his stay in America, and who sent out the organ after his return to England. Rev. j\Ir. Ilon^man died in 1 750. Since the Revolution services have been regularly held in this church. The Society of Friends were early established on this island ; they were here in 1643. The first record of their monthly meetings dates from 16 76. The annual meeting of the society for the New England States, is held in Newport in the month of June. The meeting- house was erected about 1 700. The First Baplist Church dates back to the settlement HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. of the Island. . Its first pastor, Rev. John Clarke, was active in organizing and founding the Colony. The Second Baptist Church was organized in 1C56, and the Central Baptist Society in 1847.* The Unitarian church was organized in 1835, and the society purchased what was formerly Dr. Hopkins's church, on Mill Street, where they now worship. The Congregational church have a substantial stone edifice, erected in 185G. The society dates from 1C95. To its members, Rev. George Whitefield preached in the open air, Aug. 5, 1770, and the table on which he stood is kept in the vest*}- room. The Roman Catholic Church, a fine structure, with a handsome spire, built of brown stone, was erected in 1853. The Jewish Synagogue was built in 1762, and for I many j-ears it was regularl}' opened for service. It was the only place of worship in New England, in which Hebrew was read and chanted weekly. At that time there were more than 70 Jewish families residing in Newport. Although Newport has long been noted for its salu- brious climate, it is less than 50 j-ears since it became a fashionable resort. In colonial times it was frequently the home of invalids from the South, and the "West Indies, who came here to restore their wasted energies. Visitors then boarded in families ; there were a few regu- lar boarding-houses, with one inn, known as Townsend's Coffee House. At length the number of guests became so great that it was thought expedient to build a large summer hotel, and in 1843 the Ocean House was constructed, which was burned in 1845, but rebuilt the following jear. The gi'owth of Newport as a watering-place had now fairlj- begun, and the amount of money that has since been invested in land and cottages is simplj' enormous. In 1845 the line of a railroad between Newport and Fall River was sum-eyed, and a charter obtained. In 18G2 the franchise was conveyed to the Old Colonj- Rail- road Companj-, and the road was at once built. It con- nects with the mainland at Tiverton, by means of a stone bridge, a little to the north of the old stone bridge. The Old Colony line of boats run in connection with the railroad, making dail}- trips between Fall River and New York, stopping at Newport. One of the latest steps in the way of improvement is the introduction of water into the citj-. MiDDLETOWN, originall3- a part of Newport, was set • It occupies what was long the Second Congregational Church, which : one time was presided over by Rev. Ezra Stiles, D. D., who says in his off and incorporated Aug. 24, 1743. From the earliest time the town appears to have been divided into two sec- tions — the west and the east; and the town meetings were formerly held alternately in the east and west school- houses. The whole attention of the population is given to agi'iculture, and the fai-ms are generally excellent. On the eastern slope of Ilonyman's Hill there is a farm known as Whitehall, which was owned and occupied by Bishop Berkeley during his stay on the island. Here he passed his time in writing, making a cleft in a large rock facing the sea, and known as the Hanging Rocks, his stud3-. Here he had his table and chair, with a beauti- ful outlook over the sea in front of him. This property he gave to Yale College. There are two beaches in the township — Sachuest and Smith's. On the west of Sachuest Beach, the well- known Purgatorj' rocks are seen. It was off Smith's Beach that Maj. Silas Talbot captured the blockade "Pigot" galley, Oct. 25, 1778. The population of Mid- dletownis 1,074. Portsmouth. — The towns of Portsmouth and Middle- town, with Newport, occupj' jointly the island of Rhode Island. Portsmouth occupies the northern part, Newport the southern extremity, and Middletown, as its name implies, is between the two. The first settlement in Portsmouth, known as Pocasset, was around the Cove, at the north-east part of the island, and remains of that settlement ma}' stiU be traced there. A little later a new site, known as Newtown, was laid out in six-acre lots, and pro\-ision was made for an inn, a brewer}-, and a grocery. The first meeting for the adoption of the Nar- raganset patent, in which Providence, Newport, Ports- mouth and Warwick took part, was held here. In 1G39 the name of the place was changed to Portsmouth. In 1G40 a ferry was established to the mainland, at a point now occupied by the stone bridge. In 1707 a town charter was granted. The pursuits of the inhabitants i have been chiefly agricultural, and nearly all the arable - laud is now in a high state of culture. Jamestow-x embraces the whole of the island of Conan- ; icut. The southern part is known as Beaver Tail. The whole southern shore of the island is roek-bound and indented with small coves, which are the resort of the best varieties of fish. Around Beaver Tail the rock is chiefly a hard blue slate, the water is bold, and the land gradu.ally rises to the centre, running up into a gentle acclivity, known as Fox Hill. The soil is productive, and much resembles that of Rhode Island. diary, under date of Aug. 20, 1766, that it was the first public building in Rhode Island on which " Dr. Franklin's Electrical Points " were placed. EHODE ISLAND. From Mackerel Cove around to what is known as the Dumplings, the shore presents a wall of rock, dreaded b}- navigators, for there the tide sets strong, and the water is bold, and a vessel striking against these rocks in heavy weather, will go to pieces at the first blow. One of the gullies is known as Concord Gulh', the schooner "Concord" having been wrecked here. The wind had died awaj-, the sea and the tide were running high, and, although deeply loaded, she was driven up into the gully with so much force that her crew were enabled to step upon the rocks on either side, drj' shod. On the south-east point of the island, opposite to Fort Adams, and on the extremity of a little peninsula, which terminates in a high rock, there stands a small redoubt, known as Fort Dumpling, but which properly should be called Fort Brown. It was built during the unsettled times of 1798, and is nearly oval in form. The walls are now decaying, and the barracks within have long since passed away. The sally-port will only admit the body of one man at a time, who, to reach it, must climb up a wall of rock. The general character of the surrounding land is hilly, and made up of rocks, not half covered with soil ; but the view from this point is superb, and a large tract of the land has been bought up, with the expectation of making of it a fashionable seaside resort at no distant day. On the extreme southern end of Beaver Tail there is a light-house. The first structure, of wood, was erected in 1738. It was the first light-house in the Colony. In 1753 it was burned, but rebuilt within a period of two j'ears. This structure was burned by the British, when they left Rhode Island, in 1779. After the war it was rebuilt. In 1856 a new light-house was erected. This was the first light-house ever lighted with gas. The people of Jamestown suffered during the Revolu- tion in common with the inhabitants of the other islands in the bay. Their farms were robbed, and they were frequently' abused by the British officers and troops. John Martin, a man of excellent character, was shot in cold blood b}' Capt. Wallace, of the frigate " Rose." In 1875 the population of Jamestown was 488. At the extreme northern end of the island a summer resort, known as Conanicut Park, has been laid out. Tiverton and Little Compton. — These towns lie between what is known as the East Passage and the boundary line between Massachusetts and Rhode Island. When first settled, this tract of land came under the jurisdiction of Plymouth Colony; but, in 1746, it was annexed to Rhode Island, and the next year Tiverton was incorporated. In 1862 a portion of Tiverton was set off to Fall River. Tiverton has three villages, — Adamsville, Bridgeport and the Four Corners. The population numbers 2,100. The inhabitants are engaged iu agricultural pursuits, and, in the spring, give some attention to fishing. During the Revolution they took an active part in the war. It was from Tiverton that Col. Barton set out on an exploit that terminated in the cap- ture of Gen. Prescott. On Tiverton Heights the American troops, under Gen. Sullivan, were gathered, preparatory to the attack on Rhode Island. On this ridge they again encamped when they retreated from the island, and it was from this elevated point that they first caught sight of the British fleet, under Lord Howe, making for New- port Harbor. Two companies of militia were organized in Tiverton as early as 1746. That year the Congrega- tional church was established. The first settler of Little Compton was Capt. Benjamin Church, the famous Indian fighter. He had barely set- tled in what is now known as Little Compton, when Philip's war broke out ; and leaving his plough, he did battle for his fellows till he had conquered a peace. He also served in the expedition against Canada and Maine. The town was incorporated by Rhode Island in 1747, and was annexed to Newport County. It had pre-iiously been incoii^orated in 1683 bj- Plymouth Colony, and called Little Compton. Its shores are very much exposed, and as early as 1763, the legislature granted a lottery, to improve what is known as Church's Harbor, by building a breakwater. The troops at Little Compton in the Revolution forced the British frigate " Cerberus," lying at Fogland Ferry, to leave her anchorage ; and from Little Compton INIaj. Silas Talbot obtained an additional number of men to aid him in capturing the "Pigot" galley, then at anchor in the East Passage. The Congregational Church in Little Compton was established in 1704. The population of the town is 1,156. Block Island was seen and described by Verrazani in 1524 ; was named by Adrian Block, the Dutch navi- gator, iu 1614; and, in 1636, John Oldham made it a trading-post with the Indians. Manisses was its Indian name. Claudia it was called by Verrazani ; and, in 1672, the town that had grown up there was incorporated as New Shoreham, — a name that it has retained to the present day, but it is better known as Block Island. Oldham was from Massachusetts, and that Colony claimed the island as part of its jurisdiction; but, in 1658, it passed into private hands, and so remained till it was incorporated as New Shoreham by the General Assembly of Rhode Island in 1672. That the island was once wooded there cannot be a HISTOKY OF NEW ENGLAND. doubt, for on manj- parts of it there are extensive peat- beds, on Tvliicli the inhabitants have long relied for fuel ; and in these bogs the trunks of trees are frequently met ■with. Laws -were passed as late as 1741, to prevent the cutting down of trees on anj- man's land without his per- mission ; but of trees now there arc none of any size on the island. Block Island is about 8 miles long and 3 miles wide, 30 miles from Newport, and 18 from the eastern end of Long Island. The surface is undulating, — so undulat- ing that tiiere is hardly a level spot anywhere ; and at Clay Head the bank is 150 or more feet in height. The soil is kindly, and it is kept in good heart by the use of sea-weed, which is thrown up on the shore in great quantities. Sea-moss, known as " Irish moss," one of the products of the sea, is gathered, washed and dried for market, and the collecting of it has become one of the industries of the islanders. The shore in this ex- posed situation makes it difficult for boats to land ; but the islanders have boats adapted to their wants, which are easilj' managed, carry great loads, and are brought in through the surf without difficulty. Until within a few 3-cars there was no other means of communicating with the island. At different times attempts have been made to build a pier that would afford a shelter to incoming boats ; but the piers so built failed to stand the shock of winter storms, till the government took up the work in 1870. Since then it has been carried on, greatly to the benefit of the town, and with the prospect of ultimately securing a good and commodious harbor. On the island there are a number of ponds, the largest covering an area of 1,000 acres. The greatest depth of water in this pond is 12 fathoms. There are two light-houses, two life-saving stations, and on the south-east shore there is a fog-signal. In 1GC2 there were 30 whites and 400 Indians on the island; in 1800, 714 whites and IG Indians; in 1875, 1,147 whites and one Indian. The inhabitants are en- gaged in agricultural pursuits and in fishing. There are 159 farms, two of which have an area of 200 or more acres. The people are chieflj- Baptists, and thej- have two places of worship. Their first minister, Eev. Samuel Nilcs, a graduate of Hansard, was called in 1700, the call coming from the town and not from the church. The introduction of the first wagon used on the island is still remembered bj- persons who arc living. Until within a few years the roads or lanes were but little more than bridle-paths, crooked and narrow, and the people, if they did not walk, rode on horseback. But since it has become a watering-place, carriages and other modern vehicles maj- now be seen. Block Island has its schools, a small public library, several hotels, — all built within a few years for the accommodation of summer ■\'isitors, — and excellent mail arrangements. It is now eas\' of access, is very healthful, and it offers many attractions in the wa3' of fishing and boating. During the Revolution, for several years, all communi- cation with the mainland was closed. Three times the island was in the hands of the French, and when the British fleets were on the coast, the islanders were made to contribute of their substance. This was the place selected for the exchange of seamen, and during the time that the inhabitants could not take part in public affairs, they were permitted to send non-residents to the legisla- ture. About the ship "Palatine" much has been written, and in former j"ears manj* believed a phenomenal hght, occasionally seen off the shore, was that of a burning ship ; a distempered imagination having pictured in it the masts and ropes and sails of an unfortunate vessel which went ashore there soon after the island was settled. That a vessel named the ."Palatine" was wrecked here is well known, and those of the passengers and crew who came on shore were well cared for. Many of them died from exposure or from disease engendered on board ship, and were properly interred. The others, in time, left the island. But the stories of the burning of the ship, or of the putting out of false lights to lure her to destruction, are all works of the imagination. RHODE ISLAND. PEOYIDENCE COUNTY, BY REV. EDWIN MARTIN STONE. Peovidekce, which until 1703 was the only countj^ in Rhode Island, was settled under circumstances that dis- tinguished it from all other North American Colonies. Its first settlers did not enter upon the possession of its soil as an organized bod}-, clothed with the approbation of the parent government in Eng- land. There were none of the characteristics that marked the settlement of Jamestown, Va., in 1607, or St. Mary's, Md., in 1 634 ; nor did the settlement bear a resemblance to the col- onizing of Plymouth, 1620, of Portsmouth and Dover, N H , 1623 ; of Salem, 1628 , of Charlestown, 1629 ; of Boston, 1630 ; of Hartford, 1635 , or ol New Haven, 1638. The founder of Rhode M and, Roger Williams, a >ouy<., clergyman of liberal education came from England in the shiji " L3-on," in company with Go\ John Winthrop and the colons that established its home in Bos ton. He was soon called to, and accepted, the pastorate of the First Church in Salem, as assist luoiu williuis ant to Rev. Samuel Skelton Ho itmoved thence to Plymouth, and became ministei of the chuich there as assistant to the pastor, the Rev. Ralph Smith. Here he remained about two years, when ho returned to Salem to again assist Rev. Mr. Skelton. About a year after, Mr. Skelton died, and Mr. WiUiams, by formal vote, was elected sole pastor. Mr. Williams held peculiar views touching civil and ecclesiastical questions and prerogatives. He believed that the king of England had no riglit to take lands from the Indians in America and give them to his own subjects ; and hence, that a royal charter, without a purchase from the aboriginal owners, gave no just title to the soil. He believed that universal libertj' of conscience ought to be allowed in all religious matters, and that " the doctrine of persecution for cause of conscience," was " contrary to the doctrine of Jesus Christ." He declared that while it was the dut}' of the civil magistrate to restrain and puni.sh crime, he exceeded his proper prerogative when he punished a man for religious her- esy or for apostasy. He main- tained that there should be a separation of the civil from the ecclesiastical power, and no union of church and state, and that " the civil sword " could not be introduced into the kingdom of Christ without confounding heaven and earth, and laj'ing ' ' all upon heaps of confusion." These and other opinions Mr. Williams set forth in Salem and elsewhere with the boldness of a reformer, and with the earnest- ness of one feeling that he spoke under the sanction of divine au- thority. The position assumed by Mr. WiUiams, and his refusal to keep silence on topics that were gaining acceptance among the people, rendered him obnox- l MI M I RJAIDLNCL j^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^j^^jj ^^^^ CCClCSlaSti- cal authoiities Being looked upon as a schismatical dis- turbei of the public quiet, and as having " broached and divulged divers new and dangerous opinions against the authority of magistrates," he was ordered to depart out of the jurisdiction of Massachusetts Baj' within six weeks, " not to return any more without license from the court." Before the expiration of that time, however, it being understood that AVilliams and his adherents "in- tended to erect a plantation about the Narraganset Bay," and that the proximity of such a neighbor would expose the churches to the infection of his Aiews, it was decided by " the governor* and assistants " in January, 1636, to change his banishment from the Colon}^ to transportation • Ilaynes. HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. to England. Of this purpose he was privately and sea- sonably informed by his steadfast friend Gov. Winthrop ; and when Capt. Underhill went in a pinnace to Salem to arrest and carry him on board a vessel lying at anchor in Nantasket Roads for his reception, he found that Wil- liams had three days previously departed for parts un- known. Thus narrowly did he escape an unwelcome vo^'age to England. Accepting the counsel of his friend Winthrop to steer his course to the Narraganset Bay and Indians, where he would be beyond probable molestation, he set out on his wearisome pilgrimage, and after being " sorely tossed for one fourteen weeks, in a bitter winter season, not knowing what bread or bed did mean," he found himself on See- konk Plain, in the domain of the friendly Ousamequin, or Massasoit, sachem of the Wampanoags, whose seat was at Mount Hope, and with whom he formed an acquaintance and gave tokens of kindness while residing at Plymouth. Here, bordering on the Seekonk River, Williams obtained a tract of land from the savage chief, built a house, and with several friends who joined him from Salem, commenced planting. He hoped now for quiet ; but he was doomed to dis- appointment. He had scarcely seeded his ground, and begun to provide for home comforts, when Gov. Winslow informed him that his presence in the Plymouth Colony was giving offence to the Bay, and to avoid making trouble for his Pl3'mouth friends, he abandoned his See- konk home, crossed the river with a few friends,* held a brief interview with Indians assembled at "What Cheer Cove," coasted round India and Fox points, and landed and fixed his abode on the eastern shoi-e and near the confluence of the Moshassuck. And thus, about the middle of June, 1636, was commenced the settlement of " Providence Plantations." It was made with the hearty welcome of the old prince Canonicus, his nephew Miantonomo, and by the tribe over which the former ruled. Though shy of the English generally, Canonicus formed a strong attachment for Williams, and readily furnished him land ; first by gift and afterwards by purchase. When Mr. Williams came to Providence he was about 37 years of age. The 47 years of his subsequent life were marked by severe privations, uncommon perplexi- ties and unceasing efforts for the common weal. As an * These were William Harris, John Smith, Joshua Verin, Thomas Angell and Francis Wickes. They were soon followed by John Throck- morton, William Arnold, Stukely Wescott, John Greene, Thomas Olney, Richard Waterman, Thomas James, Robert Cole, William Car- penter, Francis Weston and Ezekiel Holliman. The exile of Williams from Massachusetts Bay involved him in expounder of the largest liberty " in religious concern- ments," as president of the Colony in its infancy, as the moderator of town meetings, — not always harmonious in spirit, — as commander of the "Train Band" in times of peril, as defender of aboriginal rights against the cupidity of white men, as a theological debater and writer, as a peace-maker among the Indian tribes, as an agent for procuring a Colony charter, and in various other positions, he proved himself a man of thought in advance of the times, and possessed of uimsual executive ability. A man of positive opinions, ardent temperament and free expression, he could not fail, in the course of years, to awaken hostility to some of his views and measures. If he had infirmities common to our human nature, he also possessed eminent virtues. That he was learned, his writings show. His " Key into the Language of Amer- ica," an invaluable contribution to aboriginal philology, was begun and pursued in Indian wigwams. His corre- spondence was extensive. He often wrote letters in behalf of his Indian friends, and by their request. He improved his opportunities for imparting religious in- struction to both whites and Indians. One of his last hterary labors was to write out for publication the heads of discourses he had deUvered to " the scattered English at Narraganset," the manuscript of which he sent to his friend Gov. Bradstreet at Boston ; but it is not known to have been printed. That he was ready to overlook an injury and return good for evil, his prompt inter- vention to prevent a union of the Pequods, Mohegans and Narragansets against the English, whereby they were saved from the bloody consequences of a savage war, and the many important services afterward ren- dered to the government of Massachusetts Bay, conclu- sively prove. He was honest, patriotic and faithful to friends. With opportunity to have been the proprietor (like another Penn) of a Colony, or a patrooa (like another Van Rensselaer), and rolling in untold wealth, he voluntarily shared equally with others the lands con- veyed to him by the Indians and therefore legally' his, and which a purely selfish nature would have kept for its own aggrandizement. Williams died a comparatively poor man, between Jan. 16, 1682-3, and May 10, 1683 (the exact date is not known), in the 84th j-ear of his age, and was buried with military honors on his home-lot, where his remains heavy losses in trade, " being debarred from Boston, the chief mart and port of New England." His removal from his new home in Seekonk occasioned the loss of a much needed harvest and of the grant of land obtained of Massasoit. In a letter to Miij. Mason, Juno 23, 1670, ho says : " God knows that many thousand pounds cannot rep.^y the losses I have sustained." RHODE ISLAND. rested until March 22, 1860, when they were exhumed with those of his wife, and deposited in the tomb of a descendant, in the North Burial-Ground. The years that have intervened since his death have served to soften asperities that once found frequent expression, and secured a wide acceptance of the principles upon which his Commonwealth was founded. The marble statue in the Capitol at Washington, and the bronze statue that adorns the Park bearing his name, in Provi- dence, are appropriate mementos of State and municipal appreciation ; but more enduring than marble and bronze will be the name and fame of one who was the invincible champion of religious freedom ; who, in civil concerns, ever stood for the rights of the people, and who, it was declared by a competent authority, " was the most dis- interested man that ever lived." * To his new home Mr. Williams gave the name of Providence, because in addition to " many other provi- dences of the Most Hol^- and Wise," he had, through the advice of his friends Winthrop and Winslow, been brought to a place of "freedom and vacancy" not claimed by either of the Colonies from which he had successively gone out. The loneliness of this new de- parture was doubtless cheered by the signs of civilized life amidst a barbarian people, which followed the dailj' industry of his mind and hands. His home-lot garden and orchard, at once planted and closelj' cared for, and his fruitful fields at "What Cheer" and at " Saxafax Hill," presaged an abundant supply of the necessaries of which he had long been deprived ; and when he recalled the bitter experiences of the past, and contrasted them with the prospect before him of unmolested freedom for himself and for those who might join themselves to his little companj', he could heartilj^ and devoutlj^ repeat what was written to Maj. Mason in reference to his safe arrival at Seekonk : "Penie?," that is, "I have seen the face of God." t Thus much it has seemed necessary to say as introduc- tory to the history of Providence Countj'. The date of the settlement of Providence has already been given. Aquidneck, or Rhode Island, veas settled in 1638, and Shawomet, or Warwick, in 1642. These Colonies were independent of each other, and felt the need of union for mutual protection. In 1643 Mr. Williams embarked for England to obtain a charter for * Callender's Century Dis., p. 17. t The author in R. I. Hist. Soc. Proceed. I This cliartcr was obtained by Dr. John Clarke, of Newport, assisted by Roger Williams, botli of whom sailed in the same vessel from Boston fur London, in October, 1651. Williams returned to Providence in 1654, leaving, as a supporter of Clarke, Sir Henry Vane, who was deeply in- terested in the affairs of Rhode Island. Clarke returned with the char- Ihe three. In this mission he was successful, and re- turned in 1644 with a charter signed by the Earl of Wai-wick, " Governor-in-Chief and Lord High Admiral of the Colonies." As he approached the Seekonk, he found a fleet of canoes waiting to escort him across the river, and he entered Providence with the strongest demon- strations of welcome. Under this charter the Colonies were united as " The Incorporation of Providence Plan- tations in the Narraganset Bay in New England," and in 1G49, one jail, located in Newport, was used in com- mon by the three Colonies. The second charter, granted bj^ Charles II., that went into operation in 1663, ordained that the Colonies should be " a body corporate and politic, in fact and name, by the name of the Governor and Company of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England in America." | The government of Rhode Island continued under this charter until 1843, when it was abrogated, being then the oldest consti- tutional charter in the world. Until 1703 the Colony constituted one county. In that year it was divided into two ; viz., Providence Plantations, with Providence for the shire town, Rhode Island County having Newport for its shire town. In 1729, King's County, now Washington, was incorporated, and in 1750, Kent County was set off from Providence County. § Providence County contains 15 of the 36 towns in the State ; viz., Burrillville, Cranston, Cumberland, East Providence, Foster, Gloucester, Johnston, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Providence, Scituate, Smithfield and Woonsocket. Six of these towns were taken wholly or in part from the territory of Provi- dence ; viz., Cranston, 1754 ; Gloucester, 1730-31 ; Johns- ton, 1759 ; North Providence, 1765 ; Scituate, 1730-31 ; Smithfield, 1730-31. Providence was incorporated as a city in 1832. Originally it comprised the entire county. Topograpliy. — Providence County is agreeably diversi- fied with hills, dales, and plains, and abundantly watered by considerable rivers and many small streams, which supply power for numerous manufactories. Although some of the hills rise to considerable height, affording from their summits extensive, picturesque prospects, none of them can properly be termed mountains. If the scenery of the county is less rugged than that of ter in 1663, which was received at Newport and exhibited, November 24 of that year, "with much becoming gravity," in the presence of a " very great meeting and assembly of the freemen of the colony of Providence Plantations." Dr. Clarke died April 20, 1676, in the 67th year of his age. He h.id held various offices, and was one year deputy-governor under the Royal charter, associated with Gov. Benedict Aruold. § R. I. Colonial Records, Vols. 3, 4, 6, in he. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. some parts of Vermont and New York, or less bold and awe-iuspiring than that found in New Hampshire, it combines enough of the rougher features of nature with the softer and more soothing aspects of quiet beauty, to impart a delightful charm to excursions in almost any direction. Among the most noted hills in Providence County are Prospect and Fruit hills, in Providence ; Lawton, Apple- house and part of Bald Hill, in Cranston ; Neutaconka- nut, in Johnston ; Mount Misery, Tank, Burnt, Chop- mint, Round, and part of Bald, in Scituatc ; Bonnet, Mount Hj-geia, Howland and Biscuit, in Foster ; V<:\n\ Snake and Abselo- na, in Gloucester; Jenks, in Lincoln ; Beacon Pole, Cop- permine, Cimiber- land. Diamond and Hunters, in Cum- berland ; Pine, in Woonsocket ; Den, Buck and Snake, in Burrillville ; Rock, Wolf and Wionk- nige, in Smithfield ; and Sayles, Woon- socket and Whor- tleberry, in North Smithfield. Pros- pect Hill, in Provi- dence, is a ridge rising in its high- est part more than 1 50 feet above tide- water, and extends from Fox Point at the south end of the city, to the Paw- tucket line, on the north. Within the memory of aged men its summit and eastern slope were sparsely settled, though now covered with fine residences, many of them palatial in appearance. On this hill, the entire length of which is affluent in facts and traditions of the Revo- lutionary period, stand the buildings of Brown Univer- sity, a flourishing institution commenced in Warren, R. I., in 1765, and in 1770 removed to Providence. Near by is the " University Grammar School," established by Pres. Manning in 1764, as the precursor of the Univer- sity, and the Cabinet of the Rhode Island Historical Society, founded in 1822. A little north is the public re- servoir, supplied from the Sockanosset pnmping-station reservoir in Cranston, and furnishing sufficient water for families in the section of the city in which it is located. Field's Hill, an eminence rising from P'ield's Point, on the west side of the harbor, affords a charming marine view, and is crowned with the remains of earthworks thrown up for defence during the wars of the Revolution and of 1812. Smith's Hill, a low elevation on the west side of the Moshassuck River, — its summit an extended plateau, — is a spot where a number of occurrences took place that have passed into history. Here, in 1676, Canouchet refused to be placated by Williams, and laid Providence in ashes, as he had just before done to Re- hoboth and to the home of Stephen Dexter at Lime Koi-k. in Snnthricld. Hero, July 4, 1789, was held a barbecue entertain- ment in commem- oration of Ameri- can Independence. It was originally in- tended to include a recognition of the "adoption of the Federal Constitu- tion by nine of the States"; — but as Rhode Island had notj-et entered into the national com- pact, a strong re- monstrance led to a modification of the arrangements, and the immense assembly content- ed themselves with eating the roasted oxen, the firing of thuteen cannon, and the dnnkuig of thirteen toasts with- out allusion to the nine States. Here, too, in 1830, at the foot of the eastern slope of the hill, a riot was quelled b3' the military, that eventuated in the destruction or in- jury of seventeen houses, and the death of five persons. Neutaconkanut Hill, in Johnston (Williams spells the name Neotaconconitt and Notocunkanit), presents attrac- tions alike strong to the lover of varied scenery, the student of science, and the antiquary. Standing upon an immense granite bowlder which rests on its crest, and which may have been deposited there in the far-back period of ice-drifts, the eye of the beholder is arrested, and his blood quickened by the map of rural quiet and business activities spread out before him. As he turns in every direction, he sees a jiicture of nature studded with gems of enterprise and adornments of social life. RHODE ISLAND. The farm and the farm-house, the forest and the lawn, the valley and the plain, the factory villages with their hum of enterprise, the metropolis of the State, in the near distance, with its churches, its hospitals, schools, its university, and the sparkling waters of the outspreading Narraganset Bay, bearing upon their bosom a generous I commerce, form an inspiring combination not often else- where found. The geologist will study with interest the structure of this hill. The large hornblende bowlder on the south side of the hill, which rests on mica-slate, will awaken speculation as to where it came from. Dr. Charles T. Jackson, who made a geological survey of the State in 1839, saj's : "This rock must have originated elsewhere ; and it now rests in an accidental position, as will be e-vident to any one who examines the situation in which it is placed. Since hornblende rocks do occur at the northward and not to the southward of the place where this block is now found, we feel confident that this immense rock has been removed southwardly from its present ledge and deposited on the rocky strata where we now find it." Should, however, the historian or anti- quarj^ visiting this attractive spot not be inclined to scientific investigation, he will at least note the fact, that C'apt. Arthur Fenner and his brother Capt. Thomas Fcnner, both prominent and influential men in the early days of the Colony, had each an interest in " The great hill of Neotoconkanitt," and that Capt. Arthur bequeathed his interest in the hill-farm to his son Edward and to his granddaughter Mary, daughter of his son John, then de- ceased, while Capt. Thomas bequeathed his interest in the same to his sous Eichard and Joseph. Having made this record, he will not fail to visit the soapstone quarrj' in the vicinity brought to light in 1878, where centuries ago the aborigines opened a workshop for the manufac- ture of their domestic utensils ; and he will be equally sure to hunt out the secret retreat, not far off, to which Canonchet occasionally retired for concealment, not for- getting to look at what remains of the famous "Johnston Elm," or to taste the waters of the mineral spring 100 3-ards west of the soapstone quarry. Woonsocket HiU, in North Providence, rises 340 feet above its immediate base, and is estimated to be 570 feet above the high-water mark in Providence. Beacon Pole Hill, in Cumberland, is 556 feet above the sea-level, and affords an extensive prospect. During the Revo- lution a beacon-light was placed on the summit of this hill, to alarm and call forth, when necessarj-, the minute- men of the surrounding country. Other hills in different parts of the county ha\e, from their structure, attractions for the student of science. Agriculture. — Providence County contains 180,255 acres of land, divided into 2,542 farms, producing all the varieties of cereals and vegetables cultivated in other parts of the State. The soil varies in quality and pro- ductiveness — in some parts of the county it being rockj' and strong, though hard to cultivate, and in other parts light, requiring generous manuring to insure satisfactory crops. Much of the land in the vicinity of Providence is adapted to market gardens, and is thus cultivated. The population of the county, by the census of 1875, was 184,924 ; farmers and farm laborers, 4,899 ; value of farm products, $2,094,845 ; value of orchard products, $203,670 ; value of farms and buildings, $12,466,073. Until about 1790 the industries of the county were divided principally between agriculture and commerce, the latter extending its operations to every accessible port in foreign countries. Prior to 1820 farming had been conducted without much reference to science. Few farmers read books treating of agriculture, or had faith in " book farming," and the majority were contented to pursue the beaten rounds, and continue the methods of their ancestors. Here and there, however, were to be found in every neighborhood intelligent cultivators of the soil who lielieved that agriculture, like the mechanic arts, was susceptible of improvement, and adopted processes that gave better results to their labors. The year 1820 opened a new era to this vital interest of the State in the formation of "The Rhode Island Society for the En- couragement of Domestic Industry." Its first anniver- sary was held on the 18th of October, 1821, on whicli occasion an address was delivered by John Howland of Providence. Since then, and largely through the influence of its annual exhibitions and the printing and circulation of its proceedings, this societj' has been instrumental in raising agriculture in the county to a higher platform, so that in this department of industry it occupies a front rank. The farming interest has suffered in the past by the withdrawal of young men from husbandr}' to engage in mercantile or manufacturing pursuits as readier ways to wealth ; but with the knowledge which chemical science imparts, the introduction of labor-saving implements, and the more economical methods of management, which ex- perience has tested, farm-life, divested as it is of the risks and temptations that attach to other leading employments, will insure a competence which other occupations yield onlj' to the few, and suggests to young men the wisdom of perpetuating the charms and certainties of the home- stead. Manufactures. — From the settlement of Providence until near the close of the last century, every house had its hand and foot wheels for spinning wool, cotton and flax, and in every neighborhood were looms for the man- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. ufacture of domestic cloths. The carding was done by hand. These constituted a part of the household arrange- ments, and were used in many instances to fill up hours not otherwise profitablj' emploj-ed. Ever}- 3-oung woman knew how to spin, how to knit, and usually' how to weave. This knowledge was brought into requisition, not onlj' to meet the needs of the famih", but during the war of the Kevolution to supply the army with clothing. Some firms supplied family spinners with the raw material to be spun, and employed weavers of their own to work up the yarn into cloth. What were the products of labor in the countj', or their values prior to 1790, is unknown; but a report made in that year by the Providence Mechanics' Association, shows that in 23 departments of industry in the town, a very respectable amount of business was done by individuals and small firms. In 1776 Jeremiah Wilkinson commenced the manufac- ture of cut nails in Cumberland, and afterwards of lathe and shingle nails. During the Revolutionary war he made pins and darning-needles from wire drawn by him- self. In 1 788 a slitting-mill for the manufacture of nail- rods was erected near Providence, and in 1790 Oziel Wilkinson built a steel manufactor}- at Pawtucket Falls. In 1790, the establishment of a cotton-mill at Paw- tucket, by Samuel Slater, to be nm by water-power, gave a new impetus to the growing interest in manfac- tures that led on to place Rhode Island in a foremost rank as a manufacturing State, an interest that had in 1875 worked up its productive industrj- in every depart- ment of manufactures to the value of §120,659,875. It is needless to follow out in detail the processes b}- which this immense result was secured. It is sufficient to say, that as this first great step in manufactures was taken in Providence Countj-, its march has been steadilj- onward. By the census of 1875 it appears that the whole number of manufactories of every description in the county was 1,470. Of these 76 were cotton-mills, 40 woollen-mills, and 71 iron establishments. The pro- ductive value of every description of manufactures amounted to 8100,649,477, and the total value for the year of all products in the county, including farms, forests and fisheries, reached the sum of $103,314,989. Since 1875 the number of factories has been increased. The facts here stated, show Providence Count}- to be prac- tically a workshop of vast proportions, and, with an al- most inexhaustible capacit}^ for development, the historj- of the past may be accepted as foreshadowing an in- creasingly prosperous future. Geology. — Providence County is more remarkable for its geological phenomena than any other part of the State, and a careful study of them will richl}- reward the student. While, according to Dr. Jackson, from whose report many of the facts hereafter stated are drawn, the western portions of Rhode Island are ver}- uniform in their geological character, the primary stratified and unstratified rocks generalh" prevailing with great uni- formitj-, the northern portion embraced within the limits of the county, presents difl^erent phenomena, Cumberland, for example, being a very complicated geological district. Pro^-idence is based upon conglomerate rocks, alter- nating with carboniferous clay-slate, or shale. Coal has been found there, the best specimens of which in analj'sis j-ielded carbon, 72 ; ashes, 28. Bowlders of porphj-ritic iron-ore are found scattered around Providence that are \ traced to their native bed in Cumberland. Limestone abounds in Smithfield, and at Lime Eock large quantities of superior lime are annually made. Hornblende, soap- stone or talcose rock, are here also found. At Pawtucket the conglomerate or grauwacke alternating with clay- slate, abounds. At Valley Falls grauwacke rocks are ' seen. At Woonsocket Hill, in North Smithfield, granular quartz, mica and talc are found. Cumberland makes a large show of iron-ore, sienitic granite, serpentine, and other rocks of an unstratified nature, together with coal. The coal has not been utilized, nor to any considerable extent has the iron. Here gold has been eagerlj- sought, but the reward of the' miner has onlj- been copper pyrites. Diamond Hill, in this town, is made attractive to col- lectors of cabinets, by the beautiful specimens found there of agate, chalcedony, and quartz ciystals. Beacon Pole Hill, in the same town, is composed of sienitic granite, a valuable material for building purposes. In Woonsocket the geological catalogue registers granular quartz or fire-stone, micaceous slate, from which whet- stones are manufactured, and talcose slate. Foster presents to the scientific explorer gneiss and bog-iron. South Scituate furnishes porphyritic granite-gneiss and flesh-red colored felspar ; Cranston pays research with hornblende, grauwacke resting on mica-slate and gneiss, and Johnston with hornblende, mica-slate, grauwacke slate and clay-slate. But it is not the purpose here to enlarge upon the geological formations of the county, or to explain at what time, and in what manner, the forces of nature wrought out the contour of the towns within its limits. The aim has simply been to state such facts, and to encourage visits to such localities, as may stimu- late a more general study of the wonders of creation. " These are thy glorious works, Parent of goocl, Almighty ! thiue this universal frame, Thus wondrous fair ; Thyself how wondrous then ! Unspeakable, who sitt'st above these hcaveus, To us invisible, or dimly seen In these thy lowest works ; yet these declare Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine." RHODE ISLAND. Forests. — The forests of the county comprise nearly or quite all the trees native in the woodlands of New- England. Among the most conspicuous are the oak, hickorj-, hard and soft maple, chestnut, ash, poplar, white and black birch, hemlock and pine. These, inter- mingled with varieties of a smaller growth, present to the eye in the autumn, as the foliage ripens, a picture of surpassing beauty. In arboriculture, pursued extensively in this county, tlie elm for lawns, for pasture, and for roadside shades takes the lead; and deservedly so. It combines the majestic with the graceful and picturesque as does no other forest tree. It is a special favorite with landscape artists, and either in its dome, vase, parasol or plume form, usually finds a place in the foreground of the rural scenes they transfer to canvas. Fine specimens of this tree are to be seen in every town in the county. The fame of the "Johnston Elm," already referred to, has become historic. An elm near Prospect Terrace in Providence, and another on the " Perry Place," near Swan Point Cemeterj-, are among the most noted for size and top-spread. Many handsome trees of the same kind are to be seen on land formerly known as the " Moses Brown Farm," in the same city. For lawns and parks the horse-chestnut, maples, honey-locust, lin- den, fir, spruce, larch, tulip-tree, mountain-ash, and weeping-willow are principally selected, with here and there a catalpa, a magnoha, and an ailanthus. Formerly the buttonwood, with its large palmate leaves and " but- ton-balls," was much cultivated for road-side and door- yard shades, but within the last forty years disease has been constantly thinning it out, and only a few sickly specimens are now to be seen. Of flowering and fruit-bearing shrubs the forests and fields of Providence County exhibit the variety usually found elsewhere in the State. The botanical and floral treasures of the county are also numerous and choice. These the Franklin Society of Providence has done much to develop as well as those of the mineral king- dom. The Gale of 1815.— The great gale of 1815, like the dark day of 1780, is an ever-to-be-remembered event in the history of the county. It commenced on the 22d day of September, and continued through the 23d. A south-east wind swept with terrific force over the entire State. In Providence County trees were uprooted, chimneys blown down, buildings unroofed, and devasta- • In a letter to Gov. Wintlirop of Connecticut, dated Providence, July 12, 1654, Williams says that while in England, prosecuting a mis- sion in behalf of the Rhode Island Colony, he gave instruction in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French and Dutch. He also "taught two young tion in other forms ever3-where made visible. In Provi- dence the storm r.aged with unprecedented violence, driv- ing the salt spray 40 miles into the countrj'. The tide rose seven feet five inches higher than ever before known, and submerged a large part of the business portion of the town to the depth of many feet. Bridges and build- ings along the waterside were washed away, vessels were driven from their moorings, the harbor and cove were filled with floating buildings, lumber and merchandise. Between 30 and 40 vessels were forced into the cove, while deh-is from unroofed or falling buildings filled the air. On "Westminster Street the water rose to the cham- ber windows. By the force of the wind and the waves, the ship "Ganges" ran her bowsprit into the second stor}^ of the Washington Building. Another vessel, of about 60 tons burthen, floated across Weybosset Street, and lodged in Pleasant Street, where she was left high and dry when the tide receded. The Second Baptist meeting-house was destroyed from its foundation. Sev- eral persons were injured, and two men, David Butler and Reuben Winslow, lost their lives. The damage done in various parts of the county is unknown. In Providence it was estimated at nearly $1,000,000. In September, 1869, a similar gale occurred, of shorter duration, doing much damage. Fortunately for Provi- dence the severity of the blow prevailed at the time of low tide, which saved the city from a repetition of the great inundation of 1815. As it was, many cellars of warehouses were filled with water, doing extensive dam- age to merchandise stored therein. Education. — In 1663, at a meeting of the proprietors, held in May of that year, 100 acres of upland, and six of meadow, "or low land to the quantity of eight acres in lieu of meadow," were set apart for the maintenance of a school in Providence. In the mean time, children received instruction from their parents, Roger "Williams setting the example,* or in neighborhoods where a suffi- cient number of children could be gathered, were taught in dame schools. As population increased, and towns were incorporated, provision was made for the education of the young, as best could be. A better class of schools was known as " proprietors' schools," which was established by associ- ates, who emploj-ed the teachers, and persons not mem- bers being permitted to avail of them for their children by the payment of a stipulated fee. No successful step, however, was taken in the direction of establishing gentlemen, a Parliament man's sons, as we teach our children English, by words, phrases, and constant talk,"&c. He adds, "I have begun with mine own three boys, who labor besides ; others are coming to HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. schools free to all the children in the State, until 1788, and that originated in Providence County. In that j^ear, John Holland,* a citizen of Providence, and represent- ing the Mechanics' Association in that town, drew up a petition which was presented to the General Assembly, Burrill, Jr., attorney-general of Rhode Island, assisted by Mr. Ilowland ; but while it had warm supporters in members of the General Assembly, from many of the towns in the countj' it met with an opposition that de- layed final action until the winter session of 1800, when MES8ER STREET : requesting that honorable body " to make legal provision for the establishment of free schools, suflieient to edu- cate all the children in the several towns throughout the State." A bill embodying this request was drawn up by James • John Howland was a descendant in the fifth generation from John Howland of the Mayflower Company, that settled at Plj-mouth in IG'JO. He was bom in Newport, R. I., Oct. 31, 1757, came to Providence April 8, 1770, and served an apprenticeship at liair-dressing with Bcnj.i- min Gladding. He served in the army of the Revolution, and was with Washington at Trenton and Princeton. He was a man of supe- rior natural abilities, and exerted an extensive influence in town affairs. ,HT SCHOOL, I'ltOVIUr.XCE. it became a law, and a boon thus secured that is now enjoj-ed by more than 28,000 children in the count}-, and by 40,000 children in the State. The effect of this law upon the schools of the count}', though the General Assembly unwisely abolished it at the He was successively secretary and president of the Mechanics' Associ- ation. He was town auditor 15 years, to\Tn treasurer 14 years, treas- urer of the Provident Savings Institution 21 ycai's, president of tlic Rhode Island Peace Society, president of the Rhode Island llistoriial Society 21 years, member of the School Committee 20 years. In 1S35 he received the honorary degree of A. M. from Brown University. lie died Nov. 5, 1854, aged 97 years. RHODE ISLAXD. end of three years, was highly beneficial. In that short period it impressed the public mind with the value of system in education, and convinced many that for chil- dren to derive the most advantage from school instruction there must be a uniform plan persistently pursued. In 1827, public opinion had so far advanced as to demand that the State should once more assume the responsil:iilit3' of providing by law for the education of all the children in the State. In the winter of that J'ear, the subject was introduced to the attention of the General Assembly by petitions from Johnston, Smithficld, Cumberland and other towns. In ad- vocating the cause of the petitioners, Mr. Jos. L. Tillinghast took a promi- nent part. In the winter session of 1828, a school bill was passed in the House b}- a vote of 57 to 2, and in the Senate, unanimously. The law had some defects, but was helpful in strengthening public sympathy for public free schools. In 1843 Hon. Henrj' Barnard was appointed State agent to visit and examine the public schools in the State, and in every way in his power to aid in giving them greater efficiency. In the following year his agency- assumed the official character of State commissioner, and in this capacity he labored with un- tiring industry and great success until 1849, when he resigned. During the 3-ears of his administration, many new school-houses on improved plans were Ijuilt. In Providence County every town felt the enlightenirfg influence of his presence and counsels. His suc- cessors, Messrs. Potter, Allyn, Bick- nell, Kingsbury, Chapin, and the present incumbent, Stockwell, have further advanced the cause, and the 1 schools in the county are in a better condition than at anj- former period. In those of Providence, the grading, classification, and methods of instruction, are not sur- passed by any schools in the country. Statistics show that there are in the county, 431 districts, 407 graded and ungraded schools, 667 teachers, and an enrollment of more than 28,000 pupils. Ever}' town has a super- intendent. With the importance now attached to public free school education, the energetic labors of State com- missioner and local superintendents, together with the better instruction and the higher qualifications demanded in teachers, it is not too much to believe that education in Providence County, as throughout the State, will in the future keep pace with the constantly' developing needs of the age. Social Life. — In social life the habits of the people were simple. They were unsophisticated, frugal, indus- trious, independent in opinions, and free to utter them. Thej' did not cultivate the art of using language to con- ceal thought, and when they uttered themselves, their words required no explanation. The spacious fireplace, the glowing wood fire, and the abundant supply of nuts and apples provided for evening cheer, to s.\v nothing of the repetition of "thrice-told tales," and of riddles more puzzling than the one put forth at the feast in Timnnth, gave to the home a nightly charm felt alike by parents, children, and the hired man shelling corn in the secluded corner. The appointments of the home were made with an eye to utility, and sel- dom in excess of needs. The furni- ture was substantial. The high post bedstead, with canopy, was for the guest chamber. Bright pewter plates and platters adorned the dresser, while the brass kettle, large iron pot, dish kettle, Dutch oven, gridiron, spider and skillet comprised the necessar}- ' paraphernalia of the housekeeper, j The juvenile members of the house- | hold prcfcn-cd bare feet in the sum- mer to shoes and stockings. Young men had a suit of clothes for dress occasions, made of cloth bought at | the store, which was expected to last j several 3-ears. The every -day suit was spun hy a skilled and careful hand, and woven on the family loom. The tyranny of fashion had not fast-bound common-sense and mod- estj'. Democratic equalitj' dominated. Men were hon- ored more for intelligence and integrity than for wealth without these qualities. Women made their afternoon calls and tea-drinks clad in a homespun ''short gown and petticoat," and a neat white apron, while a cape- bonnet of "sugar-scoop" form sufficed for protection, from the sun. A single silk or satin dress was ex- pected to last a lifetime, and then become the inherit- j ance of a favorite daughter. The father's Sunday gar- ments and his castor hat wore often bequeathed to the | son thej- would best (it, and bj-^ him sometimes trans- mitted by will to one of his male posterity. Early hours j HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. to repose were observed, and early rising practised. Hospitality was a habit not less than a principle. Amuse- ments were primitive. Huskings, quiltings, "apple- parings" and ••spinning-bees" sometimes at the min- ister's house for his beuofit, brought neighborhoods with hearty good-will into close fraternity. Holidays were few. Spring trainings, autumnal musters, the 4th of July and Thanksgiving were days given up to pleasure. The graces were not wholly neglected, and a dancing- master to teach the art of tripping it "on the light fantastic toe " found patrons in every village. Singing- scnools were, however, more common than those devoted to the disciples of Terpsichore, and in rural districts pleasantly diversified the monotony of the winter. Cara- vans of wild animals and circus exhibitions were seldom seen. Many lived and died without ever having seen wild animals native to trop- ical climates. The table was supplied with plain, substan- tial food. The meats were mostly salted pork and beet'. These were put down in bar- rels and deposited in the cel- lar for the year's consump- tion. The poultry-yard, uv the Nimrod of the family. with his forest trophies, or fresh meat at " killing time. " occasionally made a chaugc of diet. Sometimes, when a calf or a sheep was killed, portions that could not be consumed while untainted were loaned to neighbors to be repaid in kind. Fish from the rivers and ponds, and, bj- those living near the ocean waters, clams were obtained for the cuisine. When a " beef creature " was slaughtered in the winter, the fresh- meat season was protracted by burj'ing what was reserved for familj' use in the snow. Hastj' pudding and milk, en- riched with baked pumpkin, was freely eaten. Rye-and- Indian bread, or Indian Johnnj'cakes, baked on a board in front of the lire, made a part of the daily food. " White bread" was kept for special occasions. Short- cake toast, crackers, pies, cake, and preserves graced the table for company. Sage, or some other aromatic herb, was often a substitute for tea from China. Before and diu-ing the Revolutionary war, the patriotic women of the county abjured its use altogether. Roasted rye and peas were more comihon for a beverage than cofl'ee from Mocha, Java, or the West Indies. In rural districts, little use was made of the " fore- room," or parlor, except on the occasion of parties, or OLD Tow.N HOUSE, PROVIDENCE. (Erectcd in 1723.) family gatherings, on Thanksgiving daj-s. Tiie tall clock in the corner marked and struck the hours the year round. For households destitute of such a treasure, marks drawn upon the window-frame having a southern aspect, or a dial on a post in the yard, answered in cloudless days, to tell the hours from sunrise to sunset. The kitchen was also the family dining and sitting room. Sunday evenings were allotted for "courting," and if the parties most interested, who thus met once a week, did not part until the small hours of the morning, no un- pleasant criticism was evoked from the " old folks." The bass and snare drum and fife for martial music, the violin for dancing parties, and the bass-viol and bassoon for church psalmody, were the musical instruments chieflj' in vogue. In many churches no instruments were used. At a later period the flute and clarionet were added to the church orchestra. To the military, brass bands, now in- dispensable, were unknown. Such, in brief, was domes- tic life in Providence County* a century or more ago. In the progress of time, with the increase of population, and the introduction of new ele- ments into society, new wants lave been created, and social customs have largelj- changed. This appears in dress, in equi- page, and in social caste. In- dustry and enterprise have brought wealth, and wealth has had its never-failing at- tendants, luxurj-, and ambition to outshine. Indians. — The Narraganset tribe of Indians was one of the most powerful in New England, and, when Roger Williams selected the banks of the Moshassuck for his future home, could bring 5,000 warriors into the field. The territory occupied extended from Point Judith to the line that separated Massachusetts from Providence Plantations. At an earlier period the dominion of the tribe extended from the Pawcatuck River to the Merri- mack. The peaceful spirit of their great sachem, Canon- icus, influenced the temper and life of his people, and, through their intercourse with traders who visited their coast, their intelligence was enlarged, and they became more inclined to commercial pursuits than to warlike achievements. Yet they were not slow to defend their rights, or to avenge a wrong. They "were skilled in the manufacture of bracelets, stone pipes, and earthen vessels, and were the principal coiners of wampum peage, the established currency of the country, and RHODE ISLAND. which continued to be so long after the European settle- ment." * This currency was of two kinds, white and black ; the former passing six for an English pennj', and the latter three for a penny. The burning of Providence, April 10, 1G76 (N. S.), Winslow marching througli it witli his rijmouth and Baj' arm}- to attack the Swamp Fort in 10 75, and had he not been joined by a number of indiscreet Rhode Island vol- unteers, whom the Indians ma}' have mistakenly sup- posed represented the popular feeling of the town, Provi- CITY IIALL, PKOVIDENCE. is generally- regarded as an illustration of the savage spirit of the Narragansets. It was indeed a severe blow to the prosperity of the town. But the tribe, as a whole, never cherished hatred of its inhabitants, and this deed was prompted by a sudden burst of anger awakened by an act for which they were not responsible. Had not the neutrality of the town been violated by Gen. * Arnold. deuce would probably have been spared. By the defeat of the Narragansets in the "Swamp Fight" of 1G75, their power was broken forever. In the lapse of two centuries, no one lives claiming descent from Canoni- cus, Miantonomo, or Canonchet, nor is there at the pres- ent time a pure-blood native to be found in the State. Public Honors. — From the settlement of the State to the present day, many of the citizens of Providence HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAJSTD. County have been called to fill positions of public trust in State and nation. Two were presidents under the Patent, 25 have been governors, 12 deputy-go veniors, eight lieutenant-governors, one king's attornej-, five State's attorneys, two assistant attorneys, five secretaries of State, 11 State treasurers, three State auditors, seven State commissioners of public schools, 49 speakers of the R. I. House of Representatives, 20 judges of the Su- preme Court, 41 assistant judges, one signer of the Decla- ration, six senators in the Continental Congress IG U S. senators, and 17 representatives in Congress. Centennial. — When the Federal Government gave its sanction to a plan for holding, in the city of Philadel- phia, an International Exposition, on a scale that should worthily- commemorate the close of the first centurj- of the nation's life, the public authorities and citizens gen- erally of the State gave it their hearty concurrence. None entered into co-operative measures with more en- thusiasm than the manufacturers and mechanics of Prov- idence County. The ladies, too, by associate action, rendered important aid to the cause. The contributions of genius and practical skill from this county were numerous, creditable, and attractive. Conspicuous among these were the brilliant display of silver- ware b^' the Gor- ham Manufacturing Company of Providence — the largest establishment of the kind in the world — and the gigan- tic steam-engine from the Corliss works in the same city, which at the opening of the Exposition was set in motion by President Grant and the Emperor of Brazil, turning at once 14 acres of machinery. In all the display of means for the promotion of material wealth, the educational interest — that which develops the human mind, raises man above the range of mere animal life, and is at once the securitj' of the State and the basis of true prosperit}' — was not overlooked. Under the supervision of the State commissioner of public schools, samples of every- daj' school-work, neatl}' arranged, were presented for the inspection of the thousands who thronged the Main Building, where they were deposited. From the inspec- tion of these, and of improved furniture for the school- room accompanying them, a comparatively correct idea could be formed of what the county and the State were doing for public education. A volume embodj'ing a his- tory of the rise and progress of public schools and other educational institutions was prepared by authority of the State, and placed in the same department. As com- pared with other States, the display of the products of varied industries and of educational appliances was in every respect creditable and satisfactory. Without doubt the Exposition gave a new impetus to the material enter- prise, and to the work of popular education, in the State. Conclusion. — In bringing this brief history of Provi- dence County to a close, many details of interest have unavoidably been omitted. It may, perhaps, be suffi- cient to add, that, in the successive wars of the Revolu- tion,* of 1812, and of the late Rebellion, the patriotism of its citizens was undoubted. In men and treasure, the 1 contributions made, first, for securing National indepen- j dence ; second, for settling principles of vital consequence to the nation ; and, third, for preserving the integrity of; the Federal Union, were honorable sacrifices laid upon noble shrines. May enlightened statesmanship at home and abroad, and the peaceful, unifying influence of Chris- tianity, so mould the future of our fair country, and of all [ human governments, as forever to prevent a reproduc tion of war scenes and experiences. ToWTiS. The towns were incorporated as follows : — BuRRiLLViLLE, Oct. 29, 1806. Taken from Gloucester Named after Hon. James Burrill, Jr., a distinguished | lawyer of Providence. Population in 187.5, 5,249. Cranston, June 14, 1754. Taken from Providence. Named after Gov. Samuel Cranston. Portions of the town were reunited to Providence June 10, 1868, and March 28, 1873. Population, 5,688. Cumberland, Jan. 17, 1746-47. Received from Massachusetts at this date. Until then it was known as Attleboro' Gore. Named from Cumberland in England. Population, 5,673. East Providence, March 1, 1862. Was part of See- konk, Mass., and annexed to Rhode Island in 1862. Population, 4,336. Foster, Aug. 24, 1781. Taken from Scituate. Named from Hon. Theodore Foster. Population, 1,543. Gloucester, Feb. 20, 1730-31. Taken from Provi- dence. Population, 2,098. Johnston, March 6, 1759. Taken from Providence. Named from Hon. Augustus Johnston, an attorney-gen- eral of the Colony. Population, 4,999. Lincoln, March 8, 1871. Taken from Smithfield. Named from Pres. Abiaham Lincoln. Population, 11,565. North Providence, June 13, 1765. Taken from Providence. Portions reunited to Providence June 29, 1767, Mar. 28, 1873, and May 1, 1874. Population, 1,303. * Among prominent officers of the Revolutionary navy and army, who were citizens of Providence County, were Admiral Esek Hopkins, Com. Abiaham "Whipple, M.ij. Silas Talbot, Capts. Hoisted Harkcr and John B. Hopkins, Cols. William Barton (the captor of Gen. Prescott), Daniel Hitchcock, Christopher Lippett, Israel Angcll, Jeremiah Olney, Christo- pher C. Olney, Ephraini Bowcn, Jr.,Maj. Simeon Thayer, Capts. David Dexter, Coggeshall Olney and Stephen Olney. Admiral Hopkins and Com. Whipple were the first naval officers on whom their respective titles were conferred. RHODE ISLAND. North Smithfield, March 8, 1871. Taken from Smitlifield. Population, 2,797. Pawtucket, March 1, 1862. Name of Indian origin. Part of the town of Seekonk, Mass., was incorporated as the town of Pawtucket, March 1, 1828. The whole town of Pawtucket, except a small portion Ijing easterly of Seven-Mile Eiver, was annexed to Rhode Island with East Pro^•idence. A considerable portion of the town of North Providence was annexed to Pawtucket, Maj' 1 , 1874. Population, 18,464. Providence. Original town incorporated as a city in 1832. Population, 100,675. SciTUATE, Feb, 12, 1730-31. Taken from Provi- dence. Population, 4,101. Smithfield, Feb. 20, 1730-31. Taken from Provi- dence. Population, 2,875. WooNsocKET, Jan. 31, 1867. Name of Indian origin. Taken from Cumberland. A portion of Smithfield was annexed to Woonsocket, March 8, 1871.* Population, 13,576. WASIII if GTOjS" county, BY ESTHER B. AND REV. JAMES H. CARPENTER. The Niantics, Peqnots and Narragansets each claimed lands in southern Rhode Island, and their battles were fought in the Misquamicut region. Tlie Narraganscts prevailed. Their groat sachems were the wise Canoni- cus, the prudent Ninigret, the warlike Miautonomo and the noble Canonchet. The name of Narragansot, de- rived from a spring in the tribal domain, is now applied only to Washington Countj'. This part of the Colon}' was the third to be settled. Hither came Richard Smith of Gloucestershire, Eng., in 1639. He was soon followed by Roger Williams, who remained until 1651. The " Pettaquamscot Purchase" dates from 1657. The names of the seven purchasers were Hull, Porter, Wilbor, Mumford, WUson, Arnold and Brunton. " Ath- erton's Purchase," opposed by Roger Williams, as made contrary to law, took place in 1659. Gov. Winthrop, Richard Smith and others combined with Maj. Atherton in this attempt to hold Narraganset lands under the rule of Connecticut. The settlers about Smith's block-house were allowed to choose their rulers, and preferred those of Connecticut. Border quan-els were fast changing to border war, when, in 1664, Charles II. ordered four commissioners, of whom Col. Richard NichoUs was chief, to settle the vexed questions of charter rights, pending between the two Colonies. They made Nan-aganset neutral ground, styling it the " King's Province." It comprised the southeiTi half of the present Kent County. Its aftairs were placed in the hands of Rhode Island magistrates. This year the settlers paid their first tax of £20. The town- • Rhode Island State Manual. ship of Westerly, named from its site, was incorporated in 1669. Wisquamicut was the ohl name of this region, settled a few years before, by Newport people. The first Englishmen who saw this spot were those who inarched with Capt. Mason to the fight at the Pequot fort at Mystic. t Some of the early settlers were named Yaughau, Fairchikl, Burdick, Clarke, Maxon and Bab- cock. A road from New London was soon opened, which became a mail-route, but no post-offlce was fixed here until 1775. Large estates were common in this township. One planter owned 2,000 acres. The first bridge in the county spanned the Pawcatuck in 1712. The first house in Westerly was "Abbott's Castle," the dwelling of a pirate. Kidd's treasures are said to have been found on this coast by the Babcocks and Hay- wards. Westerly Village dates from 1800. The first " Sabbatarian church " was built in 1680. The Presb}-- terians held meetings in 1733, and founded the first Sunday school in the country in 1752. A Friends' meet- ing-house was built in 1744. The Indian Baptist Church was formed in 1 750. Kingstown was incorporated in 1674. Among its settlers were the Smiths, Updikes, Phillipses, Codding- tons, Stuarts, Whalej's and Coles. Wickford was named b}- Roger Williams, for the Eng- lish birth-place of Elizabeth Winthrop, a guest of Rich- ard Smith, and wife of the younger governor. " Eliza- beth's Spring " is still pointed out. Tlie Updike mansion, built on the site of Smith's block-house, is the oldest in the county. t Near Westerly Village there are eleven Indian burial-places. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Within the limits of this town occurred the famous " Swamp Fight," so called, or the bloody and decisive battle of Narraganset Fort.* After the death of Philip and of Canonchet the feeble remnant of this tribe took Ninigret for their chief. It was owing to his neutral course that any of his tribe still remains in Rhode Island. In 1709 they came under the rule of the Colony by the terms of a treat}' which is j-et obsen-ed. Two thousand acres of their tribal land were reserved to them, the rest being ceded to the State. Their chief, " King Tom," was educated in England. He built a fine house in Charlestown. The last sachem was George, son of " Queen Esther," who possessed much of the old spirit of her people. Two other women are numbered among Narraganset sachems. In 1686 the power of James II. prevailed over the chartered rights of Rhode Island. The whole Colony was made one count}'. Gov. Joseph Dudley held a court at Smith's, and changed the names of the towns. Westerly became Haversham, and Kingstown was called Rochester, from the birth-place of Richard Smith, its first settler. These titles did not outlast the new rule, which ended in 1689, soon after the fall of Andros. The line between Kingstown and East Greenwich was drawn in 1706. Three years before, the Colony had been divided into two counties. Providence and Rhode Island. Narraganset belonged to the former count}'. Kingstown was formed into two towns, North and South, in 1722. The Rev. Jacob Bailey of Massachu- setts, who passed over Tower Hill in 1754. found its grounds and gardens the finest in rural New England. The estates in South Kingstown were among the largest in the Colony. Robert Hazard owned 12,000 acres, and could count up a household of 70, between parlor and kitchen. There were more slaves here than in any -other part of Rhode Island, Newport excepted; and in 1754 this was the richest country town in the Colony. The Quaker faith was the first to enter this region. Here George Fox preached, and a graveyard marks the site of the meeting-house, built in 1730. A Presb}terian church was formed two years later. Rev. Joseph Torrey, pastor. The Baptists can be traced to 1725. In 1728 the western bounds of the Colony were fixed, and Kings County, now Washington, was incorporated the next year. South Kingstown became a shire town. • King Philip's war terminated in Angast, 1676. The great contest referred to above, and which really decided the fate of the Indians, took place the December previous, in the " Narraganset Country," in the south part of the State, the scat of the great and powerful tribe of Nar- ragansets. Here the Indians, Philip himself and Canonchet being in command, had collected in great numbers and fortified themselves on a rising ground in the centre of a dense swamp. A considerable force The court-house and jail stood at Tower Hill, until after the Revolution, when the county seat was fixed at Kings- town. That part of the King's Province which now forms the southern half of Kent's County, was taken from the new county. From 1733 the sessions of the Legislature were held between Providence and South Kingstown. By order of George II. a census was taken in Rhode Island in 1730. Returns from Kings County gave a population of 5,554. Charlestown, named from Charles II., was incorpo- rated in 1738, being taken from Westerly. Here was the seat of the Niantics, called the Narragansets, since the mixing of the tribes. In 1866 they numbered 133. Not an Indian of pure blood now remains among them. They are ruled by a governor and council of four, and their rights are guarded by the State. Their ancient graveyards are at Cross's Mills and Fort Neck. The great Staunton and Champlain farms lie in this town. The former is four miles long by two broad. The first church in Charlestown was " The Church of England," organized in 1746. The Indian Baptists held meetings in 1750, and a church was soon after built. Rev. Sam- uel Niles was a noted native pastor. The " August meetings" of the tribe for worship are yearly observed. The first missionary in Narraganset was Roger Wil- liams, and his faith has always prevailed here. The Rev. Samuel Niles (not the Indian pastor, but a native of Block Island) preached the Presbyterian doctrines in Kingstown from 1702 to 1710. He was the first Rhode Islander to graduate from Harvard College. To Peter Davis, an English Quaker and missionary at Westerly, is ascribed the saying, " Honesty is the best policy." During the "great awakening" of 1740, which parted church and state, Wbitefield preached in Westerly, Hop- kinton, Exeter and North Kingstown. Jemima Wilkin- son sometimes preached at the house of Dr. Joshua Babcock. Her greatest success in New England was at South Kingstown, where Judge William Potter became her convert. He built her a house in which she lived six years, and when she moved to Genesee, N. Y., he joined her train. His adhesion to the new faith cost him the greater part of his estate. Among the Friends in the county Gurne}'ites prevailed. Joseph John Gurney has preached in South Kingstown and in other parts of this region. Lorenzo Dow has been heard in the " Old Red was sent against them from Massachusetts, Plymouth and Connecti- cut.' After a desperate and sanguinary struggle, in which SO of the English and not less than 500 of the Indians were slain, the latter were utterly defcate'd, many, including women and children, perishing in the flames. 1 Ehode Island was opposed to this exterminating war, and was not even consulted in regard to it by th RHODE ISLAND. School-house" in "Westerly, and the Adventists and Millerites have held their meetings in certain quarters of Narraganset. Exeter, doubtless named from Exeter, Eng., by the Phillips familj', who came from that place, became a township in 1742, being taken from North Kingstown. The first settlers were the Wings, who fixed their home near Deep Pond after Philip's war. The two oldest Bap- tist churches were formed about 1750. Richmond, taken from Charlestown, was made a town- ship in 1747. This town was prompt and earnest in meeting the demands of the "Old French War" in 1756. The records of the First Baptist Church date from 1723. Hopkinton, named for Gov. Stephen Hopkins, was formed into a township in 1757, being taken from West- erly. Hopkinton City dates from 1776. The dread of witchcraft formerly prevailed here, and many houses were thought to be haunted. In 1751, Thomas Carter of Newport, a sea-captain who murdered WiUiam Jackson of Virginia, a dealer in deer-skins, was tried at the county court-house, on Tower Hill. The crime was committed in South Kingstown, the two men being fellow-travellers. Carter was hanged in the "training-lot" below the hill, and his body re- mained chained to the gallows. The last instance of capital punishment that occurred in the countj' was in the case of Joseph Mount, who had taken part in 30 burglaries. In 1791, ha\'ing plundered a shop at Potter Hill, near Westerly, he was tried at Kingstown, and there hanged. Kings Countj' shared the spirit of revolt against Brit- ish rule, caused bj' the issue of the Stamp Act in 1765. Tories* were few, and had but little power to injure the cause of the people. Jonathan J. Hazard, brother of Thomas, was the leading Whig of the count}'. The coun- ty generally was intensely patriotic. When, in 1774, the port of Boston was closed. Westerly sent aid in money and cattle with a letter. This was the result of the largest meeting that had ever been held in the town, and which, without a single voice of dissent, endorsed the resolutions drawn up by Gov. Samuel Ward, who passed most of his life in Westerly. The death of this noble statesman, when a member of the Congress of 1776, was felt as a loss to the whole country. His son, Samuel Ward, bom in Westerly, reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel, was aid-de-camp of Washington, • Among the more prominent Royalists were George Rome, an English business agent, residing in North Kingstown, and Thomas Hazard of South Kingstown. These parties left the county, and their estates were forfeited. Other Tories were Col. Edward Cole, brother of Judge John Cole, the active Whig, and Gilbert Stuart, father of the served in the siege of Boston, marched to Quebec under Arnold, fought at Red Bank in New Jersey, and led a company of freed negroes in the battle of Rhode Island in 1780. This was the first instance in the annals of the country, of the use of colored troops. Benjamin, son of "Parson Park," fought and fell with Warren at Bunker Hill. Dr. Joshua Babcock was one of the State Council of War. The career of his son, "Col. Harry," would form a brilliant chapter in colonial annals. He served with merit through five campaigns in the "Old French War," and when in command at Newport, he drove oflT the "Rose," British man-of-war, bj' his own firing. Some privateers were fitted out from Westerly. In 1779, the 24.gun ship "Mifflin," Capt. George W. Babcock, commander, took a number of prizes. One-fifth of Westerly's men were in the army and militia. The look-out was at Watch Hill, named from its use in the French war of 1754. North Kingstown sent money and cattle to Boston, upon the passage of the Port Bill. Recruits were soon enrolled, and the work of forming companies went on through the war. In South Kingstown the same cannon which had driven the British from Wickford did good service at Point Judith, where in 1776, the frigate "Syren," of 28 guns, struck her flag, and the crew of 166 officers and men were marched to Providence. Some Tories, thought to be in the plot of this attack, were closelj' watched from that time, by the "Commit- tee of Safety." A beacon was lighted on Tower Hill in 1775, by order of the Legislature, and was kept in use through the war. Capt. Raymond Perr}', father of Com- modore O. H. Perrj', was a zealous recruiting officer of this town. Henry ISIarchaut, Esq., who long lived here, was deeply hated bj^ Wallace, the commander of the squadron Ij'ing off Newport, and he threatened to hang the noted Whig at his j-ard-arm. To escape his fierce pursuit. Judge Marchant was forced to travel only by land, when on circuit duty. Being a member of the Con- tinental Congress, he signed the Articles of Confedera- tion while in hearing of the guns of the battle of Brandy- wine. When the war closed with the surrender of Corn- wallis, in 1781, the Legislature decreed that Kings County should, in future, be called after Washington. It is often spoken of, by Providence people, as the "Old South County." A great change came over the count}' with the close of great painter. The former entered the king's service, and the latter joined the members of his party in Nova Scotia early in the war. Rev. Samuel Fayerwcathcr, rector of St. Paul's, North Kingstown, would not cease to use public prayers for the king, and the church was closed to him, being used as the barracks of the coast-guard. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. the Revolution, and the abolition of slavery. The old estates were broken up by the working of the altered laws of inheritance, and the manner of living conformed to the new order of things. In 1780 Kings County num- bered more than 1,000 slaves. There were a few slave- traders ; but one of them, Rowland Robinson of South Kingstown, at the close of his life, sought out, purchased and set free those whom he had brought from Africa. The negi'ocs were, as a rule, well treated, and were at- tached to their masters, though cases of abuse occurred, and the murder of a mistress by one of her slaves took place in South Kingstown. Slaves often received their freedom as a gift. The name of Jeremiah Austin should be presented, in view of the righteous course pursued bj- him before the question of abolition had been raised. Finding himself the owner of a slave, his sole inher- itance, he freed the man, and sought work on a farm. Orson, a slave in Westerly, catching the spirit of the Revolution, bogged the promise of his freedom when he should have reached the age of 100 years, being then, at the end of the war, past 90. It was at once granted him, and he lived to see his hundredth j^ear. Ancient Narraganset was a smaller Virginia. In both places the presence of the same social system, and the merits of the classes who -were formed by it, were the same. Climate was the chief factor of difference, for the people of both Colonies were of pure English de- scent, the most worthy settlers of each being of the same social grade. The sober lives and grave learning of the colonial gentrj' of Massachusetts and Connecti- cut, were not in the spirit of the country squires at Nar- raganset. The latter were lovers of ease and pleasure, and their tastes were fostered by the use of slave-labor. Meanwhile the middle classes, oppressed bj- the presence of slaverj-, were read}' to sink to the level of the poor whites of the South. Proofs of the wretched state of the working people maj' be drawn from such ghmpses as the records of earl}- travel afford. Madam Knight, who passed through Narraganset on horseback, depicts the abject state of the people. Inns were rare, and often squalid, for the planters showed great hospitality. Thus their verj' ■virtues sometimes worked harm to their poor- er neighbors. It was a time of much almsgiving, and little well-paid work. The idle might live on the gifts of the wealthy ; room was made for the worthless in the great kitchens of the open-handed squires ; but it was never harder for the poor man to keep his self-respect, make his waj- in the world, and provide for his children. But the Revolution changed all this, and introduced an era of freedom, of social as well as political emancipa- tion. Yet even then, the rich continued to share the ta^es, and pursue the sports of the English gentry. In the spring they feasted at Hartford, and summer brought beach races. With autumn the corn-husking revels be- gan. From Christmas to Twelfth Day, mirth and pas- time ruled the hours. Wedding feasts were kept with much eclat. Six hundred guests were present at one of the last of these galas. Down to 1800, fox-hunts were still enjoyed at South Kingstown. Game was found in all parts of the country. The gentry wore the rich cos- tume of the time. Each squire, when in the saddle, was always followed by a mounted slave, as he made bis way to council or court, or, perhaps, drew rein at a mansion where the evening was to be passed, in whist-playing or dancing the minuet. The country squires of Narra- ganset were indeed "a fox-hunting, horse-racing, card- playing, feasting generation." A new era of greater well-being began with the rise of manufactures. The first power-looms used with success in America were started by Mr. Rowland Hazard at Peacedale, South Kingstown, in 1814. In 1810 cotton cloth was first made in Westerlj-, and the cotton-mill of the Potters, one of the oldest in the country, was built here two years Later. The varied industries of Westerly ; the thrifty manufactories of Wickford in North Kings- town, in which nearl}- $2,000,000 are invested ; and the thriving manufacturing interests of other towns, attest the industrial strength of Washington County. The war of 1812 brought some alarms, but no attacks to the ex- posed coast-line of Narraganset. The great naval hero of that war. Com. Oliver Hazard Perry, was born in South Kingstown, where the familj' homestead still stands, and he was taught at the Tower Hill school. Every town in the county sent volunteers to the army of the nation, during the war of the Rebellion. Tlie "Westerly Rifles" marched in the first Rhode Island regiment, and twice they entered the sendee, giving to the ranks 280 men. Sixtj'-two of the volunteers from Westerly, Charlestown and Hopkinton died in the service. No soldier of the war was better, braver or truer than Gen. Isaac P. Rodman, whose name remains a sacred bequest to his native town of Kingstown. He entered the army as a captain. His charge at Newbern, leading the fourth Rhode Island, was one of the most gallant oi the da}-. At Antietam he led a division, acting as major- general, and, while forming his troops, fell, shot through the chest. He was removed to a house in the rear, where he lingered in great pain for thirteen days. His family and friends watched over him in his last hours, which were calm and peaceful. Tlie remains lay in state in Pro^n- dence, and were buried near the home of the deceased in Rocky Brook. RHODE ISLAND. The wealth of the count}' reached the sum of $11, 479,- 505 in 1875. The industrial products of southern Rhode Island were seen at their best in the display made at the Centennial Exhibition by the leading manufacturers of tills county. From the Westerly granite-quarries came the noble figure of the Antietam Soldier, destined to serve as a monument on that battle-field. It stood between the Main Building and Art Gallery, and reached the height of 45 feet with the pedestal. Two hundred and forty years have passed since Richard Smith, the pioneer of Narraganset, entered its borders. The county records bear the well-known features of Rhode Island history. Here, as elsewhere in the Colony, soul-liberty has been cherished. Here the sons of the State learned, in our earlier and later daj-s, — in the Revolutionary struggle ; in the darli hours of ci\'il war, — the value of a country ; the meaning of duty and self- sacrifice. Constitutional rule succeeded to the doubts and fears and errors of an infant State. The abolition of slavery strengthened the hands and smoothed the path of honest polity. The free school and an untrammelled press have done their great work. Manufactures have emiched our towns and built up our hamlets, while they have invited the presence of skilled artisans from all parts of the world. The untroubled cuiTent of life still flows on in peace and prosperity. Narraganset may safely rest her fame upon the deeds of her sons, true to her interests, faithful to the dictates of patriotism, eminent and admired abroad, esteemed and respected at home. Neither will she forget to honor the virtues of her many worthy daughters. It is with proud memories of the past, and with bright hopes for the future, that the " Old South County " completes her hundred and fiftieth j'ear. Descriptive. Washington Count}', next to Providence Count}', is the largest in the State, covering an area of 332 square miles. It is divided into seven townships. The population of these townships, as well as that of the county, was, in 1875, as follows : North Kingstown, 3,505 ; South Kings- town, 4,240; Westerly, 5,408; Charlestown, 1,054; Hopkinton, 2,760; Richmond, 1,739; Exeter, 1,355; and Washington County, 20,061. The county comprises all the southern section of the State l}'ing on the main land, south of Kent County. Its entire eastern limits are washed by tlie Atlantic Ocean and Narraganset Bay ; its southern limits by the Atlan- tic, or Block Island Sound, and its western limits are bounded by Connecticut. Between Wiekford and the Annaquatucket River, lies, near the main land, Fox Island ; and, embosomed in the waters of Wiekford Cove, lie the islets Cornelius and Queen's, aUas Rabbit. Wiekford Cove is capacious, and, from its land-locked position, aflTords the best kind of safety to vessels. It is of suflScient depth to admit shipping of several hundred tons. The inlet at Westerly, extending five miles from its ocean mouth, affords an equally secure harborage. This harbor, by United States government appropriations, is undergoing important improvements. Landings, wharves, piers and breakwaters appear along the coast at Hamilton, Saunderstown, South Ferry, now Narra- ganset, Watson's, and at Narraganset Pier. At the lat- ter place breakwater defences and wharves admit of steamboat occupation. The shore, from Plum Beach to Point Judith, is com- posed chiefly of weighty stones or bowlders, or imbedded rock, and promontory granite ledges, afibrding frequent sites for angling. The whole sea and bay coast presents fertile slopes or plains, extending back seven or eight miles, in generally weU-tiUed lands. This belt is rarely equalled in produc- tiveness by other of the main lands in the State. For- ests, near the coast, are confined to only a few score, or a few hundred acres each. These being of infrequent occurrence, by far the largest portion of the soil is left suitable for tillage and grazing. Beyond this sea-belt, forests prevail more extensively. Originally, many of the farms were of great extent, comprising tracts from one to three miles square. The largest land-holders among the early settlers cultivated plantations of over 3,000 acres each. Some owned even larger estates. The entire purchases of Richard Smith, the first settler in the county near Wiekford in 1641, were, by estimation, 30,000 acres. In 1710 John Mumford purchased 8,000 acres. Few of these early-purchased favors now retain their original dimensions. Most of the farms are enclosed, and conveniently lotted with stone walls. These, having gradually increased through past genera- tions, have relieved the soil of much of its stone and rock. Such agricultural machines as the mower, raker and thresher are in general use. Barns for the shelter of cattle, and for appropriating the fertilizing products of the barnyard, have generally superseded the former usage of foddering in open fields. Many of the old grades of stock have given way to the imported breeds, — the A}Tshire, Jersey, Devon, the Shorthorn and the Durham. The fields are well adapted to the sheep- grower, and formerly single farmers kept large flocks, containing, in some instances, as many as 2,000 sheep. Owing to the resort of thousands yearly to Narraganset Pier and Watch Hill, the introduction of herds of horses HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. is made in large numbers, to meet the wants of this class. The saddle has 3ielded to phaeton, bugg}-, barouche and landau. Within the last 50 j-ears the garrets of the finest mansions were often receptacles for the storage of accumulating fleeces of wool. Here were plied the hand- loom, spinning-wheel, hatchel, reel and hand-carding instruments. Here, in remoter daj's, the slave toiled and slept ; and here, sometimes, where the neglected stone chimney- gave free admission to swallow and pigeon, their nightl}' perches were not forbidden. These customs, it need hardly be said, have been eclipsed by the cmliza- tion of the present era, — since steamboat, railroad, tele- graph and mill-machinery have introduced their improve- ments and faciUties for intercourse with all parts of the nation, and with all the nations of the earth. At the extreme north-west section of the count}-, the land reaches its greatest height, and manj' hills aflTord commanding views of the country and ocean. From almost every elevation the landscape is remarkably varied. These views are abundant on long stretches of highway. Perhaps none can claim more interesting features than are found at Watch Hill and the high lands of Charles- town, Matoonuc, Kingstown and Point Judith. Boston Neck heights, on the easterlj' shores of North and South Kingstown, are noted spots of scenic delight ; but no views can claim more of the beauties of both nature and art, than those afforded from the crests of the range of Tower, MeSparran and Kite hills. The ocean expanse visible from these heights, in one open view of one-third of a circle, is of unwonted magnificence ; and the numer- ous plying sailing-vessels and steam palaces, give it ever new life and var3-ing forms of interest. At Watch Hill is a lighthouse, with revolving light^ erected in 1802, rebuilt of granite in 185o, and now has a life-saving station attached. At Point Judith is another stone lighthouse, with revolving light, built in 1816. A pre\-ious wooden structure, built in 1809, was destro3-ed by the great gale of 1815. A third lighthouse at Poplar Tree Point, Wickford Harbor, was built in 1831, and re- fitted in 1871. At Narraganset Pier is a life-boat build- ing erected in 1875, with necessarj- appliances. A gov- ernment appropriation of §25,000 has been made for building a lighthouse on Whale Rock, which rises slight- ly above high tide, near the western entrance of Narra- ganset Ba3'. Nearly all the sti-eams of the county furnish good mill- privileges, and are widely occupied with cotton and wool- len manufactories. The salt ponds or lakes are large and numerous, dotting coast and bay. Pettaquamscut, Point Judith, Green Hill, Pawawget or Charlestown, Quanocoataug and Ward's are the largest. Some of them are more than five miles in length. .The fresh- water ponds or lakes are still more numerous. The largest are Worden's, Watchaug, Belleville, Yawgoo and Chapman's. Worden's, about two miles in length, and nearl3- the same in breadth, is the largest sheet of fresh water in the State. The Indian trail, with its notched trees, ranging so as b3' directest line to cross the headings of the sea-inlets b3- the best fording places, was once the only thorough- fare. This was called " The Pequot Path," and ex- tended from Connecticut bounds, near Westerl3-, to the Pawtucket River, and thence to Boston. This became the first bridle-path of the settler, and later the great highwa3- for carriages and equestrians passing between Philadelphia, New York, Newport, Providence, or Bos- ton. This is still the route of carriage-travel. Another old route is the " Ten Rod " road, which dates from the settlement of Wickford, when it was laid out ten rods in width from that village westward to the Connecticut line, near Beach Pond, at Voluutown. With certain encroach- ments by private occupation, which began very early, it remains much as ever, in good order, and in frequent travel. Since 1837 the New York, Stonington and Boston Raih-oad has intersected this county from its northern boundar3- of Hunt's River, near Hunt's Bridge, to West- erly, in nearl3- the remotest south-west corner. This almost perfectl3' diagonal course gives the best average accessibility from all parts of the county. A double track extends the entire distance. A branch railroad now connects Wickford with the Wickford Junction and by steamboat connection with Newport. Another branch railroad has more latel3- been constructed from Richmond Switch in Richmond to Hope Valley in Hopkinton. Still another branch railroad has been constructed and oper- ated since 1876 from Kingston Junction to Narraganset Pier, a distance of about nine miles, with important stations at Peacedalo and Wakefield. Three weekly newspapers are published in the county, the " Narraganset Weekly," at Westerl3', the " Nari'a- ganset Times," at Wakefield, and the " Wood River Ad- vertiser," at Woodville. The pubUc cemeterj- incorporated b3' civil authority, and placing the "cit3- of the dead" in the hands of officials whose death or removal is at once supplied by chartered succession, alone ensures something like an unfailing perpetuity of adequate super\-ision and care. Public cemeteries of this kind now exist in broad dimen- sions at River Bend in the vicinity of Westerly, at Al- lentown in North Kingstown, at Potter Hill in Westerly, at Wyoming in Hopkinton, at River Side near Wakefield, RHODE ISLAND. and in lessor dimensions in Soutli Kingstown, at Periy- ville, at Oakland near Peacedale, and at Fern wood near Kingstown. In Charlestown the State has lately convej'ed to the Indian descendants of Ninigret, Canonchet, Canouicus and Miantonomo, certain cemetery grounds embracing their old interments of prince or peasant, with an appro- priation of $300 to defray the expense of the enclosure and of a memorial to their tribal fame. The public free-school system, dating from 1828, en- sures instruction in all the common English branches, in every centre of population, and everj' remote nook of the countj\ Graded schools exist in the townships of Westerly and Hopkinton. In Westerly Village, a large free grammar school house has been latelj' built, in addi- tion to the Pawtucket Academj-, an incorporated institu- tion dating from 1837, and a smaller academy built in 1814. Free high-schools have been established at Hope Valley and at Rock\'illc, in the township of Hopkinton. In other places, private institutions of old standing, such as Kingston and Wickford academies, embraced the liigher English and classical studies from their founda- tion. That at Wickford received its charter in 1800 — a noble edifice for its daj' — occupjing a commanding and romantic spot, and attaining a marked popularitj- through its earlier years. As the common free-schools came into use, this institution lost its prestige, and was practically converted bj' a lease of 99 years into an in- stitute for a public school. It was destroj-od by fire in 1874, but a commodious structure was soon erected in its stead, on the same site, and is fulfilling the lease as before the interruption. That at Kingston has existed from a little earlier period. The change of the county-seat from Tower Hill* to Kingston, near the close of the eighteenth centur}', changed the residences of leading families from the for- mer place to the new countj' seat. With this change began the success of the Kingston Academy. Here, through the following 30 or 40 years, were educated the sons and daughters of nearly all the contiguous families, many of the children of prominent families residing more distantly in the county and in various parts of the State, and others from sections not less remote than South Carolina, or even Cuba and Fayal. The fame of the academy was due to its healthful location, and to its accomplished teachers. Besides the mauj' district free school-houses, the State has provided the county structures at Kingston, the countj' » With this change of village population, the old school-house at Tower Hill, which had existed from colonial days, and shared the ben- efits of the " Sewall Fund," — the endowment of Samuel Sewall, — and seat. These consist of a comely and spacious State or court house and jail. Since by recent law the General Assembly confines its sittings to Proxadence and Newport, the court-house has been used for judicial business only. Previous to this change, it had been occupied, not only for the sessions of the courts, as now, but also for the annual sittings of the General Assembly. The jail is of stone, of comely style and large size, built not long since on the site and in the place of the old wooden structure of the last century. The great September gale of 1815 swept over this county with a force and destructiveness unparalleled by all previous or past tornados on this coast. The tides rose more than ten feet above ordinary high-water mark in waves of prodigious power and loftj' height. The spray, borne by the wind, sprinkled plentifully, like rain- drops, the windows of dwellings situated nearlj' a mile from the ocean in the direction of the wind. So power- ful was the gale, that apple orchai'ds in Connecticut, twenty miles be3'ond the ocean, were affected with the taste of the salt spraj- on their ripening fruit. The shores of the whole coast were a scene of desolation. From Westerl3- to Wickford, and beyond, ponderous stones, from one to three tons weight, were in some places swept from their low-tide beds and borne in crowded groups upon the meadow surface 15 feet above their former resting-places and scattered on this higher plane from 100 to 300 feet beyond the shore. Debris of houses, vessels, trees, haj' and other crops, or ani- mals, lined man}' shores. Wickford, situated on a low peninsula, was flooded in manj' places above the window- sills of the lower rooms ; and families dwelling in the most inundated parts sought safetj' from theu' homes in boats. At Westerly, the scenes were no less alarming, and their shipping, stores and dwellings suffered largel}" from wdnd or wave. At Point Judith, lives were lost bj' the tidal-wave sweeping them and the herds they were attempting to rescue into a common grave. Orchards and ornamental trees were prostrated in all directions, and forests thinned by the tornado's force. The later gale, of 1869, was in manj' features similar, but of so much shorter duration as to leave less destruc- tive efl'ects. Some forests were then impaired ; some orchards nearly ruined ; and a newly-finished church at Narraganset Pier utterly wrecked. The widely-spread dark day of 1780 was experienced here, much as elsewhere in New England. At noon-day houses needed to be lighted ; the cows came home to had been the only house of that description within the radius of a dozen miles, Kingston alone excepted, lost its former prestige. This anti- quated buildin!; still stands as a monument of colonial times. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. their milking-yards ; the poultrj' retired to their perches ; and the family mused in unwonted anxiety or alarm. This county, from its earliest settlement, ever gave pre-eminence to religious matters. The settlement at Wickford was first under the influence of such conscien- tious zealots as Richard Smith and Roger Williams, both refugees for conscience' sake. The whole territory maj- be said to have been peopled bj"^ three classes of religious proplc. These classes were e'li.'nv eiiihraced in the Puritan element from Boston and Plymouth ; the Church of England element from Newport and Provi- dence, England and Scotland ; the Quaker element from Newport and Portsmouth, New York and Virginia ; the Baptist element from the island of Rhode Island ; and the Neutralist element from nearlj' all these places. The pre- vailing element of the county has never overshadowed all others. But in preponderance of numbers, over any one sect, the Baptists maintain a majority. Towns. North Kingstown. — Wickford, the principal village of the town, stands chiefly- on a peninsula, extending into Narraganset Bay. Its principal street is beautified with lines of shade-trees, thrifty dwellings and sever.il fine public structures. Among the latter are St. Paul's Episcopal cliurch, the Baptist church, the granite build- ing of the Narraganset Bank, and the academy. The old Narraganset Church, which has withstood all the winters since 1707, divested only of its spire, and sur- rounded by the monuments of its ancient dead, still stands, a worthy monument of the piety of its foun- ders, and of the reverence of its present guardians. At West Wickford is a spacious Ro- man Catholic church, erected in 1874. Westehly stands at the head of tide- water, and strictly as a group of edifices occupies both sides of the Pawcatuck River. County limits, however, confine the description to the Rhode Island ter- ritory alone. The chief street, leading fiom the railroad station, displays the noticeable mercantile and banking edi- fices of granite, brick or wood. The Dixon House, the most costly structure of the kind in the county, stands hero. It ranks among the largest and finest in New England. Other prominent build- ings are the Sabbatarian, the First and the Calvary Baptist churches. The town house, built in 1874, on the site of the old union meeting-house, is a fine build- ing two stories high, with a tower. Many of the manufactories of the place are of early origin, mostly rebuilt, improved and enlarged. Spools, bobbins, looms, punting- presses and machinery, woollen and cotton warp goods are extensively manufactured here. The quarries on the easterly hills, employing hundreds of men, yield fine granite in abundance. Rhode Island's contribution to the national monimient in Washington was obtained from these rocks. Seven quarries 3'ield four varieties : the white, blue, red and macul.ited. The several manufacturing villages situated within a few miles' circuit from the town, and largely owned bj' its residents, contribute to the aggregate business of its merchants — the latter now quite numerous, hav- ing quite supplanted the ship-builders, privateers-men, navigators and fishermen of former days. The town contains three national banks, and an equal number of savings banks. In the south-eastern part of the town is the well-known seaside resort of Watch Hill. Here EHODE ISLAND. are seven large hotels, and extensive beaches. White Rock, north of Westerlj- village, contains a large mill for the manufacture of jaconets and shirtings. Hon. Nathan F. Dixon, a prominent lawyer, and a native of Westerly-, has been for ten j-ears a member of Congress. Hon. George H. Pendleton of Ohio, is also a native of the town. South Kingstown. — The village of Peaeedale, con- taining about 1,200 inhabitants, is situated on the Sau- gatucket River, one mile north of Wake- field. It has been a manufacturing spot from the earliest da^s. The vicinage is adorned with a stone Congregational church of tasteful architecture. The vil- lage contains many fine residences. The Hon. Rowland G. Hazard, who resides here, has long been known widely to the civilized world as one of the most suc- cessful of manufacturers, and as an au- thor of high repute. His treatise on " The Will" has gained a popularity which has led to its translation into a foreign tongue. The thriving village of Wakefield is situated on both sides of the Saugatueket River. W^here this river, with mill-pond and mill-dam, pours its sometimes power- ful cataracts into the Point Judith salt lake, it is spanned by a single-arch stone bridge. It has a national and a savings bank, a fine town hall — the munificent gift of Hon. R. G. Hazard — and a news- paper, the "Narraganset Times." The principal streets are occupied with hand- some dwellings with ornamental grounds. Narraganset Pier is mainly a village of j hotels and cottages for summer resort. The beach, one mile in length, is one of the finest in New England. The mansion of the Spragnc family, not far distant, looms u)) like an English baronial retreat. Al, the southern extremity of the village stands the " Stone Castle" erected by Joseph P. Hazard, Esq., 30 years since, with its maturing forest trees, and its nu- merous shrubs and flowers. The village of Kingston stands on a high ridge, and, being the county seat, has a commanding prestige. In ! addition to its public buildings, belonging to the State, it j has a Congregational church, —built 80 years ago, — an I academj- and a stone record-building. 1 Dr. Thomas M. Potter, a retired surgeon of the U. S. navy, and his brothers, Hon. Elisha R. Potter, judge of the Supreme Court, and Gen. James B. M. Potter of the U. S. armj-, are among the most distinguished natives of Kingston. The widow of Gen. Isaac P. Rodman, who fell at Antietam, resides at Rock}' Brook. Rev. Edward Everett Hale has a summer residence in the vicinity. At Matoonuc stan Is the huml k dwdlins where Com Oliver Hazard P i> uf I il Y 1 \ is, born The "\\'ashington County Agricultural Society have their gn^unds at West Kingston. Tower Hill, the ancient seat of the colonial county courts, has a landscape and ocean prospect almost unri- valled. The remotest cliff is surmounted b}' a large hotel. Charlestown. — Cross's Mills, the principal centre of business, contains a shingle-mill, where more shingles are sawed yearly, than at any other place in the county. The old Stanton homestead is located near this village. Hopkinton consists of several thriving villages. Hop- kinton City is a business centre for the country popula- tion for miles around. Carriage-making is its chief industry. A high school is located here. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Hope Valle3' contains a national and a savings bank, and a manufactoiy for steam-engines and printing- presses. Other \'illages are Asliaway, Bethel, Laurel Dale, Locustville, Barberville, Wyoming, Rockville, Centre- ville and Acadia. Richmond consists of Carolina, Shannock, Usquepaug and several other villages. Woollens and eassimeres are manufactured at the first-named place and at Shannock. Usquepaug is noted for its romantic situation. Exeter comprises several small settlements, mostly engaged in manufacturing. At Yawgoo, jeans, doeskins and other fabrics are produced. North Kingstown contains no Ifss than 13 villages, I some of considerable importance. At Lafayette is a * A little removed from this, is the more ancient village proper, where a manufacturing business has been conducted since 1800, when woollen cloths were first manufactured here. As early as 1720 its then mill was I used for grinding grain A later-built mill was destroyed by (ire in I 1847. This was soon rebuilt and operated. The villa^-i is noted as the mammoth brick mill 316 feet long, built in 1877, and supplied with lirst-class machineiy for the manufacture of jeans, doeskins, &c. Davisville* is a thrifty hamlet in the northern part of the town on the Stonington Raih'oad. In the vicinity of Hammond's Hill stands the house in which Gilbert Stuart, the portrait painter of world-wide fame was born. Almost connecting with this house is the mill known as the "old snuff mill," which for the last century has been used for grinding grain. In 1750 Dr. Moffat, a Scotch merchant, settled in Newport, employed Gilbert Stuart of Scotland, the father of the artist, to emigrale, erect this mill and engage with him in the manufacture of snuff. Here, in 1755, the bhlh of this artist took place. scat of the Le Moines or Mawneys, the Huguenot family who early be- gan a settlement near this spot. The present owners, the Davis broth- ers, whose ancestor, Mr. Joshua Davis, operated the mill in 1720, are connected, through an ancient marriage tie, with the Le Mome Hugue- not fj.mily. M A T N E BY REV. MARK TRAFTON, D. D. Maine maj' well cherish an honest pride in the motto on her State seal — " Dirigo." Her mountains are gilded by the earliest morning beams ; her soil was crim- soned by the first blood shed in the conflict between civ- ilization and barbarism. The European greed for gold found its first gratification in the fauna and fish of her wilderness and waters, while the first active opposition to a dominant hierarchy and proud ecclesiasticism was bred and nourished on her rocky shores. Well and trulj' ma}- she saj', " I lead." Rich in rare historic facts and incidents ; rich in the untarnished reputation of noble sons and daughters ; rich in her extended territorj', its varied and magnificent scenerj' ; rich in her resources and productions, she stands proudlj' prominent in the grand sisterhood of States. Her ships, built b}' her own citizens, and with material from her own forests, have sailed every sea, and borne her productions to ever}' clime, while her enterprising sons and daughters have swelled the population and aided in moulding the character and shaping the destiny of the Great West. Her first settlers, while j-et in the discomforts of their log huts, watching with sleepless vigilance the lurking savage, made education and religion the first objects of interest, and reared the school-house and the sanctuary. Upon these great principles, — universal education and freedom of conscience, — they based the grand super- structure the}' have reared at such cost. Material was being prepared for a great edifice, and it must be cut, not from clay but solid granite. The first permanent English settlement on the coast of IMaine was upon the island of Monhegan, and was, in fact, onl}' a fishing-station, continuing until the break- ing out of the first conflict with the natives. The abun- dance of fish on this coast attracted the attention of Europeans soon after its discover}', and, as early as 1600, the Enghsh sent out 100 vessels annually, manned by a set of vagabonds; and in 1744, the French fishing- fleet on this coast numbered 264 sail. The grant conferred upon the Plymouth Company in 1620, included the whole territory between latitude 40 and 48 degrees, and extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific, — an empire in itself. Robert Gorges, son of Sir Fernando Gorges, was appointed governor of this wilderness, and with one Levett, who received a grant of 6,000 acres of land, sailed for his domain, landing first on the " Isles of Shoals," and then, after exploring the coast eastward as far as Pemaquid, returned and selected a site for the seat of empire near Mount Agamenticus, and gave it the name of Gorgeana (York). Gorges soon wearied of this life in the wilderness, and in 1624 returned to England. A part of his colony removed to Virginia, and the rest went back to England. These adventurers were slow to learn that some more sterling qualities than personal prowess and lust for gold were essential to success in the work of founding an empire, in a wilderness filled with roving savages, in a cold climate, and on a sterile and rocky soil. It was left to the Pilgrim fathers and mothers, to show the power of a living faith in God to overcome such formidable obstacles. Still on came the fishermen in large numbers, spending the summer and early autumn in the prolific waters of Maine. Between the years 1607 and 1622, 109 ships entered and cleared at Pemaquid (Bristol) . Plymouth Colony escaped actual starvation by suppUes procured from the fishing fleet, and in 1623 the Wey- mouth Colony were relieved from the same source. The conflicting territorial claims were a serious ob- stacle to the rapid settlement of this region ; added to which were the ever-recurring attacks by the Indians, incited and aided by the French, who claimed all terri- tory west to the Kennebec, under the name of Acadia. In 1629, the "Plymouth Company" began to convey their territory in such quantities as the applicants de- sired ; John Mason took the region lying between the j rivers Merrimac and Piseataqua, and gave it the name of New Hampshire. This defined the western line of i Maine. The whole coast, as far east as the Penobscot, was thus disposed of in large, ill-defined grants. In | HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. 1635, the old Plymouth Companj-, finding no profits coming into their depleted treasuiy, surrendered their charter to the Crown, having di-s-ided the territory among its members. Maine, by these several grants, fell under four jurisdictions : the Gorges claim, from Piscataqua to Kennebunk ; Eigby's, from the latter place to the Ken- nebec ; the Sagadahoc, from the Kennebec to the Pe- nobscot ; and the French claim, from that river to the St. Croix. Massachusetts, jealous of these various proprietaries, and by the petition of manj' of the settlers, set up a claim in 1651 for the entire jurisdiction, under cover of her charter. Commissioners were sent to admit the Gorges and Rigb}' grants to the control of the Baj' Col- onj-. The matter was appealed to Parliament. But there was a man now at the head of the British govern- ment, and a Puritan Parliament sided with their Puritan brethren in the wilderness. In 1652, 150 freemen, in five settlements, took the oath of allegiance to Massa- chusetts, and Maine now became a province of the Bay Colonj-. Cromwell had, in 1653, annulled the transfer of Aca- dia to France. But on the restoration of Charles II., more to spite the Puritans than for any other reason, it was restored to France in 1067, by the treaty of Breda, to become a bone of contention, and to be retaken sub- sequentlj' at a great sacrifice of blood and treasure. But the reader must not fancy Maine in 1067 as it is seen now, with its numerous villages, and growing cities, and populous towns stretching back to the Canadian line. It was almost an unbroken wilderness of woods and waters ; the few settlements along its coast being at Fal- mouth, Saco, Sagadahoc, Damariscotta, Pemaquid and Sheepscot ; fishermen, lumbermen, and farmers gaining a precarious living, and looking constantly for an incur- sion of savage foes. It was a struggle for life. Then the rival claimants gave constant trouble. No one could claim his land and betterments ; he had the title of a squatter onlj'. The heirs of Gorges revived their claim, and appealed to the crown. But the Massachusetts Colony sent an agent to England, and finally extin- guished this claim bj' purchase of Gorges, paj-ing $0,000. King Philip's war (1675-76) burst upon these feeble settlements in Maine in its wildest fury, and nearly all were broken up, and the people muixlered or driven into exile. When this war closed, another dark cloud rose on the horizon. King Charles had been negotiating for the pur- chase of the Gorges charter for the crown, but being short of funds just then, the purchase was delajed, when, on waking one morning, he learned to his extreme mortifi- cation that he, the " King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., &c.," had been overreached by the Bay Colony of Massaelmsetts, and that the coveted prize was on its way across the Atlantic. Charles had given to his brother, the Duke of York, all the territorj' east of the line at Kennebunk to the Penobscot. With the progress of events, the Duke of York became king. The charter of Massachusetts was revoked, and all the Colonies were consolidated. Pema- quid was annexed to Boston, and the governor. Sir Edmund Andros, whose seat was at Manhattan (New York), extended his authority from the Pennsylvania line to the Penobscot. It was a dark day for the feeble colonists, and little progress was made in the settlements. Indian dep- redations, which commenced with Philip's war, con- tinued until 1700, with little cessation. Soon after the treaty of Breda, in 1668, which ceded Acadia again to France, a French gentleman, Baron de Castin, came from Canada to the Penobscot, and settling at Bagaduce (now Castine) , on the eastern shore of the Penobscot Bay, erected a fort on the high land between Bagaduce River and the bay. Constructing a truck-house, and procuring a supply of goods, he opened trade with the Indians. He entered into close alUance with the natives b^' taking the daughter of a Penobscot chief to wife, while the Jesuits in his train made the conversion of the tribes to Romanism a special object ; and so effectual was this work, that these converts remain to this day flrmlj' attached to the Romish Church. The Dutch, driven from New York, sailed eastward and threatened the feeble settlements on this coast, but were repulsed. In 1688 Gov. Andros projected a tour of visitation to this eastern Province of his dominions. Making arrange- ments for a convoy by the British frigate " Rose," he sailed in his sloop, and, joining the frigate at Pemaquid, thej' proceeded on a marauding expedition to the Penob- scot. They sent a boat ashore to inform Castin of their presence ; but when the Baron learned that the notorious Andros was on board, he, with his family, took to the woods ; and Andros, landing, broke into and robbed his establisliment of all its possessions, save an altar and crucifix, which his religious scruples restrained hi in from molesting. England and France were at peace at this time, and Castin was on acknowledged French tenitory, so that this act of the puissant governor was sheer rob- bery. It greatlj' exasperated the Indians, and was by them retaliated on the innocent settlers. William and Mary came to the English throne on the abdication of James, in 1690. A fierce Indian war was raging throughout New England, and, b}' the close of 1G90, only four English settlements wore left in this Pro%'ince, — Wells, York, Kitterj', and Appledore on the Isles of Shoals. In this bloodj' struggle the savages were onlj' allies of the French. The latter incited and planned tlie attacks ; they furnished arms and ammunition ; they set a price upon prisoners and scalps, and joined in the attacks upon the settlements ; one man testifj'ing that he was scalped, not b}' an Indian, but a Frenchman. At Castine a plan was matured to malve a grand foray upon the entire coast as far south as New York, and thus put a finality' to British power in the New World ; but this scheme was relinquished. It was a dark period in the history of this Province. The tomahawk and scalping-knife had nearly' extermi- nated the poverty-stricken inhabitants. Hundreds were in their graves, or their ashes mingled with the cinders of their burned dwellings. Scores of others were in a cajj- tivit}' worse than death. Immigration, which had turned strongly upon these desert shores during the reigns of Charles II. and James, was checked by the mild reign of William and Marj' ; and then, tlie constant struggle with cold winters, sterile soil, and lurking sa\'age foes was enough to cause the stoutest heart to quail. The tyrannj- of Andros ended with the change of government at home. Massachusetts asserted her rights, and was aroused to defend her possessions in the east. In 1710, Massachusetts sent an expedition against Port Royal, afterwards called Annapolis, which was taken. This gave to the English a power over the Indians, and I it was used to bring them into peaceful relations with I the settlers. At a conference held at Portsmouth, in Jn\j, 1713, the western Indians were induced to sign a { treaty, in which the eastern tribes subsequently joined", and, for a season, peace reigned in this Province. How- i over, the inhabitants returned reluctantly to their old homes, suspicious of the sincerit}' of the Indians. The first tax laid upon this Province was in 1735, in ! amount, £46 7s., and a special effort was made to pro- mote the settlement of the lands lying back from the sea- shore. To accomplish this, the first pension act was passed by the General Court of Massachusetts. This act gave to each man who had served in King Philip's war, and to the heirs of those who were dead, a farm in the wild lands of the State. Seven townships were set apart for this purpose, five in Massachusetts, and two in this Province, comprising the present towns of Gorham and Buxton. Tlie Massachusetts authorities were active in repairing the old forts, and in erecting new ones to guard against the Indians, who regarded treaty obligations very lightly England and France were almost constantly at war. The Norridgewock tribe were the most implacable of the natives of this Province, and completelj- under French influence. They had with them a priest named Rasle, who, in 1721, led an expedition of 200 Indians down the Kennebec, and ordered all the English to depart in three weeks or thej' would be slaughtered. Boston was aroused, and an expedition was sent against them, with orders to bring the priest to Boston dead or alive. Rasle escaped to the woods, but was shot in an attack upon the village, which was destroyed, a few years later. In 1726, an attempt was made to bring all the tribes into a conference, and delegates from all except the Norridgewocks met at Falmouth. Lieut. Gov. Dum- mer of Massachusetts, with Gov. Wentworth of New Hampshire, met them. Loron, chief of the Penobscots, conducted the conference for the Indians. The com- plaints urged were, that the wliites had occupied lands never sold to them; that the traders sold rum to the Indians. " It wastes the health of our young men. It unfits them to attend praj-ers. It makes them cany ill, both to your people and their own brethren." Well and truly said. The germ of the Maine liquor law — Birigo. It brings a blush to the cheek to see in this conference a Christian governor standing before these simple chil- dren of nature, and claiming lands under deeds which ho knew had been declared invalid by the courts again and again. This treaty was observed by the Indians until 1744, when war was declared by England against France, and the natives again became restless, and, incited by the French, committed various depredations. The final struggle for supremacy was at hand. Broad as was the field, there was not room for the two systems of government, so dissimilar in character and aim ; one of them must yield, and the sword must make the election. The policy of France with the natives had been most wise. Priests always accompanied their exploring expe- ditions, entering their huts, living with them, and exhib- iting a paternal interest for their welfare. They opened schools, built churches, and erected the cross. They told the Indians the story of Christ and the Virgin. If land was wanted they paid for it. On the other hand, the English came to settle and to trade. They stole their people and sold them into slaver}-, took their lands with- out compensation, and cheated them in trade. "Your people," said a chief at a conference, " sell us sour flour, and damnified tobacco." Can one wonder that the HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. unsophisticated natives looked upon the French as friends, and the Enghsh as foes ? It was a stinging reply made bj- a Norridgewock chief to a governor of Massachusetts who urged them to leave the French and join the Eng- lish, with a promise to rebuOd their church, destroyed in a late attack by Massachusetts troops : " Your words fill my heart with astonishment. Leave the French ? Never ! Why should we leave them? They are our best friends. They never deceived us, or wronged us. When they came among us, they would not so much as to look at our peltries. When your people visited us they came to trade. They never said one word about God, or Christ, or prayer ; it was aU peltries. The French taught us to worship the Great Spirit, and to praj-. Leave the French, our fathers ? Ne^er ! " And he strode out of the chamber in wrath. It was clear to both the home and colonial govern- ments that neither peace nor progress could be realized while the French had a foothold on this continent. Delenda est Carthago, cried the old Roman orator. The French must go, said the British council. Suddenly, in 1744, the Indians again burst upon the eastern settlements with fire and tomahawk. The Pe- nobscots were held in check, but all tbe tribes east were on the war-path. The government of Massachusetts at once declared war against these tribes, and, we record it with pain, offered to all persons who would enter the service at their own expense, a reward of £100 for the scalp of male Indians above 12 j'ears of age, and £50 for women and children, and £3 additional for captives. And the sessions of the House passing such a bill were opened by prayer ! Massachusetts, aided by her patriotic Province of Maine, fitted out an expedition against Louisburg, now the strongest citadel on the coast. Aided by the Eng- lish West-India squadron, this key to all the French possessions on the coast was taken June 17, 1745, just 30 years prior to the battle of Bunker Hill. Subse- quently Massachusetts received from the British govern- ment $1,000,000 for her expenses in this expedition. The Penobscot Indians, though at first promising neu- traUt}', were unable to resist the call of their French friends, and joined in the fray. Massachusetts at once declared war against them, and proposed the same price noted above for scalps. In 1748, a peace was patched up between the two great contending parties, and Louisburg and all Acadia were retroceded to France ; a peace speedily to be again dis- rupted. But it was only to take breath for a final strug- gle, which finally culminated on the Plains of Abraham, and the field of Sillcrv. Before the impending coniiict was known in England, the Indians, incited by the French, burst upon the settle- ments, committing numerous murders. This was the fifth Indian war in which the unfortunate inhabitants had been engaged, and the last. During the war an expedition was fitted out against Louisburg, which was entirely successful. But it was attended by an occurrence which will forever leave a stain upon British character wherever Longfellow's beautiful IjtIc, " Evangeline," is read. Seven thousand Acadians were torn from their quiet homes and dis- tributed among the English colonies as far south as Georgia ; 61 were allotted to Maine. Great was the J03' of the inhabitants on the return of peace, and the feeling of securit}' which was the re- sult of the knowledge that friends, not foes, were among them, north and west. And now came a great influx of population. The apparently exhaustless forests of the finest timber, the abundance of water-power for its manufacture, the facil- ities for its shipment, the abundance of fish in the waters of the coast, and in the rivers and streams, and the game in tlie forests, greatly stimulated immigration. While the French occupied the Penobscot, no English settlements had been attempted, but in ten years from the fall of Quebec, a solitary settler pushed his canoe up to the head of the tide-waters of the Penobscot, and the first log-liut of a white man (one Busscl) , was erected on the site of the present city of Bangor. Two j-ears later, a company of ten families (among them the maternal grandfather of the writer of this, Jacob Dennet), ascended the river, and located themselves at the junc- tion of the Kenduskeag and Penobscot. It was an unbroken wilderness, and 12 miles above them were the fierce Tarratines, upon whose scalping-knives the blood of the victims of their cruelty was hardly dried. The pen cannot fitlj' describe the privations and sufierings of these pioneers of American life. They are deserving of the grateful remembrance of their more highly favored descendants. The entire population of the Province of Maine, ten 3-ears before the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, was about 24,000, scattered in small settlements from the Piscataqua to the Penobscot. Agricultural industries were subordinate to fishing and lumbering, until the general pacification of the Indians, when the tide of immigration set more strongly towards the rich bottom- lands on the upper waters of the great rivers. In 1 704, Maine was di\-ided into three counties, — York, Cumberland, and Lincoln, — and the census showed a total population of 23,888. The people depended little MAINE. upon tilling the soil. Their corn was purchased in Boston by their exports of lumber and fish, at a cost of 50 cents per bushel. A few cattle and sheep had been introduced, but pasturage was not jet provided, liny was procured from the extensive salt marshes on the coast, and fresh-water meadows in the interior. The women carded and spun their wool and flax, and wove the cloth for their clothing. Often they were hard pressed for the bare necessaries of life. 1 Maine entered heartily- into the Revolutionary conflict. The first step to be taken was to secure the neutrality, if not the co-operation, of the Indian tribes within her borders. The British powers enlisted the Canada tribes, and, to their eternal disgrace, let them loose upon the defenceless settlers. And to cap the climax, a bounty- was paid the Indians for American scalps ! But the Penobscots could not be seduced from their allegiance to the Americans. They were unwUling as a tribe to engage in the American cause, but a number joined the armj-, sa3-ing that the}* wanted peace ; that they had but two fathers, "Washington and the French king. Washington sent a letter to the eastern trilics in which he says : " I am glad to hear that you keep the chain of friendship, which I sent you in February last, bright and unbroken. Mj' good friend and brother, Gov. Pierre Tomar, and the warriors that came with him, shall be taken good care of, and when they want to return home, they and our brothers of the Penobscot, shall be furnished with ever3-thiiig necessarj' for their journey." To farther conciliate them, a French priest, Berthiame, was employed b^- the Massachusetts authorities to reside with and instruct the Penobscots. But the alhance with France, of 1779, and the uncer- tainty of the struggle, more than anj' especial aversion to war, doubtless restrained them, so that the inhabitants had no more apprehension of trouble with the savages. j The British forces took possession of the old French fort at Castine, soon after the expulsion of the French, and on the opening of the war of 1775, threw into it a strong force, and greatly improved its defences. And to the scholar and antiquarian, it may be of interest to know that the celebrated Sir John INIoorc, with reference to whose tragic death at Corunna, Spain, Wolfe wrote, — " AVl^ buried him darkly at dead of night, The sods with our bayonets turning," — was an officer here, and led the forces which repulsed the Americans, who made an attempt to dislodge the British troops. The American Congress sent a fleet of 43 war, and other ships, carrying 1,000 men, to take the fort, but through the inefficiency of the commander, Saltoustall, the attempt failed, and nearly the entire fleet were destroj-ed, and the troops forced to find their way through the forest to the Kennebec, many dying from starvation and exfjosure. The British held possession of all that part of Maine until the close of the war, treating the inhabitants with a reQnemcnt of cruelty, leaving little to choose between them and their less en- lightened savage brethren. The sufferings of the Penob- scot inhabitants during those terrible years, can never be fitl^- described. And when, in 1780, the Dark Day came on, when lights became necessary at noon, thej' might well conclude that God had forgotten them, and that an end to sublunary things had come. But in 1781, peace came to the sufl'ering people, and it was as life from the dead. Prosperitj' returned, com- merce revived, and hope illuminated the horizon. But money was scarce — the depreciation of the cur- renc}' was alarming. In 1780 a man could not be hired for less than $10 per day, and $20 for a yoke of oxen. A pair of shoes were $12 and stockings $9. But let it be said for our heroic fathers and mothers, there was no spirit of rebellion abroad, no confhct between capital and labor, no strikes except the sturdy blows upon forest trees and a hard soil. They bore all, endured all for their descendants. During the interval of 30 years, between the close of the war of the Revolution and the beginning of the second war with England, Maine advanced rapidly in population and general prosperit}'. Towns were organ- ized, churches and schools established, and courts regu- larlj- held. Order and a high degree of morahty pre- vailed, and the citizens looked into the future with hope and courage. The persons immigrating to this Province were gen- erally of good character, sober, hardy, mtelligent and industrious. Thej- came to make for themselves and their children, homes. They came, not for the purpose of temporary- speculation, but to identify themselves with the people, to take their share of the sufferings and burdens of an infant Colony' and found a State, and thej' stamped their peculiar traits upon their descendants. June 18, 1812, was a sad daj- with the people of this Province, just emerging from the gloom of savage war- fare, and more savage British barbarities. War was declared b}' Congress against England. The people felt their exposure, on a coast line of 300 miles, at all points open to attack by British cruisers, with verj- slight means of defence. Thcj- knew what it was to be at the mercy of drunken British officers and HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. brutal seamen. No wonder that, in many places, bells were tolled and flags half-masted. But there was no flinching, no despair. They threw off their coats and went in for "free trade and eailors' rights." Soon there appeared on the coast two noted ciiiisers from Halifax, the " Rattler," and " Bream." The coast- ing trade of the Province was nearly destroyed, and the people suffered more from this war by far than from that of the Revolution.* It was, on this coast, a war against private homes ; against women and children. Private dwellings were robbed, and the plunder taken on board the English ships and carried to Halifax. An expedition from Halifax took possession of Cas- tine, and then, learning that the U. S. frigate " John Adams " had passed up the Penobscot for some repairs, sent up a flotilla of gunboats, with 2,000 troops, to de- stroy her. The frigate lay at Hampden, six miles below Bangor, with her guns all upon the wharf, preparatory to being beached for needed j-epairs. The militia were hastily collected, under Gen. Blake. The British troops landed below, in a dense fog, and marched up to Hamp- den, where our raw militia were posted, opened fire, and the frightened troops took to the woods after one dis- charge of a nine-pound iron gun, which killed a dozen of the English soldiers. The crew of the frigate blew up the ship, and retreated across the country to the Kennebec. The British took possession of Bangor, pillaged the stores, burned the shipping in the harbor, and, after two days, returned to Castine. But they held and claimed all territory east of the Penobscot, until peace was brought in by the treaty of Ghent, Dec. 24, 1814. Peace was hailed with acclamations, and at once busi- ness revived, and hope displaced despair. But the sum- mers of 1814, '15, and '16 were unusually cold. There was frost every month in 1816, and snow fell in June so as to cover the ground. Little could be gained from the soil ; corn was $2.50 per bushel ; man}- farmers became disheartened and determined to remove west. Ohio was opened, and the "Western Reserve" was described as the paradise of farmers. Manj- families sold out their claims, procured • wagons covered with coarse cotton, with a span of horses, and started for the new "El • The following, from .a New York paper, will give some idea of the condition and privations of the people at this period : " The District of Maine. — "We are assured by persons best acquainted with that part of the State (Mass.), that the situation of the poor inhab- itants is deplorable in regard to provisions, having neither flour, nor com, nor even potatoes to live upon." The WTiter urges that means be at onee devised to send the needed supplies. Dorado." Cooking by the roadside, and sleeping in their wagons, they slowly made their way into the un- known wilds, and helped to lay the foundations of a great State. It is estimated that Maine lost from 12,000 to 15,000 of her population by that emigration. The question of separation from Massachusetts was agitated, and the "Great and General Court" kindly gave the people the privilege of deciding it for them- j selves. A convention was called at Brunswick, but it j was not thought advisable to separate. \ But the agitation continued, and a convention in 1819, : on an affirmative vote of all the towns, decided to sep- | aratc ; and on the 15th of March, 1820, after two hun- dred years of eventful provincial hfe, Maine was ad- mitted into the grand sisterhood of States. Her State seal is expressive. In the centre towers her pine, under whose shadow the moose quietly reclines ; in the back- ground appears the open ocean ; on the right stands an agriculturist, with his scythe upon his shoulder; on the left, a sailor, his left hand upon an anchor, his right resting upon the shield ; over the scroll, with the motto, " DiRiGO," a single star effulgent. The population of the State when admitted was 298,269 ; at the census of 1870, 626,915. The popula- tion steadilj- increased until her lumber began to fail, since which time it has slightlj' fallen off. But increased attention is given to agriculture, and great improvement is witnessed in the last decade. A colony of Swedes has been commenced in Aroos- took Count}-, where the State donated lands to actual settlers, and it now numbers 600 industrious citizens, with schools and churches. The unsettled boundaries of the State caused much uneasiness, and in 1837, under Gov. Fairfield's adminis- tration, so great became the excitement from trespass by persons from New Brunswick upon what w:*s claimed as State lands, that a militaiy expedition was actuallj- fitted out at Augusta, and marched to Bangor, when the President wisely stepped in and staj'ed the effusion of blood. The question was finally satisfactoril}' adjusted in 1842, when a small portion of Maine was ceded to Eng- land, Maine securing in return " Rouse's Point," on her northern border, and the free navigation of the river St. John. In the war for the Union, Maine threw her whole weight into the scale for freedom for aU, and union of all. She sent to the front her full quota of men, fully the equals of an}' who marched to the rescue of the nation. Their bones are found on the most hotlj'-con- tested battle-fields, and their memoiy will be cherished b}' a grateful people. She scut to the front 72,945 of her stalwart sons. The State of Maine lies between latitude 42° 57' and 47° 32'. The extreme length of the State is 303 miles, and its breadth 288 miles, and containing 31,500 square miles of territory-, onl^^ about 1,200 square miles less than the whole of New England besides. Her coast line is about 2,48G miles, affording numerous harbors and es- tuaries most favorable for commercial operations. Tlie entire shore is rugged and rock3-, — fitly designated as a rock -bound coast. All along the coast, from Kitter}- on the west to Quodd^'-Head on the east, lie clusters, or soli- tary islands, many of them covered with fertile soil, the homes of her hardy fishermen, and the summer resort of hundreds of sportsmen and pleasure-seekers. The largest and most picturesque of these islands is Mount Desert, called bj' the early discoverers "The Isle of the Desert Mountains." It is separated from the main land by a narrow estuary which is bridged, so that visitors reach it easily' by land-carriage as well as by water. It has an area of GO, 000 acres, with two safe harbors, — the " South-west and Bar Harbor," — each the resort of hundreds of summer tourists and health- seekers. Its peculiar features are its mountains and beautiful fresh-water lakes. The loftiest of these moun- tain peaks is 1 ,800 feet, and is a prominent landmark for the mariner. There are 13 of these loft}' peaks, with no connection with any mountain range on the main land. Other mountains and noteworlh}' elevations are the '•Blue Hills," westof Mount Desert ; the Camden Hills, on Penobscot Ba}- ; and the mountains on the upper Penob- scot ; Katahdin, with an elevation of 5,400 feet, the highest point in the Stale, and its grand compeers about Moosehead Lake. The natural scenery of this State is varied and beauti- ful. The eye of the tourist is not wearied bj' monotonous views of dead levels, as in the West, but is reUeved by hill and plain, river, brook and eximnsive lake, forest and cultivation ; and the highest aesthetic taste is gratified by continuous surprises. Every variety' of soil is found here, suited to each variety of vegetable production. On the banks of the numerous rivers are extended intervals of alluvial deposit, enriched by the annual overflow of the waters. A rich, sandy loam, with a clay subsoil, is found in other locali- ties near the sea. Then, in other sections, a gravelly loam ; again an area of sand. Maine must yet rank high as an agricultural State. As the lumber diminishes, attention is directed more exclusivcl}" to this true and primitive source of wealth. If she cannot exhibit suc4i immense crops as are grown and gathered in the West, the profits are greater for the capital invested, and the expense of cultivation. From the summit of IMount Katahdin, Maine seems a vast sea, crowded with woudeMl inlands, so abundant is its water system. Ko othi-r iMjual area on the globe, perhaps, is so abundant!}' watered. There is water- power here sufficient for the machinery of the manufac- turing world, if utilized. Maine has 1,800 lakes and ponds, besides her magnificent rivers and streams. Moosehead Lake stands at the head, — nearl}' 40 miles in length, and from 2 to 20 in breath. It lies 1,023 feet above the ocean level. It covers 120 square miles, with a depth of water for large-sized steamboats for its entire extent. Tourists now reach this splendid summer-resort within 12 miles by rail. There are 5,151 streams drawn upon the map of the State. The border river on the west is the Piscataqua ; and that on the north-east, the upper waters of the St. John. The principal rivers of Maine are the Saco, one-half of whose basin is still an unbroken forest ; the Androscoggin, whose splendid water-falls at Lewiston and Brunswick furnish an almost inexhaustible water power ; the Kennebec, the outlet of jMoosehead Lake, and fed bj' more than a thousand streams, and ha\ing a descent of 1,023 feet ; the Penobscot, sung bj' Milton in "Paradise Lost,"* and the largest river in the State; and the St. Croix, four-fifths of whose basin is an un- broken forest of valuable timber. Industrial Notes. — Maine's first settlers were attracted by the facilities of trade. The love of gain, not glorj', — fish, furs and peltries, turned the ej'es of the great com- mercial companies formed bj' speculating Englishmen, to this region. Ver}' naturally, the vast quantities of lumber upon the sea-coast fixed the early settlers in that locality. The first inhabitants of Pemaquid cut and sent, in their small shallops, cord-wood to Boston, bringing in return the necessaries of life. Then, taking advantage of the water-jjower everj'where at hand, they soon commenced the manufacture and exportation of lumber. This for many years was the great staple of Maine. Her pine lumber has been sent to every land. For many years there was no competition. At first, and until steam as a motor came into general use, all the manufactories of lumber were located in the interior, upon the water-falls, and the lumber rafted to tide-water for shipment. Now it is found more economi- cal to run the logs to tide-water, and cut them by steam. * ** Now from the north Of Korcmbcija and the Saniocd shore, Bursting their barren dungeons armed with ieo And snow and hail." — Book X. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. The waste, formerly thrown into the water, or burned to get rid of it, supplies the fuel for the generation of the steam, and the lumber is taken at once on ship-board without the labor and damage of rafting. Of late years the character of the lumber cut and manufactured in this State has materially changed. Fifty years ago, little was cut but white pine ; but first- quality pine is exhausted, and now spruce and hemlock form the mass of the product. Yet the timber-growing land amounts to the enormous surface of 10,505,711 acres, — one-half of the entire area. Of late years more care of the forests is cherished, and waste greatlj' checked. The principal centres of this industrial branch of pro- duction are the counties of Penobscot, Washington, Hancock, Kennebec and Piscataquis. There are, by the last census, 1,099 saw-mills, — 76 steam-power; capital invested, $6,872,723; products, $11,395,747 ; and giving emploj'ment to 8,506 persons. Maine, with an abundance of the best material for ship-buUding, has sent out from an early jjeriod of her history the finest ships afloat. Checked by the ci-\dl con- flict, there has been, since its close, a great revival in this branch of industry, and the State now ranks second to New York. For the year closing Jan. 1, 1874, there were con- structed 276 vessels, of 89,817 tons : 10 ships, 25 barks, 12 brigs, 206 schooners, 12 sloops, and 9 steamers. We have seen in our historic sketch, that the great attraction to this region was the abundance of fish on the coast and in the rivers. Cod, haddock, pollock, mack- erel and halibut crowded the coast-waters, while salmon, shad and alewives literally swarmed in the rivers and streams. Massachusetts alone exceeds Maine in the amount of production in this industr}-. The total value of the catch, not including the whale-fishery, for 1870, was $975,610, employing 2,000 hands. Of late years the canning of lobsters has become an important branch of industrj-, over 200,000 cans being sent out from Mount Desert alone. But with this source of wealth, as with lumber, thought- less waste has greatly diminished the run offish. In the early days cart-loads of the finest fish were used as com- post, as hundreds of moose were slaughtered for their skins, and millions of the best timber-trees were burned to clear land which did not paj' for the tillage. Dams were built across streams and rivers without an}- provision for the passage of the fish to their spawning- grounds, until the}' are almost exterminated. The legis- lature has at last waked up to this matter, and fish-ways upon all dams are required, and the restocking of the former favorite rivers and streams of the fresh-water fish by hatching and planting, promises the happiest results. The number of manufacturing establishments in the State in 1873 was 6,072, giving emploj-ment to 55,614 persons. Total capital, $48,808,448. Material worked up, $57,911,468. Wages paid, $16,584,164. Value, $96,209,156. A branch of industry' is just now being developed which promises to become remunerative, and turn atten- tion to the cultivation of the soil, the true source of wealth ; that is the manufacture of beet-sugar. Minerals. — In addition to her exhaustless stores of limestone and slate, Maine is developing rich deposits of valuable minerals ; iron, lead, tin, copper and manga- nese. No doubt silver and gold will yet appear. The iron smelted at the Katahdin works equals the best Swedish ore, and is now being transported to Penn- sylvania to be converted into the famous Bessemer steel. Copper has recentlj' been discovered at Blue Hill, and is being produced in pajdng quantities. Alum, copperas and sulphur are also produced from abundance of crude material. Railroads. — Maine did not come early into the rail- road enterprise, as her great business centres were easily reached by steam marine. As early as 1823 or '24, steamboats were on the Penobscot, creeping along hy the shore to reach Portland. In 1834, the old steamboat "Bangor" (afterwards crossing the Atlantic and running on the Bosphorus and Golden Horn) was put on the route from Boston to Ban- gor, via Portland. Then came a boat on the Kennebec, the " Huntress," and the great steamboat magnate, Vanderbilt of New York, sent on the " C. Vanderbilt " to run her off. But the day of railroads came at last, and now the State has abundant facilities for reaching all points of her extensive domain. In 1841, there were 11 miles of rail onlj^ ; and in 1874, 945. The Piscataquis road has been pushed forward to Bradford, within 12 miles of Moosehead Lake, and is to be extended to Canada. The European and North American road is now completed from Bangor to the St. John, 206 mOes ; and passengers will be transported from New York to Newfoundland by rail, with a short sail across the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and in five days be landed at Cape Clear, Ireland, thence by steamer and rail to London. Educational. — It is greatl}' to the credit of the early settlers of this territor}-, that with all their privations and unparalleled hardships, with an almost cease- less conflict with poiils which might weU. appal the stoutest heart, they did not lose sight of the impor- tance of educational means for the rising generation. In Bangor, for instance, in 1773, the first school was opened in a log hut by Miss Abigail Ford, only three years after the first company of immigrants built their log cabins in that wilderness. As fast as towns were organized a tax was laid upon the inhabitants to sustain a school for some months in the j-ear ; and next after the erection of a dwelling, came the school-house. No town or plantation existed without this building ; at once a place to teach the " 3'oung idea how to shoot," and for divine worship. The General Court of Massachusetts, and then the State legislature, took this matter in hand, passing ordinances for this purpose, and making liberal grants of public lands for schools and colleges. A State superintendent has the general oversight of the schools. Each city and town or plantation is hy law required to raise and expend annually one dollar for each inhabitant, for the support of schools. A school- fund has been created by the sale of public lands, amounting to S369,883, the income of which is ap- jjortioned among the several towns according to the population between the ages of 4 and 21. A sj-stem of free high schools has been established by the legislature, one-half of the expense being paid by the State. The State also supports two normal schools, one at Farmington, west, and one at Castine, east. A State agricultural college is in prosperous operation at Orono, six miles above Bangor, on a farm of 370 acres. There are also in the State, Bowdoin College at Bruns- wick (Congregational), Bates College at Lewiston (Free Baptist) and Colbj' University at Waterville (Baptist) . With the last is connected a theological department. At Bangor a theological school was established in 1820, and though under Congregational control, is open to all who choose to enter. The Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Female Collegiate Institute at Kent's Hill, Readfleld, established in 1821, has sent out over 30,000 graduates. The East Maine Con- ference Seminary and Commercial College at Bucksport, is also a flourishing school. The two latter institutions are under Methodist control. The Universalists have a seminary at Decring, with a collegiate course for young women ; and the Freewill Baptists have recently estabhshed a similar institution at Pittsfleld. All these schools and colleges have excel- lent libraries. Religion. — The original inhabitants of this State, if they did not plunge into tliis wilderness from religious considerations, were certainly' not without religious con- victions. Among the first settlers at Pemaquid, the first colon}' planted here, were many sturdy Presbyterians from the north of Ireland, in whose veins was the blood of the old Covenanters. They early engaged a clergy- man and established rehgious worship. Presbyterianism, of course, was the prevailing phase of religious sentiment, and although there were many Episcopalians scattered among the settlers, j'et the mass of the people were Presbjlerians, and the first church organized was of that form ; but gradually it was ab- sorbed by Massachusetts Orthodoxy, or Congregational- ism. The people residing within the parish limits were taxed to support the standing order, and if thej' refused or neglected to pay the tax their goods and chattels were distrained to satisfy the demand. Bigotry and intoler- ance were not all left on the other side of the water, nor washed out by the billows of the Atlantic. But time works wonderful changes, and that exclusiveness is gone. The first Methodist minister who visited this State was Eev. Jesse Lee, who came to Boston in 1789, preaching at different points as far as Bangor, where he was car- ried across the Penobscot, with his horse, by Jacob Dennet, the maternal grandfather of the writer, in two log canoes lashed side by side, whence he passed through the forest to New Brunswick. The first Calvinist Baptist, who visited and preached in the State, was Rev. Job Macomber, under whose preach- ing a revival commenced at Muscongus, an island off Bristol. This was in 1792. Rev. Ephraim Stinchfield, a Freewill Baptist preacher, came to Rutherford's Island and formed a church in 1795. The first movement to abolish the odious minister's tax was made by the Quakers in 1 784 ; and the first effort to divide the money raised by tax for the support of the gospel, among the different denominations, was made by the Methodists. The Rev. Joshua Taylor, in 1803, brought an action against the town of Bristol for such a division, and it was given in his favor. When we reflect upon the circumstances of the settle- ment of this State ; that it had not the sunny climate of the South, the rich prairies of the West, nor the gold of the Pacific coast to attract immigration, but instead a cold climate to endure, an unbroken forest to subdue, a hard soil to cultivate, and savage foes to meet, the wonder is, that it was not long since forsaken as uninhabitable. Maine, however, as we have seen, has long since achieved, if not a leading, at least a commanding and eminently influential position in the Union. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. ANDEOSCOGGIN COUNTY. BY REV. JOSEPH S. COG.SWELL. Andeoscoggin CotTNTT was organized March 18, 1854. It was formed from four counties, — Auburn, Danv-ille (the latter since united to Auburn), Durham, Poland and Minot being taken from CiTmberland County ; Liver- more and Turner from Oxford ; East Livermore, Greene, Leeds and Wales from Kennebec ; and Lewiston, Web- ster and Lisbon from Lincoln. This count}- contains eleven towns and two flourishing cities. Its .irea is 400 square miles, and its population in 1870 was 35,866. The general surface of the county is quite uneven. It has many high hills, but no high mountains. It abounds in rivulets, ponds and springs. There are some noted mineral springs here, such as the Poland, Lake Auburn and Lewiston. The Androscoggin River flov,-s through the central portion of the count}- from north to south. The county derives its name from this river, and the river obtained its name from one of the tribes of the Abenaque Indian nation, called Anasagunticooks. In the cities of Auburn and Lewiston there are large manufacturing interests. The Maine Central, Grand Trunk, and Buckfield and Rumford Falls railroads, afford ample facilities for ti-avel and commerce throughout this county. A marked interest is taken in educational affairs. Bates College ranks high among our famed New England educational institutions. Besides this there is the Edward Little Institute at Auburn, Hebron Academy at Hebron, and other excellent schools. The history of Androscoggin County is largely inter- woven with the history of the nation. Coming years will add greatly to the importance of this county, more especially in the development of her manufacturing interests, which even now arc so prosperous. Towns. Auburn. — The first permanent settlement of what is now Auburn appears to have been in 1786. The first settlement at the Falls was made by a Mr. Marr. In 1798 he gave way to a Mr. Welch, who made a small clearing and built a log-house where the heart of the city now is. The second house was built bv Mr. Dillincham. This was a frame-house, and stood near Foundry Brook. The third was built by Solomon Wood, and obtained the name of " Solomon's Temple." Michael Little put up a frame for a house on the hill south-west from the Falls. The old cellar can now be seen, with large trees growing in it. In 1822 Jacob Read opened the first store m Auburn village, now Auburn city. He owned a small building which was moved from Lewiston across the river on the ice. The Indians appear to have frequented this part of Auburn in early days. Just south of Goff's Block, a few years ago, an old Indian burial-ground was discovered. The Indians were found buried in a sitting posture, with wampum and their war-clubs iu their hands. Bakerstown was incorporated as the town of Poland Feb. 17, '1795. In 1802 that part now called Minot, and a part of the present Aubuni, was set off, receiving the name of Minot. In 1842 Minot was divided, the part set off being called Auburn. In 1859 the small portion of Danville lying to the north of Little Androscoggin River, was annexed to Auburn. In February, 1867, the remainder of Danville was annexed. Auburn adopted a city charter Feb. 22, 1869. The city government was organized March 22, 1869, and Col. Thomas Littlefield elected mayor. Auburn extends 12 miles along the Androscoggin River, and has a width of about 4^ miles. It contains nearly 50 square miles, about one-sixth of which is covered by the waters of Taylor and Wilson ponds. The latter one is now dignified by the name of Lake Auburn. The Little Androscoggin River affords good facilities for manufacturing. The Little Androscoggin Water- Power Company own Barker Mill. This mill has 18,000 spindles, and manufactures sheetings and shirtings. There are several establishments in the city for the manufacture of boots and shoes. In ordinarily good times. Auburn is a very bee-hive of industries. The soil of this city is considerably productive under the excellent husbandry which it receives. Gardening is carried on to a large extent. The large territory of the city gives ample room for some farms of good propor- tions. The Edward Little Institute has lately been rebuilt here in a modern and tasteful style. This institution was founded by the liberality of the late Edward Little. In front of the building is a large bronze statue of Mr. Little. There are two beautiful sheets of water in Auburn. One of these, Taylor Pond, is two miles long aud one wide. Lake Auburn is in the northern part of the city. It is four miles long and two wide. At the head of it is North Aubui-n, on the east is East Auburn village, and on the west, on a high ridge of land, is West Auburn, a village very beautiful for situation. Auburn has good schools, numerous chiu'ches, and a population of nearly 7,000. There are six post-offices in the city. Edward Little (son of Josiah) was a stirring citizen of Auburn, and gave liberally of his wealth for the public welfare. Besides devoting nine acres of land to the use of the academy which he was instrumental in founding, he also contributed largely towards the erection of a suit- able building for the school. He had been educated at college, and was a lawyer by profession. He died in 1849, aged 76 years. Hon. C. W. Walton, a popular judge of the Supreme Court, resides in Auburn. He was admitted to the bar in 1843. In 1860 he represented the second district in Congress. In 1862 he was appointed judge of the Supreme Judicial Court, which high office he has ever since adorned. Lewiston. — It was not until the summer of 1770, that Paul Hildreth built his log cabin, not far from the present site of the Continental Mills. In the fall of 1770 this first settler was cheered by the advent of a neighbor, David Pettingill. The third settler was Mr. L. J. Harris of Dracut, Mass., who came to this place in 1771. Asa Varnum, Thomas and Jonas Cobum, Israel Her- rick, Jesse Wright, Jacob Barker, Josiah Mitchell, Jon- athan Hodgkin, James Ames, Daniel Read and Ebenezer Ham were among the first settlers of Lewiston. Jsearlj- all of these came from the eastern part of Massachusetts. Lewiston was incorporated as a town, Feb. 18, 1795, and as a city, March 15, 1861. The city government was not organized until March 16, 1863. Jacob B. Ham was inaugurated the first mayor. The soil of Lewiston, which is somewhat clayey, gives a fair return to the husbandman. Within the limits of the city many bricks are manufactured. The surface is uneven. Ledges are to be seen near the river bank. David's Mountain is the highest elevation of land. The summit of this mountain has been donated to Bates Col- lege for a site for an observatory. Lewiston is a growing city. The population in 1830 was but 1,549 ; now it is not less than 15,000. There are some fifteen churches, including one Irish and one French Catholic church. There is also a French nun- nery. In educational affairs her citizens take a lively interest. Bates College, located in this city, is under the control of the Free Baptists. Sometime prior to 1819, Col. Josiah Little owned a small carding and fulling mill. This stood on the site of the old red woollen-mill. In 1819, Mr. Dean Frye of Brunswick, was called into the service of Col. Little. Success in business induced them to ask the legislature for a charter for the " Lewiston Falls Manufacturing Company." This charter was given Feb. 26, 1834, and was the first charter granted for the manufactories at Lewiston. Now there are 18 establishments, — of which 10 are cotton, aud 5 woollen mills, — carrj-ing 285,188 spindles. Hon. William P. Frye, a distinguished lawyer, has his residence in Lewiston. He became a member of Con- gress in 1871, and has continued to represent the Second Congressional District since that time. Lewiston is also the residence of Hon. Nelson Ding- ley, Jr., ex-governor of Maine. For some length of time he was speaker of the House of Representatives in Maine. In 1873 he was elected governor of the State ; and in 1874, re-elected to that office. He is widely known as an able advocate of the Maine law, and as editor of the "Lewiston Journal," one of the ablest and best patronized papers in the State. Alonzo Garcelon, M. D., is a native of Lewiston. He is vridelj' known as a doctor and a surgeon of rare abilities. In 1878 he was elected governor of the State. W. H. Waldi-on, Esq., editor of the "Lewiston Gazette," and the founder (in company with Dr. A. Garcelon) of the " Lewiston Journal," came from Dover, N. 11., aud is a writer of ability. MiNOT, — population 1,600, — once a part of Bakers- town, was incorporated as Poland, Feb. 17, 1795. This town, in February, 1808, was divided, and all east of the Little Androscoggin River was incorporated under the name of Miuot. Moses Emery, from Newbury, Mass., was the first settler, coming in the spring of 1769. He settled near what was called " Poland Empire." The next settler was Samuel Shaw, from Hampton, N, H., arriving in HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. 1776. He settled not far from Emery. Soon Levi Shaw came and took a lot adjoining Ms brother Samuel. Henrj' Sawtelle, Israel Bray, Jr., and Israel Bray, Sr., Samuel Verrill, WiUiam VerriU, Davis Verrill, Edward Jumper and John Leach, vfere among the first who settled in Minot. The first town meeting was held at the school-house, near Le\i Shaw's, on the 5th of Ajn'il, 1802. Minot has a hard, stouj- soil, but yields fair crops to the industrious farmer. It abounds in hills and elevated ridges of laud. The Little Androscoggin River passes ^^r~ - of great force of character, and exerted a powerful in- fluence over the people in Minot. j Lisbon was once a part of Bowdoin, and was named ' originally Thompsonborough. It was incoiporated iu \ 1799, and named in honor of the Thompson famih', who were large owners of land in that section. The name Thompsonborough not proving agreeable to the people, they petitioned the General Court in 1801, to have the name changed to Lisbon. The name was changed in February, 1802. Little River Plantation, now called ! Lisbon F.ills, was annexed to Lisbon in 1808. In 1840 LISBON FALLS through the southern part of the town, and affords some mill-sites. At Mechanic Falls these are improved for the manufacturing of various articles. At Minot Corner there is a corn-packing establishment, which is doing an extensive business. Mechanic Falls is the terminus of the Rumford Falls and Bnckflcld Railroad. This is a thriving village, partly iu Minot and partly in Poland. William Ladd, Esq., one of the most noted men of New England, was a man of wealth, and in his last years devoted his time wholly to the advocacy of Peace principles. He was largely instrumental in organizing the American Peace Society, and left a large sum of raonej- to that society. Revs. Jonathan Scott and Elijah Jones were ministers LISBON, ME. a division of the town was made, and a portion of its territory was set ofl', forming a town on the north which received the name of Webster. On the 4th of July, 1780, J. Bagley and Moses Little conveyed to Samuel Thompson all the land from Little River to Sabattis River, and to the noi'th unto the line di\-iding Pejepscot proprietors and the Kennebec proprietors. Ezekiel Thompson came here in 1 798. He bought of his brother Samuel, 350 acres at Little River. Thomas Godfrey-, Abraham Whitney, Hezekiah Coombs, Joseph Coombs, Abel Nutting, John Raymond and James Bar- ker were among the first settlers of the town. Lisbon is situated on the east side of the Androscog- gin, and in the east comer of the county. The popula- MAINE. tioii in 1870 was 2,015. There are several important water-privileges and manufacturing establishments in the town. Five of these are on the Sabattis, one at Lisbon Falls, and one at Little Eiver Stream. The Maine Central Railroad affords good facilities for transportation of goods to and from this town. There are four churches in the place. LivEEMOEE was incorporated Feb. 28, 1795. Tlic first settler and principal proprietor of the town, and in whose honor it was named, was Dea. Elijah Livermore, who moved from Waltham, Mass., in 1779. He died, is somewhat stonj-, yet strong and productive. Apples and the products of the dairy are the chief sources of in- come. The leading interest of the town is agriculture. There are four ponds in town, and excellent water-privi- leges on the Androscoggin Eiver. There are three post- offices, six reUgious societies, and 1,470 inhabitants. Israel Washburne, Jr., LL.D., who represented the Penobscot district in Congress for several terms, was in 18C1-2, governor of Maine. He was afterwards collector at the Portland custom-house. He is at present President of Eumford Falls and Buclifleld Railroad. Elihu B. was Aug. 5, 1808. Gov. I. Washburne, says of tliis man : — "The town was fortunate in having for its founder a man so able and so wise, of so much financial strength and weight of character as Dea. Livermore." Mrs. Carver, a widow ladj' with seven children, was the second settler in Livermore. Josiah Wj-er, the third settler, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and was in the battle at Bunker Hill. He died in 1827, and was buried witli mihtary honors. William Carver and Elisha Smith came to Livermore about the time of Mr. Wyer's ar- rival. June 29, 1774, measures were taken to build a saw and grist mill in the township. Midway between the rough hills of Oxford and the undulations of Kenne- bec, Livermore has the characteristics of both. The soil LLS LIVERMORE ME 16 years in Congress, being sent from Illinois. He was secretary of state in 18G9, and since that time until recently he has been United States minister at Paris. Cadwallader C. was ten years a member of Congress from Wisconsin, a major-general of volunteers in the late civil war, and afterwards governor of Wisconsin. Charles A., once editor in San Francisco, and presidential elector in 18G0, was afterwards minister-resident in Para- guay, and author of an elaborate historj- of that countrj'. Samuel B., once a ship-master, was a captain of a marine force in the navy, in the civil war. William D., of Min- neapolis, became largely interested in the lumber trade, and was of late surveyor-general of Minnesota. These are all the sons of Israel Washburne of Livermore, and HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. all were natives of this good town. Bisliop Soule, of the M. E. Church, was also a native of this place. He spent most of his latter daj-s in the South, where he was widely known. Leeds, once known as the plantation of Littleborough, was incorporated Feb. 16, 1801. In 1780, two brothers by name of Stinchfleld, came in the month of June to the wilds of this place. In 1782, Jira Fish came. He had a large famih-. They were of great sei-\-ice to the earl}- settlers, as they had acquired the art of carpentrj'. Thomas Millett came from New Gloucester about 1782. The town of Leeds lies on the east of the Andros- coggin River, about midway between Lewiston Falls and Livermore Falls. It has throe churches, and a pnpnla- MI-VEIIAL Sl'RIXCr, bULlH POI VND, Mh tion of about 1,.300. The surface is muuh di\c-i=,;CfJ. Peat-bogs are extensive here. Much of the land pro- duces well. Dead River, in this town, has the peculi- arity of " running both ways at times." Upon a sudden rise of the Androscoggin River, the water rushes into Dead River, changing its course, so that it runs back into Androscoggin Pond. This continues until the pond, being quite full, changes back the current of Dead River towards the Androscoggin River, of which it is tribu- tarj-. The Jennings familj- has produced a number of dis- tinguished men. Orville was an able lawyer in the South-west. Roscoe G., at one time a surgeon in the United States army, has resided for some years in Arkansas. Gen. Oliver O. Howard is a native of Leeds. He graduated at Bowdoin College, became professor at West Point Military Academy, and served with great dis- tinction in the Union army in the ci^-il war. He is now in the Pacific Department. Rowland B. is a minister and editor, wcU known for his abiHties. Charles H., an aid to his brother in the armj', was promoted, and is now the publisher of "The Advance," a religious journal of Chicago. Turner. — The early history of Turner is similar to that of Bakerstown (now Auburn) in many respects. It was named in honor of Rev. Charles Turner of Scituate, Mass. The act of incorporation bears date July 7, 1786. The first town meeting was held on the 6th of March, 1787. In 1772, Daniel Staples, Thomas Record, Elisha Record, .Topcph Lenvitt and Abner Phillips came and began the fiibt settlement. The Revolu- tionai} war intemipted the flow cf population to this townhsip. Ill 1784 there were 30 families. In 1^70 the population was 2 .l^O. The earl}' name given to Tin ner was Silvester Canada. A<;i iculture is the chief pur- -nit of the people. Many of lh( laimers have acquired con- ^idtiable wealth. There are -ciino five ^•illages, all of them -mall. The three religious so- I It ties Lave each a good house t'f ^\ or ship. Prominent busi- lu'-^s men, lawyers and states- men, have been originated in Turner. Among these is Mr. Donham, of the fli-m of Ho)-t, Portland j Gen. B. B. Murrav, Pem- I'ugg & DuuLli broke ; Mr. William W. Cushing of Missouri ; Leonard Sweatt of Chicago, an eminent lawyer ; Hon. Job Prince ; Hon. Rufus Prince ; Hon. Eugene Hale, member of Con- gress from the Fifth District many years ; Clarence Hale, Esq., Portland ; William Carj-, Esq., late attorney-general of Utah : E. M. Prince, Esq., of Illinois ; Hon! W. Gil- bert, Bath ; C. S. Conant, Esq., Lewiston ; and others. PoLAXD is in the westerly part of the county. " Ba- kerstown" was settled in the 3'ear 1768, b}- Nathaniel Bailey, Daniel Lane and Moses Emery. The locahty where they settled is called " The Empire," where there is now a station on the G. T. Raih-oad. Bakers- town was incorporated under the name of Poland, as the 93d town, Feb. 17, 1795. The first settler at Ricker HiU was John Wooster, who built the first dwelling-house in 1779. Before 1782, fourteen other families had joined Mr. Wooster in that part of the town. A family of Shakers came to Poland in 1819 from Gorliam. Of the original 50, scarce any survive. They own a large stone building, designed as a dwelling-house, and have other property estimated at about $30,000. They are a quiet, peaceable, honest and industrious people. Eastern Poland is somewhat level. Towards the west part of the town it is more hilly and rough. Poland Mineral Spring, in South Poland, is now quite celebrated. Large quantities are shipped each 3'ear to all parts of the United States, and even to South Amer- ica. The most thriving village in the town is Mechanic Falls, on the G. T. Railroad. Here are located Evans's Gun Works, Dennison's Paper Mill, and four churches. DuKHAM was once designated by the name of Eoj-alsborough, from Col. Royal of Medford, Mass. It was incorporated Feb. 17, 1789. It is thought that Samuel Gerrish came to this place in 1769-70, as the first settler. He located where A. True Osgood resided afterwards. In 1775 he enlisted in the army. For many long, weary months his familj' dwelt alone. Soon after, Judah Chandler arrived. He built a saw- mill, and opened up quite a tract of land. These men were follow- ed by the Weemans, Osgoods, Vinings, Davises, and Strouts. In the days of the late Rebellion, this little town fur- nished 95 men. The amount paid out for bounties exceeded $27,000. The town has four places of worship, and a population of 1,350. Here lived and died Dr. Gary, the father of Annie Louise Carj-, who has great celebrity as a singer. Miss Carj- has travelled in Europe, and sung in the principal cities. East Livekmore is a part of Livermore, and was set off in 1844. It covers about one-third of the original grant to Livermore. The first settler of this town was a Mr. Coolidge. He probablj' came from Watertown, Mass. It is thought that Mr. S. Richardson was the first farmer who settled at Livermore Falls. At these falls, mills were erected in 1791. This was done by the original proprietor. Deacon Elijah Livermore. The original name of the Falls was Roccomecco. The soil in the south-west of the town is sand}' ; in other parts it is uneven and hilly. As a town it is quite good for farming interests. The raising of fine breeds of cattle is a considerable business with some. The water-power here is equalled by few other places, but there is no factory or manufacturing interest of any magnitude. The population in 1870 was 1,004. Greene — population, 1,100 — was in early days called Lewiston Plantation ; then it took the name of Little- borough ; and, lastly, Greene, in honor of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary memory. The organization as a town was on the 18th of June, 1788. Benjamin Merrill was the first settler. He moved here OLD MANSION HOUfeL bOUTH POLAND ME Nov. 15, 1775. He came when the snow was on the ground a foot deep, and the snow still faUing as he entered Ms log hut. He had no barn or covering for his oxen, who had to endure the cold until a shelter for theih could be erected. Messrs. Daggett, Comings, Stevens, Herrick, Sprague and Mower soon came and settled. Luther Eobbins removed to Greene in 1778-79. He was a man of good parts, and was highly honored by his fellow-citizens. He represented the town in nearlj' ever}' session of the General Court of Slassachusetts, until the separation, in 1820. He was also postmaster for a long period. Greene is an elevated town, broken bj- ridges and hills. Some of these hills approximate to mountains. Clark's and Caswell's hills, and one or two others, deserve the name of mountains. Greene has little water-power. Agriculture is the chief business of the inhabitants. Moses Harris, a popular HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. and talented Universalist clergyman, and Hon. Alanson B. Farwell, were born in this town. "Wales was once larger in territory, including what is now Monmouth. It was then called Wales Plantation. On the 20th of January, 1792, the northern portion was set off and called Monmouth. In 1803, the plantation of Wales was organized. It was incori^orated as the 212th town, Feb. 1, 1816. The first settlement was in 1773. James Ross, Reuben Ham, Benjamin and Sam- uel Weymouth, Patrick Keenan, and others were among the first who came to this place. Farming is the leading pursuit of the inhabitants. Hodgkin's Hill is a high elevation in the south-east sec- tion of the town. In the south part is Sabattis Mount- ain. A cave on the east side of this mountain affords pleasure to the lovers of Nature's work. Its dark re- cesses have never been fully explored. Sabattis Pond borders on the south-west of Wales. Its population is about 575. Webster. — The area of this town was originally within the limits of Bowdoin, which was divided, and the western part incorporated with Thompsonborough in June, 1798. This name was changed to Lisbon, Feb. 20, 1802. March 7, 1840, Lisbon was divided, and the northern part incoiporated as Webster, in honor of the , statesman, Daniel Webster. The first settlement was begun in 1774-5, by Robert Ross of Brunswick. He located in the central part of the town, on the banks of a stream known at this day as 1 the " Ross Brook." Benjamin Mara was the next set- ! tier. He was thought to be a peculiar man, — perhaps j a deserter from the American army. He soon moved away to New Brunswick. Others came, and the settle- ment began to prosper. Webster is situated nine miles east of Auburn. The population, in 1870, was 939. Sabattis River affords some valuable water-power, which is partially improved. Webster has her share of able and noted men. It is the early home of Capt. J. Nowell, who carried Jerome Bonaparte and his wife, nee Patterson, of Baltimore, to France, and brought the latter and child back to the United States. Also of Hon. Freeman H. Morse, formerly a member of Congress for a long time, and afterwards U. S. consul in London. AROOSTOOK COUNTY. BY ROBERT R. McLEOD. Aroostook County occupies the whole north-eastern corner of the State, and contains 6,480 square miles. It was a late admission, being erected in March, 1839. Its territory was formerly included in Penobscot, Piscat- aquis, Somerset and Washington counties. The name Aroostook is Indian for good river (one clear of ob- structions). The Indians applied it to a large stream in the northern portion of the countj'. The first settle- ments were made by Acadian French, refugees from the Annapolis vallej-. Nova Scotia, after the invasion bj- Col. Monckton in 1775. Fleeing from their burning homes, they crossed the Bay of Fundy, and passed up the St. John River, far bej-ond all English settlements, and on its banks became the pioneers of Aroostook County. But the most important settlement was not the earliest. To the town of Houlton belongs the first place in all that pertains to the future development of the county. It is 120 miles north-east of Bangor, and is bounded easterly by New Brunswick. Through it runs the Meduxnakeag River.* The township was sui-vej-ed in 1789, and in 1805, settlers began to make their homes in this wilderness. These pioneers came from New Salem, Mass. They were people of staunch principles, who formerly belonged in Old Salem. Their names were : Samuel Houlton, Aaron Putnam, Varney Pearce and Luther Tyron. In the course of two or three j-ears, others joined them, and the work of clearing and build- ing went on. Woodstock was the nearest settlement, and there were no roads, so that many privations were suffered, and stern difficulties overcome, before a com- fortable footing could be obtained. In 1826, the north- eastern boundary dispute between the American and British governments brought this region into considera- ble prominence, for through its forests ran the line in dispute, and out of the difficulty grew the bloodless " Aroostook wars." Before 1812, there was no contro- • This name signifies the noise made by the water when it touches the limbs of trees. versy about the boundary. At the head of the St. Croix was a monument, set up on the line, and so far that river, and the lakes at its source, were agreed upon as the line ; bej-ond, it was undetermined. After the treaty of Ghent, a commission was ap- pointed, composed of Englisli and American engineers. They were to run the line due north, to the highlands from which the waters flow towards the Atlantic and the St. Lawrence. When they had siirvej-ed about 40 miles, tlicy reached Mars Hill, an isolated mountain four or five miles from the St. John River, and 30 miles north of Houlton. There the English engineers _^said they had reached the highlands, and the Americans contended, rightfully enough, that far to the north was the intended terminus. They could not agree to proceed ; so they decided to return, and report to their respective govern- ments. While this bone of contention existed, there might be serious trouble, and, to provide for an emergency, the United States ordered a body of troops to Houlton, where they arrived in October, 1826. Barracks and officers' quarters were built for them on Garrison Hill. The troops remained there till the final settlement of the boundary dispute in 18-12. The coming of the soldiers resulted in a great gain to the whole county. In 1828, Congress made provision for a military road from Ban- gor to Houlton, and this, when completed, in 1830, fur- nished an excellent highwa}', that at once did very much to open up this fine region, so rich in timber and fertile lands. Meanwhile, the Aroostook wars, so called, were carried on bj' the State of Maine. In February, 1839, a deputy of the land agent reported to Gov. Kent that New Brunswick lumbermen were engaged in taking away large quantities of timber from the disputed territory. Sheriff Strickland, of Penobscot County, with a posse of 200 men, went to Mesardis, on the Aroostook River. They were in that vicinity divided, and were most of them surprised and captured without loss of blood by the provincial lumbermen, and carried to Fredericton and confined. Sheriff Strickland struck for home, and gave the alarm, and Gov. Kent loyally helped him, till the State voted a large sum for defence, and Congress did the same. Meantime, Gov. Harvey of New Bruns- wick had worked himself up to a fighting pitch, and the prospect for an amicable adjustment of the difficulty was not very hopeful. Sheriff Strickland, with 600 men at his back, marched again for Aroostook. This time he got the best of it, captured a number of ox- teams and their drivers, and cleared the region of trespassers. At this juncture Gen. Scott arrived at Augusta with his staff. Charged with maintaining the peace and safety of the entire northern and eastern frontiers, he opened communication with Gov. Harvey, and the matter was soon peaceably arranged, prisoners restored to liberty, and nobody hurt. While lumber has been a source of great wealth, and will continue to be so for many years, yet it is as an agricultural district that Aroostook County will be best known. Already Houlton potatoes are known from Boston to New Orleans for superior dryness and flavor. The soil for the most part is exceedingly rich and easily worked. Where tlie land has not been cleared, it is covered by forests of spruce, pine, cedar, birch and maple. Very httle of the surface is occupied by worth- less bogs and barrens, but under cultivation, it becomes either excellent pasture or tillage land. A glance at a map of the county satisfies one that but a small portion of it has been settled. There is hardly a township or plantation where the vast unbroken forest does not touch its borders, and run to the shores of the St. Lawrence without a clearing. In this great extent of woods, the hunter secm-es the best of game. Far back among the lonely lakes of the county, moose are still plentiful, and great herds of caribou, or reindeer, range over the country. Many other wild animals, now either wanting or rare in other parts of New Eng- land, are to be found common in this far-away corner. Foxes, bears, deer, wolves, lynxes, beavers, fishers, otters, sable and mink are still trapped and hunted in Aroostook County. In the more remote streams trout are abundant, and some of the lakes offer fine fishing for ! land-locked salmon, pickerel and perch. A few scattered encampments of Quoddy Indians are to be met with. They live by making baskets, axe-handles and moccasins, together with a little trapping and hunting. They have acquired all the vices of white men without taking kindly to any of their virtues, and the consequence is poverty, sickness and general degradation of what is best in human nature. Nearly the whole county is underiaid by a stratum of calcareous shale, that is never far from the surface, and serves to hold the water, and the result is, that it takes a great deal of dry weather to seriously damage the grass and grain crops. The surface of the county is peculiarly- marked by long ridges of gravel and sand (drift) , vary- ing in height from 50 to 300 feet, and running sometimes 50 miles in a direct course. Locall}' they are known as " horsebacks." Geology has not yet satisfactorily ac- counted for them. The surface may be termed undulating. Mars Hill rises in a bold sweeping outhne from among the low hills, and, at a distance of 20 miles, presents a striking appearance. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Such in brief outline is Aroostook County. Its rich and well-watered intervals, and extensive timber-lands, render it one of the most attractive sections of New England. Towns. HouLTON, situated in the midst of a fine farming coun- tr}-, and not far from the great timber regions of the count}', was incorporated in 1831. In 1870 a branch from the European and North American Eailroad was extended to this place. This stimulated business, and the town is now one of the busiest in the county. It exports in large quantities potatoes, haj', cedar-sleepers, ship-knees, shingles, starch and cheese. The population is about 3,500. The court-house is a fine brick building, conveniently furnished. The Houlton Academy, pleasantly- located, and under the auspices of the Baptists, does an excellent work. There are six churches, representing the lead- ing denominations; two newspapers, "The Aroostook Pioneer," and " The Aroostook Times" ; and the United States custom-house. Among the industrial establish- ments are a woollen-mill, hemlock bark extract works, a large shingle-mill, three flour-mills and a starch-factory. Presql'e Isle, situated on the stream of that name close to its junction with the Aroostook, is surrounded bj- hills, with intervals and old forests. Like most other towns in the county, Presque Isle is six miles square. In 1831 Mr. Dennis Fairbanks of Winthrop settled here, and, with an eye to its future growth, built a saw-mill and a flour-miU. He was soon joined by Mr. Isaac Wilder. Other settlers followed, and the town was incor- porated in 1859. In 1860 a fire destroyed a portion of the village. This blow was severe, but it did not materially check its growth. In 1871 there were in the township 120 farms, many of them large and well culti- vated. The population is about 1 ,200. The town contains a starch factorv, making 200 tons of starch annually, a flour-mill, a large saw-mill, and steam shingle-mills. Stages run every day to Houlton and Fort Fairfield, 12 miles distant. Fort Fairfield, named for Gov. Fairfield, is situated on the Aroostook River, near its junction with the St. John, and therefore is bounded on the east by the British line. In 1816 settlers from New Brunswick were the fii-st to open up the forest, and make their homes on this spot. It came into prominence during the boundary disputes in 1839, and, at that time, a compau}- of U. S. troops were quartered there. It was incorporated March, 1858, and in 1867, an adjoining plantation was annexed to it. In 1876 the population numbered 2,500, and the growth since then has been rapid. On Dec. 7, 1875, the town was reached by a railroad that runs from Gibson, opposite Fredericton, N. B. There are two starch factories in the place, a shingle manufactory, and other smaller mills. The surrounding country can hardly be excelled for fertility and rural beauty. LrsDON joins Fort Fairfield on the north-west. Near the centre of the town is Caribou ■village, situated on the Aroostook River, at a point where it is joined by the Caribou stream. The three villages. Fort Fairfield, Caribou and Presque Isle are at the angles of an equi- lateral triangle, and yet so crooked is the course of the Aroostook that they are all situated upon it. This town- ship contains 72 square miles of fine farming land, and has rapidly increased in value and population within a very few years. The first settler, one Cochran, came from New Brunswick in 1835. Eight Aears after, he was joined by Ivory Hardison and Col. Ormsby. Others soon followed, and so rapidly did the settlement increase that it was incorporated in 1859. In 1869 two planta- tions, Eaton and Sheridan, were annexed to it. In November, 1876, the New Brunswick Railroad was extended from Fort Faii-field to Caribou. The popula- tion is about 3,000. New Swedes joins Lyndon on the west. Consider- able interest centres in this town, as it is the home of a Swedish colon}-. On all sides is heard the language of old Sweden, and one here meets with veritable yellow- haired Norsemen, whose ancestors worshipped Odin and Thor. These Swedes came to Aroostook in this way. In accordance with pre-vious legislation on the subject, the Hon. W. W. Thomas was appointed commissioner of immigration, and in 1870, -visited Sweden, where he was already well acquainted. He there secured a colony of Swedes for settlement in Northern Aroostook. Those colonists, 50 in number, arrived at their destination in Jul}-, 1870, and located in township 15, range 3, a fertile and beautiful tract of countr}-. The colony has been largely increased by new-comers from Sweden, and there are already many fine farms, four school-houses, a church and town hall, and other e\-idences of thrift and comfort. Rev. l^Ii-. Yiren is theu- pastor, a Swedish gentleman, who has proved a ver}- devoted and eflicient helper. The population is 700, and the experiment has in every wa}- proved a success. Not a great distance from this colony are the large French settlements, along or near the St. John River. Language, dwellings, manners and customs are all their own. LTntil within a few jears they have been almost isolated from the rest of the worid. Thev brought with MAINE. them the peculiarities of the French peasantry of 200 years ago, with a verj' large share of ill-feeling toward all that was English. ^ye find growing in their gardens the same species of plants that their ancestors cultivated in France. Onions of three varieties and rough buckwheat, all the kinds common to the south of Europe, are very much grown and highly relished. These settlements are Fort Kent (population 1,200) ; French-i-ille (1,900) ; Madawaska (1,200) ; Grand Isle (GOO); St. John (140) ; St. Francis* (2G0) ; Walla- gras (300) ; Eagle Lake (150); Van Buren (1,000) ; and Cyr (400) . Maysville, north of Prcsque Isle, contains excellent tillage-land. The broad Aroostook River runs in a splendid ox-bow cur\'e through the town, and along its banks are rich tracts of cultivated interval. The Aroostook is here spanned by a substantial wooden bridge, 300 feet in length. The first settlers were Mr. Lewis Johnson, his brother Charles, and Mr. McCrea, who came here from "Woodstock, N. B., with their fam- iUes, as early as 1820. This town was the first settled on the Aroostook. These pioneers were quite soon joined hy other settlers. For 20 years the river was their only highwaj'- to the outside world. The other towns of Aroostook County are : Wash- burne, settled in 1838 by parties from New Brunswick, ha\'ing a population of 500, and containing lumber and shingle mills ; Mapleton, settled in 1859, and a growing town of 500 inhabitants ; Easton, incorporated in 18G4, having a farming population of 600 ; Ashland, in the central part of the count}-, settled in 1831, population 500; Masardis, population about 200 ; Mars Hill, named from a mountain 1,800 feet high, within its limits, popu- lation 450 ; Blaine, named from Hon. James G. Blaine, and containing COO inhabitants ; Bridgewater, with 600 inhabitants ; Monticello, population 750 ; Littleton, hav- ing 750 inhabitants ; Ludlow, a farming district, contain- ing a population of 400 ; New Limerick, a very beauti- ful town of 400 inhabitants, settled largely by Irish, and the location of an extensive tannerj' ; Linneus, granted originally to Massachusetts to endow a botany professor- ship, hence its name, in honor of the great naturalist, population 1 ,000 ; Smyrna, containing a scattered popu- lation of 200 ; Ilersey and Sherman, the former having 150 inhabitants, and the latter five times that number; Benedicta, named in honor of Bishop Benedict Fenwick of Boston, population 500 ; Weston, Orient and Amitj-, with a respective population of 400, 225 and 175; Hodgdon, a fine agricultural township of about 1,200 inhabitants ; and Island Falls, with a population of 200. Beside these there are numerous plantations, and more than 100 wild, unsettled townships. For the most part they are owned by private parties. These townships constitute a great lumber regiorf, but it will not be many years before the settler will follow the lumberman, and pleasant homes rise up in these remote wilds. CUMBERLAND COUN^TY. BY REV. EDWARD PAYSON THWING. Cumberland Countt was organized in 1760. Be- sides its present limits, its territory then covered the counties of Androscoggin and Franklin, with portions of what are now known as Somerset, Oxford and Kennebec counties. Falmouth was the shire town until 1786, when Portland was incorporated and made the county seat. Cumberland County has Oxford and York on the west, and Sagadahoc and Androscoggin on the north and east, the Atlantic completing its boundary. There are 25 • This is the farthest settlement on the river. Above it arc the great unbroken forests, where none but lumbermen, trappers and Indians have ever set foot. towns besides the cit}^ of Portland. The population in 1870 was 82,021. CascoBay,t Presumpscot and Lake Sebago are three conspicuous natural features of Cumber- land Count}-. Each has its significance and value as related to the commercial and manufacturing interests of Maine. The bay is one of the finest on the globe, capa- ble of floating the largest fleet, and easy of access at all times. Its rock-girt islands are firmly planted, and not, as in some harbors, piles of sinking sand. Its bold t The name Casco is an abbreviation of Aucocisco, or " resting-place," significant of many halcyon retreats among its 365 islands. Hon. S. S. Prentiss said that Casco Bay was " the fairest dimple on Ocean's cheek." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. promontories, as White Head, arc well adapted for forti- fications, and the remarkable volume of the tidal water- power that sweeps along the ii-on-bound coast, can be operated to advantage 16 hoiu-s a day.* Lake Sebago is a noble reservoir of the purest water in New England, 247 feet above the sea, l>0 square miles in area, and pouring into the sea, through the Presumpscot, a volume of water-power almost incalculable. Twentj- three distinct lakes, with an area of over 90 square miles, form the principal supply of the Presumpscot, which finds the sea by a course 20 miles in length, wearing a narrow channel through blue trap, capable of supporting the heaviest structures. At the driest period of summer its flow is a thousand cubic feet a second. Its water- shed is the easterly slopes of the White Mountains, and the supplj' is, therefore, inexhaustible. The purity of the water makes it suitable for chemical and manufac- turing purposes. The immunity from freshet as well as from dearth makes the importance of this stream more noticeable. Cumberland County presents important geological fea- tures. From Cape Elizabeth to Saeo are interesting varie- ties of argillaceous slate rocks, mica and talcose slates with magnesia, in accordance with the laws of igneous action. Diluvial scratches, reticulated veins of blue quartz, and sienite veins furnish the student of geological historj' with an index to guide his study of their meta- morphosis. In this brief sketch the present elements of material prosperity with which this county abounds, can hardly be mentioned. The statistics of the State, and the various reports of government surveys, furnish ample evidence of the important position which it holds in the physical history of Maine. Cumberiand County has ever been prompt in her response to all the calls of the country in time of need. Her record in this respect, especially during the late war, is one of conspicuous honor. In regard to religious denominations of comparatively recent introduction into ISIaine, less is said in this sketch than of the Congregational or established religion of early days. In 1S21, for example, Greenleaf reports but two Roman Catholic societies in Maine, and those were in Lincoln County. In 1845, the Baptist Cumberland Association, formed, Oct 2, 1811, at North Yarmouth, • While the mean tide of New Yorli is 4.8 feet, that of Maine's coast is 11.6 feet; atEastport it is IS.l feet. Add to this the fact that this coast measures about 3,000 miles in length, and the importance of this power becomes more apparent. t This, says Gov. Chamberlain, was before there was any legal or authorized government in either Maine or Massachusetts. But the first report 12 ordained ministers. In 1821, there was one Free Baptist yearly meeting held in the county. In 1802, " seventeen Methodist preachers labored in all the circuits" of Maine. In 1814, there were 15 preachers of the Christian order. In 1745, the first Presbj-tery was formed at Londonderry, N. H. Its name Boston was changed to Salem at its reorganization, in 1 782. Its last meeting was at Gray, in 1791 ; and, in 1820, Greenleaf writes, "there is not now a Presb^-terian church in the State." TOWKS. Portland, fitly called "the beautiful town that is seated by the sea," and also " Forest City," on account of its abounding shade-trees, whether -v-iewed in its material, or its mental, moral and religious life, is a representative town, even as Cumberland Count}' is, also, among the other honored counties of the Sunrise State. Its favorable location secured early attention. The first trader was Walter Bagnall, who came hither just 250 years ago, but was killed, in 1G31, by the Indians, whom he had cheated. They burned his house and canied off his propertj' from Richmond's Island, Cape Ehzabeth. Sub- sequentlj' Cleaves and Tucker settled in Machigonne. Cleaves went to England in 1C36 ; and, in 1G43, gaining not only a deed for 1,500 acres of land held by him, but authority to act as deputy of Alexander Rigby, proprie- tor of Ligonia, which extended from Cape Porpoise to Cape Ehzabeth, he returned. The first judicial court was held Sept. 12, 1648, by Cleaves, at Casco. He died in 1666. In 1675, there were about 40 families in town, of whom six were on the Neck, — the Munjoys occupj-ing the east- ern and the Bracketts the western part. A portion of the centre was swamp}-, covered with trees and bushes. The trees on Munjoj' were not cut down till after Dr. Deane's day. He died in 1814. There was a meeting-house where the Portland Compan}' now has its shops, and, at the foot of India Street, Fort Loyal stood. In 1687, the captain of this fort, George IngersoU, kept the only store on the Neck, and that year was " licensed to retail liquors out of doors." But, on July 15, 1690, the Court of Sessions at York ordered that no rum, flip or other strong liquor be sold " directly or indirectly, except in case of great necessity, as in case of sickness." f Maine prohibitoiy law is earlier still. Under authority of the Duke of York, Sept. 11, 1G77, the council at Peraaquid passed the following order, penned with Saxon terseness end military authoritativeness : " No rum to bo dranke on that side the ffort stands! " Somehow the magistrates of Maine have never quite forgotten their ancestral tradi- tions in their enforcement of law. In 1676,* and in 1790, the territory now known as Portland was ravaged by the Indians. Parson Burroughs escaped their hands only to fall into those of the less merciful witch-prosecutors of Salem, f In 1718 the name of Falmouth was given to the dis- trict which now embraces the city, Deering, Westbrook, Falmouth and Cape Elizabeth. In 1727, Parson Smith was settled.! Simonton's Cove, Mackay's Island and Cushing's Point bear names of the leading men of busi- ness in those days. As late as 1774: the upper part of the Neck was a forest, and the buildings were mainly on were simple and rastic. § Mrs. Alice Greele's inn, cor- ner of Back and Hampshire streets, was a favorite resort before the Revolution, and her baked beans were spec- ially admired bj' the epicures of those days. She stayed and saved her tavern in October, 1775, when Mowatt ruthlessly destroyed the town. There were 414 houses burned at the time, and of 100 left standing, some were much damaged. After the war, building went forward. The first brick bouse was erected in 1785. The name Portland was given to the town by incorporation, July 4, 178G, being the earliest name of Bang's Island and the -.--^S^^^"^^^ Fore, Middle and Back streets. Fish, fur and lumber were the principal exports. There wore 21 slaves in 1753, when the population was 2,712. The buildings were generally unpaintcd, all of wood, many but one story high. The pursuits and amusements of the people VILW OF PORILAND. ME headland opposite. Fish Street, now Exchange, was the centre of business. From 1795 to 1802 the advance of the town in prosperity was rapid. Fortunes were made by ship-builders during the war in Europe, our vessels, as neutrals, taking all the business of transportation. • In 1676, 34 of the inhabitants were either killed or carried into cap- tivity. The remainder of the settlers for a time abandoned their homes. t He was accnscd of carrying a barrel of molasses by diabolical aid, and of holding a gun by his finger in the muzzle. He was executed Aug. 19, 1092. J When his son, Peter Th.itcher, was bom, June 14, 1731, his sister, Mrs. Codman, says, that " all the married women upon the Neck were present at his bu-th, and, with their husbands, were entertained with a supper on the occasion " ; which shows that the population was very small at this time. This Peter, by the way, who received so hearty a welcome from Portland ladies, lived till his 96th year, highly respected as a clergyman and a magistrate, " tall, portly, free, agreeable and of infinite humor, which he was never anxious to restrain." He was pas- tor at Windham. § At a spiuning-bee at Parson Deane's on May-Day, 1788, 60 wheels spun 225 skeins of cotton and linen yam. Over 100 ladies attended, and in the evening they perfonned " an agreeable variety of excellent pieces in psalmody." Dancing was not allowed, as we may learn from the indictment, on record in 1766, against Nutlianiol Deering and wife, John Waiteand wife, and others of tlic llrst families, for d.ancing in a private apartment of Freeman's tavern. Tlic king's attorney, David Wyer, argued the case. They were acquitted on the ground that it was a very quiet, private hop, and not a public dance or ball. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. The town then had 600 families, 431 dwellings-houses, one Episcopal meeting-house, one Quaker, one Unitarian and two Congregational. In 1794 the Academy was incorporated, and, in 1803, opened in charge of Edward Paj-son. A brick building was erected in 1808. This year great distress resulted from the suspension of com- merce, and the non-intercourse policy-. On Sept. 5, 1813, the British brig " Boxer" was cap- tured bj' the " Enterprise," and their dead captains were laid side bj- side in the Eastern Cemeter}' with miUtary honors. The town appeared at this period like a military camp, guns being mounted on breast- works at the various approaches, and constant watch kept of the enemy that hovered near the coast. The Revolutionary veteran, Gen. J. K. Smith, had charge of the minute-men, formed of old citizens and exempts. * With peace, business re^^ved. In July, 1823, the " Patent," Capt Porter, arrived, the first steamer in our waters, brought to run between Portland and Boston. In the winter of 1843-44, the present Portland Steam-Packet Company was established bj- Capt. J. B. Coj-le and associates; the "John Mar- shall," "St. Lawrence" and "Atlantic" making daily trips between Portland and Boston. The International Line, Machias Company, and the New York steam- ers also represent Portland capital and enterprise. The Cumberland and Oxford Canal, from Lake Sebago to the sea, was finished in 1830, at a cost of $206,000. The completion of the Grand Trunk Railroad in 1853 ; the Rochester and the Ogdensburg roads still more recently' ; the introduction of horse-cars in October, 1863, and of Sebago water July 4, 1870, also mark the steps of municipal growth. The city of Portland was again consumed by fire July 4, 18CG. Fifty -eight streets and lanes, containing 1,500 houses, were left a wilderness of desolation. Ten mil- lions of property were'consumed b}' that conflagration, kindled by a fire-cracker in a boat-builder's shop. Ten thousand were left houseless, and the entire business part of the town blotted out. Public buildings, churches and many historic land-marks were swept away ; but out of • The last war furnished, among the exciting scenes, one incident of special interest to Portland, — the capture and destruction by rebels of the United States revenue cutter "Caleb Cushing," June 26, 1863. Collector Jewett and Mayor McClcllan followed, on board the " Forest City " and " Chesapeake," and took prisoners Lieut. Reade and crew. The capture also of the " Chesapeake " was another note-worthy event of the war. t Parson Smith's journal, under date of Sunday, Dec. 15, 1782, has this item : " Most horrid cold and windy. I could not stand it, but dis- missed the people after praying and singing." Probably his prayer was shorter than usual, for under another date he writes: " I had ex- traordinary assistance.; was- an hour and a half in prayer a.m., and above an hour P.M." the ruins a fairer city has risen. There are 35 places of worship ; a score of schools, with 5,000 pupils ; a popu- lation of about 35,000, with 10,000 more in the suburbs ; natural and social advantages ; and, in short, all the ele- ments of future growth and substantial prosperity. No city in New England, in its social and municipal life, more clearlj' reflects the influence of its religions societies than Portland. Few men ever exerted a wider power for good than Rev. Thomas Smith, the first pastor, whose ministrj' of 68 years, 1727 to 1795, ended in his 94th year. He came -when the place was a wilderness, and lived to see it a town of business importance and rising renown. He faithfuDv ministered to the spiritual needs of the people, and was no less sedulous in pro- moting their temporal welfare. For many years he was the only physician in the place. In November, 1748, he writes: " I am perpetually hurried with the sick: the whole practice rests on me." In 1659, the first court ordered religious services at Falmouth every Lord's Day, " as the inhabitants are at present destitute of an}' public means of edification in the ways of God," which shows that no religious society was then in existence at ancient Falmouth. When Mr. Smith was settled at this place in 1727, the population of the Neck was but 250, and his salary £70, with board and fuel, and " contributions of strangers." The present elegant Second, or Pa3-sou Memorial Church, recalls, b}- waj- of contrast, the period when Portland was but a fishing village, and its only sanc- tuary a one-storj' house, without seats or glass windows. This little unfurnished house on the corner of Middle and India streets, was the only place of worship until 1740, when another small wooden edifice, with windows, but without tower or steeple, was erected where now the First Parish (Unitarian) church stands. This was an improvement on the other, yet a cheerless place in winter, f Some of the distinguished successors of Mr. Smith have been Elijah Kellogg, I a yery earnest and eloquent preacher in his da}', and father of Elijah Kellogg, § the + Mr. Kellogg owned a part of Munjoy, and about 80 years ago, by planting trees along Washington Street, gave the first impulse to that taste for shade-trees which has eince made Portland the " Forest City." § Young Elijah early gave evidence of possessing the spirit that, at the age of 16, had sent the elder to Bunker Hill; the good man being greatly horrified one Sunday morning by hearing his young son some- what pctul.intly exclaim, that Hercules did a deal more good, killing dragons and cleaning stables, than Doddridge ever did wilh his old " Rise and Progess." The venerable minister at once hurried away to the church and requested prayers for his son. It would seem that the request was not in vain. The young man's fiery temper was subdued, and ho still lives to preach and to write most charming juvenile books. popular stoiy writer; Edward Taj-son, D.D. ; Bennet Tyler, D. D. ; Joseph Vaill, D. D. ; Jonathan B. Coudit, D. D., and Rev. J. J. Carruthers, D. D. The people of Portland have ever been distinguished for their culture and refinement. Among her sons and daughters, many have attained a conspicuous eminence in art, literature and professional life. From the times of George Cleaves, 1632, the first settler and a note- worthy political leader, to the Shepleys and Fessendens of our day, the bar, the senate and the national capitol have been adorned by not a few men, natives and resi- dents, of commanding abilities and inlluenco. One the State. Thomas B., son of Rev. Dr. Dwight, born here in 1837, was a distinguished Philadelphia lawyer and judge. He died at Andover, Mass., Aug. 31, 1878. Sergeant S. Prentiss, William Pitt Fessendon, George Evans and George T. Da-vas have won reputation as statesmen ; Commodores Edward and George II. Preble and Rear Admiral Alden have been distinguished in the navy' ; Gen. Neal Dow as an unwearied temperance reformer, and John Neal, Henry W. Longfellow and Nathaniel P. Willis as poets. Mr. Neal was born In 1793, and died June 20, 187G, a man wonderfully bold, brilliant and versatile. Mr. Longfellow ami Mr. Willis IXE GEKEEAL IIO needs only to mention such names as Jedediah Preble, Theophilus Bradbury, Da^^d Wyer, Samuel Freeman, Stephen Longfellow, Theophilus Parsons, Simon Green- leaf, Ezckicl Whitman, Prentiss Mellon, Wilham Pitt Preble, F. O. J. Smith, Ashur Ware, Nathan Clifford, Samuel Fessenden, Gov. Parris, Erlward Fox, Judge Virgin, Joseph Howard, Charles W; Goddard and Israel Washburn, Jr., to recall brilliant^records of public life spent on the bench, in Congress, as governors, or'^'as foreign ministers. The late Judge Ethan Shcplo}-, and his son Hon. George F., who died Jul}' 20, 187^., Judge S^'monds, George F. Talbot, Nathan Webb, Bion Bradbury, John Rand, W. L. Putnam, B. Kingsbury/ Jr., S. C. Strout, T. B. Reed, C. P. Mattocks, Nath.aU Cleaves and J. H. Drummond have adorned a bar which has adorned 3PITAL, POKTLAXD. were born the same year, 1807. They need no eulog}'. Rev. J. II. Ingraham, teacher, author and Episcopal clei'gjinan, was born here in 1809. "The Throne of David," " Pillar of Fire," and many other widely read books, came from his pen. Accidentally dropping a loaded pistol, he was killed in 18Go, or thereabouts. Charles P. Ilsley has written popular tales of frontier life, and Rev. Elijah Kellogg stories for boys. George Payson, Mrs. Elizabeth Payson Prentiss, Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, Mrs. Clara Barnes Martin, Mrs. Samuel Col- man, Sarah Paj'son Willis or " Fanny Fern," Mrs. Sweat, Mrs. Elizabeth Akers Allen (" Florence Percy)," Mrs. Dr. Chickering and Mrs. Abba Goold Woolson are also meritorious authors. Miss Martha B. Ripley, only daughter of Rev. T. B. Ripley, an honored Baptist min- ister, is known as a gifted writer, especially as a trans- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. lator from the Gci-man and French. Prof. Edward S. Morse has had a chair at the universit}^ of Tokio, Japan. Drs. J. W. Mighels and Isaac Ray in natural historj-, and IT. A. S. Dearborn and E. H. Elwell are worthy of mention. The last has recently written " Portland and Vicinity," beautifully illustrated and carefully compiled. Among the native or resident artists may be recalled Charles Codman, C. O. Cole, J. R. Tilton, Mrs. E. Mur- ray, Miss Beckett, C. J. Schumacher, C. E. Beckett, II. B. BroTA-n, John B. Hudson, Jr., J. G. Cloudman and Frederick Kimball ; of sculptors, Paul Akers, Charles Akers and Franklin Simmons ; of musicians, Herman THE OB«I I \ II VND Kotzchmar, Prof. Paine, AV. II. Dennett. S. Thurston, J. Cole, W. II. Stockbridge, D. H. Chandler and others ; while among the architects are Harding and Fassett, whose works speak for themselves. Judge Prentiss Mellen, the son of a Massachusetts minister, came to Portland in 1806. He had a tall, im- posing figure, and a winning address. He used to say before Maine separated from Massachusetts that Cum- berland bar was the best in tlie Commonwealth. Besides the office of chief justice, he held those of executive councillor and senator in Congress. He had literarj- and poetic taste, and two sons who were poets. Among the ministers of Portland who will be remem- bered by published works, are Bishops Southgate and Perry, Drs. Deane, Nichols, Bartol, Hill, Ilayden, Dwight, Chickering, and Asa Cummings. Rev. Drs. Shailer and Carruthers have written much for the re- ligious press. Hon. William Willis has rarely been equalled as an historical writer in fidelity and thoroughness. Hon. William Goold j-ct lives to aid in presening our local annals. Grenville Mellen, S. B. Beckett, D. C. Coles- worthj^ William Cutter, Isaac McLellan and Nathaniel Deering also deserve commendatorj^ notice as authors. The visit of Lafayette to Portland in 1825, is described by D. C. Colesworthy in his " School Is Out." " On June 25th he was met at Bramhall Hill by Hon. Stephen Longfellow and other dignitaries, escorted through decorated streets and under arches of evergreen and flowers, to the State House, Congress Street, and addressed bj- Go^-. Parris and Prcs. Allen of Bowdoin, who con- ferred the degree of LL. D. School children strewed roses along his path as he went to dine at Union Hall and lodge on Free Street with Daniel Cobb." The town-crier of Portland, Samuel Buntin, born about 1730, was in the sen'ice of a Scotch nobleman, and won the heart of his daughter. The proud lord disinherited her, and the worth}' couple made this town their home. Samuel after- wards did all his crying professionally, and pros- pered, living to be nearh' 100 years old. Another town fixture was the tall, portly William Pollejs, the one guardsman whom Portland j'early chose to watch for smokers, tramps, and other street nuisances. Even the playing of ball in the street was not allowed. Says Colesworthj- : " If a man '~ was found smoking a pipe or cigar on the higli- ~ waj- he was at once fined a dollar, such being the wholesome law of the olden time when our fathers loved to breathe the pure air of heaven, not poisoned bj' I the fumes of a vile narcotic." Another ancient landmark was John Groves, one of the colored patriots of the Revolution. The writer preached his funeral sermon at Newbury Street Church, Aug. 3, 1872. The age of Mr. G., as put upon the casket-phite, was 113, though others made him about 107. In his teens he went to sea as a cook, and privat- eering. He was free-born and self-reliant. He recovered a captured brig from a French man-of-war in 1809 bj- his daring, and it v .is very interesting to hear his stories (if olden times, rie remembered how " Parson Smith droned when he preached." This was before 1793. That honored schoolmaster, Joseph Libbej-, deserves passing note. He was born in 1793. graduated in 1821 at Bow- doin, and taught in the Portland High School some 30 years. He died Aug. 27, 1871, aged 77 3-ears. With Jan. 1, 1831, began the issue of the first paper in the District of Maine, called the " Falmouth Gazette and Advertiser." The next j-ear Portland was incor- jiorated, and the paper was named the "Cumberland Gazette." Its publisher, Thomas B. Wait, was a man of ardor, firmness, honestj^, and independence. With this sheet, Benjamin Titcomb's "Gazette" was con- solidated in 1796. In 1803, Nathaniel Willis and Calvin Day established the "Eastern Argus." The former died in 1870, at the age of 90. In 1835, Ira Berry and Charles Holden started the dailj- edition. The " Courier" was issued in 1829, the first daily in the State, by Seba Smith, the original " Jack Downing." Arthur Shirle}-, from 1798, when he was a printer's apprentice, to his latest j-ears, was intimately con- nected with the press of Maine. The first Portland directory and the first book of sacred music came from his press. No paper in Portland has had a wider influence than the " Transcript," which was established in 1837 by Charles P. Ilsley. Edwaul II. Elwell has been proprietor 30 j'ears, and with Messrs. Pickard as associates since 18C0. The " Cliristian Mirror" was established by Eev. Asa Rand in 1822. Rev. Asa Cummings was editor nearly 30 j-ears, and Mr. C. A. Lord about 20 years. The former died in 1856, and the latter Aug. 7, 1878, aged 72. Rev. B. P. Snow was editor for a short season. Rev. I. P. Warren, D. D., is the present proprietor. In 1856, Rev. S. C. Fessendcn estab- lished here the "Maine Evangelist," to promulgate more radical views of human rights than were heL by the " Mirror." Mr. F. was then a resident in Rockland, where he was appointed judge, and repre- sented his district in the 37th Congress. The " Zion's Advocate " for half a century has been a Baptist organ ; begun by Rev. Adam Wilson, and for many years man- aged by Rev. Dr. W. H. Shailer and J. W. Colcord. The " Tribune" (1841) was a literary journal published by D. C. Colesworthy, to which John Neal and the best writers of the city contributed. The " Workingman's Advocate" was started in 1835, and the "Yankee Farmer" in 1836. Of the public edifices of the city space allows only the mention of the names. The General Hospital on Bram- hall's Hill ; the Observatory* on Mnnjoy ; the City Hall, Post-Offlce and Custom House, costing not far from half • The view from the lofty Observatory is considered to be unequalled by any in the State, embracing city and country, sea and shore, with a magnificent sweep of mountains from Mt. Washington on the west 6,300 a million each ; the Mechanics' Hall, and the Museum. The Catholic Cathedral is the most costly church edilice in the State, with a spire originally much higher than Bunker Hill Monument, and elegantly decorated win- dows, altar and shrine. Bridgton, in 1767, was named in honor of Moody Bridges, a proprietor, and a son of one of the grantees. Before this time the district had been known as Pondi- cherry , from the abundance of ponds and of wild cherries. The grant was made in 1761 of a township seven miles cii^ 11 \ri 1 I TLA2ro. square, provided that oO fauiilics settle within six j-ears, build a meeting-house, and also "settle a learned Pro- testant minister," the usual conditions, and those which need no comment, as related to the intelligence and vii-tue of New England. In 17G8 the first saw-mill went up, located on Stevens' Brook. In 1777 the records and proprietors' meetings were removed from Andover, Mass., to Bridgton. These records were burned on the night of Oct. 2, 1780, with the house of Enoch Perley, Esq. The First Church was organized Aug. 26, 1784, with 17 members. Rev. Nathan Church was settled June 17, 1789, as the first feet high, to Agamenticus on the south only 673 feet above the sea level, yet famous for being the spot where Saint Aspinquid died, 1682, at whose funeral, tradition says, 6,711 wild animals were sacrificed by the Indians. HISTORY OF KEW ENGLAND. IDastor. He remained 38 years. Two Acars after this their first meeting-house was occupied. It had two stories, with galleries. Capt. Benjamin Kimball, of Ipswich, Mass., was the first man who settled here. The old sea-captain kept an inn and a store. He conveyed passengers and freight across Long Pond and Scbago Pond. Jacob Stevens and the Gates brothers from Andover came soon after ; also, David Kneeland, David Clark, Enoch Stiles and WiUiam Emerson, men of mark, and who lived to a good age. The Fosters, Burnhams and Hales, Enoch Perley, the Ingallscs, Eobcrt Andrews, John Peabody, ;^^^^ rOST-OFFICt and James Flint, are other names among the earh' settlers. The town was incorporated in 1794. In 1847 a tract of 4,700 acres in Fryeburg and Denmark was added, which now is called Texas. Population in 1870, 2,685. The scenery is delightful, and the facilities furnished b}^ steamers and cars attract man}- summer tourists to this village, to Pleasant Mountain, and other localities round • The early settlers here, as elsewhere, were exposed to eonstant peril from the lurking savage foe. la an old, anonymous tract published here in 1S23, by " a South Carolina gentleman," it is stated th.at Daniel Mal- eolm, called by the Indians " the very strong man," once ventured alone into the woods about Brunswick to split rails, llis loaded musket stood by his side, but a band of five crafty saT.ages silently crept up and caught it, and then told him that he was their captive. He quietly sub- mitted, oidy asking their help a moment. Driving a wedge, he got them all to pull on one side of the clefted timber. Instantly knocking out about Bridgton. The summit of Pleasant Mountain is 2,018 feet high. It commands a circuit of 300 miles, in which 50 lakes are seen, and numerous towns and vil- lages. In point of beauty the view is preferable to that which is had on Mount Washington. Among the manufactures are wooUen fabrics, canned goods, cloakings, leather, harnesses, sashes, potterj', iron goods, furniture, lumber, brooms, carriages, &c. The beet-sugar business is beginning to attract attention. At North Bridgton is an academy, incori^orated in 1808. A high school was established at the centre in 1872. The first minister in Bridgton was Rev. Nathan Church, who died in 18.36, aged 82. The town contains SIX churches, a weekly paper, the " News," and an edu- cntional institution called the Bennet Institute. Brunswick was first settled by a Mr. Purchase, who tiaded with the savages, and, in 1675, obtained grants of lands from them. The place was called Pegj^jscott, from the tribe that occupied the place, which included what is now Topsham. In 1690 the town was de- populated on account of savage incursions. * In May, 1735, 29 persons petitioned for an act of mcorporation. One reason assigned was that they w ibhed power to lay a tax for the support of a pastor. Rev. Robert Rutherford. The chui-ch was organized in June, 1747.' In the summer of 1747, Mr. Robert Dunlap was oulained in the French Protestant Church, School Street, Boston, and came to Brunswick, where he remained till his death, June 26, 1776. Brunswick is midway between Augusta and Portland) at the head of tide-water, and vessels of large tonnage ha\ e been built here. The Androscoggin pushes its way 140 miles back into a rich and productive country, and this town has shared the wealth and activit}' of which this river is the source. Nearly half a century ago it had 30 saw-mills, besides cotton and woollen mills. Present population, 4,687. In 1819 there was, says Griffin, but one house on Pleasant Street, Capt. J. A. Dunning's, and nine only on Federal Street. Three t.averns had open bars, and nine stores where liquors were sold. " Even respectable the wedge, he thus fastened the five in a fatal snare. A dog, he says, had long been used to carry letters on birch bark between Brunswick .and the fort .at The Reach (Bath). He would travel the 15 miles in two hours by water, and, .at his well-kno^vn howl, the fort opened. He was finally shot by an Indian, and a young man took his place. For two years he swam by night, lying by day in the bulrushes of Merry- meeting Bay. He was captured at last, and carried to Canada. Escap- ing, ho returned and resumed his aquatic express business, but was again captured by Sobattis, who was afterwards a guide to Benedict Arnold. women who came to market claimed their right to take a social glass around the hogshead. The consequences can casilj- be imagined. None are now sold openly- except at the town agency. Capt. Daniel Stone was the first trader who refused to sell bj- the glass. Jesse Pierce opened the first temperance store." Bowdoin College was incorporated June 24, 1794, and five townships granted for its support. Joseph McKeen was the first president, and the first class entered in 1802. Four 3-ears after seven graduated. The descendants of Gov. Winthrop had tried in 1787, to get an act of incorporation for " Winthrop College," but the present name was finally taken. Gov. James Bowdoin, a grandson of a French Huguenot, was a mm of culture, and vcrj- popular. His only daughter manied Thomas L. Winthrop. His son James gave £1,100, 7,000 acres of land, and collections of minerals, paint- ings and philosophical apparatus. Dr. Jesse Appleton, President AVilUam Allen of Dartmouth, Dr. Leonard Woods and Gov. Joshua L. Chamberlain have since been presidents. * The prestige of Old Bowdoin is still kept up, and all its available appliances are concentrated for the best possible education, and brought within the reach of all. Aside from the classical there are scientific departments open to the undergraduate, and four schools to the graduate; viz., letters, including fine arts; scien( e philosophy and medicine. There are about 250 student-., and 34,200 volumes in the libraries. The lower classc are trained in military science and tactics. The college and the printing-press are closely alh( d Joseph Grillin set up, in 1819, the first press in Brunsn itk He was a graduate of the office of Flagg & Gonl 1 Andover, second to none, and specially good in the pri'it- ing of classics and oriental tongues. Prof. Moses Strait used to saj-, " Do your best and make J'our own price." " The Maine Intelligencer" began in 1820 ; " The Bap- tist Herald," 1824 ; and " The Brunswick Telegraph,'' 1853. Twelve other periodicals, and uncounted text- books and catalogues have borne the imprint of the Brunswick press. The celebrated writer, Jacob Abbott, was chairman of a college club that, half a century ago, contributed to the • The names associated with Bowdoin College form a luminous record, but of those mentioned in Prof. E. C. Smyth's " Three Dis- courses," no name, perhaps, is more honored of God than that of Phcbe Ann Jacobs, a colored domestic, once a slave, and knoivn in college circles for her humble but absorbing zeal in religion. For many years she was a member of the families of three college presidents. One year the meeting in February for colleges was appointed at six o'clock in the morning. Kcv. Dr. Adams, her pastor, wont at five o'clock to the Tcstry to make suitable preparations, but, he says, " Phcbe was there "Intelligencer." "The Free Press" was set up in 1827, and "The Juvenile Key," 1831, and afterwards enlarged into a family paper ; " The Escritoir," by a col- lege club, 1827; "The Northern Iris," by S. L. Fair- field, 1S29, a poet who died young; "The Journal," 1830 ; " The E.astom Baptist," 183G ; " The Regulator," 1837 ; " Advocate of Freedom," 1838 ; " The PortfoUo," 1839, E. P. Weston ; " The Branswicker," 1842; "The Forester," 1845; "The Pojepscot Journal," 1846; "The Juvenile Temperance Watchman," 1854, by Howard Owen, now of ' ' The Kennebec Journal " ; " The Musical Journal," 1855 ; " The Scientific Eeview," 1871, and "The Orient." In 1857, A. G. Tenucy, class of 1835, bought " The Telegraph," and now issues it. Mr. Griffin had published, in 1872, 78 works of Presi- dents AUon and Appleton, and of nine professors. Cape Elizabeth is, perhaps, the most interesting of the environs of Portland, both in historic associations and scenic attractions. Leaving Portland Bridge, one passes first the premises of the Dr}- Dock Companj-, 25 before me, and had been two hours on the doorstep, waiting for the room to be opened, meanwhile lifting up her soul in prayer ! Precious seed, sown in faith and watered with tears beneath that wintry sky ! How it bore fruit a hundred fold in her pastor's strengthened heart ; in many souls renewed ; in spirits made strong to brave the missionary's life ; in labors on the hillsides of New England, on the prairies of the West, in the great metropolis, wherever hearts then replenished have carried the messages of God's grace ! " Three students for whom Phcbe and other Christian ladies put up Epecial prayer became devoted clergymen. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. acres in extent. One of the two docks is 100 by 425 feet, with a depth of 20 feet, the largest in the countiy. In this neighborhood the Penobscot Indians make their summer head-quarters, and sell their basket-work. A short ride brings the visitor to Glen Cove, tlie residence of Philip II. Brown, Esq., and to the Cape Cottage built by the poet John Neal. Adjoining is the stony castle fonnerly occupied bj' Col. Goddard, and a little further on, Portland Light, the first on this coast, completed in 1791. It is 101 feet above the sea level, and seen 17 miles away. The rocks are very picturesque, and in a storm the view is beyond description, thougli not to be enjoyed without peril.* A few miles further are the two iron Cape Lights, 1 72 feet above the sea. Five hundred vessels have here been seen at once. Richmond's Island, referred to elsewhere, is a mile from shore, and was, in the dajs of Bagnall and his son in law, Robert Jordan, a jjlace of commercial impor- tance.! In 1C30, Richard Tucker and George Cleaves carried on together the business of planting, fishing and trading, north of Spurwink River. Two years after, being driven off by the agent of another grant, they went to a place now known as the comer of Hancock and Fore streets, Portland, and built, in 1632, the first house, which thej- occupied in common. In 1637, Rev. Richard Gibson, an Episcopalian, settled here and remained three years. Until 1648 the island prospered, but then its commerce declined. After John Winter, a leading trader, died, its population diminished, and it ceased to be a place of importance. Cape Elizabeth was incorporated Nov. 1, 1765, but with only district privileges. Parson Smith of the First Church, Falmouth (Port- land), was settled 1727, and preached half the time on that part of the Cape which is opposite what is now the city. The second church in ancient Falmouth was that in Cape Elizabeth, consisting of 11 members, organized Sept. 10, 1734. Rev. Benjamin Allen was installed in November of that year, and remained till his death. May 6, 1754. His successor. Rev. Ejjhraim Clark, continued 41 years, till his death, Dec. 11, 1797, at the ago of 75 years. The State Reform School, established in 1853, is in Cape Elizabeth. The town also contains a marine railway, and an extensive factory, covering two acres of ground, for the manufacture of kerosene and other oils, the product • Elwell says, " After a heavy gale parties frequently drive out to the Light to see the waves dash upon the shore. A few years since two hack- men ventured too far out on the rocks, when a great wave leaped up and swept them off. Their mangled remains were recovered some days later." of which in 1873, was more than 4,000,000 gallons. There is a large rolling-mill emplo3-ing 200 men, and turning out in the same j-ear more than 14,000 tons of rail. Eight}- acres belong to the companj-, and the place is called Ligonia. Extensive ship-building has been car- ried on in that part of the town Ij'ing opposite Portland. Purpooduck was its original name, and a large number of its people followed the sea. Capt. Arthur McLellan, born here in 1751, was widely known as a successful shipmaster and wealthj- merchant of Portland. He died in 1833, aged 82. Population 5,106. Deeuing was taken from Westbrook, and incorjDorated Feb. IG, 1871. It is named in honor of James Deering, born in Portland in 17C6, son of a merchant who lived at the corner of Middle and Exchange streets, and owned 70 acres extending to the Back Cove, including the Deer- ing Oaks, of whose "breez}- domes," Longfellow speaks in his "Lost Youth." Could tliese trees speak they would tell stirring tales of Maj. Church, and his victory over the Indians, and other bloody scenes 200 years ago. Woodford's Corner is a rapidly growing suburb of Portland. Here is a new Congregational church edifice, with a bell from the Deering famil}-. Here also are many elegant residences. Evergreen Cemetery is a beautiful enclosure of about 250 acres, less than three miles from the city, finely diver- sified in surface and rich in natural and artistic attrac- tions. Among the most interesting monuments arc those which mark the resting-places of the historian Willis, Gen. Samuel, and Senator Fessenden, and Samuel Rumerj-. The circle, the arbor and lakes, are very attractive. The nurseries of Charles Ramsey, and the old muster-field of Stevens' Plains, are contiguous, and reached by horse-cars from Portland. The scenerj- along the Prcsumpscot is much admired by artists, and the view of the city across the Cove, at high water, is one of striking interest. There is here a flourishing collegiate and scientific school, known as the Westbrook Seminar}', opened June 9, 1834. The seminary has now an average of 150 students. Stroudwater was once a flourishing village when ship- building and the coasting trade were prosperous. The first church was organized April 8, 1765, and Thomas Brown was ordained as pastor. The Portland Stone- Ware Company is a leading t An earthen pot, which may have been buried by them, has been exhumed. It contained a number of gold and silver coins of the seven- teenth century, and a heavy gold signet ring, richly chased and marked with two initial letters. indiistr}', emplojing 70 men. Thej- have four acres and some of the largest kilns in the country, turning out dur- ing a single month 30,000 fire-bricks, and $2,000 worth of stone-ware. Their annual production is nearh' a quarter of a million dollars. The Portland Packing Compan}- also have branch houses here. The flour and grist mill of "Waldron & True produces 80,000 bushels of meal and 40,000 boxes of ground salt per year. A woollen fac- torj- and a tannery, boot and shoe shops, nurseries, and tinware establishments, emplo}' manj' hands. Rev. Caleb Bradley was for about two generations a Francis, Lieut. Samuel, killed at Bull Run, and Mary E. D., were their children. Daniel Webster rode 20 miles through the snow and cold of a midwinter's day, to attend as godfather the baptism of the infant WiHiam Pitt, and always was deeply interested in the brilliant prospects of his protege. Falmouth formerly included Cape Elizabeth, "West- brook and Portland, with the islands ; an area of 80 square miles. It was incorporated 1718, and named after an English town. Prior to this, documentarj' histoiy is nut complete, for, as Gov. Sullivan says, " there was Goddard Hall. Dmin; Hull Heniey H»U. WESTEKOOK SEMINAUY. conspicuous figure here, and pages might be filled with reminiscences of this genial and wittj- man. He resigned in 1828, but continued to preach till his death, in 1801, in his 90th year.* Miss Ellen Maria Deering of this town, became the wife of Senator William Pitt Fessenden, April 23, 1832. Maj. Gen. James Deering, William Howard, Maj. Gen. • He spent two years at Dartmonth and two at Harvard, graduating in 1795. He never missed prayers, never was absent from a recitation, and during tliese four years never received a reprimand from eitlicr of his teachers. This last fact is noteworthy, considering the inexhaust- iljle fund of humor possessed by him. His parish covered 36 square miles, and he faithfully cared for it. He married 550 couples and con- ducted 1,400 funerals. In one of the Bible classes which he gathered, 30 were converted. He was the great grandson of the famous Indian killer, Mrs. Thomas Dustin of Haverhill, Mass. no other place where the destruction was so complete as it was in the town of Falmouth. The records were not preser\-ed, if there were an}-, before 1G92." New Casco was the northerly portion of the town, eastward of the Presumpscot River. In January, 1735, the people petitioned for preaching, and in April, 17J2, to be set off as a distinct parish. This parish was incorporated in December, 1753, and the church was formed in 1754. John Wiswall was ordained Nov. 3, 175G. Rev. Eben- ezer Williams labored here from Nov. 6, 1765, to Feb. 25, 1799, when he suddenly died by paralj'sis. The Maine Central Railroad Company' have put up an elegant iron bridge here over the Presumpscot, 137 feet in length. The West Falmouth Manufacturing Company- are now HISTORY OF XEW ENGLAND. torning out 150,000 hubs, spokes and rims yearl}-. The brick business, carriage manufacture and boot and shoe business also emploj- many workmen. Population, 1 ,730. Presumpscot Falls and New Casco are two villages of Falmouth. ' Falmouth Foreside, or New Casco, was occupied as early as 163-2 b}- Arthur Mackworth, who had received from Sir Ferdinando Gorges a grant of 500 acres. He was a magistrate for manj- years, and the island oppo- site bears a corrupted form of his name, — Mackaj-. The Two Brothers and Clapboard Island lie near at hand, while further east are seen the waters of the Atlantic. Judge Goddard and Gen. Brown have sum- mer residences in this neighborhood, which is one of remarkable attractiveness. After the peace of 1698 a fort was erected, and as a trading-post New Casco became an important adjunct of Old Casco on the Neck (Portland), where Fort Loyal had been built. In 1703 Gov. Dudley met a delegation of 250 Indians .of five tribes at New Casco. The chiefs were gaylj' painted, well armed and had 65 canoes. They sung and danced, and were loud in their assurances of friendship, but in a few weeks "the whole eastern countrj' was in a conflagra- tion ; no house standing or garrison unattacked." But for the timely arrival of an armed vessel, this hamlet would have been blotted out by 500 French and Indians. After the war the fort was, in 1716, demolished. Freeport, in the eastern part of the county, and lying between Cousin's River and Pi'out's Gore, took its original name, Harrasacket, from the river which runs through it. The present name is said to have been given on account of the openness of its harbor. It was set- tled as early as 1750, but was not incorporated till Feb. 14, 1789, being the 64th town. Freeport originallj- belonged to North Yarmouth. At the time of its incor- poration it included Pownal. In 1808 a division took place and Pownal was set off. There are four villages and five meeting-houses, 17 school districts and 34 schools ; several mills, brickyards and shipyards. Agri- cultural occupations and shipbuilding have been its lead- ing industries. The first church of Freeport was formed Dec. 21, 1789, by ten members dismissed from the first church. North Yarmouth. Rev. Alfred Johnson was ordained the following week. He was dismissed Sept. 11, 1805. Rev. Samuel Veazie ministered from Dec. 10, 1806, to Feb. 6, 1809, when he died with consumption. He was but 30 years of age. The night before his decease the house was found to be on fire, and he was carried out in the midst of one of the severest snow-storms known for many j'ears. The exposure to that wintry' gale hastened his death, which took place soon after reaching the resi- dence of Mr. Bartol, his brother-in-law. Rev. Reuben Nason was pastor, 1810-15.* Rev. John S. C. Abbott, the historian, once preached hero. i Population, 2,457. ' Rev. John Hemmenwa}- was born here in 1814, a son of the somewhat noted Dr. Hemmenway, so long the j pastor at Wells. He is author of the " Life of William | Ladd, the Apostle of Peace," and of the " Daily Remembrancer." GoRHAM is one of the oldest and most substantial towns in the count}-, 10 miles from Portland, on the line of two railroads, — the Rochester and the Ogdensburg. | It was first called Narraganset No. 7, and afterwards Gorhamtown, in honor of Capt. John Gorham. The grantees were a part of the 840 Massachusetts men and heirs who bore arms in the Narraganset war, in 1675. In 1736 the forest-clearings were made b}- Capt. John Phinnej', of Pljmouth blood, who, with his boj', landed in a canoe on the shores of the Presumpscot, and chose Fort Hill for his home. Indians had their wigwams near by, but, for two years, this one white family lived alone. The oldest daughter of this lonely pioneer aided in the transportation of provisions to and from Portland, rowing a boat and carrying iJags of corn and meal around the falls. At their house the first town meeting was held in 1741. It was voted to build a meeting-house, and to cut a road through the wilderness to Saccarappa Mills. Soon after thej- voted to " spot a road to Black Point." On this old Indian camping-ground there were some bloody engagements with the savages. April 19, 1746, Bryant, one of the first settlers, was killed in his field ; five children also, and his wife, were sold into captivit}-. Two men named Peale were also killed. The town was surveyed in 1762, and incorporated in 1764. In 1780 the New Lights appeared here, protesting against Congregational taxation, ministerial education, and other things. The Freewill Baptists, Methodists, Friends and Shakers formed societies about this time. • Rev. Reuben Nason cnme here, in ISIO, from Gorham Academy. He was an excellent Christian man, but had much of tho Btemncss cf an English schoolmaster. He flogged with a Bible, if nothing cko v.na handy, and sometimes " Come here, sir ! " followed in close juxtaposi- tion to the " Amen " of the morning prayer, when some young rogue had disturbed devotions. " Yet he was kind, or if severe. In aught. The love he bore to learning was in fault." He was quick to appreciate or to answer a joke. The boys once put a donkey in his place at the recitation. Instead of becoming choleric, he simply told them that ho thought they had shown excellent taste in selecting a competent instructor, " a donkey to teach donkeys," and retired. There was no more fun of that sort. — Life of S. S. Prentiss, Scribner A Co, The first log meeting-bouse was built when there were only 13 families in town. The first minister of Gorham was hired in 1743 for six months, at 70 shillings a week. His name was Benjamin Crocker, from Ipswich, and a graduate of Harvard. He was " to preatch five or six months to Come or Less time as may sute his con- veniencj'." Dec. 2G, 1750, Rev. Solomon Lombard was ordained pastor of the church which had been organized April 4 of that year.* The present population of the town is 3,600. Hon. Hugh D. McLellan is the historian of the place, f Gorham Academy was incorporated in 1803. In 1806 the new building was dedicated, and Reuben Nason installed principal. Thousands of scholars have been here instructed in literature, science and religion. Man}' have become distinguished at the bar, in the pulpit, and medical profession ; in the State legislatures, and in the Congress of the United States. After three-quarters of a centurj-'s growth, the seminarj' is now merged in a State normal school. The scener}' of Gorham is varied and commanding, cspeciallj' from the outlook of Fort Hill. Its geological features are interesting, and its water-privileges abun- dant. The Presumpscot forms its line of division from Windham. Dearth and freshet are not ki\own. The natural advantages for improvement, and the nearness of market make this river a mine of undeveloped wealth to the county and State. Hon. Stephen Longfellow, LL. D., was born in Gor- ham in 1776 ; a descendant of AVilliam, who came to Byfield a centur}' before, and married Anne Sewall, who, on his death, married one Short, thus having both Longfellows and Shorts among her children. This Stephen (for his father, grandfather and great-grandfather were Stephens) graduated at Harvard in 1798 ; prac- tised law in Portland ; went to Congress in 1822, when Henry Clay was speaker of the House ; was president of the Maine Historical Society in 1834, and held other prominent positions. He died in 1849. His wife was the daughter of Gen. Peleg Wadsworth. Their eldest surviving son is the poet. Our limits allow of reference to one onlj' of Gorham students, — Hon. Sergeant S. Prentiss, born in 1808, brother of the well-known New York clergyman, Rev. Prof. George L. Prentiss. The latter has written a • The ordination feast cost $120. Two gallons of brandy and four of rum were among tlie items. t It was the wife of one Hugh McLellan, who, when the savages attacked the little settlement in the absence of the men, gathered the women into the garrison, mounted the walls, and by pluck and powder won a brilliant victory over the Indians, who were thus held in check by female prowess till their lords returned. biography of his distinguished brother, which is full of pleasant references to Gorham life 60 years ago. Though always lame. Sergeant Prentiss had a beautiful face, and exhibited imperial talents early in his career. Though born in Portland, he loved Gorham with abiding affec- tiou. Hakpswell is about 15 miles from Portland by water, and 40 by land. It is a delightful summer resort. Its population is 1,749. As earlj- as 1758, when incorpo- rated, it was resorted to by the sick on account of its atmosphere. The promontory on which the town is built was called Merrj-coneag. Several islands surround it, the largest of which received the name Sebascodegan, A canal a mile long would unite the waters of the Ken- nebec at Bath with Casco Bay. Farming and fishing employ most of the people. Jan. 15, 1758, Harpswell was incorporated, the 13th town. The first preacher in town was Richard Pateshall, who graduated at Harv'ard in 1735. In 1753 a church was formed, and Rev. Elisha Eaton ordained, who remained till his death, in 1764. A son was next selected, Samuel Eaton, who also remained till his death, Nov. 5, 1822, when 85 years of age. Mrs. Han-iet Beecher Stowe has spent many summer months in this delightful retreat, and wrote " The Pearl of Orr's Island " and other works, at a time when her husband, Rev. Dr. C. E. Stowe, was professor at Bruns- wick. She says that the scenery of Harpswell is "of more varied and singular beauty than can ordinarily be found on the shores of an}' land whatever. At a distance of about six or eight miles from Brunswick, the traveller crosses an arm of the sea, and comes upon the first of the interlacing group of islands which beautifies the shore. A ride across this island is a constant succession of pictures, whose wild and solitarj' beauty entirely dis- tances all power of description. The mngnificcnce of the evergreen forests, the rich intermingling ever and anon of groves of birch, beech and oak, in picturesque knots and tufts, as if set for effect by some skilful land- scape-gardener, produce a sort of strange, dreamy wonder; while the sea, breaking forth on the right hand and the left of the road into the most romantic glimpses, seems to flash and glitter like some strange gem which every moment shows itself through the frame-work of a new setting." Mr. Elwell says : "To the eastward of Harpswell Neck lies Bailey's Island, one of the most beautiful in the ba}', but seldom visited. In line ■with it northward comes Orr's Island, the scene of Mrs. Store's novel, ' The Pearl of On-'s Island.' These islands, indeed, are rich in literary associations. Ragged Island, which lies HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. broad off in the ba}-, midway between Bailej's Island and Small Point Harbor, is supposed to be the ' Elm Island ' of Rev. Elijah Kellogg's stories. Whittier has presen-od a legend of these isles, and tells in his ^^go^- ous verse the storj' of ' The Dead Ship of Ilarpswell,' a spectre ship which comes driving in as an omen of death, but never reaches land : — " In vain o'er Harpswcll Neck the star Of evening guides her in, In vain for her the lamps are lit Within thy tower, Segiiin ! In vain the harbor-boat shall hail, In vain the pilot call ; No hand shall reef her spectral sail, Or let her anchor fall." The Southern slaveholder quoted under the head of Brunswick, admits that he came hither with bitter preju- dice towards Yankees, but praises the people he found here in 18'20. He says that Harpswell had 2,000 tons of shipping and innumerable small craft. He visits its "enchanting scenery" regularly, and receives "every attention from an active, intelligent people, who live in a plain but independent manner. In fact, it is almost impossible for a man to be poor here ; at anj' rate, no one can starve except he is too lazy to gather the bounties Providence has sent to his door. Harpswell is high, and the prospect on every side commanding. The soil is of clay and yellow loam, rich and Aigorous. Many of the farms are in a state of high cultivation. Immense quantities of the best fish are taken within a stone's throw of the shores, even from their wharves." He commends the college and students of the neighbor- hood ; refers to the destruction by fire of the largest col- lege building in 1823, and adds a significant sentence, ! suggesting closer alliance with the North, for "perhaps 1 half a centurj' may not roll awaj' ere our slaves ma}' necessitate our looking to the North for protection, and that even Missouri, in blood, may lament her boasted acquisition." New Gloucester, situated on the Grand Trunk and Maine Central railroads, 22 miles from Portland pleasantly diversified in surface and scenery, and pre- sents the appearance of social thrift and refinement. The population in 1870 was 1,496. Having long been a half-shire town with Portland, it attained more importance than some others, and furnishes ample materials for the historian. On March 27, 1736, the Massachusetts Court granted this territory, six miles square, to 60 citizens of Glouces- ter, Mass. There were to be 63 equal shares, one of which was to be reserved for that indispensable adjunct of a New England community, "a learned Orthodox minister," and another for the ministry, and a third for support of schools. This grant was confirmed the fol- lowing year in July. A saw-mill and 12 log-houses were at once built ; Jonas Mason being the first settler on what is now Harris Hill. In the autumn of 1742 the household efllects of the pioneer settlers were brought by a vessel from North Yarmouth, and poled up Roj'al's River on rafts to the bridge, which had been erected in 1739. The hostility of savages, as well as the obstacles of nature, retarded the growth of the place. For some years it was wholly abandoned, but, in 1753, a block-house was built, of thick hewn timber closely fitted and dove-tailed, bullet- proof, and furnished with two swivel-guns and 100 pounds of powder and lead, and guarded night and day. It stood 100 rods south-west of the meeting-house, on the lower side of the road. For six years " it was a home, a fort, a church. Its solid door of hewn oak pre- vented ingress b}' the lurking foe. Long slots in the wall let in the light, and made port-holes for the gunners within. A blazing fire on the hearth cooked their food, and lighted their apartment by night." (Haskell's Cen- tennial Address.) The ruined mills, bridges and cabins having been re- built, a n«w road was cut in 17.56 by Walnut Hill to North Yarmouth. In 1758 a grist-mill was put up. Before this the com was often carried on the shoulders in the morning, and the meal brought back the same day, a distance of 24 miles. Two j-ears later a road was cut to Gray, then New Boston. Clearings were made and occupied. New bounties brought new settlers. Col. Isaac Parsons of Gloucester, Mass., came in Juno, 1761, and came to staj' ; li^^ng, and dying at the age of 85 years, Oct. 9, 1825, on the farm now occupied bj- his grandson, Peter Haskell. John Woodman, wife and child came the same year. The first meeting of pro- prietors here was held in the old block-house, Nov. 22, 1763. Prior to this the business had been done at Gloucester, Mass. The year 1764 was made memorable by the erection of the school-house, the arrival of the schoolmaster and the minister. The name of the latter was Samuel Foxcroft, son of a Chauncy Street minister, Boston. His salary was £80, and boards, shingles and other materials suffi- cient to make a house for his use. This building, erected in 1765, is still occupied by his grandson, bear- ing the same name. The church was formed and the pastor ordained Jan. 16, 1765. Those who think that our fathers never enjoyed themselves should recall the memorandum made by Parson Smith in reference to this wintry warming of the old fort : " It was a jolly ordina- tion, and thej- lost sight of decorum." The fort Tvas used as a church edifice till 1770. The " canons " of the church had a significance in those daj's. The first meeting-house, a quaint edifice, stood till 1838, having a square tower on the south-west end, and a porch at the other. Twent3--six windows lighted it with their little 8 bj' 10 panes ; galleries on three sides rose to the level of the ej-es of the preacher, perched aloft under the threatening sounding-board ; the deacons sat by the communion table, and the folks hard of hearing sat fronting them ; the well-to-do yeomen enjoyed the broad aisle, and those of a darker hue, who came "to give color to the occasion," were seated on the pulpit-end of the galleries. Wardens watched for sleepers, and stirred them up with their long poles. Holes in the floor served for spittoons, and seats were hung with hinges. How they banged their response to the welcome "Amen" at the end of the long praj-er ! Queer enough, the muni- cipal powder, Haskell says, "was kept in small closets within the sacred desk," probably because it was the driest spot in town. Then those bass viols, flutes and fiddles that led the singers to the grand old tunes of long ago, and the intentions of marriage that were cried aloud from the galleries three consecutive Sundaj-s, and the excit- ing scenes witnessed on election daj-s in that old meeting- house, all clothed the place with ineffaceable associations. The Shakers own 1,000 acres in New Gloucester, and prosecute their varied industries with laudable skill and steadfastness. From 1792 to 1805, the courts alternated with Port- land, sitting each winter at the court-house, near the present pound. The stocks and whipping-posts exerted their salutary influence over the turbulent and recalcitrant spirits. Sundays, town meeting and training daj-s fur- nished subjects for discipline. In 1832 the first prohiln- tion of liquor-selling was made, and, for a dozen years past, "not a single grog-shop has existed within its borders." The town has no debt. Maine's honored senator, William Pitt Fessendcn, spent his boj-hood here. Hon. S. C. Fessendcn, his brother, — member of the 37th Congress, 1860, — was born here. Samuel, their father, began the practice of law in this town. He died in Portland in 18G9, at the age of 84, a few months before his son Pitt died. The mother of the Hon. W. W. Thomas, late ma3-or of Portland, was born in New Gloucester, 1779. She was a daughter of Judge Widger}', and married Elias Thomas in 1802, who died, 1872, over 100 years old. She was a lady of great benevolence and public spirit, and lived 82 years. ScAKBOEOUGii was first settled about 1630 by one Stratton, whose name has long been given to two islands near the town. Black Point was granted in 1G81 bj- the council of Plj-mouth to Thomas Cammock, and became an important place in fisheries and trade. Another settlement by the Algers from England was made at Dunstan's Corner, but was destroyed in the Indian war of 1C75. In 1671 Jossel^-n sajs that there were 50 dwelling-houses, a magazine and corn-mill, " with cattle and horses near upon 700." The population was 2,235 in 1791, much larger than at present. The Indian name, Ow.ascoag, signified much grass. At its incorporation, May, 1658, it took the name of old Scarborough of England. The next year John Libbj- came from Kent Count}'. He died in 1632, the ancestor of a large familj-. The jear 1675 is remem- bered for an attack sufl"ered from the Indians. The date of the settlement after the evacuation of 1690 is not certain. About 1703, after peace had been made, a part}- of seven in a sloop came from Ljnn, and, for a _year, were the onl}' inhabitants. In August, 1703, that little handful "held the fort" for daj-s against 500 French and Indians under Bcaubarin. The foe first, under a flag of truce, demanded " surrender." Capt. John Larrabee threatened to shoot the first one who mentioned that word. The attempt to undermine the building was foiled, as at Thomaston, by a heavy rain which continued two days, and caused the soil to yield, and fill up the excavation. The enemy retired, leaving the gallant defenders unharmed. No town government was organized till March, 1720. The guerilla warfare carried on for 11 years during Queen Anne's war prevented anj' growth of population. Richard Hunniwell, the Indian-killer, as he was called, was specially dreaded by the savages. They had killed his wife and cliild. His revenge was terrible. At one time surprised, while mowing, bj- an Indian, he cut oflT his head with the scythe, and, putting it on a pole, invited the remainder of the red man's partj- to share the same fate. Another band entering a house on Plummer's Neck, Charles Pine, secreted, fired, and killed the two foremost with the same bullet. The survivors fled. One James Libby, on horseback, was once chased by an Ind- ian on foot, and so nearly captured that the latter had reached his side and was about to pull him down. Two armed comrades appearing, the Indian sprang back into the woods. * • The sight of Libhy, with his eyes almost bnrstin;; from their sock- ets, his body thrust forward on the horse's neclc, and his legs far in ad- vance of the animal, so convulsed his brother and comrade, that neither could steady their muskets to fire at the Indian. Libby was never again heard to boast of the speed of his favorite mare. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. After the peace of 1749 a dozen saw-mills found ample cmploj-ment, and prosperity again returfaed. Scar- liorough was prompt in responding to the call of the Continental Congress, and sent 50 men to Cambridge after the battle of Lexington. Manj- also engaged in the expedition to Castine, in 1779. Scottow's Hill is still remembered as the place where the beacon and signal fires telegraphed danger to the neighborhood in olden times. The first preacher of tlic Second Parish, organized in 1734, was Richard Elvin, a baker by trade, from Salem ; converted under Whitefield, and, though not trained in the seliools, an ardent, devoted and useful minister. He usually preached without notes, wliich was not a common thing in those days. He remained 32 years, till his death. Rev. Robert Jordan of Spurwink (Scarborough) , 1G59, is referred to as one whose intelligence and decision sup- pressed the first attempt of " the ^'^llany of witchcraft in Maine." (See N. E. Hist, and Gen. Register, vol. xiii., 1859, pp. 193-6.) Parson Burroughs of old Falmouth was executed, but in Salem, 1G92, not in Maine. Rufus King, and bis half-brother William, first governor of Maine, were born here. The foiTner, says Willis, " was a consummate orator and statesman. None of Greek or Roman fame surpassed him. William, ' the Sultan of Bath,' belonged to the first order of energetic intellect. He was at the head of the Democracy of Maine, with the skill of Talleyrand, but with much more ■\irtue." While Rufus enjo3-ed the classic culture of Cambridge, William tended a saw-mill, and learned the art of log-rolling. He acquired a fortune as a merchant, and as a politician he was second to none in his partj' in Maine. Instrumental largely in bringing about the sepa- ration of Maine from Massachusetts, he became very popular, and was elected with an immense majority' the first governor. Among other distinguished citizens were J. Wingate Thornton, the historian, and Seth Storer, prominent as a politician, who represented the town in various capaci- ties, and his district in the State Senate, and who was regarded by all parties as God's noblest work, an honest man. Windham was at first known as New Marblehcad. The grant was made December, 1 734, to Abraham How- ard, Joseph Blaney, and 58 other citizens of Marble- head, Mass. The name Windham was given in 1762 from a town in the county of Norfolk, Eng. Capt. Thomas Chute felled the first trees and built of logs the first dwelling in 1737 on the banks of the Presumpscot. The same year the site of the meeting-house was se- lected, though its building was delayed till 1740. The first settlers met with hardships in their new home, but they were not strangers to toil. Old Marblehead was far from being a paradise. When Whitefield first saw that rough, rocky, and verdureless place, late in autumn, he exclaimed, " Praj', where do they bury their dead ? " Though Windham has rock enough, it has also a loamy and fruitful soil, with other excellent natural advantages, which have been but partly developed. A substantial fort was erected in 1 744. For six years the harassed colonists dwelt within its walls and escaped death from the savages, though one was wounded and four taken prisoners. Parson Smith's journal gives a graphic description of these tr3'ing times. " Ever3-thing is dark and distressing. God is weakening us exceed- ingly and grievously thinning our small numbers in this countrj-." From 1751 to 1754, there was a brief interval of peace and consequent growth, but in Februarj-, 17oG, Joseph Knights was captured. He afterwards escaped. On IMay 14 following, Poland, king of the Rockomeca tribe killed and scalped Ezra Brown and soverelj' wounded Ephraim Winship. Two men and two bojs, Anderson, Manchester, Cloudman and Winship pursued the foe, shot the king and two of his men. Others from the fort captured and killed another Indian laden with booty. This was the last notable encounter, and until the war of the Revolution prosperity was enjoyed. Seventy-one sensed in the war, and $2,280 in silver were paid by the town for its prosecution. The first church was organized Dec. 14, 1743, and John Wight ordained at that time. The next pastor was Peter Thatcher Smith. At his ordination, Sept. 22, 1702, there were onlj^ 39 families in town. He remained till Sept. 20, 1790, and died here, 1826, aged 96 years. His father was 93 at his death in 1795. Although chieflj' agricultural, the place has marked facilities for manufactures, as its ponds and rivers afford the best mill-privileges. Among the mechanical activities of the place are the South Windham Oriental Powder Company ; the North Windham Company, cooperage ; boot and shoe manu- factories, tannery works, factories for carriages and agricultural implements, staves, shocks and lumber. The population is 2,428. Mrs. Abb}' Goold Woolson, daughter of Hon. William Goold, was born in Windham. She is favorablj- known as an author and lecturer. Mr. G., now in his 72nd j-ear, has pubhshed valuable historical works. Westbrook was taken from old Falmouth and incor- porated Feb. 14, 1814. It took the name of Stroud- •water. In 1815 its name was changed to Westbrook in honor of Col. Thomas Westbrook. It was one of the wealthiest towns in Maine until the portion nearest Portland was set oflf as Deering, Feb. 16, 1871. Sac- carappa* and Cumberland Mills are two flourishing tillages. George Munjoyf settled here about 230 years ago. His wife was Mary, the only daughter of John Phillips of Boston, who was the purchaser of the district east of Clay Cove in 1659, the year after the Province came under Massachusetts. This Boston merchant was a deacon in the North Church, and died in 1683. Though he did not reside in Saccarappa, he, with his son-in-law, earned on a large business in lumber. Saccarappa was long celebrated for its manufacture of lumber, which was begun in 1729, by Benj. Ingersol and others. The lumber was largelj' exported to the West Indies. Latterly the village has set up the spindle and loom, and introduced the flour-miU, wire works, and other gainful industries. In 1748 the only mill between Saco and North Yarmouth was here, and the miller, one Conant, ground 1 ,000 bushels of corn during the winter, which was one of great severity. Westbrook has eleven water-powers, two at Saccarappa of 12 and 19 feet, and at Cumberland Mills a 20-feet fall containing 14 mill- powers, or 2,013 horse power. The width of the stream is 176 feet, and the reservou-s available to these powers have an approximate area of 90 square miles. Cumberland Mills, once an Indian planting-ground called Ammon-Congin, later known as Munjoy's Mile Square, was bought of two sagamores, June 4, 1666. It is the site of extensive paper manufactories, giving employment at times to 300 workmen. The town of Westbrook has not neglected her schools. At the time of its division it was pajing the highest wages for teachers of any town in the county outside Portland, and had school property to tlie amount of $43,150. Among the natives and residents are several noted men and women. The second church (Cong.) at Westbrook, the first being in Deering, is in the village of Saccarappa. It was organized Jan. 17, 1832. There is also a flourishing Methodist church at Saccarappa. Paul Akers, the sculptor, was bom here in 1825, and died in PhUadelphia in 1861. * The name of the former was originally written Sacarlbigg, an Indian word, said to signify " towards simrising." t Munjoy is a name given to the fine hill which forms the easterly portion of the city of Portland. X Its first lawyer was Simon Grecnlcaf, who will be remembered as among the first American jurists. Eev. Prof. Henry B. Smith and Miss Annie Louise Cary spent their earlj' life here. Fabius M. Raj-, Esq., a graduate of Bowdoin, 1861, who studied afterwards at Heidelberg, a lawyer of ability and author of two voliunes of poems and many other literary productions, has for some years been a resident of this place. Yarmouth, situated on Casco Bay, 11 miles from Portland, until a comparatively recent date, 1849, formed a part of North Yarmouth. The two villages are the Corner and the Falls. Shipbuilding and navigation have occupied the attention of its people in former days, but latterlj', the abundant water-powers furnished by Royal's River have been utilized bj' manufacturers. A company named after this stream make cotton-warp and seamless bags. The Forest Paper Company manufac- ture wood-pulp paper. There are earthenware and corn- canning establishments, machine-shops and a foundry. Yarmouth has literary advantages as well as natural and mechanical. In 1870 it reported the highest rate of wages paid male teachers of any town in the county ex- cept Westbrook, and by far the largest in private tuition. North Yarmouth Academy is a well-known institution with 85 students. The high school has 80 scholars. New buildings are going up, and several fine vessels have been recently launched. The Central Church was organized April 27, 1859. Mr. Frank T. Sanborn was recently ordained and in- stalled pastor. Population, 1,872. The remaining towns of Cumberland County are Baldwin, a manufacturing place of 1,100 inhabitants, located on Lake Sebago ; incorporated, June 23, 1802, and possessing at Great Falls on the Saco a magnificent water-power : Casco, incoporated in 1841 ; population, 1 ,000 : Cumberland, 10 miles north from Portland, partly on Casco Bay ; population, 1,626 ; incoporated in 1821 ; the seat of the " Greeley Institute," and the native town of numerous ministers, missionaries, authors and teach- ers: Geay,| incoiporated in 1778, containing 1,738 in- habitants : Harrison, named in honor of Harrison Gray Otis of Boston; population, 1,200; incorporated in 1805 : Naples, a lumbering and farming town, incorpo- rated in 1834, and containing 1,060 inhabitants: North Yarmouth, § settled prior to 1640 ; incorporated in 1680, § Rev. Ammi R. Cutter, author of a dictionary of the Indian lan- guage, was the first pastor here. Rev. Rufus Anderson, D. D., the eminent missionary author, and officer of the American Board for over half a century; Hon. Eilward Russell, secretary of State in 1829-30; William Cutter, poet, editor and author; and the Boston millionaire, Peter C. Brooks, were born m this town. HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. and containing a population of 950 : Otisfield,* a town of 1,100 inhabitants, incorporated in 1798:Pownal, population, 1,000; incorporated in 1808: Eaymond, in- corporated in 1803, and containing 1,120 inhabitants: Sebago, producing pine lumber, made a town in 182G ; present population, 800 : and Standish, which includes a good part of Lake Sebago. The latter town was incorporated in 1 785, and named in honor of Miles Stand- ish. The population is 2,090. FRAN^KLIN COUNTY, BY REV. J. S. SWIFT. Franklin County, having been cut off from facilities for the introduction of manufacturing interests be^'ond the suppl3^ of its local demands, affords, perhaps, the best possible illustration that can be found in New England of the relative profits of exclusively agricultural invest- ments in a region distant from large markets, and owing none of its prosperity or wealth to commerce, manufac- turing or lumbering operations. This feature of historic interest is strictly in accordance with fact as regards 1 7 townships, composing the Sandy River Valley, — the southerl3' half of the countj', and the portion containing much the larger part of its population. The Saddleback and Abraham range of mountains stretches across the county, dividing it into two nearlj' equal portions, separating the Sandy River Valley on the south from the Dead River and Androscoggin valle3"s on the north. The two first-named valleys are lateral branches of the more extensive Kennebec Vallej-. The watershed on the west leaves the town of Weld, and parts of Carthage and Jay in the Androscoggin Valley'. Another remarkable and interesting feature is the almost unprecedented combination within one little saucer-shaped vallej', containing barely an extent of a radius of 10 miles from the natural centre, — the town of Farmington, — -the scenery embracing the grand and bold features of great continental ranges of mountains, and the distinctive geological features and botanical exuber- ance which usually require extensive countries for their successful study. The Sand}' River Vallej' is surrounded by hills and mountains on three sides, forming a magnificent amphi- theatre, through the centre of which meanders the river, skirted with deep, rich intervals, backed sometimes by fertile plains of sand, and sometimes without the inter- * Niuncd for Harrison Gray Otis, one of the original proprietors. vening plains, rising in romantic undulations up to the surrounding watershed, — often shooting up summits above the lower strata of clouds. The scenery is bold and striking, and elicits the admiration of tourists. The beautiful river, fed by innumerable mountain torrents through its whole course, — here, rushing with foaming rapidity over pavements of granite bowlders, and there, entering deep channels, and losing the momentum of its flood in winding pools, often bearing the traditional name of " salmon holes," — the banks fringed with elms, towering over the varied foliage of mingled varieties of the forest trees of northern regions, or shading the inter- val lawns extending to the river's brink, while in the background distance mellows the tinted haze on the cloud-piercing hills, present landscapes which have excited the attention of many successful artists, and which can never be forgotten by the tourist. Nor is the scenery less striking or attractive in the region north of the Saddleback range. Looking down from the dividing summits towards the north, the broad and beautiful valley of the Umbagog or Rangely Lakes, — partly in Oxford and partly in Franklin, — as also the valley of the Dead River, another tributary of the Kennebec, pre- sent a magnificent and varied foreground. Three or four of the townships are largely cleared, and show rich and beautiful farms, with abundant buildings of the most popular style of rural architecture. The settled town- ships are around and among the famous cluster of lakes which have become noted within a few years for their number, beauty, and the abundance of the largest trout with which thej' abound, and which attract, as a sum- mer residence, great numbers of the wealthy and busi- ness inhabitants of such cities as Boston and New York. Beyond these settled townships, the eye wanders over a broad range of forest, unbroken except by inter- spersing lakes, till the hazy horizon of the Canadian boundaiy highlands terminates the background of the landscape. Indian History. — The villages or homes of the aborigines of Maine were almost exclusively confined to the vicinity of the ebbing and flowing tide, where, when other food failed, thej^ could resort to the clam, the qua- haug and the oj-ster, and where embankments of half- charred shells still show that Indian homes must have been maintained for a great number of generations- During the milder portion of the j'ear, the whole interior of Maine was their hunting and fishing ground. One of the very few exceptions to the rule of location we have assumed, existed in the case of the Sandy River Valley) where the skirting banks of rich interval and warm sand invited more than their usual attention to their rude agri- culture, while, at the same time, the facilities were peculiarlj- favorable for taking salmon and alewives. The Norridgewocks, a considerable tribe, established their permanent home on the Sandy River. Their principal village was near where the river falls into the Kennebec. Higher up the river, a considerable village, and perhaps one or two smaller ones, were located in what is now Franklin County. The principal of these was at Farm- ington Falls, where the river, crossed hy a jagged mass of primitive rock, made it a famous place even for years after the region was settled by the whites, for taking salmon and alewives. Another favorite location was at the rapid, or fall, at Chesterville Centre, on the Little Norridgewock. When settlers first explored the region in 1776, thej' found remains of palisades, erected by the Indians for protection, and including some three acres where the Falls village now stands. The enclosure included an Indian burying-ground, where bones, wam- pum and other Indian relics are often dug up. The French from Canada earlj' gained the confidence of the Norridgewocks, and converted them to the Catholic faith, and they remained under French influence, and particularly of a French priest who lived among them, till it became necessary for the New England colonists to destroy their village and church at the mouth of the river. The remains of the half-exterminated tribe joined otlier tribes, occasionally visiting their old hunting and fishing grounds, though a verj' few straggling families seem to have made difl^erent points in Franklin their homes for years after, cultivating with more or less intimacy an inter- course with the hunters and trappers who found their way into the forest region as early, perhaps, as 15 j-ears before its exploration with a view of settlement. The first settlers found the camp of one of these straggling Indians on the Sandy River, by the name of Pierpole. He appears to have been on friendl}- terms with the whites, assisting them with valuable local information, but not receiving all the sympathy desirable from his selfish neighbors, and, being a persistent Catholic, he at length became discontented, and migrated with his family, carrying the body of a dead child through the woods to Canada. First Settlement. — Previous to 1776, nothing was known to the inhabitants near the coast of Maine in regard to the whole interior region including what is now Franklin County, excepting through confused and indefi- nite statements of Indians and hunters. The fame, how- ever, of the " Great Interval " had created so great a de- gree of interest as to induce in that year five enterprising j-oung men, living in Topsham, to undertake an explora- tion of the region with a view of settlement. Thej' were piloted by a hunter by the name of Wilson, and voyaged as far as Hallowell, then containing three or four houses and some fish stores. Proceeding in a north-westerl}' direction, among straggling settlers, some eight or ten miles to the last clearing, they entered the trackless forest, travelling in a west-north-west course by a com- pass. They struck the Sandy River in New Sharon, some five miles east of the Great Interval, crossed the stream, and travelled up its northern bank, passing openings where the Indians had once had their corn- fields, and arrived at the interval tract of which they were in search. In the centre of this they selected lots for their future homes, measuring them off with strings of bark, which they stripped from a bass-wood tree. The adventurers who formed the part}' were Stephen Tit- comb, Robert Gower, James Henrj-, Robert Alexander and James Macdonnel. After exploring the forest further up the river, thej^ hastened home, and made preparations for returning and felling trees. Arriving again at the Sandy River with their axes, they began the work of clearing the land for the new settlement. Though this company commenced operations on their lots as early as 1776, no family moved into the place till 1781. Mr. Titcomb and his associate settlers during the intervening years continued to increase their clearings, prepare for securing hay to winter stock, and build log- cabins, and were joined bj' others, who made similar preparations. Mr. Titcomb intended to become the first settler with a famil}' in the place, and, having put every- thing in readiness, he started with his household in the autumn of 1780, but was blocked up and stopped by the snow at the last house on the route, which was situated in Readfield. When spring opened, he left his family where they had been compelled to winter, and went to his clearing and put in his crop ; when, on returning for his family, he met Joseph Brown and Nathaniel Davis HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. on the way with their families. When the pioneers alluded to had brought, with their families, the com- mencement of social attractions into the lone wilderness, and others, at different places on the intervals, up and down the river, had made little openings preparatory to following with other families, the Sandy River region began to be a topic of conversation, and many of the most intelligent and enterprising of the young men were winnowed out of the flourishing agricultural towns along the sea-coast of Maine, from southern New Hampshire, eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, to plant skill, taste, culture and pietj'^ in a new and attractive location. Within three or four j'ears the smoke, rising thickly from little openings in the dark forest, proved that industry was making rapid conquest, and that a happy community was beginning to develop the privileges of social, intellectual and religious inter- course. Among those who removed their families into Farmington in 1781, Mr. Titcomb was from Topsham, Me., his wife from Rhode Island; Brown and Davis were from Winthrop ; and others who soon followed were from Topsham, Harpswell, Nobleborough, Dama- riscotta, and from different towns in eastern Massachu- setts. A large number of the most enterprising pioneers of Franklin were from Martha's Vine3-ard. When Tit- comb, Brown and Davis removed their families, the nearest grist-mill was at Winthrop, to reach which the I Sand}' River settlers were obliged to follow spotted lines, often with hand-sleds, through the woods. Some years ; elapsed before all the difficulties were overcome which prevented the permanent success of a grist-mill, — the I first being built on Davis's Mill-Stream, now the Temple Mill-Stream, near the centre of Farmington. The com- j bined enterprise of the settlers put a saw-mill in success- ful operation in the autumn of the first j-ear that families wintered in Farmington. Revolutionarj' soldiers, retiring from the armj' at the close of their enlistments, and others, soon after dis- charged from the service by the peace which followed, during a few years that followed our last dates, furnished large numbers of the truest and best of men to Farming- ton, Chester\'ille, New Sharon, and sui-rounding towns, and the decade which intervened between 1781 and 1791 witnessed a surprising development of numerical in- crease, as well as of material prosperity within the limits embraced in our present historical sketch. In 1781, Enoch Craig, a Revolutionarj- soldier, born in Massachu- setts, and several others from Hallowcll and Augusta, commenced clearing farms. Craig was the founder of one of the most substantial and enterprising famihes of Franklin, but he was not married till 1789, when he and Dorothy Starling, of one of the leading pioneer families, were obUged to make a journey to Ilallowell before they could be legall}' united. Solomon Adams, from Chelms- ford, Mass., a Revolutionarj- soldier, commenced clearing one of the Adams fai-ms in 1781 ; Nathaniel Blodgett commenced in 1780; Samuel and Joseph Butterfield in the same j'ear, and Peter Corbett removed from Milford, Mass., in 1782. Francis Tufts, who built the first mills at Farmington Falls, removed his family in 1783. For several years all the lots selected, except a few in Ches- terville, were on the interval tracts which skirt the Sandy River, but within three or four years the most enticing locations on the intervals were taken up, and lots on the undulating uplands were commenced upon to so gi'eat an extent as to scatter the rapidly increasing population over wider regions. In Chesterville, Abraham Wj'man settled as early as 1782, and Dummer Sewall, 2d, and Samuel Linscott had commenced clearing as earlj- as 1783. Rev. Jotham Sewall and Elder Edward Locke settled in Chesterville soon after. As early as 1784, Joshua Soule and Perkins Allen had established themselves in Avon, and were soon after followed bj' Moses Dudley, Ebenezer Thomp- son, Mark Whitten, T. Humphrej', T. Dwelley, and Samuel and Jeremiah Ingham. In 1784, WiUiam Reed from Nobleborough, accompanied bj- Edward Flint, John Daj-, Joseph Humphi-ey, Jacob Sawyer, WiUiam His- cock, and others, settled in Strong. In 1791, Daniel Collins and Abner Norton removed their families into j New Vinej'ard, and were immediately followed bj' quite a colony of people, most of them from Martha's Vine- yard, Mass. Prince Baker, from Pembroke, Mass., removed to New Sharon in 1782. He was early followed by Nathaniel Tibbitts, Benjamin Chambers, Benjamin Rollins, James Howes and Samuel Preseott, 1st. Mills were built in Wilton as early as 1791, and among the j settlers are enumerated Isaac Brown, William Walicer, Ammial Clough, Joseph Webster, Silas Gould, Ebenezer Eaton, Josiah Perham, Ebenezer Brown, Joshua Perlcy and Josiah Blake. Phillips was settled as early as 1790. j Perkins Allen, Seth Greely and son, Jonathan Pratt, j Uriah and Joseph Howard, and Isaac Davenport were among the first settlers. Thus it appears, that within the first ten years from the wintering of the first families in Farmington, the Sandy River Vallej^, through most of its extent, had become the seat of a flourishing community. At great expense of labor it had become supplied with mills, roads and bridges, rendering the region a desirable location for the rapidly increasing population. At the end of our first decade Farmington alone contained 85 families. MAINE. Agriculture. — Wc are quite positive tliere is no spot in New England whei-e facts present a test so perfect of tlie relative profits of agricultural industr3^ Through the whole count}' not one of the pioneer settlers can be named who brought wealth with him, or through inherit- ance received it afterwards. For three-fourths of a century, separated by long and hilly roads from any navigable waters, no commercial enterprise was practi- cable beyond supplying an agricultural population with articles of necessity, and the marketing of agricultural products. The cost of transportation kept the invest- ment of capital, owned elsewhere, out of every branch of manufacturing industry here. Fishing, mining, ship- building, lumbering, &c., upon which other counties have partially depended, and from which, with com- merce, thej' have derived much of their surplus capital, have added nothing to ours. Wc are speaking of the Sandy River Valley, not the region communicating with the Androscoggin north of the Saddleback range of mountains. A comparatively'' small amount of ship- timber, and a little pine and hard-wood lumber, have been carried out of the county for a market since the railroad has been in operation ; but it is presumed that more money has been paid for pine lumber brought from the Kennebec, and for lumber used in cabinet and car- riage making, machine-work, &c., for the supply of our domestic wants, than has ever been added to our cap- ital for all the produce of our forests earned to an outside market. The fact we wish to impress is this : that the whole aggregate of the capital now invested in farms, mills, roads, bridges, houses, churches, cattle, horses and sheep, together with the large estates which have been accumulated here and carried out of the county, or invested in stocks in other regions, and the amount carried West b}' an unbroken tide of emigration, has been dug out of the soil of Franklin in less than a century. Some incidental considerations essential to the lessons of our history must be alluded to in connection with the question, What has agricultural industry, unas- sisted by an3^ other enterprise or investment, done for a community of 17 towns in the interior of Maine? It has, for nearly a century, supported, in comparative afflu- ence, an average population of some 20,000. The fami- lies composing our population have always been " high livers." All dairy products have been used in almost every family in what would be, in cities, called reckless extravagance. For more than half the period eggs were not worth carrying out of the county, and, with poultry, were lavishly used in every family. Veal and lamb, beef and pork have been used with an extravagance which would appal a city population, or a community of manufacturers or mechanics. And what community depending on other business ever had the luxury of such fires on a hearth around which to spend a winter's even- ing, as our exhaustless supplies of the best fuel have furnished? No city or manufactm'ing community', of the same proportional population, ever consumed an amount of fruit half equal to that on which the rural population of Franklin have luxuriated. And what business ever, or anywhere, clothed a community of 20,000 up to the average point of as respectable or com- fortable a standard? And again, what city community ever had the rent of an average of as roomy and com- fortable dwellings? Thus our history illustrates and records an unimpeachable answer to the question, Does farming pay ? Up to the time when railroad communication was estab- lished with an outside market, the people of Franklin encountered peculiar disadvantages which gave a special direction to their agricultural investments. In conse- quence of the distance of a produce market, little of the monej^ brought into the county or value rendered for im- ported goods was exchanged for heavj^ articles of produce. The wealth and prosperity to which Franklin has attained as an agricultural communitj' is traceable to the fact that its people were compelled to regard the territory as a grazing region. And just in proportion as grazing, that is, " stock growing," was made a specialty, their prog- ress and prosperity have been conspicuous. The writer knows of no instance where a FrankKn farmer has kept out of speculation and experiment, and made a specialty' of grazing through a series of j-ears, who has not become pecuniarily independent. A railroad was opened to Farmington in 1859, bring- the Sand}' River Valley into convenient market proximitj- to Portland ; removing all obstacles to the development of its natural resources. Movements are now in operation for extending that communication to Phillips. But thus far the railroad has not wrought, nor will it ever become likely to work anj' essential change in the direction of domestic industrj'. Franklin will continue to be a graz- ing region, and cultivated crops will continue to sustain a subordinate relation to the more profitable investments of producing and using grass and hay. Both soil and climate are particularlj- adapted to the production of corn and wheat, and oats on the intervals not unfrequentlj* produce from 75 to 90 bushels to the acre. These crops are raised quite largelj-. A large business is done in canning sweet-corn, and farmers find it profitable to sell to the canning establishments from $50 to $150 worth of green ears each autumn. The apple crop has been one of the incidental investments which has proved a successful HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. auxiliary in increasing tlie capital of our farmers. Noble orchards were earlj' planted all over the count}', not from anj' anticipated niarlict for their produce, but for domes- tic use of the fruit, and the manufacture, for home use, of what was once the popular beverage of New England — cider. These orchards passed their prime and be- came somewhat wasted bj' decay before railroad commu- nication gave market value to the fruit ; but as cider went out of use, and an extensive market opened for dried apples, domestic industry turned the fruit crop to with tall spire, erected for public worship before the growing influence of various denominations divided the Congregational strength of New England and led to the erection of great numbers of smaller and convenient houses. The old Farmington meeting-house had ceased to be used on ordinary occasions, and while the ground- floor was retained for a town house, the gallery was turned over to the county, and the re-arrangement and remodelling of its roomy space makes it, in every respect, one of the best rooms for court purposes in the State. MANSION, V1.1 profitable account, and sometimes from two to three hundred dollars a j-ear has been added to the capital of of each of the families who have appropriated their sur- plus time to apple drj-ing. It is thought that within about 20 years, in some 15 towns in Franklin, not less than $50,000 has been invested in efforts to replenish the old orchards, nearly the whole of which has proved a total loss, as the trees sold bj- agents from the nur- series of New York have proved to be too tender for the severer winters of Maine. The public buildings and private dwellings of Frank- lin are a noticeable feature, even in a brief description. Wlien the county was organized there was in Farming- ton, the shire town, one of those large wooden structures LUE, FAnMIVCTON, MB, The first sermon preached in Franklin Count}' was b}- Rev. Mr. Emerson, at the log-house of Stephen Titcomb, about 1783. The religious element was deeplj' rooted in the minds of the select representatives of New England thought and feeling, who brought a large share of what then existed of Puritan veneration, civilization and re- finement into the Sandj' River Valley. Profound respect for religion was almost universal, and that respect, to an interesting extent, soon began to ripen in the develop- ment of its emotional power. As early as 1800, a Methodist meeting-house was erected at Farmington Falls. The meeting-house at the Centre, now the court- house, was raised in 1803, and, within a few years after, the erection of other houses — generally neat, substantial and well-finished structures, many of them with spires, and several with bells — commenced and was carried on witli generous liberalit}' and perseverance in all parts of the countj". In Farmington a brick meeting-house was erected in the northerly part of the town, a union house at the Falls, and subsequent!}-, at the Centre village, the Baptists, Congregationalists, Free Baptists, Methodists, Unitarians and Catholics each erected houses of worshijD representing the investment of a large amount of capi- tal, and adding much to the attractions of that elegant and flourishing village. The Methodists have just re- placed their first house at this village by a house eostiut;- more than $10,000. Some 20,000 inhabitants in the countj' of Franklin are not only accommodated by the eight churches enumerated in Farmington, but by two houses in Chester\ille, two in Weld, three in .Jay, four in Wilton, three in Tem- ple, four in New Sharon, two in Industry, three in New Vineyard, one in Freeman, two in Strong, three in PhUlips, and per- haps others. This list pre- sents an aggregate of a meeting-house to about 555 inhabitants. The average value of these 37 houses is, probably, not less than 84,000 each, or $148,000. Most of the villages of Franklin have commodious scenery at apboii i \Mir halls, some of them elegant, paitiLuliilj at Farrmngton Centre. The county has three flourishuig agricultural societies, each with an enclosed park and proper build- ings for purposes of exhibition. The tlu-ee annual shows of these societies are occasions of great at- traction in a community so largely agricultural, and draw together, for two or three days, many thousands of spectators. Every j-ear more or less town shows are held. Among the public buildings of the county may be enumerated several school-houses, in dilferent towns, erected within a few years, which vie with similar struc- tures in our principal villages and cities. The largest of these was erected at Farmington, in 1877. One erected recently at Phillips is an honor to that enterprising and growing village. The normal school building at Farmington is a speci- men of tasteful and substantial architecture, and is loca- ted on a beautifully undulating lot, shaded by a dense grove. The Willows, a noble and costly edifice, erected a few 3'ears since on the slope of the hiU overlooking the callage from the north, for a young ladies' seminary, adds largely to the attractive features of Farmington, though not 3-et proving a lucrative or successful enter- prise. The Wendall Institute, under the management of the Misses May, has a building pleasantlj- located and admirably adapted to its frugal wants, and has be- come a deservedly popular school. Th(,> Little Blue, or Abbott Family School, established in 1844, by Eev. Samuel P. Abbott, in a house built by Rev. Jacob Abbott, ind where he performed much of his literary work, li IS become more famous. It IS generallj' believed, than any similar institu- tion in the world, and is sc^^ing as a model for others. On the death of its founder, in 1849, it )assed into the hands of ill A. H. Abbott, under whose management, as- sisted bj' his accomplished lad}', a daughter of the it(. Hon. Hiram Belcher, It soon rose in popularity' so as to attract pupils from bcjond the limits of the United States. The park occupies a large square be- tween the tv\o pnncipal utiects of the village, and is in- lersected by a small stream, winding through the square nearly' from corner to corner, presenting precipitous banks, lawns sloping graduallj- to the sandj' beach, cata- racts, rapids, darkly-shaded pools, with two navigable lakes, with coves, islands, and whatever art can supply in imitation of nature. Opposite the little Blue School is the cottage residence of Jacob Abbott, surrounded by pleasingly diversified grounds. In 1832, a printing-press was introduced into Franklin County, and the " Sandy River Yeoman" was published one year, when the enterprise was abandoned. In 1840, the " Franklin Register" was started at Farming- ton, and four years after changed to the " Chronicle," which, with several different publishers, has been sus- lOOT lAKArrVGTOX, MF HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. tained uninterruptedly ever since. It is now published and edited by Charles W. Keyes, and enjoys the repu- tation of being one of the best countr}' papers in New England. In 1858, the " Franklin Patriot" was started iu Farniington, and was for j-ears well sustained. It was a smart political opponent of the " Chronicle," and of the war of the Rebellion. Soon after the close of the war it was discontinued. Franklin has now two papers, the "Chronicle," and the "Phillips Phono- graph," started in 1878, and a job-printing establishment at Farniington, owned by Mr. David H. Knowlton. upon by ledges or rocks, morasses or ponds, as to dis- qualify it for a profitable farm. The Sandy River makes a course of some twelve miles through the town. A range of lots extends each side from the river about a mile, with an average width of some forty rods. These continued lines of lots iuclude interval soil on the ri\-er ends, and undulating slopes for pasturage and woodland, in the opposite extremities. Two roads, one of which intersects every one of these lots, extend along the val- ley the whole length of the town. The numerous build- ings connected with these long, narrow farms, all of VVESTEEN NOKUAL SCHOOL, FAJIMINGTON. Farmington Falls was temporarily, during the earlier portion of her literary career, the abode of perhaps Maine's sweetest living singer, then Mrs. Taj-lor, after- wards Mrs. Paul Akers, but more widely known as " Florence Percy." ■ Towns. Farmington, in the centre of the Sandy River Valley, is the shire town of Franklin, which, as a countjs was incorporated from contiguous parts of three adjoining counties in 1840. It is a large township, and has been generally regarded as the best for agricultural puiposes in Maine. In all its territory it has not one lot, accord- ing to the original survej', which is so far encroached course on the lines of the roads, give the whole length of the valley much the appearance of a continuous village, and make a ride through the town one of the most inter- esting which a tourist can find in New England. Farmington Centre, spreading over some COO acres of a beautiful and slightly undulating plain, has the county buildings, six churches, the normal school building, the Little Blue Family School buildings, the Willows Female Seminary and Wendell Institute buiklings. The village owes much of its population, and many of its beautiful residences, and the garden-like culture of its surrounding territory, to the tendency on the part of retiring farmers and business men, and orphaned families, to seek it as an economical and attractive home ; and if its intellectual and religious associations maintain their present char- acter, and tlie prestige of its educational character and facilities remains permanent, the prospect is that its growth will continue till miles of the surrounding plain will be covered with suburban cottages. The village at Farmington Falls is partl3- in Farmington and partly in Chester\'ille, and has some forty tenements, an extensive spool-factory, two saw-mills, an iron-foundry, pulp- mill, excelsior factory, and other machinerj'. Its ma- chinery has, and will continue to have, a constant supply of timber. Two miles west from Farmington Falls, beautifully located on a plain through which runs the Wilson Stream, surrounded by an amphitheatre of hills, is the village of Keith's Mills, or North Chester\'ille. This is likewise located partly in Farmington and partly in Chesterv-ille, and has a beautiful union village church, with a hall that was a donation from Eev. Jotham Sewall, widely known as " Father Sewall," and sometimes desig- nated the "Apostle of Maine," whose remains lie en- tombed in the outskirts of the village. This village is the centre of the wholesale manufacture of wagons and sleighs, which have attained character in an extensive market. Using the machinery at the vil- lage, the manufacture is can-ied on largely on the sur- rounding farms, — each of which has a shop, — profit- ably, as it is supposed, mixing manufacturing and agri- cultural industry. A pretty village, with a fine church, and all sorts of machinery for manufacturing lumber, is situated on the Little Norridgewock, at Chesterville Centre. Here is likewise the tannery of the Messrs. Riggs, the largest in the county, where bj' the use of large reels made to slowly revolve by water and steam power, some 9,000 dozen sheepskins per week are alternately plunged into and drawn out of great vats of the tanning liquor pro- cured by the annual use of 500 cords of hemlock bark. The town has a population of 3,280. Wilton, a highlj' cultivated township containing 1,90G inhabitants, in addition to its agriculture improves the j valuable water-power of the Wilson stream in two im- 1 portant villages. A woollen-factory, established here in 1843, though at first unsuccessful, is at present hope- fully prosperous. A scythe-factorj-, including the manu- facture of the lightning hay-knife, a very remunerative business, is located here. The railroad passes through the village, and it has the trade of a well-developed agricultural region around it. Two or three miles above East Wilton is another large village. It is located on Wilson's stream, at the outlet of its great natural reservoir, Wilson's Pond. The stream has been crossed bj' a number of dams, and the water- power has been utilized to the best advantage. A su- perior flour-mill, a large peg-factory, and machinery for manufacturing short lumber in every useful form, in connection with facilities for a constant supply of tim- ber in the immediate vicinitj', make the village a scene of busy, cheerful life seldom equalled in New England. Two tasteful churches and a noble academy building are among the attractions of a public character. A large tannery is located here. About 1852 an enterprising and public-spirited citizen of the place, Mr. D. Fernald, conceived the idea of establishing a factory for the special manufacture of woollen-yarn for knitting. He introduced and multiplied machinerj' adapted to the design till he almost monopolized a very large market territory for the beautiful and delicate article he had succeeded in suc- cessfully introducing. At the present time, however, this mill-property is devoted to the manufacture of fur- niture. Temple and Avon, adjoining towns, with a respective population of 640 and 510, possess a romantic and some- what peculiar interest. The summit of Mount Blue, a mountain famous throughout New England, and rising 2,804 feet above the ocean, is situated in the south-west corner of Avon, with the bold front of its southern pre- cipitous slope in Temple. Eastward, the successive peaks of the range become gradually depressed along a line nearly parallel with the dividing line of the two townships, till the ridge terminates in the precipitous bluff of Day's Mountain, where it almost overhangs the Sandy Eiver channel in Strong. Gathering its head- waters from this mountain range, the Temple stream makes its descent through the whole length of Temple and a part of Farmington to its union with the Sandy River just below the Centre Village. A strip of beauti- ful inter\-al skirts the part of this stream which runs through Temple, which is beautiful and fertile, thickly settled and highly cultivated. Aside from this valley, there are fertile valleys and side-hill slopes forming excellent farms in other parts of the town ; but most of the township resembles a tumultuous sea of hills and mountains, upheavals of the earliest geological age, covered with bowlders and soil enough to support enor- mous supplies of timber — largely consisting, in all the more elevated parts, of spruce. These rough and pre- cipitous mountain regions are proving to be profitable territory. A pretty and growing village uses up the water-power of the Temple stream, near the south-east corner of the town in the manufacture of the lumber — principally spruce, poplar and birch. Weld, population 1,130, has two flourishing villages where, by water-power and steam, immense quantities IIISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. of lumber arc manufactured into spools, scythes, salt and other boxes. Webb's Pond, a large pond in the centre of Weld, discharges its water b}^ Webb's River, running tlirough a broad plain in Carthage, containing great quantities of pine timber, into the Androscoggin. Berr3-'s Mills is a small lumber-manufacturing village in Carthage. Phillips, a few 3-cars ago, would have been described as having two flourishing villages, some three-fourths of a mile apart, and, perhaps, with a feeling of a little rivalr}- between them ; but now an attractive school edi- fice, a costly church, a large new public-house, and neat and showj' private residences have so iilled up the inter- vening space that tourists cannot locate the dialing line between the two villages. Phillips has many of the best farms in Maine, and the lillage is surrounded by a larger territory naturally dependent upon it as a business centre than any other village in Franklin. Its water- power is capable of almost indefinite development and application. It is the abode of Abner Toothaker, Esq., who, with the large sums he annually pa3-s out to labor- ers, makes it the centre from which he directs his extensive lumbering operations in the Rangely Lake region. A printing-iDress has just been established there. It is already' the location of a large amount of professional ability, of talent, culture and refine- ment, and it can hardlj' escape becoming one of the largest interior villages of Maine. The population of the town is 1,375. Madrid has a prett3' village on the road leading from Phillips to the Rangeley Lake region, where the water- power of the Western Branch of the Sand3- River is used. The town has several saw-mills, and extensive resources in spruce lumber on the steep slopes of Saddleback and Mount Abraham. The summits of these mountains rise above the limits of forest vegetation, and present hun- dreds of acres covered with long moss, with occasionall3' a mere sprig of arctic vegetation seeming to cling to the moss. New Sharon, containing 1,450 inhabitants, was one of the first settled, and is now one of the townships, the natural advantages of which have become most full3' de- veloped. Its numerous farms have made a long list of I proprietors independent and aggregated large amounts of capital, which has gone forth as a constantl3' flowing tide to swell the investments of cities and plant prosperity over all the wide West. The town has one of the pret- tiest interior villages in Maine, situated on both sides of the Sandy River, where a natural fall is crossed b3' a dam and an expensive covered bridge. In addition to the mills required by the necessities of agricultural com- munities, a chair-factor3- maintains successful operation in this \'illage. Other towns of Frankhn Count3' are Freeman, a fine agricultural township, with a population of COO ; Salem, a flourishing farming town of 300 inhabitants ; Industry, population 725, situated at the outlet of Clear Water Pond, and having, at Allen's JIiUs, a water-power of great value, used in manufacturing shovel-handles and ever3'. variet}' of lumber ; Kingfield, named from Wil- liam King, first governor of Maine, population 5G0 ; and New Vineyard, containing 755 inhabitants, a manufac- turing town noted for its romantic scenery' and its almost unexampled privileges of natural water-power. Some twent3- townships of the territory of Franklin, l3-ing north of the Saddleback and Abraham mountain- range, differ materiall3' from the southern part of the count3'. Only a narrow strip, comparativelv, is settled, or has been stripped of the lumber of the primeval forests. The partiall3- settled and border region of the great tract of forest stretching north to the Canada line, has, within a few years, attracted great attention as a summer residence for parties and families from New York, Boston, and other places, and the prospect now is that the region will become one of the most popular summer resorts in the United States. With a few brief obsei-\-ations, we will pass over northern Franklin. Rangeley, the oldest of the settled townships, has its name from an English gentleman, who, emigrating to ; New York, in some business investments unintentionally | became proprietor of the tract. He visited his township after a few pioneer families moved into cabins where tho3- had begun to make clearings, and was so well pleased with his new wilderness possessions as to con- j ceive the romantic idea of reproducing, as near as Amer- | ican institutions might render practicable, the English relation of lonl and tenantr3-. lie selected a beautiful location, and, though separ.ated b3' a belt of some 15 mUes of forest from the nearest carriage-road, at great j expense erected a two-storj- mansion of no inconsidera1)le i claims to architectural merit. Into this he moved with ^ his accomplished famih'. Though he found little con- genial S3'mpath3' among the increasing band of settlers, while he often encountered undeserved opposition and prejudice, he persevered, b3^ the erection of mills and the opening of roads, and in other wa3-s secured the rapid development of a flourishing settlement. The settlers wisel3' turned their attention specially to grazing, as, whatever difficulties distance or character of roads might interpose, they were sure of a cattle-market at their very doors. When subsequentl3' the great business enterprise of running pine-logs down the Androscoggin became established, the haj'-crop found a readj- market in sup- plj-ing the logging camps. The first crops of wheat, barlej^, potatoes, &c., preparing the way for the grass crops, proved to be large, and between " burnt-crop- ping," grazing and lumbering, many of the settlers be- came, not merely pecuniarily independent, but wealthj-. The Kiles family, and the Toothaker family, among others deserve historic renown for the industry and per- severance with which they have led the way in devel- oping the latent resources of the soil and forests of northern Franklin. Particularl}^, Abner Toothaker, Esq., in his vast lumbering operations, by the regular employment of great numbers of men, and the prompt- ness and liberality with which he distributes a great aggregate of capital in the form of payment, has con- ferred unmeasured benefits upon Phillips and upper Franklin. Mr. Rangely continued to reside at the Lakes 15 years, where in his home he carried out much of the form and ceremony practised by the English nobility. Mrs. R. was never contented. The daughter died, and Mr. Rangely at length sold his possessions and removed to Portland, where he resided several years. His last removal was to Henry County, N. C, where he died. HANCOCK COUNTY. EY IIO\. PACKER TUCK AXD MISS C. E. IIOMEK. j The exceedinglj- irregular triangle of Hancock County I is bounded on the east by Washington Count}', on the south by the Atlantic, and on the west and north by ! Penobscot Bay, River, and County. From north to south it measures about 85 miles, and from east to west varies from 6 to 40 miles. Population in 1870, 36,495. Within its limits lie some 300 islands, the largest of which is the most conspicuous upon the Atlantic coast ; and at 20 miles distant from the "me3-ne" land, Mt. Desert Rock raises its half-acre of surface. Among these islands wind many devious channels, through which pre- sumably cruised the gallant Norsemen in their adven- turous voj-ages, leaving traces of their presence along the seaboard. The early history of Hancock County is almost the earliest histor}' of the State, and well deserves the at- tcntiiin of the antiquarian. Leaving in the misty past the vo3-ages of Cabot, the Portuguese Cortereal, and the Florentine Verrazani, with those reported of other navi- gators, such as Gomez and Thevet, indicating a knowl- edge of this section at a very early period, we come down to the commencement of the seventeenth century, when the real, tangible history of this region begins. In 1603, the Sieur De Monts received from Henri IV. of France, a commission as governor-general of Acadia, his jurisdiction extending from Virginia to Hudson's Baj-. His colony made a settlement on Mt. Desert Island, which was soon given up, and the patent cancelled by the king. The application of some of his associates to the French government for aid awakened the attention of Catholicism to the new field, and missionaries were sent to Port Royal (now Annapolis, N. S.), whence fathers Biarde and Masse found their way to Mt. Desert in 1609. In 1613, came the band of 25 colonists led by Suas- saye, the agent of the beautiful and pious Madame de Guercheville, who, desirous of bringing the Indians to the knowledge of the true faith, by her influence with Marie de Medicis, had obtained from the king a transfer of the grant of De Monts. They landed, erected a cross, celebrated mass, and from gratitude at their escape from the terrible gales on the coast, named the place " Saint Sauveur." How long they remained here is uncertain, but a fort was built and a settlement made at the localit}' now known as Ship Harbor, Tremont. In 1605, the famous Champlain, with several followers, sailed by Mt. Desert, to which, in honor of De Monts, he gave the name, " L'isle de Monts Desert," and Isle au Ilaut, then sailed up the river called Pemptagoet, which is, without difficult}', identified from his minute descrip- tion as the Penobscot. De Monts took formal possession of his country, by setting up a cross, naming it Acadia, by which name it was known for many years. The region was subsequently visited by Martin Pring, Capt. Wey- mouth, Capt. Samuel Argall of Virginia, who broke up the Catholic settlement at Saint Sauveur, and by Capt. John Smith. Weymouth took possession of the countiy for his HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. sovereign James I. of England, so it became a source of contention for the two rival European powers, France claiming it by virtue of the exploration of Cartier in 1534 and possession by De Monts, England from the disco verj- of Cabot in 1498 and claims of "Weymouth. For 180 years, the countr^^ east of the Penobscot was a part of Acadia, and shared its fortunes, which kept this region almost unsettled during the provincial histor}' of Maine. Bancroft says the first intelligible welcome which greeted the Pilgrims at Plymouth was from an Indian who had learned a little English from the fishermen at I Penobscot. In 1626, a trading-house was established at Pentagoet bj' the Pl3'mouth Companj^. Pentagoet, the name given by the French to the peninsula now occupied by Castine, Penobscot and Brooks-\dlle, is supposed to be an Indian name filtered through the French language, meaning •' the entrance of the river." Other names were Baga- duce and Penobscot, which last name was spelt b}- the I earl}' settlers in nearlj' sixtj' ways, most of them scarcely' j recognizable. It is derived from penops and suk, signi- i fying " rockj- place." The country was inhabited bj' the i Tarratines, who then occupied the Penobscot territory. ! The Pilgrim trading-post had a flourishing trade until 1632, when it was pillaged by the French and property taken to the amount of £500. Three years later, it was taken and the occupants driven away by D'Aulnay de Charnise, a subordinate officer under Isaac de Razillai, governor of Acadia. The Plymouth Colonj' soon tried to regain the peninsula, and Capt. Girling in the ship '•Great Hope," accompanied b}' Miles Standish in a bark with 20 men, was sent against the fort, occupied bj- 18 persons. Capt. Girling fired away his powder before he was near the fort, and had to retreat, lea\ing himself an I object of ridicule to those in the fort, who had found no I need of braverj'. I After this first recorded battle in Penobscot waters, until 1654, the French held undisputed possession of the I territorj', but there was little peace in it, for after the death of Gen. Razillai in 1G35, the fierce contest for supreme command between the rival lieutenants. La Tour j and D'Aulnay, kept all Acadia in commotion. For 16 years the struggle continued, with varying success, but the fierce D'Aulnay held his position at his fortress of Pentagoet, which was the chosen resort and favorite home of the Romish missionaries. To this time belongs the little chapel to " Our Ladj- of Holy Hope," erected by the pious Father Leo of Paris in the mission of the Capuchins in 1 648. In 1651, D'Aulnaj' died, and shortly after his enemy, i La Tour, who had been driven awav, returned from some quarter, professing conversion to Catholicism, and mar- ried the widow of his whilom rival. He lived at St. John after this, where by his Catholic professions he gained the support of the Jesuits and Indians, as well as that of the French court and Romish Church. In 1654, Oliver Cromwell, under pretence of attacking the Dutch at New York, sent one Maj. Sedgwick, who turned his fleet this way, took the fort at Penobscot, and conquered all the country from thence to Port Royal. La Tour was allowed the free use of hig possessions until his death, when he bequeathed them to his son Stephen, to whom, with William Crowne and Sir Thomas Temple, CromwcU in 1656 granted the charter of Acadia, in- cluding Pentagoet. Col. Temple was established here for several years, where he built up a flourishing trade, and untU the treaty of Breda, the English held quiet possession of Acadia. By that treaty, in 1667, Nova Scotia was surrendered to the French, and in 1670, a formal surrender of Pentagoet was made to the Chevalier de Grandfontaine, commander. About the time of the treaty of Breda, Baron Jean Vincent de St. Castin came from Quebec to Pentagoet. He was born at Oleron, in the district of Beam in the Lower Pj'renees, of noble family, and possessed a com- petent education ; was at one time a colonel in the king's body-guard, and afterwards commanded a regiment called the " Carignan Salieres." At the close of the war the regiment was dischai^ed from the armj", and he decided to remain in this country. Accordingly he came to this peninsula and took up his abode with the Indians, mar- rying the daughter of the chief Madockawando, and real- izing in the New World the feudal S3"stem of the Old. Bold, brave, and adventurous, the savage life had a great charm for him, and for it he relinquished the delights of civilization. Highly esteemed by the French, he kept aloof from the English, to whom he was bitterly opposed, and bj' his influence with the Indians, who admired and respected him almost as a divinity, he held the Penobscot territory for his eountrj-men. A census of Acadia in 1671 gives the population of this place as 31 souls — 6 civilians and 25 soldiers. In 1674, the fort was surprised and taken by a Flemish corsair, thought to be encouraged b}' the English in Bos- ton. The commander, M. de Chambly, was carried pris- oner to the St. John's River, and afterwards ransomed at the price of a thousand beaver-skins. Two j'ears subse- quentlj- the Dutch came in a man-of-war, and captured the fort at Pentagoet, but were promptly driven out by an expedition sent from Boston. For the next ten years there was peace, and Baron de St. Castin made himself rich by the fur trade, and power- fill bj- his connection with the French and Indians. As in the daj-s of D'Aulna}-, this was a favorite resort of the Catholic priests, who called Castin's Penobscot residence tlie parish of the Sainte FamiUe. In the year 1 GS8 Sir Edmund Andros, governor of New England, came in the frigate ' ' Rose " and plundered his trading-house of its valuables, leaving only the little chaijcl untouched. The Baron, who had fled to the woods, was notified hy an Indian that his goods would be restored to him if he would ask for them at Pcmaquid I and obej' the king of England, which conditions he re- i fused, and justly incensed at this outrage, would have retaliated, had not the government of Massachusetts im- modiatoly disclaimed any responsibility in the matter, and adopted pacific measures. In 1G90 Sir William Phips was sent by the General Court of Massachusetts to subdue Nova Scotia. He took formal possession of the coast from Port Royal to I Penobscot, which was confirmed to the State by the Provincial charter of 1691. In 1693 Castin gave in his adhesion to the English Crown, which, however, »lid not prevent him, three years later, from aiding the French with a companj' of Indians in an attack upon Pcmaquid. In 1697, by the treaty of Rjswick, peace I was concluded between the French and English, and after a few years of quiet trading, Castin, in 1701, returned to France. In 1704 Col. Church came with I an expedition into this region, where he captured and killed man J' French and Indians; and in 1710 Acadia was subdued by an army under the command of Gen. Nickolson, raised by the New England Colonies. From that time to the three 3'ears' war with the Indians, in 1744, there was a cessation of hostilities, but no English settlement was made on the Penobscot River. I In 1688 two French families of eight souls were found at Naskeag Point, in what is now Brooklin, and appear- ances of old French settlements have been found in many of the coast towns of the countj'. In this jear Louis XIV. gave to M. de la Motte Cadilliac a grant of 100,000 acres, comprising the whole neighborhood of Mt. Desert, which he held as " Lord of Donaquee and JIt. Desert" until 1713, when the whole territory of Acadia was ceded to England by the treaty of Utrecht. After the Revolutionary war this claim was presented to ' the General Court of Massachusetts bj' IMadame Marie Thercse de Gregoire, granddaughter of M. Cadilliac, and in consideration of a request made by Gen. Lafayette in I her favor, in 1787 it was recognized as valid, the only j French claim ever sustained to lands in Maine. To com- j pcnsate to Madame Gregoire for the lands included in her claim, which the government had disposed of, 60,000 acres were quitclaimed to her. This tract in- cluded the present towns of Trenton and Lamoine, with a part of Sullivan, Ellsworth, Hancock, Eden and Mt. Desert, with the islands in front of them ; and manj- of the present settlers hold their lands under old French titles. Many of the original titles are acquired from Province grants and from Indian deeds. The Gregoire family settled in Mt. Desert, where they lived, and M. and Madame Gregoire were buried outside of the burial- ground at Hull's Cove, Eden. Their children are sup- posed to have returned to France. After the capture of Louisburg, as the outlet of the St. John River was strongly fortified by the English, the Penobscot became the onlj' route for the French and Indians into Canada, and the General Court of Massa- chusetts resolved, at the recommendation of Gov. Pow- nall, to erect a fort to secure the possession of the country and complete His Majesty's dominions on the Atlantic. Early in May, 1759, Gov. Pownall, with a company of men under the command of Brig. Gen. Preble and Gen. Samuel Waldo, who, as proprietor of the immense " Waldo Patent," was deeply interested in the settlement of the country, started " to take posses- sion of the Penobsoct and erect a fortification there." Wasumkeag Point, now called Fort Point, in Stockton, was selected as the site of the proposed fort ; but before commencing it Gov. Pownall, with a detachment of 136 men went up the river, and landed on the eastern side a few miles above Brewer. Here, on " the top of a verj' high piked hill on 3-0 east side of ye river about three miles above Marine Navigation " he buried a leaden plate with this inscription : — "Mat 23,1759. Provixce Massachvsetts Bay, Dominions of Gueat Britain Possession Confirmed by Thomas Pownall, Governop.." This formal act of possession made the evidence of jurisdiction confirming the eastern boundary of the State of Maine, and enabled the commissioners of the treaty of 1783 at Paris to insist upon the St. Croix instead of the Penobscot; otherwise eastern Maine would have become a part of New Brunswick, or as was proposed during the Revolution, a separate province under the name of New Ireland, with Castine for its capital. Fort Pownall was completed July 28, 1759, at a cost of £5,000. A garrison was maintained until the Revo- lutionary war, and it became the trading-post for all this section, where settlers now began to come in. The Tar- ratine tribe was at this time so wasted by war and dis- ease, that, as stated by themselves, they were reduced to five sachems, 73 warriors and about 500 others. They HISTORY OF NEAV ENGLAND. came to the fort for trade, and faithfiillj' kept the treaty made with them. In 17G2, six townships of land, each sis miles square, between the Penobscot and Donaqua rivers, were grant- ed bj- tlie General Court of Massachusetts to Da\-id Marsh and 352 other citizens of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, to be located in a regular contiguous man- ner. In each township were reserved one lot for parson- age purposes, another for the first settled minister, a tliird for Harvard College, and a fourth for the use of schools, making 1,200 acres for public use. Upon the same terms were granted sis other townships east of the Donaqua, three of which are in this county ; and as the whole sur^'ey wa's made by Samuel Livermore, with sis townships on each side of the river, its name was changed to "Union," which it has since borne. The country now began to be settled from different quarters. To Township No. 1 (Bucksport), in 17G2, came Col. Jonathan Buck, James Duncan, Richard I Emerson, WiUiam Duncan and William Chamberlain ! from Haverhill, Mass. The nest j'ear, Joseph Gross, a I soldier from Fort Pownall, built a log house. In 17G4, Col. Buck built a saw-mill, the first one on the Penob- ' scot River. ' In 1764, Mr. Joseph Gross moved from Buckstown to No. 2, said to take its name, Orland, from "Oar-land," he having found an oar upon its shores. Ebenezer Gross came the next 3'ear, and Joseph Viles in 1766, who built the first framed house. Zachariah Gross, the first white child, was bom in 1766. Between 1767 and 1780, a number of settlers came from Boston and took up lots on the east side of the river. John Hancock, a relative of the famous colonial governor, and Samuel Keyes from Boston, settled on Gross's Point. In 1773, Calvin Tur- ner built the first mills. In 1775 there were 12 families in Orland, and 21 in Buckstown. The first permanent settler in Penobscot was Charles Hutchings in 1 768. Aaron Banks came with his familj- from York, Me., in 1765, and settled in the presentlimits i of Castine. In 1767, Samuel Averill settled upon the north-west side of Northern Bay, and Jacob Perkins near him. Finle}' McCuUam settled upon the east side j of Northern Baj' in 1769 ; and, in 1773, Daniel Brown. j Joseph "Wilson settled at the head of the tay in 1774. In 1759, Andrew Black came to Naskeag (No. 4), now Sedgwick, in honor of Maj. Robert Sedgwick. Joseph Wood and John Roundy came from Beverly, Mass., in 1762 to No. 5, now Blue Hill, from a majestic hill within its limits, which rises to an altitude of 950 feet above high-water mark. The third family was formed by the marriage of Col. Nathan Parker, from Andover, with the eldest daughter of Mr. Wood. Jona- than DarUng, the first child, was born in 1765. The first English settlers of No. 6, named hj the Jar- \-is proprietors for Surrey in England, were Symonds, AV^eymouth and James Flye. In 1 762 a settlement was commenced at Sullivan, b^^ Sullivan, Bean, Simpson and others. In 1763, Benjamin Milliken settled in what is now Ellsworth, so called in honor of Oliver Ellsworth, one of the delegates to the National Constitutional Con- vention. In twentj' j'ears there was a population of 992. Settlements were made in Trenton by Englishmen about 1763, but their names are not found. As early as-1700 squatters had found their way to Gouldsborough, but the names of the first settlers were Libb}-, Fernald, Ash and Willy, from Saco and vicinitj-. The town took its name from Robert Gould, one of the original proprietors. In the spring of 1761, Capt. Abraham Somes of Gloucester, Mass., took up a land grant, and came to the head of the lake now known as Somes's Sound in Mt. Desert, where he built a mill and made other improve- ments. Stephen Richardson located himself at Bass Harbor, and in 1 763 a famil}- named Thomas settled in Eden, and John Robei'tson, upon one of the Cranbeny Isles, since called by his name. About 1770 Christopher Bartlett of Bartletl's Island, obtained from the General Court a deed of 100 acres ; at the same time his brother Israel settled at Prettj' Marsh. Deer Isle, so named from the abundance of deer in its forests, was first set- tled by one Carnej', who afterwards moved to Carney Island, giving it its name. The first real settler was William Eaton, who came from Haverhill, Mass., in 1762. The first child born upon Deer Isle, Timothy Billings, died in 1854, at the age of 90 years. During the Revolutionary war the Enghsh ministry saw the importance of a military post in this quarter, and for this purpose selected the peninsula of Bagaduce. In June of 1779, on the fourth anniversary of the battle of Bunk-er Hill, the English fleet, under the command of Capt. Mowatt, with VOO men commanded by Gen. Fran- cis McLean, appeared before Maja-Bagaduce, then a plantation of 20 houses. A fort was immediately com- menced upon the heights, commanding the whole Penob- scot valley, to be called Fort George. This occupation of the country caused great terror among the suiTound- ing villages, and many citizens fled for safety, preferring povert}- and danger to submission or the required oath of allegiance. In July, the General Court of Massachusetts, without consultation with the Continental authorities, or even asking the advice of Washington, organized an espeili- tion to expel the invaders and re-capture the post. The result of their efforts was the ill-fated " Penobscot Expe- dition," one of the most disastrous defeats of the whole war. The fleet consisted of 19 armed vessels, caiTjing 344 guns, and 24 transports, convej-ing over 1,200 men ; and with this force at command, the pusillanimous com- modore remained for 21 daj's besieging an unfinished fort, w ith a comparativelj' small garrison, and onl}' three sloops of war, delaj'ing operations until reinforcements came to their aid, when he gallantly informed the cap- tains of his vessels, who had c6me on board the flag-ship at his signal, that each must look out for himself. Ships i and transports crowded sail and moved up the river, where all were lost ; the transports were burned, and the beautiful frigate "Warren," the first of that class built iu the United States, shared the common fate, being destroj-ed to prevent falling into the hands of the enemy. This defeat was rendered more mortifying from the fact that Gens. Lovell and Wadsworth, with the brave Col. Paul Ecvcre, were eager for action and confident of suc- cess, and the first attack had shown the bravery of the men. Gen. McLean is said to have been willing to sur- render the first daj', if the demand had been made upon him, but the delay enabled him to strengthen his fortifica- tions and await assistance. Commodore Saltonstall was afterwards tried by court-martial for cowardice and casli- icred, but Gens. Lovell and Wadsworth were honorably acquitted. The men succeeded in saving a small stock of provisions, and with great difficulty made then- way through the wilderness to the Kennebec settlements. The cost to Massachusetts was immense, amounting to many millions of dollars. After this defeat, the British retained possession of Bagaduce until peace was declared, and left it in December, 1 783. Fort George was finished according to the original design, and ruled the surrounding country, though the treatment of the people was for the most part concil- iatory. During this occupation the towns at the east were chiefly lojal to the cause of the Colonies, and suf- fered in proportion to their fidelit}'. Many of the inhab- itants returned to Iheir former homes, where they remained until after the peace, when they began gradu- ally to return and settle the new country ; but for a long time there was great poverty, and no expensive works could be undertaken. In 178G, Massachusetts attempted a lottery sale of 50 townships between the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy rivers, but onl}- a small proportion of the tickets were sold ; and the lands undrawn, with the greater number of the prize lots, were bought by William Bingham of Philadel- phia, 'who also in 179G purchased the residue of the (iregoire grant, making him owner of a large portion of the county. The lotter}' townships in Hancock County sold to Mr. Bingham were Nos. 14,15 and 16, each con- taining 23,040 acres. A daughter of Mr. Bingham married Alexander Baring of London, and it was as agent for the Bingham purchase that Gen. David Cobb came to Gouldsborough, where the grand " city of the future " is now but a faint dream of the past. Emigration flowed rapidly into the State, and a divi- sion of the great county of Lincoln, embracing the east- ern country from the Kennebec to the St. Croix, became necessar}' ; consequentl}', in 1789 a new county was established by an act of the General Court, and named for Gov. John Hancock, then the most eminent and popular man in New England. The limits of the new countj' were along the coast from Thomaston to the head of the east branch of Gouldsborough River, and northwardly to Canada. Penobscot was made the shire town. Within its limits were 13 incorporated towns and plantations. Penobscot, the largest town, had a popu- lation of 1,048 ; Belfast, 245 ; and Bangor*, 567. " Cas- tine," says Judge Crosby, "was then the capital of all that vast territory lying east of the counties of Lincoln and Kennebec ; the centre of its societj' and commerce, and its seat of justice." In 1791, a part of the county was set off and re- annexed to Lincoln. By the grant of the townships provision was made for the support of the Protestant ministry, and the inhabitants of most of the towns full}- carried out the views of the grantors. The following vote is recorded in the town records of Blue Hill for 1768, only six j-ears after the coming of the first settlers : " To raise money for to hire a person for to preach the gospel to us, and for to pay his board." As earlj' as 1772 a church of 14 members was gathered at Blue Hill by the preaching of Rev. Daniel Little, a minister atKennebunk, who made missionary tours to the eastern settlements, the nearest church at that time being at Phipsburg, | and the next nearest at Brunswick. In 1768 a church : was built. In 1796 Rev. Jonathan Fisher was ordained to this chm-ch, and Rev. Ebenezer Price in Belfast. In 1773 a church was established in Deer Isle, of which Oliver Noble was pastor ; but the first settled minister was Rev. Peter Powers, in 1789. In 1791 Rev. Daniel Merrill was settled in Sedgwick. In 1791 Rev. Jona- than Powers was settled in Penobscot, and in 1798 Rev. William Mason came to Castine. In 1793 a committee was chosen in Buckstowu to hire Rev. Abraham Cum- mings to preach the gospel, and in 1803 a church of six members was organized, and Rev. Mighill Blood of Ilollis ordained as its pastor, which connection was con- tinued until 1840. The first minister in Ellsworth was HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Rev. J. Urquhart, in 1785, and in 1812 Rev. Peter Nourse was ordained. In 1 794 Metliodism was preached in Maine hj elder Jesse Lee of "N'irginia, who made an eastern tour of several months, " survej-ing the region of the coast from Portsmouth to Castine." The next j-ear the Rev. Joshua Hall preached the first Methodist sermon in Bel- fast. There were then several of that denomination in Buckstown, where a meeting-house was built in 1799, two stories high, with a gallery on the inside ; it was never finished, but Rev. John Kinney preached in it for a number of years. Rev. Joshua Hall was the third preacher sent to the district, and his Sabbath appoint- ments were Hampden, Onington, Buckstown, Frankfort, Belfast and Union, each of which he visited once in six weeks. Scarcely a horse excepting his own was then owned on the river, and to hear him, people went from 10 to 20 miles in canoes and boats. In 1800 Rev. Joshua Tajlor preached in Castine, and was mobbed and drummed out of town with tin kettles, besides being otherwise " shamefuUj' handled." Before the Revolution, no public provision was made for schools, but very soon after peace was declared, atten- tion was turned to education. In 1789 a law was passed ' ' to provide for the instruction of j'outh, and for the promotion of good education," hy which everj' town of 50 or more famihes must be provided with " one or more schoolmasters, to teach children to read and write and instruct them in the English language, as well as in arithmetick, orthogi-aphy and decent behaviour," under a penalty of £10. In 1794, £30 were raised in Bucks- town for the support of schools, and the next year the town was divided into districts, and £18 raised. In 1791 the town of Penobscot made its first appropriation for schools ; so in all the towns, as population increased, the need of schools began to be felt, and was supplied immediatelj' from the public funds, with due regard to the public interest. School districts were fonned, teachers provided and school-houses built as fast as the circum- stances of the towns admitted of them. In 1803 an academj'' was located at Blue HiU, largel3- owing to the efforts of Parson Fisher, where for manj" j-ears it was a flourishing institution. The first post-office mentioned in the county was at Gouldsborough, in 1792, and the next year, George Russell of Castine, was employed to pass once a fort- night with letters between Belfast and Wiscassct, where the connection with the western mail was made. At first, he caiTicd the mail in a handkerchief, afterwards in a leather bag strapped to his back ; then, as the roads became sutFicientlv cleared for a horse, he used saddle- bags. The earliest mail from Castine to the eastern part of the State was carried bj' John Grindell of Sedg- wick, about the j'ear 1795. His contract with Joseph Habersham, U. S. postmaster-general, has been pre- sen-ed, by which he was to carry the mail " from Passa- maquoddy by Machias, Gouldsborough, Sullivan, Tren- ton and Blue Hill to Penobscot in the District of Maine, and from Penobscot b}' the same route to Passama- quoddy, once in two weeks, at the rate of $84.50 for every quarter of a year." As there were no roads at that time he went in a boat along the shore. From Ellsworth to Castine the mail was carried bj' Abner Lee, at first with a stage and two horses, but tradition says, ha^•ing lost one horse, he drove the other for several j-ears harnessed with a heifer. The first newspaper published in this section was the " Castine Gazette," established in 1798 by Daniel E. "Waters. The second was the " Castine Journal and East- ern Advertiser;" and in 1805, the " Gazette of Maine" was estabhshed in Buckstown bj' W. W. Clapp, which continued for about seven yeai-s. Various other news- papers have been started, but the " Ellsworth Ameri- can " is the onl}' newspaper now published in the countj-. In June, 180fi, the Penobscot Bank of Buckstown went into operation -with a capital stock of §150,000, and being the onl}' monetary- institution in this ■sdcLnitj-, flourished well, and money was abundant for a time, but the embargo of 1807 checked business to a great extent, and for this reason, with others, the bills of the bank dechncd to 12 percent, discount ; taken at par, however, for rum and lottery-tickets. In October, 1810, the bank failed, and with it most of the business men of Bucks- town, the great loss to the stockholders never being accounted for by the bank officers. The first physician in this section was Dr. WUliam Crawford, who was located at Fort Pownall for several j-ears in the double capacity of surgeon and chaplain, preaching in the chapel erected by Col. Goldthwait. He is said to have married the first couple ever united here according to Protestant fonns. In 1801 Martin Kingsley, Esq., of Hampden, was emplo3"ed to take the valuation of all the towns in the county of Hancock. Bangor then was the smallest of all the towns given in these statistics, and Frankfort the largest. In the first years of the centurj- immigrants came to the inland part of the county and took up grants of land. Mariaville, named for a daughter of Mr. Bing- ham, was settled in 1802, and from its limits have been since taken Aurora, Amherst and Waltham. The early settlers of these towns endui-ed great hardships, but struggled bravelj- on, carrying their grain 8 or 10 miles on their backs to have it ground, before roads were made, and finding their waj- bj- a spotted line on the trees. No. 8, afterwards Dedham and Otis, was settled in 1805 bj' men from Massachusetts. The new country was rich in timber, and mills were built as soon as the means of the settlers admitted of it ; shipbuilding was also commenced in the maritime towns. The first vessel in Buckstown, and probabl}' on the Penobscot, was built bj- Col. Jonathan Buck in 1 770 ; she was sloop-rigged, and called the " Hannah." This has always been a leading industrj- of the countj', and joined with the fisheries has largely built up the seaboard towns, while lumbering and farming have been the business of those inland. In 1812 war was proclaimed between the United States and Great Britain, which gave an opportunitj'' to renew the vexed question of the boundary between Maine and the Provinces, which was improved bj- the English in taking possession of the disputed temtorj'. Sept. 1, 1814, a fleet of eight vessels of war, with 11 transports, conveying 3,500 men, besides the usual camp-followers, arrived at Castine ; one vessel, the " Tenedas," having previously (August 9) had a little flght with some fisher- men at Norwood's Cove, Mt. Desert, in which the fisher- men, bj' coolness and a little strateg}-, got the better of the "red-coats," killing and wounding several of them. The small garrison at Fort Porter, seeing the uselessness of resistance to so powerful a force, without waiting to surrender, discharged their cannon, blew up the maga- zine and fled up the ba}-, leaving the English in full possession of the town, which thcj- retained until April 15, 1815, when thej' quietly abandoned their stronghold. During their staj', Castine became the most important place in Maine. Fort George was repaired, other bat- teries built, and a trench commenced by Mowatt in 1799 was enlai-ged, making an island of the lower part of the peninsula. Detachments were sent to the neighboring towns to take possession, and the countrj' east of the Pe- nobscot was declared under English rule, the inhabitants being obliged to take an oath of allegiance or of neu- trality- to ensure protection. Trade was brisk and moncj- plenty, and the presence of the array of occupation added much to the business of the town, while the people of the surrounding country' were glad to have the trade that would relieve to some extent the terrible privations to which they had been subjected for the last two years. After the departure of the English ami}' the American forces took their places and remained until March, 1819. In 1814 Bangor was made a half-shire town ; in 1810 a portion was taken to form Penobscot Count}-, and in 1827 a part was taken off for Waldo. In 1S31 a change was made in the partition line between Hancock and Washington. In 1838 Ellsworth was made the shire town and the courts removed thither, since which time, with a very few changes, the countj- has held its present limits. In the earlj' daj-s, communication with the outside world was bj- boat, and in the sorry days of the " Pen- obscot Expedition" aid was solicited from Boston by sending whale-boats ; later came the packets, which made the voj-age to Boston at the will of the wind, convcj-ing passengers, who made their wills before starting and asked the prayers of the congregation for their safe retm-n. In May, 1824, the first steamboat came to the Penobscot waters, the " Maine," of 105 tons ; and in June the steam brig " New York" commenced her trips. The temperance cause has made wonderful progress since the da3-s when 1,200 gallons of rum and molasses, iji equal quantities, formed part of the outfit for the "Penobscot Expedition"; and a little later, in 1792, at a meeting in Blue Hill, the selectmen were emplojed to procure one barrel of rum, also molasses and sugar suf- ficient for framing and raising the meeting-house. In those days rum flowed freelj-, but the various reforma- tory societies have done their work nobly, and the many lodges of Good Templars and Reform Clubs, scattered through the county, speak loudly- of the advance made in this direction. The commercial advantages of Hancock Count}- arc excelled bj' no section of the State, and a great portion of its wealth is invested in navigation. Lumbering and fishing have been the principal industries from the first settlement, but stone-cutting and mining bid fair to become the most important in fbture. The first settlers were men and women of strong, sub- stantial character, who laid firmlj- the foundations of the new societj- ; and if, in their excess of zeal, thcj- refused to admit questionable persons into the full privileges of the towns, and warned them from the limits, had they not good warrant for so doing in the usages of the parent State? The "Roll of Honor" of Hancock, in the late war, proves that the sons were faithful to the ancestral traditions, and not afraid to risk life for countrj- ; 3,912 men went directlj- from the diflfercnt towns, and many from other sections of the North, who claimed Hancock as their birth-place, did loyal duty at the nation's call. Hancock has a greater extent of seacoast, including the incurvation of the larger baj-s, than anj- other county in the State ; and there are more first-class baj-s, har- bors and islands than on any other seaboard of equal length on the American coast. The fisheries are divided into deep-sea, harbor and HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. interior, for all of which there is good opportunity and lucrative return ; the Magdalen and Grand Menau her- ring fishing is conducted chiefly by the people of Lamoine and Swan's Island, and porgie fishing employ's large cap- ital and manj' men. Salmon fishing is confined to the Penobscot and Bagaduce rivers. There are factories for packing and canning lobsters at Castine, Deer Isle, Brooklin, Gouldsborough, Mt. Desert, Cranberry Isles, and at other points, and the aggregate value of this production in 1876 was estimated at $52,000. Towns. BucKSPORT, containing a population of about 3,500, the western town of the countj-, the termi- nus of the stage lines to Sedgwick, Castine, Ellsworth, and Blue Hill, was incoiporated June 27, 1792, as Buckstown, rccei\mg its present name ui 1817. It is bcuiti- fuUy situated on the east bank of the I\ nobscot, at the "^ ii- rows," and forms i lovely picture, with iN streets and houses lis ing on a gentle bl()p< from the water, tin summit of the hill crowned bj'the build ings of the East Maine Conference Seminarj^ standing in bold relief against the sky, which make the most prominent feature of the ■^^l- lage. The seminary itself stands upon the site of the old meeting-house erected bj' the fathers of the town. The scliool was established in 1851, and has done good work in eastern Maine. The streets are laid out with great regularity, for which the town is indebted largely to Stephen Peabody, Esq., who commenced the good work of improvement in 1804, agsiinst the strong- est opposition. Bucksport has the only railroad in the county, the Bucksport and Bangor Railroad, which, in the winter season, makes the fine harbor available for business men " up river." Since the earliest days of the town, ship-building has been one of its chief industries, and a large proportion of its wealth is invested in navi- gation. On the mill-stream, mentioned by the earlj' settlers, arc the saw and grist mills, a cardiug-machinc LPPE.. DVM, AT ILLSUOUTli and a tannery, and still nearer the Great Pond the Pen- obscot salmon-breeding works, founded in 1872. The public schools compare favorably with those of other towns in the vicinity. The churches — Congrega- tionalist and Methodist — are fine buildings. " Silver Lake " Cemetery is beautifully located, and laid out with much taste. On Main Street is the old " burjang- ground " first chosen by the early citizens to lay away i their dead, but long since abandoned, except the Buck I lot, maiked by a heavy granite monument to Col. Jona- than Buck. Rufus Buck, the last occupant of this lot, died in the spring of 1878, having, for many years, filled a prominent place in the town. East of the seminary is the cemetery where ! repose most of the other citizens of the ! town. Chief among these worthies were : Hon. Samuel Pond, I piominent lawj'er, | (Ml of the first abo- j iitioniits in this re- _i )ii — a pioneer, too, 1 the cause of tem- ince in the State ; liidj;e Pcabodj', re- nowned for his quaint u jids and waj's ; Dea. 1 h"-s Blodget, Joseph ' 1 idky, Joseph R. ' Kom, the Swazey j bi others, and the late ' Ilenrj Darling, for 48 yeais deacon of the Congregatioualist society. In this cemetery stands the monument to the memoiy of the soldiers who fell in the Rebellion. Ellsworth, the lone city of the countj', -with a popu- lation in 1870 of 5,257, once " New Bowdoin " (incorpo- rated Feb. 26, 1800), has a large teiTitorial area, al- though the cit}' proper is comparatively small. Most advantageously situated for lumbering operations, it owes its prosperitj- mainly to that enterprise, which is still the leading industry. The business portion of the town is situated on Union River, around the falls, where the water has a total fall of 100 feet in two and a quarter miles. Ellsworth has a gross water-power of 6,600 horse. The miUs for the manufacture of lumber, .also of shingles, boxes, clap- boards, staves, doors, barrels, puAps, &c., are numer- ous. The count.y and city buildings are in good order, and the citj- is apparently- having a fair measure of success in its enterprises. The only bank is the " Hancock County Savings." The " Ellsworth American," the newspaper of the county, has made its weekly visits to its patrons since 1853. The town was incorporated as a city Feb. G, 1869, with James F. Davis as major. The removal of the courts thither has materially aided the place in its advance- ment. Rev. Peter Nourse, ordained in 1812, did much toward the education and moral training of the j'outh of his daj-, and for several years taught school as well as preached. The honored and respected pastor. Rev. Sewall Teiiney, settled Nov. 11, 1835, still Ines among his people, to whom he preached for 40 years. Hon. Eiidene Hale ^ who has represented the 5tli district in Congress for tlK past ten j-ears, is a resident here, while associated with him is Hon. L. A. Emery, attorney-general of Maine. Castine, the southern portion of the peninsula of old Pentagoet, was incorporated Feb. 10, 1796, taking its name from the bold baron who had there lived hi& strange, romantic life. It became the countj'-seat bj the act of incorporation. Its commanding position and eligible location have always made it conspicuous, and no place in the State has been subject to so man}' powers Indians, French, Flemish pirates, Dutch, English and Americans ha\ e iiad eath atenuof uile. jS<'\(1 \Mth()ut a garrison from 2 1630 to 1783, It has seen five na- val engagements in its broad har- bor, and many a fierce fight upon the shore. Gen. De Peyster saj s : " Tliis is one of the most remaik- able points all along our coasts , which, under a.ny other government than our own, would have long since been trans- formed into a na- .val and military fortress of the first class." So much of life has passed within its limits, that one wonders at its present quiet, and fancies an awakening must speed- ily come, when the echoes of the past will sound, and the roar and rush begin. Wonderfully beautiful is the old town, with its air of leisure and repose, resting upon the slope of the hill, with the grand harbor, dotted with islands, spread out before it. The fine old homes, telling of comfort and case ; the many relics of the past, from the ruins of Fort Pentagoet to the carved " Cot- ton's Head " ; the summit of the pro- montor}' crowned bj- the rectangular chain of hillocks, it once recogniz- c 1 IS the ruins of 1 it George ; the ^nificent view II those ruins, 11 combine to in one of the ^t interesting 1 ts in the coun- ti \ The outlines of the fort are al- 1 st perfect, and (juires but lit- nnagination to it as it was 1 the daj's when e now quiet echoed to the imng of can- and the stan- 1 of St. George ttd defiantlj'^ o\ trthe ramparts. At V arious dis- tcs from Fort I ge are the iiims of seve- 1 itteries, and iil\ south are . marks of tlie old i rench fort, supposed to have been erected by D Aulnay.* * Prob.ibly he built no new fortification as the one formerly occu- pied by the Plymouth Colony was ready to his hand. This is the " Fort Pentasoct in Acadia," surrendered by Capt. Richard Walker to tlie Chevalier de Grind-Kontamc Aii^'. 5, 1670. It was afterwards occupied by Baron do Castm, an.l i^ roniiiKiuly called Castin's Fort. A fort was built about 1811 liv i1h' ATiiniiaiis, which was occupied by a British detachment in ISl l-ir>, aii.l called by them Fort Castine. Durin? the late civil war it was rebuilt and garrisoned by a company of United States troops. At one time it was called Fort Porter. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. About two-thirds of the way from the light-house to the Block-house Point is a large granite bowlder, called " Trask's Rock," preserving the name of the gallant bo}- who cheeril}- played his fife under its shelter while his comrades, commanded b}' Gen. Lovell, were " marching on " to the attack of the British stronghold, Julj' 28, 1779.* Several old cannon still remain as relics of the heroic days — the palmj^ days of Castine. f Formerly' ship-building was a leading industry here, and fitting out vessels for the Grand Banks was carried on verj' extensively-. Meantime, though the removal of the courts to Ellsworth in 1838, the decline in ship- building, and the repeal of the act granting bounty to fishermen, have all contributed to the commercial injury of the town, yet Castine is a place of not a little enterprise and thrift. For a few years past it has been a famous summer resort. Sept. 7, 18G7, the Eastern State Normal School was opened, and its new school-house, finished in 1873, is one of the best in the State in many respects. It has accommodations for 200 pupils. The churches are fine buildings, and the residences mostly handsome. Rev. William Mason, the first minister of Castine, was ordained as Congrcgationalist, but became Unitarian, the influence of which change is still felt, Castine having one of the two Unitarian chiu-ches in the county. Isaac Parker, the fii'st lawj-er in the qount}', was a man of great legal ability and influence, He was representative in Con- gress from this district ft-om 1796 to 1798. Ilezekiah "Williams, a respected inember of the Hancock bar, was representative from 1815 to 1849. William Abbott came to Castine in 1801, a sound lawyer and a man of great ability and honor. His son, C. J. Abbott, was a mem- ber of the famous cltiss of '25 at Bowdoin College, and honors the name he bears, having filled manj- offices of trust in town and State. Mr. Samuel Adams, for nearly 40 j'cars deacon of the Congi'cgationalist society, one of the oldest and most respected citizens, has been in mer- cantile life ever since his first coming to the town in 1809. Dr. Joseph L. Stevens hs.s been the physician since 1819, though, of late years, not in active practice, which has * A Capt. Ilinklcy Is reported tq have been shot down while cheering his men to the assault from this rock, which is said to still bear the stain of his blood. t A quantity of ancient silver coins were aceldentallr found in Castine in 1840, mostly French and Spanish pieces, with some Massachusetts pine-tree shillings and si-xpences of the date of 1652. There were in all nearly 2,000 coins, and they were probably left or lost hero by some of the Castin family when they departed for Canada; or, perhaps, by the Baron when he fled to the woods at the time of Sir Edmund Andres's visit in 1GS8. A complete collection of these coins was made at the time by Dr. Joseph L. Stevens, who still has them In his possession. In 18G3 a piece of sheet-copper about 8 by 10 inches in size was found. been taken bj' Dr. G. A. Wheeler, author of the " Ilistorj- of Castine," a valuable and interesting work. The popu- lation of the town is about 1,300. Blue Hill (incorporated Jan. 30, 1789; population, 1,725) is beautifully situated at the head of Blue-hill Bay. The attractions of the town, as a summer resort, have long been known to tourists. The granite here is unsurpassed by any in the State. It is being used for the great East River Bridge. There are four quarries and a cemeter}- monument establishment in the town. The mines (mostlj- cojjper) were discovered bj- William Darhng, and have passed through several hands, but are now owned by the Blue-hill and Boston Mining Company. Extensive crushing-works have been erected, and the business is thriving. Rich specimens of ore have been found, equalling anj- in the country-, excepting the native copper from Lake Superior. From Blue-hill Mountain manganese has been taken to the Mount Katahdin Iron- Works, to be used in smelting the iron-ore ; and other minerals, valuable in the arts, are found in the moun- tain. The old Academy is still open, and the churches arc prosperous. Rev. Jonathan Fisher, the first pastor in the town, was a graduate of Harvard College, and in everj' respect a remarkable man. He lived with this people for more than 41 years. GouLDSBOROUGH, J the south-east town of the count^- (incorporated Feb. 16, 1789), embraces Stave, Jordan's, Iron-bound, Porcupines, Horn's, Turtle and Schoodic islands, and, in 1870, that part of No. 7 known as West Bay Stream, was annexed. It has the most exten- sive seacoast of any town in the countj'. Coasting and fishing are the principal occupations of the people, the latter of a somewhat less exciting nature than in the old times of whale-fishing, in which many of the earl}- citi- zens were engaged. The first settlement at Gouldsborough Point was made about 1769 by Francis Shaw§ from Massachusetts, and Tobias Allen from Kitteiy-. Robert Gould, Godfrey & Wright, Shaw and Gould obtained the grant, and by their efforts the township was formed. The early settlers bearing a Latin inscription, which may be translated substantially as fol- lows : " 1C48, Juno 8, 1, Friar Leo of Paris, a Capuchin missionary, laid this foundation in honor of our Lady of Holy Hope." X Gouldsborough was once regularly planned for a city. Its streets were laid out, and sites for public buildings were selected. A hill in that vicinity is still called Church Hill, from having been chosen as the location of a church. The enterprise failed utterly, and the " city " at present numbers perhaps 20 houses. § Francis Shaw was the leading spirit of the colony, and his word was law with his devoted followers, who yielded implicit obedience to his authority, which was rigorously exercised, but generally for the benefit of the settlement. suffered manj- privations, their only food at one time being the clams which the coast afforded. They were also greatly harassed by wolves, which abounded on the Point. There is a broad field for the antiquarian in the acres of shell-heaps, containing arrow-heads, stone hatchets and chisels, pieces of rude potter}', bones of moose, deer, bears and birds, among the latter those of the Great Auk, now extinct, showing that an arctic elhnatc once prevailed here. Hay, potatoes, butter and wool are the principal products, with large quantities of eggs. At a very early day a mill was built at Prospect Harbor by John and Abij.ah Guptill and others from Massachusetts. Gen. David Cobb, the great man of that day, came here from Taunton, Mass. He was one of Gen. Wash- ingtorfs aids in the Revolution, and chief justice of the Common Pleas for the count}' of Hancock. He bought the first house * built in town by Mr. Shaw, rebuilt it, and kept up a magnificent establishment for those days. The schools of this town are among the best in the county. The population is about 1,700. Robert Gould Shaw became a Boston millionaire, and owned a magni- ficent residence on Beacon Street. The Cole familj' are very influential, and to them belongs one of the few poets in the county, f Col. Hall, who served with distihction in the war of 1812, was a native of this place. Orland (incorporated Feb. 12, 1800, population 1,700) , at one time bearing the name of Alamasook, from a pond of that name, then of Eastern River, is a busy town. Two-thii-ds of the voters are farmers, and few agricultural centres in Maine show greater activity than Orland vil- lage. Bricks of excellent quality' are made here. A cave on the north-east side of Great Mountain has been ex- plored for 60 feet, and several rooms, with walls and ceiling of basaltic finish found in it. The business centre of the town is at the " Corner," where are several fine residences. On one side of the river the Methodist and Congregationalist churches stand in close neighborhood, and on the hill on the other side are the town-house and * When this house was taken down in 1872, a number of bullets were found deeply imbedded in tlio wood, whicii were supposed to have been fired from a British privateer in an attack made during the Revolution- ary war. t Asa Cole, who published a volume of poems, which had, in its day, a wide circulation. J William Ilutchings, his son, was bom at York, Oct. 6,1764, and died at Penobscot, May 2, ISCC, aged 101 years 6 months and 26 days. Ho was the last Revolutionary pensioner in New England, and the last but one in the whole country. A boy at Majabagaduce, when the British took possession of the place, he was pressed into the service of the enemy and compelled to assist in drawing the first stick of timber for the foundation of Fort George. After the destruction of the American fleet, he went Universalist Church. Dr. John Burnham was one of the " characters" of the town. A man of intellect and learn- ing, his quaint speeches are cuiTent with this as well as the last generation. Mr. John Buck was for manj' j'cars identified with the interests of Orland. Sdrkt, on the west bank of Union River, incorporated June 21, 1803, has a large comparative area of good til- lage land, and the cultivation of cranberries is receiving more attention each jcar. Some lumber is manufactured, but farming is the chief business, and two farmers' clubs flourish. The large " Jarvis farm" was in 1840 the best in the count}'. In 1874, a small quantity of silver coin was found buried on We}'mouth Point, when and by whom left, no one knows. Leonard Jarvis was promi- nent for several years in State matters, and representa- tive in Congress from 1831 to 1837. Hon. Samuel Wasson, member of the State Board of Agriculture from its first organization and compiler of a valuable " Survey of Hancock County," has his home here. Penobscot, the eldest town of the county, was in- coqDorated Feb. 23, 1787, taking its name from the river and bay. In the act of incorporation it is called " Majorbigwaduce." In 1790, fifty persons, after the I amiable fashion of that day, were warned from the town. Since the separation of Castine, in 1796, Penobscot, like i other towns, has held its course with nothing of marked general interest, but of late it has renewed its age with new industries. In 1876, there were 5 lumber-mills, 2 grist-mills, 4 brick-yards, and a mitten manufactory emplo}-ing 300 knitters, and yielding a yearly product of $12,000. The town is engaged in navigation to some extent, but must be considered an agricultural town. Its water-power is excellent. There are some fine farms and good pastures as well as timber land in Penobscot and Brooksville, and cranberry culture is receiving much attention, promising to become a paying crop. Rev. Jonathan Powers, the first settled minister, was a grad- uate of Dartmouth College, and settled here in 1795. Charles Ilutchings, % the first actual settler of Penobscot, endured great hardships during the war, being obliged with his father to Newcastle, where he enlisted, a boy of 15, in the American army, and served the term of his enlistment at a place called Cox's Head, upon the Kennebec River. At the close of the war, he returned to his father's farm in Penobscot, where he settled and spent his life in fanning and lumbering, being at one time master of a vessel, which gave him the title of captain. For 68 years he was a pro- fessing Christian, and for many years by profession and practice a " total abstinence " man. His son served in the war of 1812, and several great- grandsons in the war of the Rebellion, supporting the cause so dear to the heart of the old hero. In 1SC.5, when he had commenced his second century, ho participated in a Fourth of July celebration at Bangor, upon the invitation of the municipal authorities, where every possible attention was shown to the aged veteran. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. to flee with his family through the wilderness to the western settlements. He died in Penobscot, aged 92 3-ears. The population is 1,418. Deer Isle, incorporated Jan. 30, 1789, was formerlj- famous as a fishing town, but since the repeal of the Bounty Act a class of coasting-vessels has taken the place of the fishermen. At Green's Landing is a large granite quarry, and on the " Reach " shore one of marble. At Oceanville is the establishment of the Port- land Packing Company. Isle au Haut, the youngest town of the county, in- corporated Feb. 28, 1874, is one league directly south of Deer Isle. The highest part of the territory is in the middle of the island, and exhibits the appearance of a saddle. Kimball's Island was settled during the Revo- lution bj' Seth Webb, a noted hunter for whom Webb's Pond in Eastbrook is named. Anthony Merchant settled on Merchant's Island in 1772. Deer Isle is the nearest post-office. There is a canning factory for lobsters, but the principal business is fishing and boat-building. The remaining towns of Hancock County are, Brooks- viLLE (incorporated in 1817, population 1,280), its principal business being coasting and fishing, although the granite quarries give employment to a large number of persons : Sedgwick (1789-1,116), the location of a valuable silver mine : Franklin* (1825-1,042), having shipped more spars, railroad-ties, and ship-timber than any town of equal size in this or Washington County : Hancock (1828-974), comprising Crabtree's Neck, an inviting resort for pleasure-seekers : Mt. Desert f (1789- 918), having grist, lumber, and woollen mills, a granite quarry, and an annual ice-crop of 1,200 tons : Tremoxt (1848-1,822): Eden (179G-1,19G), containing Bar Harbor, a popular resort for summer A-isitors : Cran- berry Isles (1830-350), its principal business being • Much of the prosperity of Franklin is due to Hon. John West, a much respected citizen, who died in 1874, aged 76. t Green Mountain, in this township, is the highest peak on the Atlantic border, from Lubcc to the Rio Grande, nor can so fine a view bo ob- tained from any eminence on the coast. J Milk-white statuary marble and red granite are found on this island. South-west Harbor is the largest on the coast. The Russian war-vessel, "Cimbria" tarried in this harbor for some time during the summer of 187S. fishing and curing fish — the last four towns situated on Mt. Desert t : Brooklin (1849-927) : Sullivan § (1789- 79G), named in honor of Capt. Daniel Sullivan, a Revo- lutionary soldier, its chief business coming from its inex- haustible beds of granite. II a summer resort of some note : Deduam (1837-450), called, from its group of ten clus- tered mountains, the Switzerland of Maine, its water- power being second to very few in the State : Maria- viLLE (1836-3C9) : Waltham (1833-366), having a valuable water-power, but being principally a farming town: Amherst (1831-350), unrivalled in the improve- ment of its stock: Trenton (1789-678), containing tokens of prehistoric settlement at Cox Point : Lamoine, incorporated from Trenton in 1870: Aurora (1831- 212), exclusively devoted to farming : Otis (1835-246), having lumber manufacture for its chief business : East- brook (1837-187), having in 1876 no lawj"er, doctor, pauper, or grogshop : and Yeuona (1861-352), its chief industrj' being weir-fishing, noted for having grown more hard- wood to the acre than anj' other town in the count}'. There are two outlying island plantations. Swan's and Long Island, the latter comprising some 17 islands. In 1823 Israel B. Lunt made a permanent settlement on Long Island. Fishing and furnishing fishing-supplies make the principal business of the islands, with a steam- mill for staves on Lo'ng Island. Tradition saj's that somewhere on the islands along the coast lies buried the money of Capt. Kidd, and many a legend is told of this "fair}- gold," which as yet has blessed no man's sight. But more practical people have utilized the small islands with fair results as sheep pas- tures, thereb}- bringing more genuine coin of the realm into their possession than this fabled wealth of the ancient pirate ever did to any treasure-seeker, although the man- ner of it may not be especially romantic. } There are evidences of an old French settlement here, and m 1S41 an earthen pot, containing French coins of the date of 1725, and over $400 in value, was dug up. In 1875, human bones, supposed to bo French, or Indian, were found. II In 1877 a silver mine was discovered here, of which C. "W. Kempton, mining engineer, says : " This discovery is the most wonderful ever made in New England, and in some respects the most astonishing found © KEN^^EBEC COUKTY. BY WM. E. LAPHAM, M. D. A LARGE proportion of the territorj' of what is now Kennebec County, was once embraced in the Plj-mouth Patent, afterwards called the Kennebec Purchase. On the 13th of Januarj-, 1G29, the old Ph-mouth Colonj' granted to AVilliam Bradford and his associates of New PljTnouth, in America, territorj' described as follows : — "All that Tract of Land or part of New England in America, which h'eth witiiin or between and extendeth itself between the utmost limits of Cobbiseconte, alias Comaseconte, which adjoineth to the river Kennebeck, alias Kennebekike, towards the western ocean, and a place called the Falls at Neguamkike in America afore- said, and the space of fifteen English miles on each side of the said river commonly called the Kennebeck Eiver, and all the said river called Kennebec, that lies within the said limits." The very loose and indefinite manner in which the limits of this grant were described, gave rise to frequent disputes and much litigation, but finally, in 1757, the whole matter was referred to five verj* eminent lawyers, who decided that the southern boundary- should be the northern line of the town of Woolwich, in the present county of Sagadahoc, and the northern boundary the southern line of Comville, in the present county of Som- erset. A better idea of the extent and boundaries of this grant is had in tlie statement that it was 30 miles wide, and extended from Merr_\Taeeting Bay to the falls below Norridgewock, and contained a million and a half of acres. This decision was adverse to the extravagant claims of the New PljTnouth Company, which claimed the sea as the southern boundar}-. In 1G40 the proprie- tors of the Kennebec Purchase ceded their grant to all the freemen of New Plymouth Colonj-, and after that tlie territory took the name of the New Plymouth Grant. This tract was valuable on account of its facilities for trade with the natives, and its valuable fisheries of sal- mon, sturgeon and shad. To all these privileges the Plj-mouth Colony claimed exclusive right, and seemed to have no other interest in the territory. They made no attempt to settle it, beyond the establishment of trading- posts at convenient points along the ri\er, and treated it simply as a possession from which to derive revenue. Between 1648 and 1653, the Colony obtained deeds from the Indian sagamores, of the land extending from Cush- noc, now Augusta, to the northern limit of the grant. They built forts, and sent magistrates into the country to enforce and protect their claims, but they encountered very many difficulties. Their monopoly of the trade and fishing was unpopular, and nnable to continue them themselves, they leased them, reserving jurisdiction by the appointment of resident magistrates. Tired at length of the vexation which the ownership of the property had caused them, in 1661 they sold their entire right in the patent for £400 sterling, to Antipas Boies, Edward Tyng, Thomas Brattle and John "VTinslow. Neither these pur- chasers nor their heirs did anything toward settling the territory for nearly a hundred years after its purchase. In the year 1676 the Indians destroyed all the settle- ments on the river, above Swan Island, and burned all the buildings. In the j'ear 1749 the proprietors of the Kennebec Purchase began to agitate the question of settling the territorj-, and held a meeting, at which new proprietors were admitted. In June, 1753, an act was passed bj' the General Court of Massachusetts, permitting persons holding lands in common and undivided, to act in the capacity of a corporation. Under this act a now corpo- ration was formed bj- the name of Kennebec Pur- chase from the late Colony of New Plj-mouth, which was the legal title, although it was nsuallj- known bj- the name of the Plymouth Company. The meetings of the company were regularly held from 1749 to 1818, when the corporation, having disposed of all its interest in the territorj-, ceased to exist. The large tract of laud in- cluded in the Plymouth Patent, as has alreadj- been stated, was rich in fur-bearing animals and in fish of various kinds, and when discovered, and for many years afterward, was owned and occupied by the large and powerful tribe of Indians called the Canibos, who claimed the land on both sides of the Kennebec River, from its source to Merrymeeting Bay. They embraced several sub-tribes, or families, all of which acknowledged allegiance to the great chief, Kennebis, who had his residence upon Swan Island. Some of these political HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. families were, the Norridgewogs, who dwelt at Norridge- wock, the Tacconets of Watervillo, and the Cushnocs of Augusta. The Canibos, or Kcnnebecs, were numer- ous when the countrj- was discovered, numbering more than 1,500 warriors. The different families spoke the same language, with only slight variations, and in all enterprises which had for their object the common good, were one people. According to Sebastian Rasle, a French Jesuit missionar}-, who resided many years among these Indians, thej' were more intelligent and less barbarous than most of the New England tribes. It is supposed that the Kennebec River derived its name from Kennebis, the name of the great Indian sagamores, a long line of whom it is thought may have ruled over the Indians who dwelt upon its banks. It is hardly necessary for us to say that Kennebec County took its name from the river. Cushnoc, at the present head of na-\-igation on the Kennebec, now called Augusta, was earl}- known and often visited for the purposes of trade. The first trading-post estabUshed within the limits of Kennebec County was located here, in 1629, the year the patent was obtained by the New Plymouth proprietors. A post was established at the same time at Richmond Landing, but this was soon discontinued, it is supposed for the reason that the fur trade, which was the source of the most profit to the proprietors, could be carried on to better advantage at Cushnoc, the richest furs coming from the upper waters of the river. This establishment was successfully carried on for many years, until it was broken up by the Indian wars. We shall speak more particularly of the history of the ancient Cushnoc in our history of Augusta. The wars between England and France, in which the Indians almost miiformly took sides with the Latter, very much retarded the settlement of the interior of Maine. The records of the company, even after the reorganiza- tion, give abundant evidence of the difficulties they en- countered in obtaining settlers. Euroiie did not then contain the surplus population that it since has, the fre- quent bloody wars preventing any great increase of num- bers, and those who did come over preferred to settle in the older Colonies, where they found a more stable gov- ernment. Great inducements were offered to any who would settle upon the fertile* lands of the Kennebec. The proprietors offered 100 acres of land to each head of a family, to pay their passage from Boston, to build a block-house for their protection against the Indians, and to advance six months' provision. Still no settlers c:imc. To remove the dread of the hostile Indians, which had much to do with deterring settlers from com- ing upon the patent, the company chose a committee to treat with the different trilies, and in 17.54, in order to give securit}' to the settlements on the Kennebec, they voted to build a fort at Cushnoc, on condition that the government of the Massachusetts Bay would build an- other at or near Ticonic. This proposition was accepted, and Fort Western was erected at Cushnoc (Augusta) in 1754, and Fort Halifax, at Ticonic (Wiuslow), was completed the following year. Among the proprietors admitted at the reorganization of the company, in 1753, was Dr. Sylvester Gardiner of Boston, a gentleman of ample means, possessed of sound judgment, and persistent in whatever he undertook to perform. He at once assumed the management of the affairs of the company, moved and carried an assessment of £5,000 on the shares, which was expended in pro- moting the interests of the coqioration. Pre\nous to 1760, the county of York embraced the whole district of Maine, but in that year the counties of Lincoln and Cumberland were organized, the former of which in- cluded nearly all the territoiy east of the Androscoggin River. In 1761 the Plymouth Company erected county buildings for the new county, at Pownalborough, now the town of Dresden, on the east side of Kennebec River, and about two miles above the head of Swan Island. The old court-house, in a good state of preservation, is still standing, and is occupied as a dwelling. Dr. Gardi- ner, fully comprehending the value of the patent for purposes of settlement, and finding the company's efforts ineffectual, decided to take hold of the matter himself, and at his own expense. He built a sloop, which he kept constantly running between Boston and the Kennebec in summer, and to the Sheepscot in winter. In December. 1754, the company granted him the falls and part of the land, forming the present town of Gardiner, not as a gift, but as a portion of what he would be entitled to in the future divisions of the company's property. The Doctor at once commenced, and in a few years completed two saw-mills, a grist-mill, a fulling-mill, a convenient wharf, stores, and several dwelling-houses. He also cleared up large tracts of land. The fall of Quebec in September, 1759, and the sub- sequent treaty which ceded the Canadas and maritime Provinces to Great Britain, put an end to the Indian wars in Maine and removed the cause which had so long prevented the settlement of the interior towns. The Plymouth Company now renewed their efforts to settle their patent, and with verj' gratifj-ing success. They caused an advertisement to be extensivelj- circulated in England, Ireland and America, that they proposed lay- ing out three townships to be granted to settlers upon performing settling duties, and directed six townships six miles square to be laid out on the west side of Kennebec River commencing 3 miles and 16 rods from the river and 4 miles north of Cobbosseconte, and running 12 miles to the west line of the patent, and 18 miles north and south ; and that 200 acres be granted to every family settling therein, on condition of building a house 20 feet square and 7-fect post, and clearing five acres of land ; all to be completed in three years, and residing in person or by substitute on the same for seven years. Settlements were begun in several townships previous to 17G5, and in several more before 1770, The northern part of the county was settled much later. By an act of the Massachusetts General Court, ap- proved Feb. 20, 1799, the northern part of Lincoln County was erected into a new county by the name of Kennebec, with the shire town at Augusta. The south- era tier of towns in the new county were Unity, Free- dom, China, Malta, Pittston (wliich then included Gardi- ner) , Litchfield, Monmouth and Greene ; and at the organization of the Maine State government in 1820, included the following incorporated towns, besides a large extent of unsettled territory : Hallowell, Winthrop, Vas- salborough, Winslow, Pittston, Greene, Readfield, Mon- mouth, Mt. Vernon, Sidney, Farmington, New Sharon, Clinton, Fayette, Belgrade, Harlem (China) , Augusta, WajTie, Leeds, ChesterviUe, Vienna, Waterville, Gardi- ner, Temple, Wilton, Rome, Fail-field, Unity, Malta (Winslow), Freedom, Joy (Troy) and China. I By the erection of Somerset County in 1809, Kenne- I bee County lost nearly four-fifths of its tenitory. Waldo was incorporated Feb. 7, 1827, and took from Kennebec the four towns of Unity, Freedom, Joy and Burnham. By the incorporation of Franklin County, March 20, 1838, the towns of New Sharon, Chesterville, Wilton, Temple and Famungton were taken from Kennebec County ; and when Androscoggin County was formed, in 1854, Kennebec County lost the towns of East Liver- more, Greene, Leeds and Wales. The county is now made up of 24 towns and 3 cities, the latter situated upon the river, Augusta and Gardiner being only six miles apart, with Hallowell between. Up to the year 1787, the only courts held in the county of Lincoln were a term of the common pleas and one of the sessions annually at Pownalborough. In 1786 it was decided to make Hallowell a half-shire town, and the first term of the court was held in PoUard's tavern at the Fort Western settlement, on the second Tuesday of January, 1787, by William Lithgow, James Howard and Nathaniel Thwing. At this time no lawyer resided on the river above Pownalborough, but in the following year William Lithgow, Jr., opened an office at Fort Western settlement, and was, therefore, the first lawyer in what is now Kennebec Countj'. The first term of the court of sessions was held in March following, in Col. North's house. The first court-house was built in Augusta, then Hal- lowell, in 1790, and stood in Market Square, just above Dickman Lane. This building was used until 1801, when Kennebec County having been incoriDorated, and Augusta set off from IlalloweU, the county commenced the erection of a new court-house, on the site of the present jail, on State, then called Court Street. This court-house, finished in March, 1802, was a large and commodious building for the time, and served the countj' for 30 years. It was subsequently' moved to the lot north of the Mansion House, and is still standing and known as Concert Hall. The Court of Sessions at the December term in 1827 decided that a more convenient building was needed for the accommodation of the court and county officers. A granite building, 50 bj' CO feet, was soon after erected and occupied for the first time June 1, 1830. Judge Mellen held the first court in the new building, and pronounced it superior, for the pmiooses for which it was erected, to any other in the State. A brick building, with fire-proof vaults, for the safe-keeping of the county records, was built in 1813, and used for that purpose until the completion of the present court-house, which accommodates not only the court, but all the county officers. A jail was erected, of wood, in 1793, on the lot afterwards occupied by the stone jail. This was on the corner of Winthrop and State streets, on the lot now occupied by Ai Staples. In 1808 it was bui-ned, together with the jailer's house. A new building was erected in 1808 which served the pur- poses of the county for half a century. In 1858 the count}' commissioners decided that it was inadequate to the wants of the county, and decided to build another. The old court-house lot was selected as the place upon which to erect the new structure. The building was completed at a cost of over $50,000 and opened for public inspection Feb. 1, 1859. It is constructed of granite, .ii'on and brick, and is considered the finest building in the city ; and the finest and most substantial jail building in the State. Kennebec, though in area one of the smaller counties, is one of the best, if not the very best agricultural county in the State. The soil on both sides of Kenne- bec River is a clay loam, easily cultivated and very pro- ductive. Probably more hay is harvested in the towns bordering on the Kennebec River than in any other section of equal size in New England. Most of the underlj'ing rock in Augusta, Hallowell, Manchester and HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. the various other towns iii this county, is granite. Sev- eral quarries have been opened, and the business of quarrying and hammering granite for shipment is quite extensively carried on at the present time. This granite is composed of wliite feldspar, silvery gray mica and a little quartz — the feldspar being the predominating in- gredient. Tlie color of the rock is grayish white, and when smooth hammered, at a little distance appears like white marble. The mica is arranged in such a manner as to cause the stone to split easily' into the desired forms. It is also susceptible of a fine polish. The farmers of this couutj- were early aware of the 1629, a trading-post was estabhshed here near the head of tide-water. But in the second Indian war the settle- ment was entirely' laid waste. It was resumed again, with partial success, after the peace of 1713, when a granite fort was built under the direction of Dr. Noyes, said to be the strongest in the country. The place was again destroyed during the subsequent Indian wars, and remained so until the Plymouth proprietors in 1754, built and manned Fort Western, on the east bank of the river, near the present Kennebec bridge. One of the buildings of the fort, occupied as a store-house and for barracks, still standing, is believed to be the oldest structui-e on STATE HOUSE, AUGUSTA, ME. great value of associated effort in promoting the inter- ests of agriculture and horticulture, and an agricultural society was organized here previous to 1800, which con- tinued in operation many years. Since that time several similar societies have been chartered b}- the legislature, as the interests of agriculture seemed to demand, and at the present time there are three within the limits of the countj-, all in a flourishing condition. Towns. Augusta. — The ancient Cushnoc was alwaj-s a noted place. A powerful sub-tribe of Indians had their head- quarters here, and a Jesuit mission was early estabhshed for their conversion to the Catholic faith. Soon after the land was granted to the Plymouth C'oionj-. As earl}- as the river, erected by the Plj-mouth Company. Up to the close of the war, the soldiers at Fort Western were the oul}' English people here, but after the fall of Quebec, a settlement was gradually effected, though as late as 1770 there were but few families within the present limits of Augusta. James Howard, who commanded Fort Western for manj' j'ears, must be regarded as the first settler of Cush- noc, as he continued to reside here, and his descendants have alwaj-s been residents of the town. After the close of the war, he and his sons, Samuel and William, engaged in business, monopolizing the extensive liunbcr trade, and the father was for many years the wealthiest and most prominent man in this region. He came to this country from the north of Ireland, and belonged to a respectable familj-. Among the other early settlers were James Page and Moses Greely from Haverhill, Ephraim Cowan and Ephraim Butterfield from Dunstable, Mass., and Daniel Hilton, long In the service of the Howards. May 22, 1771, the first meeting was held in Hallowell, under the act of incorporation which was passed April 26 of that 3'ear. The town then contained 99 taxable polls. The Fort Western settlement was set off from Hal- lowell and incorporated by the name of Harrington, Feb. several saw and other mills. In 1867 the dam and fac- tory passed into the hands of the Sprague Company of Providence, R. I. The present Kennebec bridge, a most substantial structure, was rebuilt in 1827, and was made a free bridge in 1860. Augusta became a city in 1849, and Alfred Reddington was elected mayor. The leading denominations all have church edifices, and sustain regular preaching. The granite church occu- pied by the Congregationalists, is one of the most sub- stantial church edifices in the State. This denomination HIGH SCHOOL, AUGUSTA, ME. 20, 1797; the name was changed to Augusta, June 11 of the same year. Augusta was made the shire town of the county in 1798, and capital of the State in 1828. Ground was broken for the new state house the same year. The buildings were completed and first occu- pied in 1832. The insane hospital was finished in 1840. It is the only Maine State institution of the kind, and has been much enlarged since that time. In 1850 the building was partially destro3'ed by fire, by which several patients lost their lives. A United States arse- nal was authorized to be built here in 1827, and the cor- ner-stone of the main building was laid June 14, 1828. It has been occupied as a military post since that time. The dam across the Kennebec was built from 1835 to 1838, and a cotton factory was erected in 1845 ; also is among the oldest in the city, and the wealthiest. It sustained meetings long before there was a church edifice in town, when Augusta was only a small hamlet. Augusta has been the home of many eminent persons. Hon. Reuel Williams, one of its most distinguished native-born citizens, was a member of the U. S. Senate. Luther Severance, the founder of the "Kennebec Jour- nal," served with distinguished abilitj' in Congress. Hon. James W. Bradburj', a native of Parsonsfield, came here when a young man, and commenced the practice of law. He has been a resident of the city about 50 j-ears. Besides occupying prominent positions under the State government, he served one term in the U. S. Senate. Hon. Lot M. Morrill of Readfield, in this county, came here in early manhood, and was the law partner of Mr. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Bradburj-. Hon. James G. Blaine, a native of Penn- B3lvania, came here irhen a 30ung man, and bj' his great natural ability and energy, has become one of the fore- most men of the nation. As Speaker of the National Clouse of Representatives, he won distinguished honors, and was a prominent candidate for the presidency in 1876. He is now a member of the U. S. Senate. Augusta is pleasantly situated on both sides of the Kennebec River, at the head of tide water and of navi- gation. The surface is very uneven, being intersected b}- deep gorges which open into the river ; but this only adds to the picturesqueness of the situation. It has a bracing air, pure water, and is one of the healthiest cities in New Eng- land. It contributes large sums for educa- tional purposes, and its schools are con- sidered among the best. Mount Pleas- ant, Riverside, and Forest Grove ceme- teries have received careful attention, par- ticularl}' the latter, which is one of the most tastefully ar- ranged burial-places to be found anywhere. This city has suf- fered much from fire, but the citizens have always, at such times, shown commendable public spirit, and have rebuilt better than before. The population numbers 7,811. Among the present promi- nent and enterprising citizens of Augusta not akeady mentioned, are Hon. R. D. Rice, once judge of the Su- preme Judicial Court ; Hon. Artemas Libbj', now judge of the same court ; Hon. Wm. P. TVhitehouso, judge of the Superior Court ; Hon. James "W. North, the historian of Augusta, for many years major of the city ; Hon. Joseph H. Williams, son of Reuel Williams, once governor of Maine ; Hon. John L. Stevens, for many j-ears editor of the "Kennebec Journal," minister to Paraguay, and now minister resident at Stockholm ; and Hon. Selden Con- nor, a brave officer of the late war, and late governor of the State. Gardiner. — This town, including West Gardiner, was part of Pittston until 1793. West Gardiner was set off and incorporated Aug. 8, 1850. The fine water- COBBOSSEE CONTEE FALLS, GARDINER, ME power on the Cobbossee Contee stream was taken up and improved by Dr. Gardiner, and formed the neu- cleus of a thriving village which in time, became a city. Dr. Gardiner was born in Bristol, R. I., in 1707, and became an eminent pln-sician and surgeon in Boston. On the breaking out of the Revolutionarj- war, he espoused the royal cause, and on the evacuation of Boston, left with the British army. His property was confiscated, and his fine library sold at auction. The proceedings with regard to the confiscation of the estates on the Kennebec were found to be Ulegal, and when peace was declared the property fell to the heu-s of Dr. Gardiner. The larger portion of the property in Gardiner eventual- _-= ly fell to Robert Hal- lowell, a grandson of Dr. Gardiner, on con- dition that he should take the surname of Gardiner, which he did. When he came into possession of his property-, there were about 650 people set- tled within the limits of Gardiner, manv of whom were squatters, having no title to the soil. The proprietor dealt generously by such, and all differ- ences were compro- mised and arranged soon after he became of age. He built the fine stone mansion on Oakland farm, which is still in possession of the family. Samuel and Nathaniel Ben-y, who came from West Bath, were early in Gardiner, and the daughter of the former, named Lydia, bom Aug. 22, 1765, was the first white girl born in Gardiner or Pittston. Nathaniel Berr}' was a Revolutionary soldier and a member of Washing- ton's Life Guards. His death occuiTcd Aug. 20, 1850. Dr. Zechariah FUtner, a Gemian physician, was among the early settlers. He has descendants in Pittston. Gen. Hcnrj' Dearborn settled in that part of Pittston now Gardiner, in 1784-5. He had sen'ed eight years in the war of the Revolution. He was U. S. marshal, secretary of war and a member of Congress while a resident of Gardiner. He was subsequentlj- collector of Boston, and in 1812 accepted the command of the north- ern army. He died June 6, 1829, aged 79 j-ears. Gardiner is a tliri^ing cit}', and situated at tlie head of na^ngation for large vessels on the Kennebec. The manufacture of lumber is an important industr3', and the ice business has, in later 3-ears, been largely engaged in. There are two weekly' papers published here, and Gardiner has several moneyed institutions. The town was incorpo- rated as a city in 1850. Seven religious denominations have houses of worship in the citj-. Population, 4,496. Hallowell was incorporated April 26, 1771, and then included Augusta, Chelsea and part of Manches- ter. It was named for Mr. Benjamin Hallowell, who was a proprietor and aided in its settlement. Augusta was set off in 1797, and Manchester and Chelsea in 1850. Hallowell was incorporated a city in 1850, and the charter was adopted in 1852. When the town was first settled that part which is now called Augusta was known as Fort Western, or Cushnoc, and that which is now Hallowell as the " Hook." The first settler at the ' ' Hook " was Dea. Pease Clark, who came from Attle- borough, Mass. The first clearing made was near the present citj- hall. His house, which was the first erected within the limits of Hallowell, stood on Academy Street. Among the early prominent residents of Hallowell was Dr. Benjamin Vaughan, who was born in England April 30, 1751, and married Sarah, the eldest daughter of Benjamin Hallowell, Esq. During the French Revolu- tion he was a member of the English Parliament, and Ijeing compromised in some political movements he fled to France, and finally came to this country, arriving in Hallowell in 1796. He was a public-spmted man, and did much for the settlements on the Kennebec. He devoted a part of his time to the practice of his pro- fession, but always without paj^, and was deepl}^ inter- ested in agriculture and horticulture. He planted a large nurserj' of fruit-trees, from which orchards were set out in various places in the \'icinit3-. He had a large and valuable librar3% the medical portion of which he pre- sented to the Maine Insane Hospital. He died in his 85th year, Dee. 8, 1835. Charles Vaughan, a brother of Benjamin, born in London June 30, 1759, came to Hal- lowell in 1790. Besides running a flouring-mill and brewery he was much devoted to agriculture and hor- ticulture, and the importation of improved breeds of cattle. He died May 15, 1839. John Merrick, of Welsh lineage, but born in London, was another early resident of Hallowell. He came over as tutor in the Vaughan family, and subsequently married a sister of Dr. Vaughan. He was a man of profound learning, an overseer of Bowdoin College and a trustee of Hallowell Academy. He died in Hallowell in 1861, aged 95 j'ears. Hallowell Academy was incorporated and partiallj' endowed March 5, 1791. The school was formally opened May 5, 1795, under the care of Mr. Woodman. Within a few years the old institution has been merged into the Hallowell Classical Institute. Before the dajs of railways, when the Kennebec River was the principal thoroughfare for travel and traffic tln-ough this region, Hallowell was an important business centre ; but since the construction of the Maine Central Railwa}' (back route) , the business of the city has much fallen ofl". The granite found in this vicinity is of superior quality. The figures which compose the monument to the Pilgrim Fathers, in process of erection at Plymouth, Mass., including the huge statue of Faith, were cut at the Bod well works in Hallowell. Hallowell has a fine cemeterj-, an appropriate soldiers' monument and a pub- lic library. The various religious denominations are well represented. Population, 3,010. Wateeville. — That part of the town of Winslow situated on the west side of Kennebec River was set off and incorporated as Waterville on the 23d of June, 1802. Ticonic Falls furnish a most excellent water-power. In 1792 a dam was constructed, and a double saw-mill built near the foot of the main fall. The mill was put in operation in the spring of 1793, and soon after, Mr. Redington, the builder of the mill, put up a house and moved his family from Vassalborough. At this time the onlj' persons living in the vicinity of the falls were John Searl, Isaac Temple, Ivory Low and their families. Among those who settled near the falls we find the names of Nathaniel Low, Daniel Carter and others. The March town meeting of Winslow for 1798 was held at the new public meeting-house, on the west side of the river, in what is now Waterville. The institution now known as Colbj^ Universitj^ was first organized and incorporated Feb. 27, 1813, and was endowed with a township of timber land situated on Penobscot River, the same which now constitutes the towns of Alton and Argyle. In 1816 it was decided to locate it at Waterville. In 1820 the institution was granted collegiate powers, and subsequent!}^ allowed to take the name of Waterville College. The first gradu- ates were George Dana Boardman, who afterwards be- came a missionary to India, and Ephraim Tripp. In 1867 the college received a large endowment from Gard- ner Colby, a wealthy gentleman of Boston, and the legislature that year changed the corporate name of the institution to Colby University. Rev. Dr. J. T. Champ- lin, the faithful president, spent the best years of his life in the interest of the college ; and its present fiourishing condition is largely due to his untiring etlorts. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. In 1873 "West Waten-ille was set off and incorporated as a separate town. Shorn thus of its territory, Water- ville is the smallest town in the countj', having an area of only 13 square miles ; yet it has a population of over 5,000. The village, situated on the right bank of the river is one of the pleasantest in Maine. The streets are broad and beautifull}- shaded, and bordered by ele- gant residences. Lumber of all kinds is largely manu- factured here. The Lockwood cotton-mill, recentlj^ put in operation, is among the best in New England. Watcrville has a national bank and an institution for savings, and several public or circulating libri ries. The local journal is the "Waten-ille Mail ' PiTTSTON was incorpor i ted and named in honoi of Hon. John Pitt of Bos- ton, Feb. 4, 1779. Jt had pre\-iously been calh d Gardiner's-town, in hon or of Dr. Gardiner, and would have perfjetuatod his name but for the fact that he espoused the cause of the king against the colonists, which rendered him very unpopular with the patriots of Pittston Among the early settle is of Pittston was Rogc i Lapham, son of Joshi and Mary CWood) L:ii ham of Scituate, Mass He was a ship-wright, and worlced at Bath, but flnallj' came up and settled in Pittston. One of his sons, Roger, Jr., still occupies the old homestead. Pittston is broken bj' hills and ravines, but is a good farming town. The only -village is situated on the Ken- nebec, opposite Gardiner.* The first Congregational church was gathered here in 1812. The Methodists had a station here in 1794. The population is 2,355. WiNTHROP. — This town was included in the Plymouth Grant. The first white person who made his home in the town, was a hunter named Scott, who built him a hut near the great Cobbossee Contee Pond, on the land which • In a gully which opens into the Kennebec, near the north-west part of the town, is the so-called " Money Hole." Here, many years ago, a man named Lambert spent much time in digging for buried treasure, Timothy Foster, the first permanent settler, occupied. Mr. Foster came first in 1764. and the next j-ear brought his family. The next settler was Squier Bishop from Rchoboth, Mass,, with his wife and six children. Foster, and also families by the name of Fairbanks, Stanley and Pullen, came from Attlcborough, Mass. Mr. Chandler from Ipswich, N. H., built a saw-mill, near where the cotton-factory now stands, in Winthrop vil- lage, and during the j-ear erected a grist-mill — a gi-eat con- venience to the settlers, as previous to that time the near- est mill was at Gardiner. The town was incorpo- rated bj- its present name, April 2G, 1771, being named in honor of Gov. AViiithrop. In March, 1791, the town was di- vided, and the north half was incoi-porated bj- the .lame of Readfield. During the war for In- dependence, the people of Winthrop were found on the patriotic side. Winthrop is an excel- lent farming town, and the land is in a high state of cultivation. It has always been famous for its fine apple-orchards and for its stock. The "Win- throp Jersey stock is well known, and highlj' piized throughout the State. There are several ponds in the town, the largest of which, the Cobbossee Contee, deserves to be called a lake. Winthrop village, situated on the Maine Central Railwaj', has mills and factories, and is an important centre of trade. The population of the entire town is 2,230. A Congrega- tional church was organized Sept. 4, 1776, and Jeremiah Shaw was probabl}- the first pastor. WiNSLOW. — In 1754 the government of the Colon}- of the Massachusetts Bay, erected a fort on the triangle near the mouth of the Scbasticook River. This struc- ture was named Fort Halifax. One of the block-houses of this fortification is still standing, and is a conspicuous and the operation has been repeated several times since. A pit was excavated, 80 feet in depth, and a large body of earth (but no money) has, at different times, been removed. AILKMLI-L, MK. object between the Maine Central Railway and the river. This fort formed the nucleus of a little settlement and, according to "Williamson, eleven families gathered around it the year it was completed. The plantation name was Kingsfleld. The town was incorporated April 26, 1771, and named in honor of Gen. John Winslow. It was situated on both sides of the Kennebec River, and included the present towns of Waterville and West Watcrville. The ancient name of "Winslow was Tacon- net (Ticonic), an Indian word signifying " Falls in the "Woods," and the Falls at Waterville are still called by this name. A road suitable for carriages, was con- structed between Forts "Western and Halifax, by order of Gov. Shirlej-, during the j'ear 1754, which was the first road of any length constructed for military purposes in Maine. The first town meeting was held at Fort Halifax on tlie 23d of May, 1771. The people of "Wins- low exhibited commend- able zeal and patriotism during the war for In- dependence. The en- tire Declaration of In- dependence was spread upon the town records. In 1795, Rev. Joshua Cushman was ordained as minister, although there was no church or- ganization during Mr. Cushman's ministrj-, which continued for a period of nearly 18 years. Ticonic was a favorite resort of the Indians of the Kennebec, on account of its fine salmon fishing, and a powerful sub-tribe of the Kennebec or Cannabis tribe had its head-quarters here. The woods also abounded in moose, deer, bears, and also various kinds of fur- bearing animals. In the present town of "Winslow, between Fort Halifax and the bridge across the river to "Waterville, is an old Indian burying-ground, from which stone implements of curious workmanship are often dug, with human bones. A large area has been dug over by the students of the college and by others, in pursuit of these relics. Situated on a little elevation, is the place set apart by the early settlers as a cemetery.* The little village in the vicinity of Fort Halifax was, at one time, an active business place, but "Waterville, situated at the Falls, has absorbed the most of it. LAST BLOCK HOUSE OF FOKT HALIFAX. "Winslow has some excellent land on the river, but farther back it is rocky and sterile. The population is 1,440. China. — Early in the season of 1774, John Jones, better known as " Black Jones," came up the Kennebec River as far as Hallowell, and then made his way east- ward for the purpose of running out a new town, which he successfully accomplished ; and, in July of that jear, the pioneer's axe was heard for the first time in tlie present town of China. The first settlers were Edward, Jonathan, Andrew and Ephraira Clark from Nantucket. These four brothers were accompanied by their aged father, Jonathan Clarlc, and Miriam, his wife. Ephraim Clark was 23 years of age when he came here, and was not married until 21 3'ears after, yet he raised up a family of six sons and six daugh- ters, all of whom came to maturity. George Fish, who was an Eng- lishman, and Ephraim Clark, built, on Clark's Brook, the first mill in town. The new town- ship was called Jones' riantation until 179G, when it was incorpo- rated into a town by the name of Harlem. The first town meeting was held at the house of Shubael Bragg. Feb. 5, 1818, parts of the towns of Winslow and Fairfax, and the northerly part of Harlem, were incorporated into a town by the name of China. Two years later Harlem was annexed to China. The present population is 2,218. A Baptist church was organized in 1801, and a church edifice built some years after. Miriam Clark, wife of Jonathan, Sr., whose maiden name was Folger, and who • From one of the headstones in this cemetery, we copied the follow- ing epitaph : — " Here lis the body of Richod Themos an inglishman by birth By occupation a Cooper, now food for worms. Like an old rumpimcheon marked, numbered and shooked, He will be raised again and finished by his Creator. He died September 28, 1824, aged 75. America, my adopted country ; my best advice to you is, take care of your liberties." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. is said to have been the sister of the mother of Benja- min Franlvlin, was a member of the Society of Friends. The first meeting-house erected in China still stands on its original site. The Friends have alwajs been among the leading citizens. Among the more prominent were Eli and Sybil Jones, who travelled in Europe, and made two or three trips to the Holy Land in the interest of their denomination. Readfield. — This town, formerlj' the northerly half of Winthrop, was set off and incorporated March 11, 1791. Among the early settlers and proprietors, was Joshua Bean from Gilmanton, N. H., who owned a con- siderable tract. His family have always been prominent M. E. Church and denomination, and a share of the patronage of all denominations, is in a most flourishing condition. The surface of Readfield, like nearly all the towns in Kennebec County, is hilly, but the soil is rich and the land under careful cultivation. The town has several ponds and parts of ponds, and is watered by them and their tributaries and outlets, as well as by the overflow of Greely Pond in Mt. Vernon. VASSAXBOROucn. — The first settlers, largely from towns on Cape Cod, came about the year 1 760. The progress of the settlement was slow, and, eight years afterwards, there were only 10 families in town. In 1775 Dennis Bearce Uall. Sampson Ilall. MAINE WESLEYAN SEMINARY AND FEMAI.E COLLEGE, KENT'S HILL. in the town. Readfield is especially noted for its fine cattle, its extensive dahies, and its fruit product. At Readfield Corner are the grounds of the Kennebec Agri- cultural Society, the oldest association of farmers in the State. The annual exhibitions here are always highly creditable. There are four villages in town; viz.. East Readfield, Readfield Depot, Readfield Corner and Kent's Hill. Kent's Hill was so named from a familj'of Kents, who came here early from Marshfield, Mass. Here is located the IVIaine Weslej-an Seminary and Female College. The former was incorporated in 1821, and the college was chartered in 1859. Rev. Dr. H. P. Torsey has, for manj' j^ears, been at the head of the institution. The buildings are beautifully and conveniently situated on a high and sightly elevation, in the north-west corner of the town, and the institution having been liberally endowed by the State, and receiving the support of the Gatchell was chosen capt.ain of the town, for the " emer- gency of the times." His brother, John Gatchell, was the pilot of Arnold's expedition up the Kennebec to Quebec, in 1776. The town was incorporated April 26, 1771, and named in honor of Florentius Vassal, who owned one-fourth part of the Plymouth patent. He was the son of William Vassal, who early came to Scituate, Mass. The son returned to England, and died in Lon- don in 1778.* The first settlers in Vassalborough were sometimes annoj'ed by the Indians, and John Gatchell f dug an * His will is recorded -nith the Kennebec County Probate records, and is dated Sept. 20, 1777. It covers U large sheets of parchment, each page being 24 by 30 inches. It is written in old English text- hand, and is a fine specimen of chirography, the letters being cut apparently with the uniformity and accuracy of type. t This man was a gi-eat hunter, and possessed of remarkable strength. Once, having wounded a full-grown moose, he caught hiin, threw him down and cut his throat with his jack-knife. underground passage from his house to a gully, as a means of escape in case of an attack. A Baptist church was gathered here in 1788. In 1808 a second church was organized. The most of the earlj- settlers of this town belonged to the Society of Friends, a regular meeting of which was begun in 1780, so that most other churches are of comparatively recent date. This is a large town, and has five post-offices. Its population is 2,915. At North Vassalborough the Woollen Mills Company manufacture a fine quality of goods ; and at East Vassalborough is manufactured flour, meal and lum- ber of various kinds. Friend J. D. Lang, one of the board of Indian commissioners, and an experienced woollen manufacturer, resides here, and is a leading man in his denomination and in the town. His son, Hon. Thomas S. Lang, now of Oregon, was the breeder of the ftimous Knox horses, so celebrated for their trotting qualities. The remaining towns of Kennebec County are : — Mon- mouth* (incorporated in 1792), an agricultural town, with 1,744 inhabitants; Litchfield (incorporated in 1795; population, 1,505), an excellent farming town. where the annual exhibitions of the Litchfield Farmers' Club are held: Clinton (1795, 1,76G), formerly noted for its lumber, — the masts of the famous United States ship "Constitution" being cut here: Sidney (1792, 1,471) , named in honor of Sir Philip Sidney : Belgrade (1796, 1.485), with its vahuible water-power, the native place of Lot M. and Anson P. Morrill, both ex-governors of Maine, and the former at one time United States senator: Albion (1804, 1,356): Mt. Vernon (1792, 1,252), originally called Washington Plantation, and receiving its present name to commemorate the home of Washington: Chelsea (1850, 1,238), the seat of the eastern branch of the National Soldiers' Home : Wind- sor (1809, 1,266): Benton (1842, 1,180): West Gardiner (1850, 1,044) : WATNEf (1798,938), named in honor of Gen. Wayne, a town peculiar in its geological formation: Fayette (1795, 900), containing manufac- tories of edged-tools, lumber, &c. : Farmingdale (1852, 860) : Vienna (1802, 740) : Rome (1804, 725) : and Manchester (1850, 732). Besides these are Unity Plantation and Clinton Gore. KNOX COUNTY EY L. F. STARRETT. The county of Knox was formed from portions of Lincoln and Waldo counties in 1860. It is situated on the south-west coast of Penobscot Baj'. The river St. George runs entirelj' through it, its mouth being nearly- due south from the point where it enters the county at the north. The centre of a line between these two points would be not far from the head of its tide-waters. This river drains nearly all the count}' except where the surface inclines directly to the bay or sea-shore. It has many branches, which are the outlets of numerous ponds. Thus nearly all parts of the county are supplied with water privileges, some of which are of great value. The scenery is diversified, and many views are afforded not often surpassed for attractiveness. In the north-eastern part of the county are the Camden Hills or Mountains. Of these Mt. Megunticook is 1,265 feet high; Ragged Mountain, 1,230; Mt. Pleasant probahh' about the same • John Ch.indler, the first town clerk of Monmoutli, a n.itive of Epping, N. H , held many important offices both in the State and in the nation, including that of United States senator. height as the latter; Bald Mountain, 1,140 feet; and Mt. Baltic nearly 1,000 feet. These are all in the town of Camden except Mt. Pleasant, which is partly in Camden and partly in Warren. There is also quite an eminence in Hope, known as JIt. Hatchet, and another in Rockland which is 558 feet high, and is known as Madambettox, Methabesec, and also as Dodge's and as Marsh's Mountain. The soil of the county may be described as tolerably fertile and easy of cultivation in the vallej-s of the streams and along the margins of the ponds ; hardly less remunerative, but more difficult of cultivation on the declivities of the hills, and sterile upon the ridges and along the coasts. To the earl}' voyagers A-isiting the coast of Maine, the lands bordering upon the ocean oflfered far less attraction to the eye seeking a desirable place for colonization, than those which were found bj' the explorers who penetrated t An island situated almost in the centre of Great Androscoggin Pond, in this town, was used by the Indians as a place for the burial of their dead. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. a little way into the interior. The mouths of the rivers being narrow, and the entrances to the bays guarded with islands, the openings to the water-courses by which tliese explorations were made, had to be carefully sought out. Though the accounts of these explorations possess great historical interest, since they led to organized attempts at settlement, and became the basis of royal grants b}^ \-irtue of which nations contended for empire, it hardly falls within the compass of this sketch to nar- rate them. In 1G30 the Pl3-mouth Company granted to Leverett and Beauchamp, two English merchants, the tei-ritory lying between the Penobscot and Muscongus rivers, ex- tending north far enough to form a tract 30 miles square. This is known as the Muscongus or Waldo Patent. This grant is the basis of most of the land titles in Knox and Waldo counties. Though in its origin one remove from royal, it was roj-al in its proportions, assuming to pass title to nearly 600,000 acres. Something was done j in the way of settlement, Indian traffic, and the ship- , ment of timber from the river under the auspices of the first proprietors, but at the breaking out of King Philip's war all operations were suspended, and they were not renewed again for more than half a century. During that period such parts of New England as were colon- ized experienced the vicissitudes of thi-ee bloody Indian wars. In 1719 John Leverett, president of Harvard, who was a grandson of Leverett the patentee, became sole pro- prietor of the patent. He associated with himself 30 others, one of whom, Spencer Phips, received his share in return for the Indian title which he had inherited from Sir William Phips, to the land on the St. George, as far as the head of tide-waters. Sir Wilham acquired this title in 1C94, bj- purchase from Madockawando, the famous Tairatine chief. In 1719-20 two block-houses were built, the smaller being near the river and mount- ing several pieces of cannon. The two were connected by a covered way, the whole constructed of the largest hewn logs. The work was several times repaired, and probably enlarged, as during the later Indian wars the upper block-house was 100 feet long, vdth. walls 16 feet high. Within its enclosure were barracks and a well. The work took the name of Fort St. George. Around this the proprietors proposed to build a town, which they had already named Lincoln. The Indians exhibiting signs of hostility to these operations, the white men justified their occupation by the Phips purchase ; to which, however, the Indians answered that Madocka- wando had no right to make such a sale. In conse- quence of the hostile attitude of the Indians, the propri- etors garrisoned the fort with 20 men, under command of Col. Westbrook, one of their number. Their plans of settlement were interrupted ])y the breaking out, in 1722, of what is known as the fourth Indian, or Lovewell's war. This fort continued to be the most easterly, and con- sequently most exposed, mihtary post during the Indian troubles. In 1724 the command was given to Josiah Winslow, son and gi-andson respectively of the two governors of the Plymouth Colony of that name, and a recent gradu- ate of Harvard. On April 30 he went down the river with a small force in two whale-boats. The Indians watched his movements and laid in wait for his return. He remained at the Green Islands over night, and com- ing back the next daj' a man in the companion boat shot a duck. The boat, dropping behind to get the fowl, was attacked by "a great body of Indians, judged to be 200 or 300." Seeing the peril of his companions, Winslow went back to their assistance. The men fought with the bravery of desperation, until all the whites and six of their Indian allies were killed. Capt. Winslow was one of the last to fall. He was onlj' 22 ^-ears of age, and regarded as a j'oung man of great promise. One of the friendly Indians who escaped from this encounter badlj- wounded was pensioned bj^ Massachusetts. At length, after repeated attacks upon the fort by the Indians, and as frequent repulses, though with more or less loss on both sides, a conference was held here in Jul^-, 1725, between two Massachusetts commissioners and 13 Indian chiefs. This was adjourned to Boston, where a second meeting was held in November, at which the Eastern Indians were represented by four of their principal chiefs. The discussion was continued a full month, each party endeavoring to throw the responsibil- ity of the war on the other. The Indians opened the question of Madockawando's right to sell their land, and contended long for the abandonment of the forts at the St. George and the Kennebec. Finally arrangements were made to establish trading-houses at these points, the goods to be sold at rates which would barely cover expenses, the principal object, under the circumstances, being to conciliate the Indians. This arrangement, which put an end to the bloodj- Lovewell's war, is known as the Dummer treaty. It was ratified the ensuing summer, by a large representa- tion of the chiefs, at what is now Portland. Capt. John Giles, who had been an Indian captive in his youth, and so had become familiar with tlieir lan- guage, was appointed to the command of the fort in ] December, 1725, and retained it for 17 years. j The -war being now closed, the proprietors of the patent began to exert themselves to obtain settlers for their lands. It was at this juncture that we first hear of Samuel "Waldo, a j^oung Boston merchant, who, hav- ing recently inherited an interest in the patent, subse- quently came into possession of nearl}' the whole of it ; his possessions embracing what is at present included in the towns of Camden, Hope and Appleton. By inherit- ance and jjurchase, Mr. Waldo thus became sole patentee of half a million acres, his northern boundary, as he claimed it, being not far south of the present city of Bangor. One of Mr. W.'s first acts was to open the lime-quany , which waa long afterwards enclosed bj- the walls of the Maine State Prison and developed by convict labor. Here he commenced to manufacture lime for shipment to Boston, thus being the pioneer in what was destined to be a leading industry'. The work of colonization was finall}- begun here in good earnest, Mr. Waldo contracting (Apr. 29, 1735), to deed to each settler a lot 40 rods wide on the river, and running back so as to contain 100 acres ; the settlers on their part, — the first party consisted of 27 families, of Scotch-Irish extraction,- — ^ agreeing to build houses, and within two years to clear four acres of land on their several lots. The deeds to these lots were given in June, 1 735. The next year these pioneers came with their families and set- tled upon their respective farms. In many cases the cellars, over which their first rude houses were built, may still be seen. The names of these settlers, still represented in Warren, are Patterson, Boggs, Creighton, Starrett, Spear, Lermond, Mclntj're, Robinson and Kalloch. Gen. Ellis Spear, now (1878) commissioner of patents, is a native of Warren and a descendant of the settler of that name. Gen. Waldo rebuilt the saw-mill at Mill River, latel3- destroj'ed b}' the Indians, in 1735. In 1740 he erected a grist-mill at Oyster River, and also the meeting-house which he had engaged to build.* At about this period Waldo also located some 40 lots on the western side of the river, in what is now Gushing. About 30 of these were at once occupied, substantially the same terms being made with the settlers as had been made with those of the upper town ; and in distinction from that, this took the name of St. George's lower town. •It was an unpretentious log building of 30 by 40 feet, its exterior clapboarded, its interior destitute of other finisli than the smoothing of the clear pine lumber of which it was constructed. Rough benches were the only scats provided, and the windows were glazed with 3 by 4 panes, which were broken out during the Indian wars, before the building was much used. Its pleasant situation by the river's side is identified by In 1742 Giles was succeeded in command of the fort bj' Jabez Bradbury-, who continued to hold the position during the stormy events of the next 15 years. He was, during this period, truck-master at such times as there was trade with the Indians. In 1743 a settlement was effected at what is now Friendship, then known as Meduncook. These settlers were of English Puritan extraction. In 1 754 there were 22 families, representing the following names: Jameson, Wadsworth, Bradford, Davis, Lawry, Gaj-, Gushing, Bartlctt, Demorse, Bickmore, Morton and Cook. In 1 744 war was declared on the Indian tribes east of the Passamaquoddy, and subsequently, August 14, — in consequence of their having shared, to some extent, in an attack (Jul}- 19) upon the fort, — against the Tarratines as well ; and in fact, against all the eastern tribes. In 1745 occurred the famous expedition which took Louisburg. Of this Waldo was second in command. Many of the settlers enlisted in it ; others, who had come from Massachusetts, returned thither, and all the rest took refuge with their families in the fort or bloclv- houses. Of these, one was a little farther up the river than the fort, and was under command of Capt. Benj. Burton after his return from Louisburg ; another, at Pleasant Point, near the mouth of the river, under com- mand of Capt. Henderson. With the return of peace the settlers went back to their farms, and prosperity seemed for a while to smile upon the settlement. Rev. Robert Rutherford, a worthy Presbj-terian minister who became chaplain to the garri- son some time during the war, remained and preached at intervals to them, and sometimes to the settlers, till his death, which occurred at the fort in 175G. Trade was resiuned with the Indians, and formal conferences were held at the fort with their leading men, at which the treat}' of 1749 was ratified. In 1753 Waldo settled another colon}' of 20 Scottish families some two miles from tlio river on the western side. Of the names of these settlers those which be- came identified with the future history of Warren arc Anderson, Dicke, Crawford, Malcolm and Kirkpatrick. These emigrants gave to their settlement the name of Stirling, which is still retained by the neighborhood where their village was located. In November, 1754, the news that the Indians had the ancient churchyard, where sleep the forefathers of the hamlet. This is enclosed by a hedge of handsome fir-trees, the evergreen foliage of which gives constant beauty to the place. Several of the graves are marked by low stones of dai-k marble, with inscriptions surmoimted by those reminders of mortality deemed by the sentiment of the times appropriate — the skull aud cross-bones. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. attacked Fort Halifax on the upper Kennebec reached the settlements, whereupon the entire population at once betook themselves to the fort and block-houses, which had been recently greatly strengthened and enlarged. The war soon became general,* and for four years — years of mortal terror to the settlers — the contest con- tinued. In 1757 Thomas Pownal succeeded Gov. Shirley. He was very energetic in his measures against the Indians, and very popular in consequence with the settlers here. At about this time Bradbury was succeeded by Capt. John North, one of the Scotch-Irish settlers. He was a survej'or, had been much emplojed as such at the settle- ments further west, and laid out the original lots on the river. After Bradbury's relief, but before he left the garrison, occurred, in August, 1758, the last of the several unsuccessful attempts upon Fort St. George. With the destruction of the French power in America the Indians of the east realized that it was useless longer to contend against the English. By the treaty they were compelled to acknowledge that they had forfeited their lands by taking up arms against the king ; and we hear nothing more of the bound established by the purchase from Madockawando. Gen. Waldo, however, did not live to avail himself of this libertj^ to extend his settle- ment. He died in 1759, leaving his estate to his family. His son-in-law, Thomas Flucker of Boston, subsequently came into possession of the larger part of the patent. During the interval between the close of the French war and the breaking out of the Revolution, several beginnings of settlements were made. Elisha Snow was the pioneer in the settlement of South Thomaston. He came in 1767, associated with himself John Mathews, and they were soon followed by other settlers named Tenant, Coombs, Bridges and Orbeton. They settled on the banks of the Wessawweskeag. The first settlement in Camden was made in 17G8, by James Richards. He was followed next year by two brothers, and shortly after by other settlers named Minot and Ogier. These all settled at Camden village, • This result was greatly precipitated by an outrage, perpetrated by cer- tain wtiite men, fiends in liuman form, on defenceless and friendly Tarra- tines. On July 1, one James Cargill, on his way from New Castle with 31 men, came upon an Indian and his wife, upon whom they fired, kill- ing him and mortally wounding her. The woman asked them to take her infant, which she called Nit, to Capt. Bradbury. One of the party answered, " every nit will make a louse," and cruelly knocked the child in the head before the eyes of the dying mother. On arriving at the fort the next morning, and exhibiting their bloody trophies, the women at the fort at once recognized the scalp of the woman as that of Margaret Moxa, a Tarratino squaw, who had rendered signal service to the gar- rison in warning them of the approach of enemies. Shocked by this act of Ijrutality, the wicked deed was loudly and unqualifiedly Con- or Mcgunticook. At what is now Rockport village, Robert Tliorndike was the pioneer. He was followed by his brother Paul and others named Harkness, Ott and Ballard. Still another settlement wns made at Clam Cove by Gregory, Buckland, Porterfield and Upham. At about this time settlements were made on the Fox Islands. The first clearing in Union was made in 1772 by four young men from the Scotch settlement below. As that was called Stirling this took the name of Stirlingtown. In 1774, Dr. Taylor of Lunenburg, Mass., purchased from the Waldo heirs the entire township for £1,000. From him the plantation took the name of Taylortown, and it was known sometimes by one and sometimes by the other of these names until its incorporation in 1786. At this time there were in it 77 inhabitants of the names, Adams, Bowen, Butler, Cummings, Grinnell, Hawes, Hills, Holmes, Mero, Partridge, Robbins, and Ware. The settlers within the limits of what is now Rockland at the commencement of the Revolution bore the names of Lindsey, Spear, Fales, Crockett, Tolman and Jame- son, all of which names are worthily represented in the citj' of to-day. At the breaking out of the war of the Revolution, the sympathies of the people were generally with the cause of freedom. In 1774 the fast day recommended bj' the General Court was observed at Meduncook with religious exercises, and the " Solemn League and Covenant," binding to non-intercourse with Great Britain until the Boston Port Bill should be repealed, was signed by 55 adults, male and female, and many of the children. Early in 1775, Capt. Samuel Gregg, with 20 men from the upper and lower towns, marched to Fort Pownal, situated at Fort Point at the mouth of the Penobscot River, and demanded of the commander, Goldthwaite, to know why he had given up his cannon to the enemy. He told them the fort was the king's, showed them the j order of Gov. Hutchinson, and further excused himself j hy saying that to have refused compliance with the terms I of the order " would have caused the total ruin of the demned. The writer recalls the impressive manner with which he has heard old people who in their youth had heard it talked of liy those who were in the garrison at the time, tell of the prediction made, and fulfilled, that no one of the guilty party " would ever die in their beds." The Massachusetts authorities endeavored to placate the just resent- ment which the Tarratines felt at this outrage, and assurances were given that justice should be meted out to the guilty parties. Cargill was apprehended and tried, the trial, it is presumed, being at York. The defence set up was, that some of the partj- were St. John Indians, and at that time the prejudice against the race was so strong that a ver- dict of acquittal was rendered. Thenceforward the difficulties with the Tarratines increased, and on Nov. 5, 17S5, war was declared against them, followed in the succeeding June by the declaration against France. river." The party professed to be satisfied witli the explanation, but perhaps thinldng that arms and ammu- nition would be safer in their own hands than in the hands of one so prompt to obey the orders of the roj'al governor, made a demand upon him for a quantity to protect the settlement at St. George. He delivered to them 7 muskets, 10 pounds powder, and 24 pounds ball. On June 6th the inhabitants of the settlements on the river and "Wessawweskcag met and chose their first Committee of Safety and Correspondence. On Nov. 7, 1776, the town of Warren was incori^o- rated, taking its name from the hero who had so lately given his life for the cause of freedom. This was fol- lowed on March 20, 1777, by the incorporation of Thomaston, which included what is now South Thomas- ton and Rockland, and which was named for Gen. John Tliomas, who like Warren had recently laid down his life for liberty, having fallen a victim to disease while leading back the remnant of the ill-fated army which followed Iilontgomer}' and Arnold to Canada. The coast, at this period, was exposed to predatory attacks from British armed vessels, and here and there was found a loj-alist willing to guide them on their marauding expeditions. Others, more timorous or less sensitive to appeals to patriotism than interest, when the event seemed unpropitious for freedom, gave to the enemj' an indirect support. The few settlers along the bay shore and on the Fox Islands were especially lialile to incursions from their proximity to the British post at Bigu3-duce. A Tory named John Long, piloted an English party into Camden harbor. They plundered wherever they could find anything worth plundering, and burned nearly all the buildings, including the saw-mill. When the war was over, most of those who had been conspicu- ously active in the royal cause were glad to find homes elsewhere. Long, however, remained, and risked the re- sentment which, more than once, as we are told, mani- fested itself in violence. The settlements of this region were largely represented in the unfortunate expedition against Biguj-duce in 1779. After the defeat, many of the patriots of Belfast and the upper Penobscot, who would not take the oath of alle- giance to the king, came in a bod}' to Camden, where some remained, while others went further west where thej'had friends. • Perhaps no hero of the Revolutionary era obtained a more pro- nounced local fame than farmer Robert Jameson. Having been ruth- lessly plundered of cattle, hogs and farm produce, and himself taken prisoner by one Pomcroy, a Tory and former schoolmate, and who had been promoted to the command of a privateer brig, Jameson availed himself of the earliest opportunity, regardless of consequences, in the most bitter terms to denounce Pomeroy to his face, and to characterize Durirg the progress of tho war. Gen. Peleg Wads- worth was appointed to the command of the Eastern Department, and had his headquarters at Thomaston. Upon a certain occasion it chanced that ho was supplied with onlj" a small bodj'-guard. This fact having been communicated by certain Tories in the vicinity to tho British at Biguyduce, a heutenant and 25 men were sent to capture him. Thej' surprised him, together with his wife and three children, and a Miss Fenno, a friend of INIrs. W., guarded only by three men. After these were overcome, and the rest of the house occupied, the General defended himself in his own room until a bullet shattered his arm, when he surrendered. His wife and Miss Fenno hastily bound a handkerchief over the fracture, and threw a blanket over his shoulders, when he was hurried away into captivity. One of Gen. Wadsworth's companions in bonds was a Maj. Benj. Burton of Warren, through whose ingenuitj' and indefatigable efforts was effected his own and Gen. Wadsworth's escape from confinement. Burton, son of a famous Indian fighter, was a character. Being acci- dentally in Boston at the time, he volunteered as a member of the Boston Tea Party. Proceeding to the metropolis at once after his escape from a British dun- geon, he enlisted as captain of marines in the American navy. Again made a prisoner bj- the fortunes of war, the end of the struggle which he had helped to begin in the hold of a tea-ship, released him from confinement in the hold of a prison-ship. Landing at New London, with onl}^ eight shillings in his pocket, he made his way home to enjoy in peaceful pursuits the liberty ho had served so faithfully to gain. He died May 24, 1835, aged 86, and was buried in the town churchyard at Warren, where a low, long monument, in box form, marks his honored grave.* At the close of tlie war a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety existed about land titles. Fluekcr had espoused the cause of the king, and been included in the act of proscription, and in the unsettled condition of affairs many people had located upon the proprietary lands without obtaining title. Meantime, such portions of the patent as iiad not been disposed of came eventually, by inheritance and purchase, into the possession of Gen. Henry Knox, the son-in-law of Flucker. If the pro- prietary claim was to be recognized, it must have been his baseness in unmistakably plain English, adding that, if ever the j opportunity should be presented, he should not fail to take ample satis- j fiiction for tlic treatment he had received at his hands. By a singular combination of circumstances it so happened that years afterwards Pomcroy did fall into Jameson's hands, when the latter proved as good as his word. Calling upon him to defend himself as best he might, Jame- son proceeded to .administer to him condign and exemplary punishment. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. a satisfaction to patriotic citizens to learn that it was to inure to the benefit of one who had so well approved himself as a friend of freedom. It is believed that his dealings with the delinquents were characterized bj- forbearance. After Ids arduous services in the Revolution, and in the organization of the Department of War, Gen. Knox felt that he had earned the right to retire to private life. The possession of this vast tract opened before him a prospect that was particular!}' attractive to a mind that was fitted b}' nature and habit to deal with great things. lie planned to make his home upon his estate, and to identify', in the closest manner, his own interest with the interest of the community. In preparation for his removal hither, he caused to be erected near the old fortress of St. George, and at an expense of $50,000, an imposing mansion.* To this mansion, to which Mrs. Knox gave the name of Montpelior, the General removed his family upon his retirement from public life in 1795. He opened it with a grand feast, to which all, rich and poor, were alike invited, and here he continued during his life-time to dis pense the most bountiful hospitality. f Among his dis- tinguished guests were Talleyrand and Louis Philippe. He entered upon the development of his estate with characteristic energy ; engaged very largely in the manu- facture of lime ; erected mills ; carried on extensive agricultural operations, and introduced new varieties of fruits and vegetables, and improved breeds of cattle and sheep. His extensive operations attracted new settlers, and contributed largely in many waj-s to the prosperit}^ of the community. But the maintenance of so extensive an establishment was a serious drawback upon his resources, and necessarilj' compelled him to relj' much upon others in the carrj'ing out of his plans ; his bene- volent disposition and ardent temperament sometimes involved him in unprofitable schemes, so that it is little wonder that the great estate was found at his death to be insolvent. The General died suddenly in 1805. He was buried with militarj' honors, and his remains now rest in the cemetery at Thomaston, marked by a monument erected by his wife. * " Nothing," says a late writer, " is now to be seen of tlic jiiazz.as, balconies, balustrades and other ornaments of the mansion ; the splendid gateway leading into what is now Knox Street, surmounted by the American eagle carved in wood; the walks, summer-houses, gar- dens, orchards, well-arranged grounds and forest openings. Time has gathered them all, with their reno^vlled author, and all the proud spirits or broken hearts that once composed his family, to their native dust." t It is related, that at one time he invited tho entu-o remnant of the In the war of 1812, the interest in this section mainly centered in the exploits of the privateersmen upon the coast. So closely was the coast guarded, that, at one time, a valuable cargo was transported to Boston hy ox- teams rather than risk the dangers of the sea. In the war of the Rebellion, Knox County furnished her full proportion of volunteers. Maj. Gen. Hiram G. Berr3', after making for himself a high reputation as a skilful officer, died the death of a brave soldier while in command of his division of the army of the Potomac on the bloody field of Chancellors-s-ille. J In closing this historical sketch, it is fitting that a tribute should be paid to the memory of the man by whose painstaking labors the record of so much that is interesting in the histor}' of the county has been pre- served. Cyrus Eaton was born at Framingham, Mass., in 1784 ; came to Maine as a teacher at the age of 20 j-ears ; settled in Warren, and became by his own exer- tions a very learned man, proficient in various branches of science, and master of several languages. In 1845 he became blind, and, assisted b}' his invalid daughter as amanuensis, turned his attention to the writing of the local histories for which he had been, in the intervals snatched from his other engrossing labors, collecting materials from the commencement of his residence in Maine. For accuracy, excellence of style and general merit, his works have seldom been equalled in their department of literature. Mr. Eaton received distin- guished honors from various institutions and learned societies, in recognition of his historical and other liter- ary labors. He died in 1874, having attained the patri- archal age of 90 j-ears. Towxs. Rockland. — On the division of the old town of Thom- aston in 1848, the eastern p.-irt was incorporated as East Thomaston. In 1850 the name was changed to Rock- land, and on April 17, 1854, it was incorporated as a city. Its harbor, connected with Penobscot Bay, is defined bj' two headlands, — Jameson's Point on the north, and Owl's Head on the south. The city is located on level land, so that it does not show to advantage from the harbor ; but from the promontory of Owl's Head, or Tarratine tribe to pay a visit to his estate, which they not only accepted, but prolonged for some weeks, until he was obliged to remind them that it was time for them to return home. + His remains were brought for interment to Rockland, the city of his birth and residence, from the citizens of which he had frequently received the most conspicuous honors within their gift. A colossal statue of tho deceased hero, executed in Italian marble by Simmons, the celebrated Maine sculptor, and erected on a handsome pedestal, keeps guard over his last resting-place. from the loftj' hills which enclose the plain on the shore side, one obtains a fine \'iew of it. I Rockland has several tasteful public buildings. The post-office is a handsome and spacious structure of St. George granite, recently built, at a cost, including I grounds and furniture, of $142,000. I The coimty court-house was erected in 1874, at a cost of $80,000. j There are eight churches in town, the latest built and most expensive being the Universalist, erected in 1876, at a cost of $26,000. I There are three fine school-houses. Another prom- inent structure is the Farwell building, erected in 1871, I by Hon. N. A. Farwell and A. F. Ames, Esq. I The principal industry of Rockland is the manufacture ! of lime, which is carried on here to a greater extent than I at any other place in the country. Quite a large fleet is employed in the transportation of tliis commodit)'. Thomaston, verj' pleasantly situated on the St. George River and K. & L. R. R., has fine and well-shaded streets, along which are many handsome and costlj' resi- I donees. The most conspicuous public building is the State prison, originally erected in 1824. The enclosure consists of several acres, but includes an abandoned lime-quarr3'. The principal buildings are of brick and stone, and are well adapted to their several uses. There are six church edifices in Thomaston, of which i that of the Congregationalists is the largest and hand- somest. The Baptist church is now being rebuilt in modem st3'le. I There are seven patent lime-kilns in the town. The building and sailing of vessels was, up to about 1855, a leading industry in all the towns of the county bordering on the coast or having building pri^dleges on the tidal rivers. Since that time other interests have gradually come into prominence in most places ; but this one has retained its pre-eminence in Thomaston. The gentleman who has been most conspicuously successful in this business is Hon. Edward O'Brien, who is reputed a millionaire. Mr. O'Brien has recently created two funds of $10,000 each for the benefit, respectively, of the deser-i-ing poor of Warren and Thomaston, thus pro- viding for the permanent assistance of a class of whose claims he has always been mindful. Among Thomaston's distinguished lawyers may be mentioned Hon. John Euggles, once a U. S. senator ; Hon. Wm. J. Farley ; Hon. Jonathan Cilley, whose death in a duel while a member of Congress in 1839, was regretted as a national loss ; and A. P. Gould, Esq., who is very widely known as one of the ablest men in his profession. Camden has two principal villages, — Camden and Rockport, — each with its accumulation of capital and its pecuUar industries and attractions. Chief of these last, with Camden, is its fine mountain close at hand. Health and pleasure seekers are coming to find here a desirable summer resort. The town has an excellent water-power located on the Megimticook stream, the outlet of Canaan Pond, which having a surface of 500 acres, is an abundant reservoir. On this stream, which is only about three miles long, are 14 water-powers, having an aggregate of 150 feet head, of which 10 are occupied. At the lower fall, only three rods from tide-water, is located the anchor- factory of H. E. & W. G. Alden. This is the only establishment of the kind in Maine. Some distance up the stream is the three-set woollen- mill of the Knox Woollen Company. The goods of their manufacture have a high reputation. D. Knowlton & Co. manufacture passenger and freight cars, water-wheels, ship's steering-wheels, capstans, pumps and windlasses. D. H. Bisbee manufactures yearly some 9,000 kegs of powder. Shipbuilding is carried on both at Camden and Rock- port ; and considerable capital is invested in navigation. Rockport has a good harbor. Its situation is verj^ picturesque, and its scenery pleasing. The manufacture of lime is here an important Industry. Warren. — Shipbuilding was largely carried on at Warren from an early to a comparatively recent period, but has been entirely abandoned. From 1770 to 1866, nearlj' 400 vessels were built there. At Warren village is situated a shoe-factorj', employing on the average about 150 hands. Here also is located a four-set woollen-mill. At the falls, a little above Warren village, where is one of the very best of water-privileges, the manufacture of powder is carried on by E. Wason of Boston. Union. — The principal manufactory at Union is that of carriages. At South Union is a valuable water-privi- lege, where is situated Brown Brothers' manufactory of reed organs. The valley of the Georges is the best farming section of the county, and the inhabitants of Waircn, Union, Appleton, Washington and Hope are generally devoted to agricultural pursuits. Some lumber is manufactured at Washington, and at South Hope is a carriage and sleigh manufactor3', and also a door, sash and bUnd factory. The inhabitants of South Thomaston are interested in agriculture, and to some extent in granite-cutting and navigation. The town of St. George is greatly interested in navi- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. gation, a large proportion of its citizens being seamen. The soil is general!}' poor, and the wealth of tlie town — for it is wealth}' and prosperous — has been mainly de- i rived from the sea. Here, also, are valuable granite I quames. I CusursG and Friendship have some agi-icultiu-al re- sources, and are also interested in na-vigation and fishing. The same remark will appl}' to North IIa-n-en, where, as also at ViKAL Haven, is a lobster-canning factor)'. The latter is a thriving place, and has dailj' steam communi- cation with Rockland. Its leading business is granite- cutting, which within a few years has, at this and other places in tlie county, assumed large proportions. The stone is a handsome graj' granite, susceptible of a high pol- ish, and very free from foreign substances, which would discolor or make imperfections in the wrought siuface. The works at Hurricane Island are owned and ope- rated by Gen. Davis Tillson of Rockland, his investment there representing over §100,000. He is a "West Point graduate, who, entering the service during the late war as captain of artUler}', attained to the rank of major- general. He employs ten engines of diiferent kinds, runs his drills by the force of compressed air, handles his granite b}' steam derricks and transports it b}' steam cars over iron tracks which he has laid from the wharf to diiTerent parts of the quarrj'. His largest contract has been for the furnishing of the granite for the .St. Louis post-office. At present he has about 200 men, but has employed 800. Off the coast of South Thomaston lies Dix Island, some 50 acres in extent, which, with some larger but com- parativelj- unimportant islands, constitutes the Muscle Ridge Plantation. Here extensive granite operations were commenced at an earlier daj' than at any other point on the coast. While working on the contract to \ furnish the granite for the New York post-office 1 ,500 ; men were at one time emploj'cd, and then the little island was a busj' place indeed. Farther south, at Spruce Head, on the coast of St. George, are two quarries of very valuable building gran- ite, extensively worked. Still farther south is Clark's Island, so close to the main land that it is connected by a bridge, where an extensive granite business is also conducted. The next quarrj' in order is at Long Cove. No granite is handsomer, more durable, more readilj- accessible for shipment, or more generally desirable than that which is found in inexhaustible quantities along the coast and on the islands of Knox County. To«xs Population. Date of 18T0. Incorporation. cimdcn," .:::::: 4,.512 Feb. 17, 1791 Cusln.i- 7U4 Feb. 7, 1803 Fricndsliip 890 Feb. 25, lb07 Hope, 907 June 23, 1804 Korth Haven 806 June 30, 1846 Eockland, 7,074 July 28, 1848 South Thomaston, 1,C93 July 28,1848 St. Georpe 2,318 Fel,. 7, 1803 Tliomaston 3,092 March 20, 1777 Vinal Haven mi Warren 1,974 Washington 1,276 Feb. 27, ISll Matinicus I'lantation, 277 JIusclcKidse Plantation, . . . . 263 _ Hurricane Isle 30,823 Feb. 7, 1878 LIXCOLX COUXTY."- BY U. K. SEM'ALL. The rugged shores of Lincoln County were among tlio very first on this continent to be visited and explored b^' modern Europeans. f As early as 1G05, De Monts, a French navigator, hav- ing wintered near the present site of Calais, on the St. * Lincoln County contains the follOTving towns : Alna (population in 1870, 740) ; Boothbay (3,200 ; Bremen (797) ; Brbtol (2,917) ; Dara- ariscotta (1,241) ; Dresden (996) ; Edgccomb (1,057) ; Jefferson (1,821) ; Monhegati Plantation (145) ; Newcastle (1,732) ; Noblcborough 1,150) ; Somerville (505) ; Southport (634) ; "VValdoborough (4,174) ; Westport (740) ; Whitefield (1,603) ; and Wiscasset (1,977). Croix, cast anchor in the mouth of the Kennebec, and took possession of the shores of this, and of the adja- cent territor}'. This French voyager described the region as a country of remarkable features, and left on its rocks the national emblem I of French dominion. t That it must also have been visited by the Northmen, nearly 1,000 years ago, seems evident from the Runic characters found on its rocks ou the little island of Monanas, in a ravine near the " Fog Bell." Whether wrought by hand, or traced by nature, the characters are certainly unique- J A rudimentary "Jleur de Its," cut into and across the solid granite <.f Damariscove. This same j'car, Capt. George Wej-mouth, of the " Archangel," sailing northward from Cape Cod, on the 1 7th of Maj', came in sight of, and shortly after touched at, that prominent landmark of voyagers on this coast, Monhegan, an island about six miles from shore, and some six miles in circumference, and which was soon destined to become the most prominent point of traffic on the coast of Maine.* With a small armed party, WejTiiouth early proceeded to the adjacent mainland, exploring the shores of the region, and taking an abundance of fish. These surveys uncovered a countrj' magnificent bej-ond all anticipation. It was a surprise and wonder of hill-tops, intervals, mast-pines, and spar- timber, with "stands of old oak trees, like pasture oaks of England." Shortly- after his arrival in these waters, Capt. Wey- mouth was visited by the natives in large numbers, for purposes of traffic, eager to exchange valuable furs for , knives, hatchets, beads and other trinkets — an expres- j sion of confidence and good-will, on the part of these untutored children of the forest, rewarded by an act of the grossest and most unpardonable perfidy — the kid- napping of five Datives and conveying them to England ;t an act that, by the suspicions it awakened, and the bit- terly revengeful spirit to which it gave rise in the breasts of the savages, went far to lay the foundation of those long-protracted and almost unparalleled Indian atrocities that subsequentl}', above quite every other section of the country, desolated and depopulated the province of Maine. The region | visited by Weymouth, in consequence of his glowing representations of the same, became a sub- ject of all-absorbing interest in England. It was said that nowhere on earth could be found more sunny skies, a more genial clime, or more fertile soil. The forests were of unspeakable gi'andeur, the water of crj-stal pu- * Capt. Weymouth thus describes this island : " It is a round, high isle, with a smaller island, Monanas, near, between which is the harbor. It is woody gi'own, with fir, birch, oalc and beech. On the verge arc strawberries, wild pease, and wild rose." To Capt. John Smith it was a wonder " that such trees could grow upon craggy clitTs, rocks and stony isles, the rcmarltablcst he ever saw." t The names of these captives were : Nahanada, Sldtterwarrocs, Tis- quantum, or Squantum, Assecommet and Dchamida. These were all men of ranlc. It is pleasant to add, that they were all kindly treated, and subsequently rcturaed to their native land, serving often most im- portant and useful purposes as interpreters and guides. One of these, Squantum, visited at an early period the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth. Forgetting the crime of the wicked men who stole him, he became the warm friend of those who proved his benefactors. t This region was called Pemaquid, doubtless from a pond and river by that name in the vicinity. It probably embraced Pemaquid Point, the site of the ancient town and harbor of Pemaquid, and much of the acljacent territory now embraced in the town of Bristol. rity, and it was a luxury to breathe its salubrious air. (Abbott.) Deemed thus the fairest clime in the New World, naturally it was thought to be a most desirable spot for the location of colonies. In 1C07 the Plymouth Company, § having obtained a grant including all this Pemaquid territorj', sent out thereto, under Gov. George Popham and Kaleigh Gilbert, a colon}'. Aug. 18, 1G07, after a long and careftd cruise among the neighboring shores, seeking for a suit- able site for planting their enterprise, a landing was finally made, as is supposed, at the mouth of the Saga- dalioc (Kennebec), at the extremity of the peninsula called Phipsbm-gh.|| The settlement took the name of the Sagadahoc Colony. For a while it prospered ; but its excellent governor, Popham, having died, and the colony in consequence fallen into anarchj-, the enterprise, after a trial of about one j^ear, terminated in a disgrace- ful and most discouraging disaster. In 1614 Capt. John Smith arrived at Monhegan Is- land, and went at once to the Kennebec, where he traded profitably with the Indians, explored the coasts, and compiled a short historj' of the country. This eminent voyager, however, left no permanent impress on the countr}'. Monhegan, the first, or one of the first spots in Maine permanentlj' peopled by Em'opeans, was settled in 1622. The earliest inhabitants of this island were fishermen and traders. Indeed, Monhegan early became probalilj' the most important depot for fishing and trading vessels on this coast. Meanwhile settlements of a similar nature, by a similar population, sprang up also on the mainland, and along the adjacent shores. So rapidl}-, indeed, did this region, during this period, make advances in thrift and population, that it verj' soon came to be far more important and conspicuous in these regards than even its better known, though apparently languishing neighbor. § The Plymouth Company was an association of English gentlemen, formed to plant colonics in the newly found Eden of Pemaquid and Sagadahoc. The members of this company, intelligent, far-seeing, Christian men, desiring to send the glad tidings of the gospel to their benighted brethren of the wigwam and forests, and realizing that religion and civilization should go hand in hand, determined to send to the shores of the Pemaquid and Sagadahoc the artisan and scliool-master, as well as the Bible, the Christian teacher and organized church. II It is an interesting fact, that the first Protestant sermon ever preached on the continent of America was probably delivered by Kev. Richard Seymour, chaplain of Popham's colony, upon the occasion of the solemnization of the inauguration of this colony, on Phipsburgh Point, in August, 1607. It is also probable thivt the previous 9th d.ay of this same month, was the first time since the world's creation that God, as revealed to us in the person of his Son Jesus Christ, was worshipped on that portion of the world's surface called Maine. The worshippers were the Popham Colony at Sagadahoc. HISTORY OK NEW KNGLAND. I'lyiM.iiitli. Diiriii^r tlic Kiiuiiiici- iiioiillis, ((iiilc a llcci, of vchscIh iiiif^lil hiivi! Iiccii Hccn rilling ill, aiiclior in ilH wiitciH. \Vcll-iii!iimf(l lioiitH wen! coriliiiiiiilly uli'liiif^ to and fro in all (lircclionH anionj^ the iHliuid.s iind aluii{^ tiiu BliorcH, cujinf^ril in (iKliing and llio I'nr tnuic. I'(!tna(jnid i-Hpccially made rapid jirof^rcHH at UiiH (,im(!. Two ItiiliHli incrclianlH liad j)ui'clias('d it on coiKlition tiiat they wonld, at tluiir own coHt transport colonists Uktc, and cstalilisli u Hcttlcnictit. In conscqucnco of this measure, not only did itra))i(lly incrcaso in population, but ft lii'ltcr class than tins rudi; sailors and lishcrincn of former years novv lief^an to conio in. Farinera and nir(lmiiiliysieal atmosphere was healthy and invigorating in the high(!st degi'ce, and the skies outrivallcd in sph'ndor the far-famed skies of Italy — one of those cases truly " WliiTC! every ])rleuHcH, Ami only man Jh vile," — it, would seem as if the elements of social and civil anarchy and disruption were from the fu'st fatally rife in th(! very constitution of the l'(^ma(]uid coummnilies. JMeantime, this region had come fortunately to ac(iuirc such notoriety, thrift and poi)ulousncss, as a colonial de- pendence, as to Hcem a prize which even a king might covet. On INIareh If), lOfil, accordingly, by royal grant, this whole l'ema(|uid country became the estate, and was mad(^ a Province of the Duke of York. This gi-!int of a ducal estate, embracing the ancient plantations of Popham, Ciorges on the adjacent islands of the Damariscove, Monhegan, and the " Sheejiseot farms," with Cape-ne-wagon, on the .MIi of September, all llN aci-uiuulaliil horrors of l)lood and enrnnKO, haH raped. The slilps of eonteiidiuK nallons have tln^'ed Us waters with hnnmn gore, and IKiuicd Uirir iron hall In Ihe destructive broadsides npon Its fortilleii jihuc's, till tlunnthless storm has swept Its streets and crushed out at t)iue the life and cnerjiy of its defenders. Here the red man with howl of dellame, and the white man with the sulidncd voice of prayer, have bitten tin) dust togetlier, andd the shrieks of forlorn women and helpless elilldren."— ^nciViii Dominions of ilaint. MAINE. 1005, was organizod into a count}' and cuUiul C^ornw.-ill. Tlio ancient I'cinucniid colonial plantations tluis were at once aggr(!gatcJ into a dnla^doin, and made tiic nortli- euHt(Ta county of the State of New York. " SliccpH- cot Farms," at the same tiino, was incorporated into a town, created a sliirc of the new count}', and called New Dartmouth. Tlio commercial capital of tlio new county was called Jamestown, of wliieh New Harbor was an ea.st('ru sul)url). New Dartmouth inland, and J.-unes- town at tlio seaside, made I'emaquid tlio metropolis of tlio " Kastern Parts." " Old Shccps-cott," the "Farms" of early days, and in thrift tho " Oardc^n of tho East," iu its coqiorato relations of New Durt-month,* cm- ))riiciul a district of If) miles in width Ix'twcu^n tho Ken- iicl)(!C and Damariseotta rivers, and to tho sea. Tlu; town was laid out on a nock of land covering tho site of an earlier poj)ulation, a dozcm miles or moro inland, north-west of Jamestown. Jamestown, tho metropolis l)roi)er of tho remaquid Colony, was a compactly Imilt village', and, besides its commercial importance, was tlivi>- prietary, or feudal jurisdiction. 'J'iiis was at l('nglh replaced by a colonial or ducal governor, C soniething like a gov- ernment, and ord(;r reigned. It is an interesting fact, by no means unworthy of notice in this connection, that Lincoln County, while it yet existed as tho county of Cornwall, with a view to moro effectually hedging in tho • The remnlno of prndcd Btrccts and tho rtilnn of a hundred or moro cellars, — many of them ntoncd, — oullliicH of iiiibllc l)ulldln;,'» of larKO capacity, remains of shipyards and other relies of a cultivated, dense and thrlftfiil people have hien unearthed hero U> an extent startling to the antiquarians of the d ly. Tho shipyard, liy tradition. Is pointed out as that In which tl]« flrst governor of the I'njvlneo of MassachusettH, Ijoni in Maine of parents resident at IVmaquld, Kir Wni. Thlps, worlicd I at Ills trade and built a ship, wliich, In King Philip's war becanio an ark of safety to tbo Shccpseot people. It may be added, that next to evils of iiitciiipcraiicc, jiiid legally restraining tho liso of intoxicating drinks as a bi^verage, as early as Nov. 22, 1(>8;5, ])assed a stringent proliibil-ory liquor huv; an enactment, surely, that spi'aks well for the patriolism and t(!m()eranco prillcipl(^s of the old Cornwall men — the fathers of the jin^sent Liiiiiiln Couiily. At the outbreak of King I'hilip's war, tli(! HclXKanenls of Cornwall, scatU^nid oviT a widi; extent, embraced some .'too families. A long and fruitful state of aniily and int(!rcourse had been maintained in tho Dukes I'rov- iuco on tho part of tho settlers, with tho environing sav- ag(^8, and this largely in virtue of tho I'lunaquid iiillii- (!nec and administration of afl'airs. From the first, mutual fri(!ndsliip, confidence and good fc'i^ling liiul pro- vaih^d. But thre-lils- torlc remains. Noruml)ega, tho lost clly of New Kiigland ; tlio shell Iicaps of tho Oyster and Damariseotta, tho work of unknown Iiaiids j tho offal of focdlTig generations, or of eoneeutrated tliraisands of human beings, with their treaHiiri;s of a lost history In relies of stono ami m«- tallle aKjpcrago and broniso and fragments of pottirry, all mark the sites of homes of a long-lost people whoso Industries onco gave life and Interest to tho heart of Lincoln County. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. vantage of the anarch}- of the defenceless and disordered state of affairs in the settlements incident to the revolu- tion of 1688, the savages, led by one Moxas, entered upon a career of rapine and massacre, that resulted practically in the complete desolation and depopulation of Cornwall Count}-. Gov. Phips, the first ro3-al governor of the new prov- ince under William and Mary, naturally desirous of doing something, if possible, for the recovery from the dominion of the savage of the land of his birth, and the home of his youth, and to restore the same to its ancient importance and thrift, himself visited the Pemaquid countr}', and ordered that the fort (Fort Charles, which had been reeentlj' destro}-ed,) be rebuilt, while Maj. Church was detached, with adequate forces, to punish the savages and restore peace. No sooner, however, was this fort rebuilt (named Fort William Henrj'), — then regarded as one of the largest and strongest for- tresses in North America — thau the French and Indians under Iberville, Aug. 15, 1G96, invested and finally re- duced it. And now accordingly, for the second time, Pemaquid and its defences were overthrown, the town sacked, the fort dismantled, and Pemaquid became a desolation, and old Cornwall a homeless, depopulated wild, — a condition in which it was destined to remain for a generation following. The Pemaquid countrj' now presented a sad picture indeed. More than 100 miles of seacoast in this part of Maine, once adorned with flourishing settlements, im- proved estates, and comfortable habitations, now lay in mournful desolation. In the long reign of fire and pil- lage and war all title-deeds and records had been swept away. Nay, with the lapse of years, even the sites of towns, clearings, plantations and homesteads had re- turned to their original solitudes. But this once populous and thriving country could not always remain a desert. The exuberance of a virgin soil, the value of the fisheries, and the vast resources of mast and spar timber abounding here, could not but in time draw public attention again to these wastes of war in the heart of Lincoln Count}'. It was not, however, till 1729 that the permanent ro-peopling of Lincoln County began to take place. At this time a new era opened upon these war-worn planta- tions of Pemaquid. The home government seems to have retained its ancient appreciation of the value of the Pemaquid country, and at this date detached Col. David Dunbar, an officer in the Irish army, as a commissioned surveyor-general of the king's woods, and governor, to serve in the eastern parts of New England. Landing at Pemaquid, on the ruins of Fort William Henry, he restored the walls, and repaired the breaches of this ancient stronghold, and named it Fort Frederick. Es- tablishing his headquarters amid the ruins of James- town, he there introduced the Presbyterian church ser- ^■\ce, and at once set vigorously about settling the country. His first movements were directed to the loca- tion and laying out of towns and cities on most eligible sites. He projected a city on Pemaquid Point, and laid out the towns of Harrington, Walpole and Townsend. This latter embraced the ancient Cape-ne- wagon and its magnificent harbor and islands. Harrington covered the southern and western section of Bristol. With un- tiring zeal he applied his remarkable energy and powers to fill up the land with Protestant English emigrants. Fort Frederick was garrisoned with detachments of royal troops. He commissioned agencies and stimulated their activity by land grants to actual settlers, each being assigned a homestead of 10 or 12 acres, with adequate proportionate back-grounds of 100 acres. Emigration now poured in apace. Multitudes were allured to the shores of this rock-bound and hill-topped Pemaquid countr}-, — a population whose descendants to this day form most of the inhabitants of Lincoln County. Grad- ually the towns of the county, including Townsend, Harrington, Walpole, Medomack, Frankfort and Wis- casset Point became once more so populous, that a fur- ther change in the civil organizations in the creation of a new county was required by the exigencies of the public convenience. Lincoln County was organized in 1760, the new county being incorporated the plantation of Frankfort, and the "new town" of Wiscasset Point being erected into a naunicipality at the same time, the latter being named Pownalboro' after Gov. Pownall of Massachu- setts. The name of the county was undoubtedly derived from Lincoln, Eng., a city famous for its antiquity and its noble cathedral, and the birth-place of Gov. Pow- nall. Newcastle, the " Sheepscot Farms," the old shire of New Dartmouth, was incorporated June 19, 1753. Its corporate existence, antedating the county organization, was due largely to the influence of the Rev. Christopher Tappan. Bristol, the territory of the ancient metropolis of Pemaquid, was organized into a separate town, named as above, June 18, 1765. Pownalboro' was broken up into the towns of Dees- DEK and Alna, the original municipality being reduced to Wiscasset Point Precinct, which latter was incorpora- ted as Wiscasset in 1802. Edgecomb was incovporatcd March 5, 1773. It was formerly known as the plantation of Free Town, because its territory did not come within the bounds of any of the ancient disputed proprietary claimants, the same being the old purchase of the Indians called " Mason's and Jewett's Neck," running south to Poen's Mouth settled by Samuel Trask, under the Boston and Wis casset proprietors. NoBLEBOROUGH, previously known as Walpole, was incorporated Nov. 20, 1788, and named by Arthur No- ble, one of the heirs of the proprietor. Jefferson was incorporated, Feb. 24, 1807. Damariscotta, originally a part of Nobleborough and Bristol, was incorporated July 26, 1847. In 1828, the town of Bremen was organized, em- bracing the " Pierce Plantation " of 1G21 in the Pema- quid countrj', thus reducing the territorj' of Bristol by cutting off its " Muscongus Precinct," and erecting it into a new town. BooTHBAV, in like manner, was shorn of its western precinct, the "Island of Cape-ne-TVagon," which now constitutes a distinct municipality called Southport, and the western precinct of Edgecomb, the ancient " Squam Island" (spring clam place), was erected into the town of Westport, while the northern extremity of White- field, watered by the feeders and milling streams of the Sheepscot River, was incorporated into a new town. It was " Patrick Town Plantation," but is now Somerville, and distinguished for its milling and agricultural facili- ties, while the ancient " Monhegan Island " remains still a plantation. June 29, 1773, the ancient Muscongus plantation on Broad Bay, resettled by Gen. Waldo's efforts, and a Dutch population, was incorporated as Waldoboro', in honor of the proprietor and patron of the settlement. Lincoln County-, at the time of its organization, had a population of 4,347, and Pownaltown, its capital, 889. The East Parish meeting-house was completed in Maj', 1771 ; and in 1773, the parish was duly organized. The first ripple of Kevolutionarj' excitement appeared here in raising a committee of correspondence in re- sponse to letters sent from Boston to Pownalboro' in 1773. Jonathan Williamson, Abiel Wood, Thomas Rice and John Page were that committee. The ground tliej' took was eminentl}' patriotic, and jxt conservative, expressing sorrow for the general uneasiness, and a desire to see it removed, and by the enforcement of charter rights. The committee also expressed the desire " that the tic between the mother countr\-, might last till the end of time, provided, government was administered in the good old way." The controversy deepened. Supplies were laid in for the emergencies of war, and a delegate to the Provincial Congress at Watertown chosen Ma^^ 31, 1775; and Thomas Rice was sent to the General Court at Boston. Charles Cushing of Pownalboro', was elected general of the militia, but no soldiers were detailed for service. Moses Da\is of Edgecomb was chosen another repre- sentative to the Provincial Congress. In Maj', 1776, Gen. Cushing and Thomas Rice were chosen representatives to " attend, one at time, in- structed, that if the Continental Congress shall de- clare for independence they should support the measures thereof." Some 90 families resided in Bristol at the date of the Revolutionary period. The place at this time was cov- ered with garrison houses. Fort Frederick was the great central refuge in times of danger. Rev. John Murray was sent by that town as representative to the Provincial Congress at Watertown. He was a Presbj'terian clerg}-- man, and pastor of the Boothbay church, organized Dec. 22, 1763. The people of the seacoast of Lincoln suffered much in the Revolutionary struggle. During the war large drafts were made from Bristol for service on land and the sea, into which the people entered with zeal, suppos- ing thej' were defending their homesteads, and it is alleged at least one-fourth of the inhabitants enlisted during the conflict. Fort Frederick was often assailed, and by vote of the town. May 2, 1774, the walls of Pemaquid Fort were pulled down. The reason was, the fear of the seizure of the fort bj' British forces. Lincoln Count}-, during this period, was infested with the usual amount of Toryism ; and sometimes here, as elsewhere, the patriot masses, under more or less provo- cation, degenerated into lawless and riotous mobs, and were guilty of acts of gross and illegal violence upon the persons and property of the reputed Tories ; and sometimes these Tories made daring and successful re- prisals upon their persecutors. One John Jones, a sur- veyor, a resolute, independent fellow, having been once imprisoned, and otherwise annoyed in consequence of his royalist sentiments, at length determined to be re- venged, and accordingl}^ went to Halifax, obtained com- mand of a company of men, returned bj' night to Pow- nalboro', and actually succeeded in kidnapping Gen. Charles Cushing, and conveying him safely to Halifax. From the ratification of peace to the war of 1812, Wiscassct Point enjoyed great commercial prosperity-. The harbor was filled with ships. Ship-building became an extensive industry'. Immense rafts of timber and HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. lumber from the Kennebec came to the Point for dock- age and export. The "West India trade was hicrative. Banks and insurance companies were organized and prospered. The Point was famed for its genial and princely hospitality, and the culture and courtesj' of her leading business men. Fort Edgecomb, on Folly Island, which makes the north shore of Hooper's Narrows, opposite Wiscasset, was constructed in 1808-9. The fortification was a ver3' imposing structure, and its aspect, as -Niewed from the sea, was formidable. Wiscasset and its deep water-ways was then, as it still is, the gateway to the capital of Maine, and in strategic importance the key to the heart of the State. War clouds are again seen looming up on the horizon. The non-intercourse and embargo acts had begun to tell fearfully on the material interests of Lincoln County, and especially on its capital town, Wiscasset. Then followed the convulsions and blight of the war of 1812, with Great Britain. One of the most gallant sea-fights of this war took place off Pemaquid coast, between the American sloop "Increase," commanded by Com. Tucker, already a veteran, of Bristol, and a British privateer schooner, commanded by Capt. Jennings, resulting in the capture of the latter by the venerable American commodore, with verj- slight loss. This Tucker, tlje hero of this transaction, was no less a person than Com. Samuel Tucker, who commanded the U. S. frigate "Boston," appointed to convej- John Adams, minister to France, to that court in Revolutionar}- times. Another incident of great public interest occurred near the same place, off Pemaquid, Sunday-, Sept. 4, 1813, in a naval conflict between the British brig " Boxer " and the U. S. brig " Enterprise." The action, which was most spirited, lasted about 40 minutes. Capt. Blythe, the English commander, fell in the early part of the engagement, and also Lieut. Burrows, in command of the American brig. The British being defeated, the sword of Capt. Blythe was brought and placed under the head of the A-ictorious, but d3-ing Amer- ican officer, who, on seeing it, murmured, " I die con- tented." The rival commanders were buried side by side, in Portland. Thej' were borne to their burial with impos- * In 1824 an event occuired which not only produced a profound im- pression on the people of Lincoln County, but upon the whole country. The brig " Betsey," engaged in the rum traffic, sailed from Wiscasset for Cuba Dec. 13, 182-4, with her customary cargo, but was wreclied on one of the islands of the Bahama group. The hapless crew there fell into the hands of a gang of blood-thirsty pirates, and by them were ing militarj- ceremonies, the same marks of respect being shown to each. The enemy suffered the loss of some 25 killed and 14 wounded; and of the crew of the "Enterprise," one was killed and 13 wounded, 3 mortally. This sea-fight was in view of Edgecomb Heights and the Damariscove islands, inside Monhegan, as well as from the headlands of Pemaquid. Fishermen were near enough, in one instance, to notice the blood running from the deck of the "Boxer," and to see the lifeless and mangled remains cast from her into the sea. The thun- der of the cannonade filled the surrounding country, and fell heavily on manj' ears and hearts. These were dark days for Wiscasset, which was filled with soldiers. Bat- teries bristled all round the " Point." The fort at the Narrows was manned and guarded. Squara Heights opposite was occupied bj- a star-battery of six guns, commanding the river with a plunging fire, and protected bj- chevaux-de-frise of fallen timber trees, with sharp- ened branches bristling with pointed stakes, which ran across the island from river to river below the bat- teries. It was called Fort McDonough. In Boothbay, Rev. Mr. Sawyer had just named his text, when the boom of the cannonade began. The audience rose and rushed to the neighboring hill-tops, whence it had full ■view of the ocean and the contending vessels. Bejond the usual routine,* no events of importance occurred in this county to disturb the ordinary develop- ment and progress of society-, after the close of the war. The revival of commerce, however, did not relieve Wis- casset Point of its business depression. Its wharves went to decaj'. Its warehouses became dilapidated, its shops rotted along its shores, and its merchants had gone into bankruptcy. But commercial disasters are not the onh' ones which have visited this region. In 1866 a fire broke out in the night-time, in the north tenement of what was known as the Taylor Block, which consumed the block and swept all below it, be- tween Water and Middle streets, and all the warehouses along the wharves, clearing the Point of every building, store and warehouse, with the buildings of the United States customs. The loss of propert}' was verj' consid- erable. On the 15th of December, 1870, a second fire broke mercilessly butchered, one Collins alone, a resident of Wiscasset, sur- viving to tell the tale. The story of that slaughter, and of CoUins's hair- breadth escape, is one of the most thrilling and blood-curdling on record. An effort was at once put forth to lid the Caribbean waters of pirates, which was effectually done by Com. Rogers and a detachment of the naval force of the United States. out. It originated in No. 15 Main Street, a grocery, and swept away all the buildings, stores and dwelling- houses, from Main Street south to the line of the fire in 18GG ; and also, the remaining warehouses and wharf property east, within its range. The cold was intense, and the wind fierce from the north-west, with the ther- mometer at 20° above zero. The losses of this confla- gration were very heavy, in goods and merchandise and mechanical industries. Many families had barely time to escape in what thoj' had on. More than $G0,000 worth of property was consumed, and from it the town has not jet fully recovered. In September, 1823, a season of unexampled drouth prevailed throughout Lincoln County, and on the 4th of that month devastating forest fires became ignited in the suburbs of " Wiscasset Point." For days together the heavens were hung in lurid volumes of smolie, which darkened the sun and oppressed respiration. The fire swept the northern section of the town, through Alna to the Sheepscot, consuming all in its way ; 79 houses were burned and 30 families made homeless. Fields, crops and timber were alike destroj-ed. Dismay and distress pervaded the region. One woman was burned to deatli. Another, and her children, went down into the well, and so escaped. The loss of property amounted to over $72,000. The town voted $500 to the suflTerers, and some $20,000 were contributed as a relief. The enterprise of the countj- has developed itself main- 1}' at "VViscasset, in the project of a sj'stem of railroad connections, one of which is the Knox and Lincoln Rail- road, which traverses the seaboard towns of the countj' east and west, and will ultimately become a trunk thor- oughfare coastwise, and the Wiscasset and Quebec Rail- road, b}' the way of Point Levi, and the Levis and Ken- nebec Railroad, yet to be built, and which will make the commodious harbor and deep land-locked waters of Wis- casset, an entrepot-hnUveen London and the United States and Canadas, shorter and nearer by four daj-s than any other point in North America. The " strange fish pond" found in the sea at and about Monhegan, bj- Capt. John Smith, in 1G14, has become utilized in the manufacture of oil and fertilizing matter, of great economic and com- mercial value. In 18G4 a company erected factories for the manufac- ture of oil from menhaden, called porgie factories, in Bristol, since which the business has concentrated there and at Boothbay, tUl, in 1877, a capital of $1,083,G12 has become invested, and 17 steam factories erected and run in the producing of 7,959,459 gallons of oil and 89,981 tons of fertilizing matter, of great value for agricultural uses. Bristol, Bremen and Boothbay, are now the cen- tres of this great industry. In 1872, a contract was made with tlie inhabitants of Wiscasset, to bridge the Wiscasset Point to Birch Point across Ilobson's Island, by Ira D. Sturgiss and others, with a view to the erection of extensive milling and ice works, on the peninsula of " Birch Point," a projection or spur of Cushman's Mountain north-easterly. In pur- suance of tliis contract, a first-class establishment of complete milling works and machiner}', driven by steam, was put up and went into active operation, together with ca[)acious ice-houses, in the interest of the Kennebec Land and Lumber Companj-. The culling of deal for the English market has been ( extensively and successfully carried on for the past five j-ears. The shipments of lumber to England from these works, and of ice to India and the South, have employed the heaviest tonnage known to New England commerce, the past 3'ear, and the industry is one of increasing mag- nitude and importance ; while, on the waters of the Sheepscot below, the ice works of the Knickerbocker Ice Compan}', have employed a very considerable ton- nage all the j-ear round, in the export of ice. Such is the existing state of the industries, population and condition of Lincoln Count}', whose centennial was duly celebrated at Wiscasset in accordance with the reso- lution of Congress, and the recommendation of the Pres- ident of the United States, on the 4th of July, 1876. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. OXFORD COUNTY BY WILLIAM B. LAPHAM, M. D. The ten years between 1750 and 1760, stand out in bold relief in American histoiy as a period which changed the destinj- of the whole continent. The peace following the French and Indian wars, was very grateful to the citizens of Maine, who for genera- tions had been in constant fear of their lives. Thej- bcgan to explore the interior of the State with a yiew to settlement, and the sound of the woodman's axe was soon heard far away from the seacoast. The valley of the Saco was visited by the English prior to 1725. The story of Lovewell's famous engagement with the Pequak- ett Indians, under their celebrated chief, Paugus, on the shores of Lovewell's Pond, in the present town of Frye- burg, has often been told. This was in 1725; and, although Lovewell was slain, and most of his band were either killed, or perished in the wilderness, yet was Pau- gus also slain, and the power of the tribe so brolcen, that they soon afterwards abandoned the hunting-grounds of their fathers and went to Canada. The fertility of the soil in the Saco Valley, and the fine crops of maize raised bj' the aborigines, were noted by Lovewell's party, and the survivors who returned to the settlements on the Merrimac, told marvellous stories of the wonderful resources of the section of country through which the}- had passed. In 1762, soon after the close of the war, a township of land on the Saco was granted to Gen. Joseph Frj-e, a native of Andover, Mass., and a famous soldier during the French and Indian wars. He commanded a regiment at the surrender of Fort William Henr}^, and was prominent in the struggles with the French in the maritime Provinces. This was the first grant made with- in the limits of Oxford County, and the town was named in honor of the grantee, Frj-eburg. The place began to be settled the following year. This was an important event, as it was the opening up of a large region, far into the wilderness, among the mountains, as an outpost of ci\-ilization, a rallying point for other settlements ; a sort of half-waj' house to the region of the Androscog- gin. Other grants were made, and settlements soon sprang up in Waterford, Bethel, Rumford, Paris, Hebron, Buckfield, Livermore and Turner, all within the original limits of the county of Oxford. The territory comprising the county of Oxford, was formerly embraced within the limits of the county of York, as in fact was the entire district of Maine. In 1760, when Cumberland Count}' was organized, the terri- tor}' now comprising Oxford, with the exception of a few western towns, was included in the new count}-. Oxford County was erected by an act approved March 4, 1805, from portions of York and Cumberland, and by the same act, Paris was made the shire or county town. The southern tier of towns in the county were Turner, Hebron, Norway, Waterford, Lovell, Denmark, Hiram and Por- ter, and included all the territory north of these towns, between New Hampshire on the west, and Kennebec County on the east to Canada. At the time of the separation from Massachusetts in 1820, Oxford County had the following incorporated towns : Fryeburg, Turner, Hebron, Buckfield, Paris, Sumner, Lovell, Albany, Andover, Newry, Porter, Woodstock, Sweden, Mexico, Joy, Livermore, Bethel, Waterford, Norway, Hartford, Rumford, Brownfield, Dixfield, Gilead, Denmark, Hiram, Greenwood and Weld. Since that time, Joy, Livermore, Turner and Weld, besides several unincorporated townships have been set ofl' to other counties ; Stowe, Stoneham, Roxbury, Upton, and Grafton have been incorporated from plantations, Oxford has been taken off from Hebron, and Hanover from Bethel. The scenery of Oxford County is unsurpassed by any in New England, and the mountainous region embracing it has sometimes appropriately been called the Switzerland of America. The White Mountains in New Hampshire are prominent objects towards the west, and lesser peaks of the same chain bound the horizon from the west to the north-east. The county is well watered. The principal rivers are the Androscoggin, the Little Androscoggin, Ellis River, the Saco, the Great Ossipee, and Crooked River. These, with numerous smaller streams, afford an immense water-power, a large portion of which is yet unimi^roved. When first settled, Oxford County was covered with a heavj' forest growth, consisting largely of pine, spruce, hemlock, rock-maple, beech and birch. The pine growth MAINE. ou the Androscoggin and Saeo, and in some other sec- tions, was large and vahiable, but the owners realized l)ut little from it. Most of the pine Las been cut, but there are still standing considerable areas of spruce, hem- lock and hard -wood growth. This is especially so in the northern part of the countj', iu the vicinity of and be3"ond the lakes. Previous to the construction of the Grand Trunk Rail- waj-, which was completed through the county in 1850, the people were accommodated bj' a stage-line, which arrived from Portland twice a week. The fanners also carried their produce to Portland market with their teams. A branch of this road leaves the trunk line at Mechanic Falls, and passes through Hebron, Buckfield, Sumner and Hartford, into Canton. The underlj'ing rock of Oxford County is granite, much of it in the form denominated gneiss. Small quan- tities of silver, gold, lead, zinc, arsenic, plumbago and iron, are found in various places, and many varieties of valuable minerals. At Mount Mica, in Paris, have been found the best known specimens of green and red tour- maline, and several other rare minerals. The rock- ribbed hills and mountains almost everywhere show diluvial workings, and the uneven surface in various jjarts is due to the deposit of drift. The soil is a sandy or gravelly loam, usually resting upon a solid bed of coarse gravel, called the "pan." It is generally strong and productive. Along the rivers are broad belts of interval formed of alluvial deposits mixed with vege- table mould. The hill-sides are well adapted to grazing, and there is no county in the State better suited to sheep husbandry*. Oxford Count}' has three agricultural societies; viz., Oxford County, West Oxford and East Oxford. Each of these societies is in a prosperous condition. The Indians who inhabited Oxford County were of the Abenakis nation. The Pequaketts who lived on the upper waters of the Saco were a sub-tribe of the Sokokis, or Sacos. The Anasagunticooks occupied the entire valley of the Androscoggin to Merrymeeting Bay. This was formerly a powerful tribe, and very fierce and war- like. Their implements have been found in great num- bers on the banks of the river, and more or less of them are annually turned up bj' the plough. The Anasagun- ticooks left for Canada about the year 1750, and settled on the St. Francis River. The county of Oxford has ever been prudent and economical in its expenditures, and its indebtedness is much less than that of many of the other counties. The county buildings are convenient and comfortable, but far from extravagant. The jail is often without a tenant, which speaks well for the morals of the people, and the terms of the court are brief. Tiie comity has a rural population mostly engaged in agriculture, and as a whole the inhabitants are industrious and thrifty. Towns. Frtebcrg. — March 3, 17G2, the General Court of Massachusetts granted to Gen. Joseph Frye a township of land, to be selected from the unoccupied lands on Saco River. The usual reserves for schools, the minis- trj' and Harvard College, were made. The line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire was then unsettled, and in running out the grant, the survej-ors by mistake went over the State line and took in more than 4,000 acres, which now belong to Conway. Subsequently another gi-ant was made from lands lying to the north of Frj-eburg which was called Fryeburg Addition. This tract includes the valley of Cold River, and was incor- jjorated as Stow in 1834. Gen. Frye was the son of John Frye of Andover, Mass., and was born in that town in 1711. He was a justice of the peace, a member of the General Court, and a useful citizen. He was at the siege of Louisburg, and commanded a regiment at Fort William Henry on Lake George, when the fort was captured by Montcalm in 1757. After his surrender he was seized by the savages who formed a part of Montcalm's command, stripped of his clothing, and led to the woods with an evident design of torturing him to death. Arrived at the wood, Gen. Frje suddenly sprang upon his savage captor and killed him. He then made his escape, and after wandering about for several days reached Fort Edward. He died in Fryeburg in 1794. The same j'ear the grant was made some persons from Concord, N. H., came through the woods with their cattle and commenced clearings on the present site of Fr^yeburg village. The next j'ear, 1763, they brought their families. Nathaniel Smith with his family was the firet settler. In November of this year came Samuel Osgood, Moses Ames, John Evans and Jedediah Spring, with their families. In 17GG, Lieut. Caleb Swan* and his brother James Swan came to Fryeburg. The next year there was a large addition to the colonj- from Con- cord, Andover and Bradford. The winter and summer of 17G6 marked a period of greatest privation and suffering. The settlers were obliged to send men to Concord, through » Lieut. Swan, a graduate of Il.irvard College, and who married Dorothy Frye, a niece of Gen. Joseph, was an officer in the French war and a valuable eilizcn of the new town. His son Caleb Swan, Jr., was paymaster-general under Washington's administration, and a man of ability and of the strictest integrity. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. the wilderness, on snow-shoes, for a supply of food. They returned with loaded hand-sleds, a distance of 80 miles. The settlement when fairly commenced, soon became prosperous. The town was incorjioratcd by its present name, Jan. 11, 1777. A Congregational Church was organized Aug. 28, 1775, and Rev. William Fessenden, a gi-aduate of Harvard, was ordained pastor Oct. 11, 1775, continu- ing in this relation until his death. May 5, 1805. He was the father of Gen. Samuel Fessenden, a distin- guished lawj-er, and grandfather of Hon. William Pitt Fessenden. In the war for independence Frj-eburg bore an honorable part, sending some of its best citizens into the Continental army. Frj-eburg Academj' was incorporated Feb. 9, 1792, and has ever maintained high rank as an institution I of learning. Paul Langdon, a graduate of Harvard, and a son of its president, was the first preceptor. He was succeeded in 1801 b}' Daniel Webster, then a j'oung man unknown to fame. A new academy building was erected and dedicated in 1803. The first lawj-er in Frj'eburg, and in fact the first in what is now Oxford Countj-, was Judah Dana, Esq., a native of Pomfret, Vt. He came to Frjeburg in 1798. Daniel Webster was at one time his student. Fryeburg is situated south of, and in full view of the White Hills. Fr3-eburg A'^illage, situated near Lovewell's Pond, is a quiet, staid old place, and is much visited in summer. The Saco winds in its serpentine course through the town. Population, 1,50G. Bethel. — The first attempt to clear land for the purjjose of making a settlement in this region, was bj- Nathaniel Segar of Newton, Mass., in the spring of 1774. The breaking out of the Revolution put a stop to the settlement for the time being. In the si)ring of 1779, Segar returned, accompanied bj- Jonathan Bartlett and a boj- named Aaron Barton. In the fall of 1770, Samuel Ingalls and his wife came from Andover to Sud- bury Canada, — as the place was then called, — and she was the first white woman in town. He did not long re- main. In the spring of 1781 there were but ten families in the plantation. On the third daj' of August, 1781, a party of Indians from the St. Francis River in Canada, made an attack upon the upper settlements, plundering the houses and driving many of the settlers into the woods. Securing all the plunder thej- and their captives could carry, thev took as prisoners Benjamin Clark, younger brother of Lieut. Jonathan, and Nathaniel Segar, and started for Canada, following the course of the Androscoggin River. Segar and Clark suflTered terrible hardships ou their march through the forests. They were detained as pris- oners until the close of the war, when they were per- mitted to rejoin their friends, who had not heard from them during their absence of 16 months. After the close of the war, settlers came in very rap- idly-. Six stalwart Bartlett brothers from Newton, Mass. , were among the first aiTivals. The earlj' settlers were men of character and ability, and the town has always taken high rank in the count}-. Rev. Eliphaz Chapman, with a large family of sons, came to Bethel in 1789. The town was incorporated June 10, 1796, the name being suggested by Rev. Mr. Chapman. The first town meeting was held at the house of Gen. Amos Hastings, Aug. 15, 1796. The first religious society was organ- ized the same J'ear. In 1799, Rev. Daniel Gould was settled as pastor. Dr. John Brickett of Haverhill came to Bethel in 1796, and was the first phj'sician. He remained but a short time, and returned to Haverhill. Dr. Timothy Carter came in 1799, and practised in town 46 years. Dr. Carter was the father of CuUen Carter, once a member of Congress from New York. WUliam Frye, son of Gen. Joseph of Fryeburg, was the first lawyer in Bethel. He came iu 1823, married here, and reared a large familj'. Gould's Academy was incorporated in 1836. Some of the ablest men of the countrj' have attended this school. Isaac Randall was the first preceptor, but the institution attained its highest rank while under the care of Dr. Nathaniel T. True, who was principal from 1848 to 1861. Bethel Hill, the principal village, is one of the most pic- turesque places in the State. The town is finelj' watered by the Androscoggin and its tributaries. The Grand Trunk Railway provides easy communication with the seaboard at Portland. Bethel is one of the best farming towns in the county. It has a population of 2,285. Norway is made up of what was formerly called Rust- field Plantation, and Lee's and Cummings's Grants, and three tiers of lots from the east side of Waterford. The whole town comprises about 2,400 acres. The first set- tlement made within the limits of the town was in 1786, by Joseph Stevens, Jonas Stevens, Jeremiah Ilobbs, Amos Hobbs and George Lesslej-, all from Gray, Cum- berland Count)-. Most if not all of them had seen ser- vice in the war for independence, and had suffered from the depreciation of the currency to that extent that they were obliged to go into the wilderness and begin life anew. Among those who moved into town during the year 1788 was Lemuel Shedd, who had been one of Wash- ington's Life Guards, and who had serv-ed all through the war. The first child was born in town, Oct. 17, 1787, to Jonas Stevens, and was named Sarah. She became the wife of Jonathan Edwards of Otisfield, and lived to a good old age. In 1789, Henry Rust, the proprietor of Rustfleld, commenced building a saw and grist mill on the outlet of the pond, on the site still occupied by mills at the upper part of Norway Village. Mr. Rust brought from Salem some small, six-lighted windows, which he fur- nished to the settlers, which was the first glass in the place. After the erection of the mills, the town filled up with settlers very rapidly, and the town of Korway was incorporated from the several grants, March 9, 1797. In 1800, Bailey Bodwell, from Mcthuen, Mass., moved into town, and built the first two-story house in what is now Norway Village, and also a clothing and a carding- mill These mills were carried on b}' him many years, and afterwards by Horatio G. Cole, who came here from Winthrop. The Universalist church and society is the oldest in town. As early as 1798, Rev. Thomas Barnes was called here to preach, and continued his pastorate several j'ears. A Congregational church was organized in 1802. The Methodists gathered a church here about 1812, and have since been quite strong in numbers and influence. Norwaj' is a good farming town, and the village the most active and prosperous business centre in the county. Pennissewasse Pond, a beautiful sheet of water several miles long, abounds in fish, and its overflow furnishes a good water-power. A large shoe-factor}-, owned by par- tics in Lynn, Mass. , has been successfully operated during the past five years. The village has a national bank, a savings institution, and a weekly paper, the " Norwaj- Advertiser." The town has a papulation of about 2,000. Paris was granted in 1771 to Joshua Fuller and oth- ers of Watertown, as a reward for militarj- services per- formed by their ancestors. The first settlement was made on the site of the present village of Paris Hill, in 1779, by John Daniels, Lemuel Jackson, Dca. John AVillis and others, from Middlcborough, JIass. The first opening with a view to settlement was made bj- John Daniels, and it is said that he purchased land now Paris Hill Village, of an Indian, the price paid being an iron kettle. The first church gathered here was a Calvinist Baptist, in 1795, and Elder James Hooper of Berwick was that j-ear ordained their pastor. He ministered to their spiritual wants for nearly half a century. Paris Hill, where the county buildings are located, is the most elevated village in the coinitj-, and before the days of railways was very thriving. It is a healthy location and a favorite summer resort. Hannibal Ham- lin, U. S. senator from Maine, and vice-president one term, was born and spent his minority here. Hon. Sidney Perham, who was six years in Congress and three years governor of Maine, now resides in Paris Hill. Tlie "Oxford Democrat" is published here bj- George W. Watkins. South Paris is a thriving village on the line of the railway. It has a large flour-mill and iron foundrj-, the Little Androscoggin River furnishing the power. West ' Paris, situated on the same stream, seven miles above South Paris, has a good water-power, which is well im- proved by S. B. Locke & Co. A furniture factorj-, operated bj- steam power, is located here. North Paris has a water-power formed from the overflow of a large pond, and a grist-mill was built here soon after the settlement of the town, around which quite a hamlet sprang up. Snow's Falls, on the Little Androscoggin, ] received their name from the tragic death of a man | named Snow, who was hunting near tlie falls before the , town was settled. Paris was incorporated, June 20, 1793. It became the shire town in 1805. The surface is generally un- even, but the soil is rich and strong. .Population, 2,7CG. BcCKFiELi) was first settled in the spring of 1777 l\v Thomas Allen and Abijah Buck. The latter was the j agent of the proprietors in making the purchase of the j township, and as he and his brothers, Nathaniel and John, were large owners, the plantation was named for them, Bucktown ; and March IG, 1793, was incorporated as Buckficld. Seba Smith, the well-known poet and journalist, and author of the famous "Jack Downing Letters," was born here in 1792. Virgil D. Parris, a prominent poli- tician, and for two terms a member of Congress, was also a native of Buckficld. Hon. John D. Long, lieutenant- governor of Massachusetts, the son of Zadoc Long of this town, was born and spent his minority here. Rev. Nathaniel Chase was probably the first preacher in Buckfield. He served in the war of the Revolution, and after being mustered out he made his way through the wilderness on foot, in search of a place to locate. He took up the farm in Bucktown which is still owned and occupied by his grandson. He was a minister of the Baptist denomination, and travelled and preached among the early settlers in Paris, AVoodstock, Green- wood and in other places. He was a good man and much respected among the people. He left a large pos- terity ,_ among whom are tlic well-known firm of Chase Brothers, nurserjmen, of Rochester, N. Y. A Baptist church was gathered in Buckfield quite early, and this has always been the leading society in town, their house of worship being at the village. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Biickfield, like Paiis, -nliich it joins ou the west, is a hilly town, but it has a large area of arable land under a good state of cultivation. The village is the natural business centre, not onlj' of this, but of several of the adjoining towns, and a large amount of trade is here carried on. The population of the town is about 1,500. RtjrFOKD was granted, Feb. 3, 1774, to Timothy Walker, Jr., and others of Concord, N. 11 , to tonipc n- s:ite them for losses sust lined by th( m in the settlement of the boundar} 1)1 1\\ ei n M i--. k liiis( it, ind ^^ w 1 1 unii the Indians made their attack upon Sudburj' Canada, an adjoining plantation. This so frightened the settlers of New Pennacook that they fled to New Gloucester and remained there until the spring of 1783, when they returned and occupied their lands. The early settlers of this town were largely' from Concord, N. 11. Such were the Walkers, Abbotts, Elliots, Wheelers, Famums, Vir- gins and Mil tins. Ihe toTMi was incoriioratcd F(b. 21, I'iOO, and named HI lionoi oi ( omit Uinuioi 1 vh > 1 \ thi n-inu of Benja- UPPEll FALLS, EUMFORI shire. The record being lost, the grant was renewed April 13, 1779. The plantation was called New Penna- cook, having the plantation name of Concord. In December, 176G, Jonathan Keyes of Shrewsbuiy, Mass., purchased four of the rights in New Pennacook, and in the following March set out with liis family for the Dis- trict of Maine. They came to New Gloucester, and leaving his wife there, Mr. Keyes, accompanied by his son Francis, a lad of ten years, went to New Penna- cook and commenced a clearing on the farm where he afterwards resided, and which is now occupied by Tim- othy Walker, Esq., grandson of the principal proprietor. He moved his wife here, iu 1779, and was the first settler. Three others had come previous to 1781, when min Thompson, was a former resident of Concord, N. II., and married the daughter of Rev. Timothy Wallvcr, the first settled minister of Concord and the father of the grantee of New Pennacook. Hon. Peter C. Virgin of Concord, N. II., was the flrst lawj-er, and practised there over 50 years. lie was a member of the conven- tion tliat framed the Constitution of Maine, and tlie father of Judge William Wirt Virgin of the Supreme Court of Maine. The Androscoggin River flows through the town, and there are broad and fertile intervals on each side. The Congregationalists, Methodists and Universalists have church edifices and maintain religious services in the town. Rumford Falls, on the Androscoggin, furnishes MAINE. the finest water-power in the State, most of whicli is yet undeveloped. White Cap is a prominent mountain in the north part of the town ; and there are also several other mountains of lesser elcwation. The population of Rumford is about 1,200. IIinAJi was iirst settled in 1774, incorporated Feb. 14, 1714, and was named, it is said, bj- Timothy Cotter, an carl3- settler, in honor of " Hiram, King of Tyre." The first settler was Lieut. Benjamin Ingalls, who was born in Andovcr, Mass., in 1728, old style. He was a descendant of Edward Ingalls, who came from Lincolnshire, Eng., to Lj'nn, Mass., in 1G29. Lieut. Ingalls served in the arm}', and was with Sir "William Pciipcn 11 at the siege of Louis- burg, in 1745. Li 1774,he, in comp m} with five others, — among whom -n as Daniel Foster, A^ho had married his sis- ter Anne, — came to Saco River, and .se- lected and survived for themselves lots of land situated in what is now Hinm. Among the pi oini- nent earl}' residents of Hiram was Gen. Peleg Wadsworth, a distinguished oflleer during the Revolu- tionarj'war. He was born in Duxburj', Mass., April 25, 1 748, and was the son of Deacon Peleg "Wadsworth. He subsequentl}- moved to Plymouth, then built and occupied the brick house next west of the Prclslc House ill Portland, Me. Finall}-, he moved to Hiram, where had large landed interests, and died there in November, 1829, aged 80 3'ears. One of his daughters was the mother of the poet Longfellow. His descend- ants still reside in the town. Hiram is situated on Saco River, and has much good farming land. The I'ortland and Ogdenshurg Railway passes through the town. Hiram Bridge is a thriving j little village with a good hotel and picturesque scenerj-. Hiram has a population of 1 ,400. • It is related of him that when, three years afterwards, the Jacksons commenced a clearing on what is now Paris Hill, ho was very much LOWER FALLS, RirMFORD, MJ5. "NVatekford was settled in 1775, bj' David McWaj-ne, ail eccentric person who resided hero alone in the wilder- ness.* Eleazer Hamlin, father of Dr. C'\rus, who after- wards lived in Paris, and grandfather of Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, was among the first settlers. He was provi- ousl}' of Pembroke, Mass. The town was incorporated JNIarch 2, 1797. The centennial of the settlement of the town was celebrated in 1875. Prof. William "Warren Greene, M. D., the distinguished surgeon, was born in Waterford. An Orthodox minister was settled in 1799, and this has always been the leading religious societ}-. Dr. Shattuck'swater- ~ -^ cure establishment, t,_^ located in this town, has a wide reputa- tion. Staves, sliooks ^ 3 and lumber of va- •'■"^ t 1 lous kinds are maii- "'« u I ictured indifferent puts of the town. Population, 1,.300. Hebron, including the present town of Oxford, set off in 1829, was granted to Alex.ander Shepard, of Newton, Mass., for ser\'ices rendered in survej'ing the pub- lic lands of Maine. He, with Dr. God- dud, .John Green- wood, and other men from Newton, were among the first set- tlers. John Colwell of Ipswich is said to have been the first settler. The town was incorporated Jlarch 6, 1792, and was named from the ancient Hebron spolcen of in the Bilile. Hebron Aeademj', chartered in 1804, and endowed by a valuable township of land, has fitted a large number of prominent men for college. It is now conducted under the auspices of tlie Maine Baptist Edu- cation Society. Hebron contains a popidatiou of nearl}' 800. AVooDSTOCK, a town of 1,000 inliabitants, is made up of the two halves of a township which were granted, one to Dummer Academj- in 1797, and the other to Gorhain Academy in 1807. The first settlement was made in 1798, by Christopher and Solomon Bryant, sons of Solo- annoyed at the prospect of having neighbors so near, although they were 12 or 15 miles away. HISTORY OF NEW" ENGLAND. mon Brj-ant of Paris. Soon afterwards settlements were begun in other parts of tlie town. Woodstock was incor- porated Feb. 7, 1815. Br3ant's Pond, a fine sheet of water in the west part of the town, was named for the first settlers. Tlie vil- lage of the same name is situated on the line of the Grand Trunk Railwaj-. Eev. Ransom Dunham resides here, who came into town about 40 years ago, and was settled over the Baptist Church. Lemuel Pcrham, the earl^' settler, was grandfather of ex-Governor Perham of Palis, who was born in this town, and cultivated a hill- side farm in his earlj- manhood. Four religious societies have church edifices in town, and sustain preaching. Hamlin's Grant, a small gore of 1,270 acres, granted to Dr. C3TUS Hamlin in 1816, was annexed to AVoodstock in 1872. Andover, situated on the borders of civilization, was purchased March 11, 1791, of the State of Massachu- setts, bj- Samuel Johnson and other parties, of Old An- dover. Ezekiel Merrill was the first settler. He came, with his family, from Andover, Mass., and resided in this wilderness two jears with no neighbor nearer than Now Pennacook. The early settlers were the Poors, Mer- rills, Abbotts, Stevenses, and others, from Andover, and were among the most respectable citizens of that town. They brought with them their religious institutions, which they transplanted in the wilderness, and Andover, notwithstanding it is a border and isolated town, has ever been noted for its good society and high standard of morals. A few miles to the north of Andover arc the lakes which form the head-waters of the Androscog- gin River, and beyond these lakes is the broad belt of forest which extends far into Canada. Andover Corner is a favorite resort for city people, and is the headquar- ters of fishermen, who, in the proper season, resort in large numbers to the lakes. Andover has much good farming land. The population is about 800. The remaining towns of Oxford Countj- are : — Brq-wn- FiELD, named for Capt. Henr^' Young Brown of Haver- hill, Mass., the original grantee and founder, and incor- porated Feb. 20, 1802, population 1,325: Denmark, containing Pleasant Mountain, incorporated Feb. 20, 1807, population 1,075: Dixfield, named in honor of Dr. Elijah Dix of Boston, incorporated June 21, 1803 : Canton, containing several thriving villages, incorjjorated • The Albany "basins" and "kettles" circular excayations in the solid rock, made by the action of the water, arc natural curiosities which attract a large number of visitors. Feb. 5, 1821, population 985 : Porter, ha-\-ing important manufactories, incorporated Feb. 20, 1807, population 1,120 : Peru, noted for its hop-growing and sheep hus- bandry, incorporated Feb. 5, 1821, population 930: Greewvood, the location of an extensive spool manu- factory, incorporated March IG, 1816, population 845: Lovell, granted to tlie surviving officers and soldiers who participated in the famous Lovewcll fight, and to the heirs of those who fell in that engagement ; contain- ing manufactories of various kinds ; incorporated Nov. 13, 1800, population 1,025: Scmner, incorporated June 13, 1798, population 1,175 : Hartford, incori^orated on the same da}- as Sumner, population 1,000: Gilead, a mountainous town, incoqiorated June 23, 1804, popula- tion 330: Albany,* settled in 1800, incorporated June 20, 1803, population 651 ; the native place of Rev. Asa Cummings, D. D., for manj- j-ears the able editor of the "Christian Mirror," published at Portland: Oxford, incorporated Fell. 27, 1829, population 1,630, embracing the two active business centres of Craig's Mills and TVelchAalle — the former having been the residence of John J. Perrj-, for two terms member of Congress : Stoneham, incorporated Jan. 31, 1834, population 425, devoted successful!}' to agriculture and manufacturing : Hanover, t incorporated Feb. 14, 1843, population 188, and noted, though a small town, for having some of the best inten-al on the river, and for being the only town in the county free from debt: Mason, settled in 1826, and incori^orated Feb. 5, 1843, named in honor of Moses Mason, who built mills in town ; population 127 : Stowe, settled in 1770, incoi-porated in 1833, situated in part in the beautiful Cold River VaUcy, population 427 : Swe- den, incorporated Feb. 26, 1813, population 550 : Mex- ico, incorporated Feb. 13, 1818, population 458 : Rox- bury, incorporated March 17, 1835, population 162: Byron, like the two last mentioned towns, on Swift River, incorporated Jan. 24, 1833, population 242 — the most part of its surface being still covered with primeval forest, extending almost unbroken to the northern line of the State, and far into Canada: Newry, settled in 1781, by Irish immigrants, incorporated June 15, 1805, popula- tion 416 : Grafton, settled in 1838, incorporated in 1852, population 94: and Upton, incorporated Feb. 9, 1860, population 187. Beside these there are several plantations. + The house built by Nathaniel Segar, the first settler in Bethel, of which Hanover once formed a part, is still standing in Ilanovej-, and is occupied by his descendants. PEN^OBSCOT COUNTY. BY E. F. DUREN. Penobscot Codnty, incorporated Feb. 15, 1816, is the ninth and last count}' in the District of Maine, organized prior to the separation from Massachusetts in 1820. It lies on both sides of tlie Penobscot River, north of Han- cock and Waldo counties. Its outline is much like the sign which the deaf and dumb use for the figure three. It formerly embraced the northern part of Hancock County. From 1814 to 1816, Bangor, now the shire town, was a half-shire town with Castine. Some towns now in Piscataquis and Aroostook counties have since been set off from it. It contains 3,200 square miles, or about three million acres.^and is the largest county in the State except Aroostook. The number of townships is ninet}' ; each, with few exceptions, six miles square, and containing 23,040 acres each. It has 57 towns, one citj-, and six plantations, — the largest number of anj' county in the State. The population in 1870 was 75,150. From the earliest period, it has been reported as the most attractive of any portion of the State. Spanish, French, Dutch and English navigators all unite in praise of Penobscot Bay, Penobscot Ei\er, and the territorj'' surrounding. The earliest Spanish explorer, Gomez, in 1525, gave to the river his name, — " Rio de Gomez." Other Spanish navigators called it the "Rio Grande," " Rio Hermoso," — the great, the beautiful river. The French, who visited it in 1556 for fish and the fur trade, and who in 1604-5 had a charter of the territorj- from Henrj- IV., hy their chronicler, Thevet, designated it as "one of the finest rivers in the whole world." Samuel Champlain, a French explorer in 1604, speaks with enthusiasm of the scenery: "The river banks arc co^■ercd with verdure, and here and there lovely stretches of meadow." The name, as Judge Godfrey says, was reported bj- the French in sixty diflfercnt ways during their occu- pancy to 1664. The principal was Panauanshek. The English, the New Plymouth colonists, caught the word Penobscot, by which it was known as early as 1626.* The Dutch were pleased with the region, and sent a • The Indian name was Pcnohsceaj;, or Pcnobscoote, snggestcd by the rocky falls just above Bangor. Penobsg (rock), uteral (a place) ; man-of-war to it in 1676, and captured the French forti- fications in the bay and river. They were driven off in turn b}- the English and the colonists. The French had possession of a part of the region to 1745, when most of them removed to Canada. In 1759, after the fall of Quebec, the whole passed from the possession of the French. In 1763, the General Assembly of Massachusetts granted thirteen townships, each six miles square, lying on the east side of the Penobscot River, to thirteen com- panies, or proprietors, who laid out the townships, and 60 families settled in each township and made improve- ments. These settlers employed an agent at the court of Great Britain to solicit the royal approbation to sever it from Massachusetts and form a new government, under the authority of the crown. They reported the soil " as remarkablj' good, well adapted to the culture of every sort of English grain, and hemp, flax, &e., and especially good for grazing, in which it excels every other part of America, — and for raising cattle. Its woods abound with moose, and other kinds of deer, and several kinds of game, good for food." . . " On the rivers and streams are saw-mills." . . "It gives promise of being a rich and fruitful countr}*." The Tarratines, or Abenaques, of which the Indians at Old Town are a remnant, were the native inhabitants of the Penobscot, about two centuries ago, and had much intercourse with the French, who assisted them or denied them, as their interest seemed to dictate. They were numerous and powerful, having at one time more than 2,000 warriors. About 1660, there was a bloody and exterminating war between the New England In- dians and the Mohawks. Tradition has it that the Tar- ratines took part in it, and were followed to the banks of the Penobscot by the Jlohawks in 1669. The locality near the mouth of the Kenduskeag, as it enters the Penob- scot at Bangor, was their resting-place, extending as far as what is now known as the Red Bridge, near where the Pujejewock stream unites with the Penobscot River. a rocky place. In another dialect, Penapse (stone^, auke (place) ; the i-ock-placc river. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. With the increase and extension of settlements by the white men the Indians wore displeased, and, about 174.5, began to threaten their further progress. When war ■was declared with all the tribes, in 1755, the Penobscot Indians were excepted; for it was stated, that "no eastern trilje has treated the English with so much for- bearance and honor." During the Rcvolutionarj^ war, and when the British visited the Penobscot region, coming as far as Hampden and Bangor, as an enemy in 1779, they transferred their fealty to the patriots. It is said of them, "The Tar- ratines conducted the whole campaign with all due fidel- itj' and friendship towards the Americans." The Penobscot River has been called the main artery of the State. Its length, including the east and west branches, is about 300 miles ; its course within the limits of the county, about 120 miles. The Mattawamkeag River, the principal north-east branch of the Penobscot, is about 100 miles in length, including its eastern and western branches. The Passadumkeag River takes its rise in the town of Lee, and enters the Penobscot at Passadumkeag. The Kcnduskeag River has its rise in Garland, and flows into the Penobscot at Bangor. No county has a larger number of lakes, ponds, rivers, brooks and streams than this. The earliest regular settlement of the county com- menced at Bangor in 1 709 ; then followed settlements at Brewer and Orrington in 1770; Hampden, 1772; Old Town, 1773; Orono, 1774; Veazie, 177C ; Eddington, 1780; Ilolden, 178G ; Herman, 1791; Newport, 1794; Charlestown and Corinth, 1795; Carmel, 179G; Levant and Newburg, 1798 ; Dixmont, 1799 ; Hudson, Kcndus- keag, Milford and Stetson, 1800; Dexter and Exeter, 1801 ; Garland, 1802; Bradford, 1803; Corinna, 1804; Glcnburn, 180G ; ^tna and Plymouth, 1807 ; Clifton and Greenfield, 1812; Passadumkeag, 1813; Maxfield, 1814; Bradley, 1817; Alton, Arg3le, Howland and Lagrange, 1818 ; Enfield and Lowell, 1819 ; Chester, Grccnbnsh, Mcdway, Pattagiimpus, West Indian and Woodville, 1820 ; Lincoln, 1823 ; Burlington and Lee, 1824 ; Mattamiscontis, 1825 ; Edinburg, 1827 ; Patten, 1828 ; Carroll, No. 2, Grand Falls and Springfield, 1830 ; Mattawamkeag, 1834; Winn, 1835; Prentiss and Whit- ney Ridge, 183G ; Mount Chase, 1838 ; Webster Planta- tion, 1843 ; Drew Plantation, 1845 ; Staceyville, 1850 ; Lakeville Plantation, 1855 ; and Kingman, 18G4. The court-house, until the j'ear 1831 , was in the building now known as the city hall, in Bangor. The town meet- ings were held in the same building, and public worship on the Sabbath, until a church edifice was built. The pres- ent court-house was built in 1831, at a cost of $20,000. Roman Catholic missionaries came with the French in their carl^' visits to the Penobscot, and mingled with the Indians, and they became Catholics. Jesuit missiona- ries were with them in IGll, and for several years after. About the year 1700, in the reign of Louis XIV., a French architect erected for them a place for public wor- ship. The church was burned, probably in 1757. The governor of the tribe has now in his possession a medal with the likeness of Louis XIV. In 1797, the tribe was visited by Right Rev. Bishop Chevcrus of Boston, and two years after. Rev. James R. Romaigue, a French friar, had pastoral charge, in connection with the Passa- maquoddj"^ tribe, in Washington Count}'. He returned to France in 1819. Rev. Stephen Coilleaux, born and educated in Paris, was his successor, and was with them several years. Public worship and religious ordinances were sustained by the colonists, and chaplains were stationed generall}- at the forts. A reason given in 17G8 for having one at a fort on the river, was that he was needed to preach to the settlers in the audience of the Indians, and to ensure peace with them ; and because " there was no minister of the gospel within a circle of 100 miles diameter, now generally peopled, though but thinl}'." From 1774 to 1779, John Herbert, the first physician in Bangor, was an exhorter at religious meetings, and, in the winter, taught schools. The first minister that preached statedl}' was Rev. Mr. Knowles, from Cape Cod, who, about 1780-83, was with the people scattered along the banks of the river from Frankfort to Bangor. Rev. Seth Noble, a Congregational minister, a native of Westfield, Mass., who had done patriot service in Nova Scotia, and was compelled to flee from thence because of his sympathy with New England in the Revolutionary strug- gle, and who was afterwards at Machias, came to Ban- gor in 178G, and was engaged bj' the people as a settled religious teacher and preacher, at £100 per year. He was installed Sept. 10, 178G, under some ancient oaks, near the corner of Oak and Washington streets, Bangor. Rev. Daniel Little of Wells, who had performed mis- sionary work in Bangor and vicinitj* at different times, was deputed by the church in Wells, " without the great trouble and expense of convening a council," to induct him into office. He gave hira the charge and the right hand of fellowship. Mr. Noble preached the sermon. He remained five years, and died in Ohio in 1807. The first Congregational church organized was at Brewer, Sept. 9, 1800. Rev. James Boyd was pastor, and died two years after. In 1825, when the Penobscot Congregational Confer- ence was organized at Brownville, then in Penobscot County, there were 3 ministers, 8 duirdies, and 400 members. In 1878 there were 13 ministers, 15 cliurchos and 1,780 members. In 1793 Kcv. Jesse Lee, from Virginia, the Methodist apostle of Kew Enrjiand, came to Mai.)e, and, on Sep- tember 9 of that 3"car, spent a month in miscionarj' work along the Penobscot River. In Januarj-, 1794, he came again as far as Orono, holding meetings aloi;g the route, and returned by waj- of the Kennebec to Portland. In 1795 Rev. Joshua Ilall, of the Kew London (Conn.) Conference, organized societies in the county'. In 1799 Rev. Timothy Jlerrill was on the Hampden circuit, and preached in Bangor. The first Baptist chureli was organized at Etna in 1807 1)3- Rev. J. hn Chadbour e of Shapleigh, who was the first missionar)' of the denomination in the countj-. The Free Baptists were organized in Dixmont about 1809. The first Ei)iscoiialian c'hurcli in Penobscot Countj' was gatliered at Bangor in 1834, and the first of the Univer- salist denomination at Hampden in 1825. The Unitarian church at Bangor was formed in 1818, and the Swedenborgian in 1840. The Christian denomination formed their first churches in Exeter and Newport in 1815, and the Adventists i organized in this countj- in 1842-3. I Schools were estabhshed at the first, and liave always had a prominent place in the plans for the elevation of the j people. Lumbering, and the manufacture of lumber, have largelj- engaged tlie attention of the people of the county. Lumbermen, mill-men, river-drivers, log-drivers and raftsmen form an active and important part of the population. Logging-camps are a unique and interest- ing feature of forest life. Ship-building has been carried on to a considerable extent, chiefly in Bangor and Brewer. The first steamboat on the Penobscot, the "Maine," Capt. Cram, arrived in Bangor Maj- 23, 1824. The next daj- it made an excursion to Bucksport. It ran to I'ort- land in the summer season. The " Bangor," a larger boat, Capt. George Barker, arrived in 1834. There are now two steamers of the " Sandford Line," which ply between Bangor and the towns on the river to Boston most of the year, making three trips weekly. A steamer goes to Portland, making three trips weeklj', connecting with another steamer at Rockland for Mt. Desert, and east as far as Eastport and Calais. A steamer runs direct to Mt. Desert from Bangor, and smaller steamers are emploj-ed to tow vessels uj) and down the river, and accompany barges on pleasure excursions. In 1849 small and fiat-bottnmcd steamers commenced running aliove Bangor, affording beautiful views of island, forest and river scenerj'. Railroads permeate the county, radiating from Bangor, west and north. The first road opened was the Bangor, Old Town and Milford Railr.:ad, incorporated in 1833, and opened iu 183G. It was discontinued on the com- pl 'tion of the Shore Railroad, now the European and North American Railway. The Maine Central Railroad extends a distance of 27 miles in Penobscot County, passing from Bangor, west- ward, to Newport, and thcnco irto Somerset County. The Dexter and Newport Raiiroad, opened in 186S, is a branch of the Maine Central Raih'oad. The Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad was chartered March 5, 1861. The construction of the road was com- menced in the spring of 1HC9, and completed from Old Town (where it connects with the European and North American Railway) to Blanchard in the fall of 187G. The length of the road is 63 mil(;s ; passing through Ihe towns of Old Town, Alton and Lagrange in Penobscot County, 15 miles, — the balance in Piscataquis County. The cost was abimt $1,500,000. It is now a branch of the European and North American Railwaj'. The Bucksport and Bangor Railroad was chartered March 1, 1870. The survey was made in the autumn of 1872. The construction was commenced in the spring of 1873, and trains began to run rcgularlj- to Buckspoit Dec. 21, 1874. The length is 19 miles, — 9J. miles are in Penobscot County, passing through Brewer and Orring- ton ; the balance is in Hancock County. Cost, $693,- 755.95. It is now a branch of the European and North American Railway'. Charters have been granted for a railroad from Bangor to Winterport, and from Bangor to Machias ; but the roads are not yet built. The usual military organizations have been main- tained. They have been called into active service chiefly in 1814, in repelling the British forces that came up the Penobscot River; in 1840-41, during the excitement attending the question of the north-cast boundary of the State, which was peaceablj- settled by a treaty between Great Britain and the United States, ratified by the Senate Aug. 20, 1842 ; and again during the late civil war. In this campaign, the second Maine regiment, six companies of the sixth Maine, and the eighteenth JNIaine regiment, afterwards the first heavy artillerj-, were composed chieflj' of residents of this count}'. Monu- ments in memory of the patriot soldiers, deceased, are erected in the cemeteries at Bangor, Brewer, Ilamjjden, Dexter, Newport, and other places. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Towns. Bangor was incorporated Fob. 2o, 1 79 1 . The situation is pleasant and attractive, having the Penobscot River as its south-western border, and the Kenduskeag River from the north-west, passing through the val- ]ej, into the Penobscot, the grounds on each side, east and west, gradually ris- ing, — affording a fine view, especiallj- on Thomas Hill (west), of the territory for several miles in all directions. It is at the head of the tide and of na\-igation, CO miles from the bay and ocean. The site of the city and the surround- ing territory was verj- attractive to the earlj- Spanish, French, Dutch and EngUsh explorers, na^•igators, and adventurers, seal of the cit It was called Norombega in 1;3.>9, and was thought to be the site of a famous city of that name.* It was known afterwards as Kenderquit, Condeskeag and Kendus- keag. In 17C9 it was the "Kendus- keag Plantation." The earliest record now in the archives of the cit}' is dated March 27, 1787. The TaiTatines, or Penobscot Ind- ians, were the abo- riginal inhabitants, making their head- quarters in the re- gion near what is now known as the Red Bridge, near Treat's Falls, and which afterwards was the business- quarters of the ear- ly settlers. Here was the first post- office, Maj. Treat being postmaster. In 1779 and 1816, hostile demonstra- tions were made b}' British troops, who occupied the town. The histoi^' of Bangor, embraced in an address by Hon. John E. Godfrey, at the centennial celebration of the in- • This name is now given to the principal hall and market of the city. VNGOB, 1834. NOROMBEGA, 1539— KENDFSKEAO PLANTATIorx, 1' corporation of the town in 18G9, furnishes a full and inter- esting account of its discoveiy, settlement and progress, from which many of the items of this history are taken. Jacob Russell, from Salisbury-, Mass., was the first settler, in 1 7G9. He was a hunter, fisher, boat-builder and cooper. He had a wife and nine children. His son, Stephen Russell, with his wife, Lucy Grant, and Caleb Goodwin, with his wife and eight i children, from Castine, followed in 1770. In 1771-72 the settlement contained 12 families, the later settlers most of them ! from Woolwich and Brunswick, in this ' State. The first physician to commence practice was John Herbcit, in 1774. Rev. Seth Noble, the first settled min- ister (1786), was elected a representative to the General Court, and was deputed to procure the incorporation of the town. The name Sunbury had been selected, as descriptive of the attractive appear- | ance of the place ; ; but, fur some rea- I son, he gave it the ' name of his favor- ite tune — Bangor. | The first bridge was built in 1807 over the Kendus- keag. The Bangor Bridge Company was incorporated on Feb. 16, 1828, ^ and they built the first bridge over the Penobscot in 832. It was 440 yards in length, and cost $50,000. This was carried away by the great flood in 1846, and was rebuilt in 1847. The first print- j ing-press was es- j tablished by Peter | Edes in ISlo. He i issued the "Ban- I 1815. Mr. Edes died . 83 j-ears, at that time 25, gor AVeekly Register " Nov in Bangor March 29, 1839. the oldest printer in the United States. An acadcnw was established in 1817. During subse- quent j'ears much has been done to sustain and improve the schools. There are now one high school, and 57 schools of a lower grade. The Bangor Theological Seminar^' received its charter from Massachusetts in 1814. It was first located at Hampden (181 C), and removed to Bangor in 1819. A classical school was connected with it for several j-ears. The number of graduates is over 500, who have become ministers, pastors, missionaries and professors in this country and in other lands. It has a library of 14,000 volumes. The first meeting-house was built in 1788. Bangor was incorporated as a city in 1834. The first maj-or was Allen Gilman. The population in 1870 was 20,000. In 1833-34 the business of the place increased rapidly, the basis being chieflj' lumbering and ship-building, and there was considerable speculation and rise of real estate. A check was given to this progress in 1830-37 ; but from 1840 onward, the business and growth of the city have been gradualh' augmenting. It has an extensive coast trade, a Southern and West India trade, and sends lumber in various forms and dimensions to European ports. In 1847 it became a port of entry, and a custom-house was built of granite in 1853-56, on a foundation laid in the Kenduskeag River, between the Kenduskeag and Central bridges. The river is of sufficient depth to float the largest vessel. Winter- port, 14 miles south, is at the head of navigation in winter. The average time for the closing of the river for the last CO j-ears, has been December 10. The first post-office was established in January, 1801. At Treat's Falls there are two extensive iron-foundries. On the Kenduskeag River (north) , are grist, plaster, plan- ing, moulding, lumber and saw mills. On the Penobscot River are saw, lumber, planing, moulding and steam mills. Beside these, there arc in the city various other manufactures. The Holly water-works at Treat's Falls went into operation in July, 1876. The Bangor Gas Compan}- was incorporated Aug. 20, 1850, and the Bangor and Piscat- aquis Slate Company in 1855. The Bangor Historical Society was incorporated March 4, 18C4. The Bangor Orphan Asylum was organized in 1839, and occupied a building on Fourth Street. It is now called the Children's Home. Mrs. F. W. Pitcher left a legacy for the building of a larger and more substantial edifice on Thomas Hill, which was dedicated in 1869. The Home for Aged Women was incorporated in 1872. Mount Hope Cemetery is a large and beautiful burial- place in the north-cast part of the city. It contains about 150 acres. Besides this there are four cemeteries pleasantly located. There are manj' attractive drives and places of resort in the neighborhood of Bangor. When tlie river is open there are almost daily excursions by sail-boats and steamers to summer resorts on the river, and among the islands of the hay ; and also to the islands and locali- ties north. Among the residents of Bangor who have held office in Congress, and other eminent stations, are Francis Can-, member of Congress in 1811 ; James Carr, son of the preceding, congressman in 1815 ; William D. Wil- liamson, governor of Maine in 1821, later a member of Congress, and author of a history of Maine ; Hannibal Hamlin, late vice-president of the United States, and now U. S. senator ; Jonathan P. Rogers and George W. Ingersoll, once attorneys-general of the State ; Edward Kent, a former mayor of the cit3', governor of the State from 1838 to 1840, and justice of the Supreme Court from 1859 to 1873 ; G. Parks, a member of Con- gress and U. S. minister to Peru ; Elisha II. Allen, U. S. congressman in 1841—42, since chancellor of the Sand- wich Islands, and now representative of the Islands at Washington ; John Appleton, chief justice of the Su- [)reme Judicial Court from 1862 to the present time ; Charles Stetson, member of Congress in 1849-50; Joshua W. Hathawaj- and Jonas Cutting, justices of the Supreme Court ; John A. Peters, attornej--general of the State, member of Congress for five jears, and now a justice of the Supreme Court ; Samuel F. Hersey, late U. S. congressman ; II. M. Plaisted, recently State attor- nej'-general, and member of Congress in 1875-70 ; and George W. Ladd, at present a member of Congress. Hampden, named in honor of John Hampden, the English patriot, was first called Wheelsborough, for Benjamin Wheeler, the first settler, who removed from Durham, N. H., in 1772 and built mills near the mouth of Sowadabscook River. Many of the first settlers came from Cape Cod. The first representative in General Court, in 1802, was Martin Kinsle}', afterwards member of the Senate and Council of Jlassachusetts, and member of Congress. Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, now U. S. senator, was a resident of this town nearly 30 years. He came from Paris, Me., his native place, in the spring of 1833, removing to Bangor in the spring of 1862, which has been his residence since that date. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1833, continuing in active practice until 1848 ; was a representative from Maine in HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Congress, 1843 to l.'^40 ; U. S. sonat r fro:n 184o to 18G1 ; was vice-president of the United States, and pre- sided over the Senate from 18G1 to 18Ca ; appointed col- lector of tlio port of Boston in 1865, resigning in 1866 ; elected again to the U. S. Senate, and re-elected in 1875, his terra of scrAnce expiring in 1881. In 1814 this town was the scene of a sudden gather- ing of the militia and volunteers, to repel the British fleet which was reported ascending the Penobscot Eiver to ciiptm-e the U. S. c;)rvette "•Adams," which was lying at the wharf, with two ^ nhi .^r. able merchant \ ( sscl , =L._ ~-~__-=^ at anchor in th-; ri\ 1 1 Brig. Gen. Blake, cf Brewer, was in com mand of tin foices Captain Moriii^, who h.id foi-med two bit terics upon C'losl)^ -^ wharf, on pore ci\ ins ihc approach of the fleet, preceded b\ a number of barges full of soldiers, opi ncd i spirited fire up )u t'l enemy for al;out an hour, when seem tho milili.T, on tliv, 1 ill i:i hi.5 rear wcie rap- idly retreating — as appeared aftcrw aids without orders — ui I knowing that, m al terwards, came John Marsh, a native of Mendon, Mass., wlio located on the island in Penobscot Enei which bjars his name Israel Washburn, Ji settled in Orono in 1834. He ably repre sented Maine as one of her representatneb in Congress from 18j5 to 1860. He was gov ernor of Maine in 1860; appointed col lector of the district of Portland and Fal mouth in 1863, continuing in office until 1877. From 1864 he has been a resident of Portland. In 1874 Mr. Washburn delivered the address at the centennial anni- versary of the settlement of Orono. The water-privileges are abundant, and have been improved largely for the manufacture of lumber in all its forms. Flour and grist mills are in operation, and estab- lishments for machinery, cooperage, oars, boats, &c. From 1832 to 1835, during the great laud speculation, the population increased from 1,500 to 6,000. Many fortunes were made and lost. This period led to great activity in trade and manufactures. The now and capa- cious town house was erected in 1874. There are four churches withiu the town. The State College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, located in Orono, was chartered in 1865. It has a pleasant and healthy location between the Penobscot and Stillwater rivers, on grounds oiiginally cleared and settled by a French Canadian. The Stillwater Eivcr flows in front of the buildings, forming the water bound- ary of the college farm, and adding much to the beauty of the surrounding scenery. BiiEWER, taken from Orrington, is opposite the city of Bangor, with which it is connected by a covered bridge over the Penobscot Eiver, and the railroad bridge. The first settlement was made in 1770 by Col. John Brewer, at what is now Brewer Village, whcse name was given to the town. Other early settlers were Isaac Eobinson, Elisha Skinner, Lot Eider, Deodat Brastow, Benjamin Snow, the Holyoke, Farrington and Burr families. Before the Revolution, there were 160 inhabitants. A jiost-offlce was opened it Bie-nei ^ illagc in IMH) Colonel John 1 1 noi po'^tmaster, \\\i held the oflice for -^tris The mail "5\ IS it fltst carried on lu rsLl ack once a T\ (_ I k Onlj one vcs- s 1 vv as then owned in fli MCinitj The first < ii_iegationil church 1 the count} was es- li hedheieinl800, n in an extent of I I miles there were nh nine houses. At sent there are three chinches in the town. Ihe business pursuits are agriculture, ship-building, and various industrial manufactures. One of the localities of Noronibega, which was supposed to be a famous city in the fifteenth or sixteenth century, is on " Brimmer flats," Brewer, opposite the mouth of the Kenduskeag Eiver. Gov. Pownall, governor of IMassa- chusetts, built the fortification at Fort Point, on Penob- scot Eiver, and while superintending it sailed up the river with an expedition from Boston in 1758, and landed here, probably near Treat's Falls. Brig. Gen. Waldo, while t^alUing with him, soon after landing, died sud- denlj- of apoplex}-, and was buried on the 23d of May. Orrington was the first town incorporated in the county. Its charter is dated March 21, 1788. It was named for Orangetown, Md., but by an error in spelling it became Orrington. It was known previously as New Worcester. Brewer and Holden were originally within MEB«!TERS ORONO HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. its limits. It is six miles south of Bangor, on the line of the Bangor and Biicksport Railroad. The first settle- ment was made b_y John Brewer from Worcester, Mass., in June, 1770, at the mouth of Segeunkedunk stream, where he built a mill. On March 25, 178G, Capt. Brewer and Simeon Fowler purchased of the government 10,864 acres, comprising the front or water lots. The residue of the territory' was granted to Moses Knapp and others. There are four post-offlceS, — located in Orrington, East Orrington, Goodale's Comer, and South Orrington. The town contains several churches. There are many good farms in the town, and much attention is given to dailies. At Goodale's Corner there has been a large nurserj' and orchard, the fruit furnishing the largest and best variety at the pomological and agricultural fairs of the county and State. There are here a manufactory of earthen-ware and tiles, of churns, a tannerj-, and lumber and grist mills. ! Dexter is a pleasant and thriving manufacturing town ' at the terminus of the Dexter and Newport Railroad and Stage Lines to Moosehead Lake, Dover and Exeter. It [ was first called Elwinstown. The plantation was granted March 13, 1804, to Amos Pond and eight others, and named in honor of Samuel Dexter of Boston. It has woollen, cotton, and various other manufactures. DixMONT was the residence of Samuel Batman, repre- ' sentativo in Congress from 1827 to 1833 : Garland was long the home of Rev. John Sawj-er, emploj-ed b}' the Maine Missionary Society from 1810 to 1850, and who died in 1858, aged 103 j-ears : Patten manufactures lumlier, sashes, doors, &c. , and contains an academy in- corporated in 184G : Corinth is a fine farming township on the Kcnduskeag River: Newport is also a good agricultural town : Corinna is the seat of " Union Acad- emy," incorporated in 1857 : IIowland is a picturesque town on the Piscataquis River : Lincoln contains an acad- emy and has important manufactures : Milford is across tlie Penobscot River from Old Town ; here are the Old Town Falls, one of the best water-privileges in the United Stales : Lowell is diversified bj- numerous streams and ponds, and is a region of delightful scenery : Carroll has many good mill-pri%-ileges, and contains one of the ; finest lime-quarries in the State : Kenduskeag has man- ufactories of lumber, barrels, farming tools, and contains a foundry, grist-mill and cheese-factory : II olden was long the residence of Maj. Gen. John Blake, a native of Boston, and an officer in the Revolutionary army and in the State militia : Prentiss was named for Hon. Henry E. Prentiss, at one time mayor of Bangor, who owned mostof the town : Mattawamkeag is situated in a beau- tiful and fertile vallej', and much attention is given by the inhabitants to farming and sto; k-raising. The other towns of Penobscot Countj-, with the date of settlement and incorporation and their respective pop- ulation, are named in the following table : — Alton, . Arpvle, Banl'o.-, BradtbrJ, Bradlev, Brewer, Burlington, Carmel, Carroll, Chester, Cliarleston, Clifton, Corinna, Corinth, Dexter, Dixmont, Eddin^on, Edinljuri;, Enfield, Etna, . Exeter, Garland, Glenbum, Greenbush, Greenfield, Hampden, Hcrmon, Ilolden, Howland, Hudson, Kcnduskeag Kingman, Lagrange, Lee, Levant, Lincoln, Lowell, Mattamiscontis, M attawam keag, Maxfield, Medwav, Milford", Mount Chase, Newbury, Newport, Old Town, Orono, Orrington, . Passaduinkeas, Patten, Plymouth, Prentiss, StacevviUe,' PLANTATIONS. Drew, . Lakevillo, . No. 2, Grand Falls, PattaiTHmpus, Webster, . 1795, 1812, 1804. 1795, 1801, 1827, 1819, 1807, 1801, 1802, 1806, 1820, 1312, 1772, 1823, 181!), 1825, 1834, 1814, 1820, 1800, 18.38, 1798, 1794, 1773, 1774, 1770, 1813, 1828, 1807, 183fi, 1812, 1832, 1811, 1845, 1834, 1811, 1816, 1807, 1811, ISll, 1822, 1834, 1834, 1794, 1814, 1852, 1826, 1825, 1813, 1829, 1837, 18.-0, 1860, 1800, 1831, 1776, U- 1S-.3, 1835, I 1S57, 1820, I 1875, 1845, ia55, 1830, 1820, 1813, 1875, 18.-)6, 1875, The unincorporated townships of Penobscot County, each six miles square, contain a population of about 2,000. PISCATAQUIS COUNTY. EY KEV. AMASA LOKING. Whek the sale and settlement of the townships now comprised in Piscataquis Count}' began, they were in- cluded in the counties of Hancock and Somerset, with their courts and registries at Castine and Norridgewock, respectively. The portion included in Hancock Count}- bocame a part of Penobscot at its incorporation in 1816. March 23, 1838, Piscataquis County was incorporated, taking three tiers of townships from Somerset County and four from Penobscot ; embracing all that laj' north of the south line of Wellington, and of the south line of the sixth range, north of the Waldo patent, as far east as Medford, to Canada, and including IGO townships. Twentj'-two of these were then incorporated, and in four others there were settlements. Dover was made the shire town. In March, 1844, 60 of the most northern townships were annexed to Aroostook Countj'. The same j-ear a fire- proof court-house was built. Bj' mutual agreement the jail in Bangor is still used. Six townships of wild land in this county were granted to Bowdoin College, and four half-townships- to as many academies. One township was granted to the Massachu- setts Medical .Society, and one-half of a township to the Saco Free Bridge. The early settlements were all upon the Piscataquis River and its branches. The first trees were felled in the county, with a view to permanent settlement, bj' Abel Blood of Temple, N. H., in June, 1779, opposite Dover ■sdllage. He led a conipanj- of seven men from Norridgewock, carrj'ing their provisions a part of the way in birch canoes, and a part on their shoulders, about 50 miles, mostly through an unbroken forest. By 1802, openings had been made in the present towns of Foxcroft, Sangerville, Sebec, Atkinson and Milo. In the spring and autumn of 1803, the first families were brought in, and permanent settlements made. Formidable hardships were encountered by these earl}' pioneers. The roads were rough and mudd}' in summer, and covered with deep snows in winter. Mills, stores and ph3sicians wore remote, and provisions were convej'ed from distant towns. Some hcav}' articles were boated u[) the Penobscot and Piscataquis to Brownville and Dover. As earl}' as 1805 a saw and grist mill was built at Sebec. Others soon followed ; framed buildings were erected, and life was made more comfortable. The settlers reaped heav}' harvests. IMoose, deer and other desirable game were found in the forests, and the streams and lakes swarmed with trout, alewives and salmon. No inauspicious event occurred until the the war of 1812 was declared. All were then afraid of the Penob- scot Indians, to whom all the rivers, lakes and settle- ments in this new region were famiUar. Only two towns had then been incorporated, and there were no militarj' organizations. A general panic prevailing, a public meeting was called and plans of defence were discussed, but none were agreed upon. So thej' waited, in dire suspense. When the British marched to Bangor, and took it, in September, 1814, a new excitement was enkindled. Man}' of the men seized their muskets, filled their knapsacks and started to repel the invaders. A volunteer company was formed, Capt. E. Chase, a Revolutionary veteran, being chosen, commander, and a hasty march to the conflict began. But they were en- tirely too late. They heard of the surrender and halted. The "Indian scare" now amounted almost to a panic, and savage outrages were hourly expected. They never came. The Indian kept from the war-path, and peace- ably tracked his game. Bangor was soon evacuated, the speck of war faded out, and national peace was restored. The cold seasons were a still more serious calamity. | Except late-planted corn aliundant crops had usually j ripened. But in 1815 an early frost cut off all the corn, and pinched the grain. The summer of 1816 was still colder. On the 29th or 30th of May, five inches of snow fell. Up to June 10th there were frequent snow- squalls ; and the ground froze by night. Every month frost was seen, and October 6th three inches of snow fell, and cold weather set in. Corn and beans were a total failure ; wheat, rye and potatoes came in light. A scarcity of provisions followed. Teams could not pass over the summer roads to other places. Wheat sold for $3 per bushel. The heads of large families then made every shift to keep " the wolf from the door" ; and they HISTORY OV NEW KNCLAXD. succeeded, for none perished with liungcr. Tlic _ycar 1817 proved a little more favorable ; and the following summer of 1818 was one of great heat. A bountiful crop was then harvested, and the land was full of bread. The next winter wheat sold in Bangor for 75 cents per bushel, and other products accordingly. These cold seasons checked ! tlie increase of set;lement ; the Ohio fever prevailed, and manj- moved awa}- who had made beginnings. But onlj- once since (in 1832) has corn proved an entire failure, and then an excess of wheat compensated. The " great fire " of 1825 was another severe calamity. Though this portion of the State enjoys a steadier rain- foil than many others, that year a prolonged di-ought prevailed. It began in August and continued until the middle of October. Fires were fearlessly set in manj- new clearings, and they continued to smoulder. But little damage was done until the night of October 7th. The wind rose on tliat memorable night to afurii)us gale. These lingering fires were all kindled anew, and driven finally on through field and forest, lighting up the country with their roaring, crackling flame. Many wells had failed ; the small streams were diy, and the means to arrest the fiery dclu;;e were limited. The decaying stumps and log fences and the dead trees in the forest were as drj- as tinder, and sparlvs of fire were strewn abroad like snow-flakes in winter. Almost every farm-house was in danger, and every one awake and active to save them. Thus wore that '■'■ horabiUs w-a;" away. About daylight the gale abated, and the rage of the devouring element was satisfied. Four dweUiugs in Guilford, with tlicir well-filled barns, were laid iu ashes, and some in I'arkman and other towns, while the damage to wood and fine timljer lands could not be eiisilj' estimated. Large tracts were burned over from Moosehead Lake to Bangor, which time is now restoring. In the calm which followed the gale, a dense smoke enveloped the whole region. Of some of the scenes of that night the writer was an eye-witness. The only railroad in the county is the Bangor and I'is- cataquis, chartered from Old Town to Moosehead Lake, and now completed to Blanchard, 12 miles from the lake, and connecting with Bangor by a junction with the European and Korth American Railway at Old Town. It is a great public convenience, and has increased the valuation and business of the county, but up to this date has not paid any dividend to its stockholders. Should proposed roads from Canada meet it, it will become a great thoroughfare for travel and business. Lumbering has been a large and lucrative pursuit in this county. Immense quantities of clapboards from the pine, and shingles from the cedar, have been sawed and convejxd to Bangor, the most convenient market. For manj' 3-ears they were rafled down the river, but numer- ous dams rendered it difficult and dangerous. Kow the pine is so much reduced, that not much is manufactured for distant markets, but the cedar knows but little abate- ment. More lumber is now driven ilown the rivers in the log than formerlj-, and work, d up nearer tide-water. A few woollen-factories are running, and other kinds of skilled industr}' pursued ; but a small amount consid- eiing the inviting water-power, and other facilities for profitable investments. Agriculture is and ever must be the leading pursuit in this county-. Many, Ijy improved modes of culture, and by easier methods of harvesting, have learned "how to make the farm pay." Stock-raising and dairying are profitable in these northern counties. Three annual agricultural fairs are held in the county. The Katahdin Iron "\^'orks, situated in township No. 6, range 9, on the west bank of the Pleasant River, 40 miles south-west of Mt. Katahdin, are a noticealile indus- try of the county. A bed of ore was discovered at the base of Ore Mountain in 1843, and Walter Smith & Sons undertook to develop it. They purchased the greaier part of the township, and put up a blast-furnace to be heated with charcoal. The ore proved unusually good, and the furnace can now turn out ten tons per day. It gave business to a large number of men and teams. A hotel was opened, boarding-houses built, and quite a set- tlement grew up around the works. In some years the furnace has produced nearly 2,500 tons of iron. The surface of the county is moderately hilly, with a few high mountains ; its soil fertile, not very stony, bear- ing a heavy primary growth, portions of it originally abounding with pine, spruce, hemlock and cedar timber, with convenient lakes and streams for log-driving and for mill-privileges. lis whole tcrritorj' is north of the 4.")th parallel of latitude ; so in clim;.te it is temperate in sum- mer, with cold snaps and deep snows in winter. Except in unusually cold seasons, agricultural pursuits produce aljundaut and mature harvests. Some of its mountains are historic. Katahdin, towering 5,000 feet above sea-level, showing the broad s.ripes which the mighty avalanche has drawn, stands in solitary grandeur near the eastern border of the county, and about midway be- tween its north and south extremities. Kinco, too, is beautifully sublime, rising 700 feet from the surface of Moosehead Lake, in a sheer and naked clill, like a proud and defiant sentinel. Near its base, at this point, the lead sinks 1,200 feet more to find the bottom. Squaw Mountain on the west side, and the Spencer mount-ins on the east side of Moosehead Lake, and the Ebeeme, north of " Katahdin Iron Works," arc all grand and lofty elevations. Moosehead, the largest bod}' of inland water in New England, covering a surface of 120 square miles, nearl}- 40 long and 12 wide, lies on the western border of the count}'. It includes Sugar and Deer isles, and manj- other smaller ones. Kennebec Eiver issues from it, and its surface is 1,070 feet above tide-water. A dam, at the outlet, raises its surface seven feet, and subserves lumber- driving. Chesuncook, 25 miles north-east of Moosehead, is a reservoir of the Penobscot, through which the west branch of that river runs, after passing within 1^ miles of the " head of Moosehead Lake." This lake is 15 miles long, and from 1 to 3 wide. Sebec Lake, north of Foxcroft, and Schoodic, east of Brownville, are large and useful bodies of water. The Piscataquis and its branches water nearly all the settled parts of the county. Its principal tributaries are the Schoodic, Pleasant, Sebec and Salmon rivers on the north, and Cold, Alder, Black and Carleton's streams on the south side. The northern and unsettled part of this county abounds with lakes and streams, most of which flow into the Penobscot, and are useful to lumbermen. Little has been said of educational institutions ; but the young have not been overlooked in this backwoods part of Maine. The common school, which has been mainlj- relied on to reach the masses, was earl}' planted. When all things were new and rough, the school-houses were plain and cold, the school-books were imperfect, and the teachers often but poorly qualified. But im- provements came. Better houses supplanted the old, and with them were introduced better books and teach- ers more fully qualified. Larger appropriations were made to sustain schools, and longer terms were kept. When Foxcroft Academy was established it raised the standard of requirements for the common-school teacher and gave a new impulse to education. Teachers' insti- tutes have also been a power for good. So, too, have high schools, with their superior advantages. These are occasional rather than permanent, but have proved highly beneficial. Both of the academies in this county have been aided by the State. Each has received a grant of a half township of wild lands. These have been sold and the proceeds held as a permanent fund, contributing largely to their success. Many young men have gone from these academies to various colleges to secure still higher attainments. In the summer of 1838, George V. Edes started a weekly paper in Dover, called the "Piscataquis Herald." Its name was changed to "Piscataquis Farmer," and again in 1848 to "Piscataquis Observer." Mr. Edes continued to edit and publish it till his death in Novem- ber, 1875. His youngest son, Mr. S. D. Edes, is the present proprietor. In the late civil war this county furnished some oflScers of high daring, and its full proportion of the gallant soldiery who went forth and did battle to presei-ve the Union. Col. C. S. Doutty and Maj. C. P. Chandler, numbered with our fallen heroes, were natives of this county. Towns. Dover (originally No. 3, Range G) was purchased of the State by R. Hallowell and J. Lowell for C. Vaughan and John Men'ick, who sold the soil to its settlers. Abel Blood bought a tract a mile square on the north side of the town, which extended across the Piscataquis River, and contained the mill privilege and site of East Dover village. He made the first opening in both town and county in 1799, and raised the first crop in 1800. The next year, Thomas and Moses Towne bargained for a part of Blood's purchase, and felled trees upon it. In the spring of 1803, Eli Towne started with his wife and child from Temple, N. H., to occupy permanently that remote wilderness home. They came by water from Portsmouth to Bangor ; thence they started on foot, he carrying the child. On reaching Levant settlement, now Kenduskeag village, he found a boy from Charleston. Hiring the boy to walk home, he placed Mrs. Towne on horseback with the grist. Thus they reached Charleston, where he hired the horse to complete their journey. Thus they plodded on, guided only by a spotted line. A thick snow-storm deepened the gloom of the lone- some forest. Fatigued and dispirited, near the close of the day they reached the Piscataquis River. A small opening, black with logs and stumps, a solitary log cabin, and a boundless forest beyond, were all that cheered their sight. Crossing the river, they entered that humble, scanty cabin, and thus. May 8, 1803, the first family settled in this town and county. Other fam- ilies came, and the settlement progressed steadily. In 1810 there were 94 persons there. Until 1805 the near- est grist-mill was at Dexter, fifteen miles distant. Until 1807 no boards could be obtained. In a cavity hollowed in a solid rock the settlers bruised their corn with a stone pestle. In March, 1805, Sibyl, daughter of Eli Towne and wife, was born, — the first birth in town. Dover was incorporated as a town, Jan. 19, 1822. A rapid increase of population and business now followed. Saw and grist mills were soon after started, a bridge HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. was built across the river, and, a few years later, another at East Dover. In 1826 C. Vaughan put a large flour- mill in operation on the " Great Falls," with a cleansing apparatus, which became the most celebrated mill in the countj-. Mr. Vaughan also started a carding and cloth- ing mill. This, in 1836, was changed to a factorj-, and four j-ears afterwards it was burned, together with the grist-mill. A generous communit}- aided, and thej' were soon relmilt. During the civil war the profits of the factory were considerable, and a large brick mill, now containing six sets of machinerj-, was then erected. When Dover was made the shire town, it gave a new impulse to the growth of Dover village. The town is now first in population, business and wealth in the county. It lies on both sides of the Piscataquis, and contains a large amount of meadow land. Dover -village has, beside its wooUen-factoiy, an excellent flour mill. At East Dover, there are various manufactories, and at Dover South Mills, a saw and shingle mill. The town contains several churches, a graded school, and sixteen school districts. Population, 1,983. Hon. J. H. Rice was three times elected to Congress while a resident of Dover. Sebec. — This township, with three others, was granted, in 1794, to Bowdoin College. In May, 1803, 16,000 acres were sold to Richard Pike of Newbury- port, Mass. Soon after this, B. Wyatt, Da^id and Charles Coffin, Mary Pike, and Philip Coombs, bought equal shares of Mr. Pike, and became proprietors. The settlement was at first called Cofiinsville. The first family in town — that of Capt. E. Chase — moved here on ox-sleds from Bingham, Me., in the fall of 1803. James Lj-ford, Mark Trafton, and others were the next settlers. The first saw and grist mill in the county was built in the spring of 1805, at the outlet of Sebec Lake. Sebec was incorporated, Feb. 28, 1812, the first town in the countj-. N. Bradbur}- opened the first store near Sebec Bridge in 1820. About two j-ears later, J. & N. Bodwell started a carding and fulling mill. In 1836, J. Cushing & Co. established a woollen-factor}-. This was burned in 1856, but was rebuilt by the same owners. Sebec is situated on the north banic of the Piscataquis River. The outlet at Sebec Lake affords one of the best of water-powers. Sebec village, the largest settlement, has saw, woollen, clapboard and shingle mills, a tannery and other industrial establishments. The religious interests are represented by three cliurches. The population is 960. Sebec has had some men of note. Among them are Capt. E. Chase, a Rev- olutionary soldier, and self-taught physician ; James Lyford ; Mark Trafton ; and Dr. F. Boynton, a grandson of Gen. F. Blood, an offieer in the Revolution. Dr. Boynton was drowned while running a raft in 1822. Mild was first settled in the fall of 1803, by Benjamin Sargent, from Methuen, Mass. His wife and j'oung children rode on horseback from Bangor. The^- lived in an open camp two months, until the harvest was gath- \ ered, and a log-house built. Settlers came in slowly, j and in 1820 it had but 97 inhabitants. The town was incorporated in 1823, and the next year mills were built on the Sebec River by W. A. Sweat. In 1842, Joseph Cushing erected a wooUen-factorv, which was burned in 1848. GifTord & Co. then built in another place, and their mill is still operating successfully. Milo is on the railroad, 12 miles north-east of Dover. It has a good soil, with a large amount of interval. Piscataquis, Se- [ bee and Pleasant rivers pass through the town. It has free bridges across the two last-named rivers, and a toll- bridge and ferr^' across the Piscataquis. The population is 938. Sangertille. — This township was purchased hy Col. C. Sanger of Sherburne, Mass. Phineas Ames, from Hancock, N. H., moved his family here in the fall of 1803. The following year J. Wej-mouth and J. Brock- aw.iy moved in. In 1810 there were 126 inhabitants. Saw and grist mills were subsequently- put in operation, and in 1816 the first carding-machine in the countj- was started. The first fulling-mill in the count}- was estab- lished the next year. In 1814 the town was incorpor.ated and named in honor of its proprietor. A woollen-factor}- was put in operation at the "Village" in 1869, and it is in suc- cessful operation at the present time. Sangerville is a good agricultural township. It has six mill-pri^ileges now utilized, and formerly had two more. FoxcROFT was bought by Col. J. E. Foxcroft, Nov. 10, 1800, for §7,940. In March, 1806, John Spaulding moved here with his family. Clearings had previously been made. Other families soon after followed, and a log dam, the first across the Piscataquis, was constructed, and also a saw and grist miU. This mill was subsequently bought by Col. J. Greeley, whose sons settled there and ran it. In the summer of 1807, Capt. S. Chamberlain and Ephraim Bacon came from Charlton, INIass., and put up a frame-house near the mill, the first in town. In October, they brought in their families, moving them from Bangor on an ox-wagon. They had to cut the road wider in many places, and bridge sloughs and bogs. In one place they built a bridge 30 feet long. In 1810 there were 65 inhabitants in the place, and Feb. 29, 1812, the settlement was incorporated and named MAINE. after Col. Foxcroft. lie presented the town with 100 volumes for a librar}-, which was subsequently burned. Six j-ears after iucorporation a portion of Foxcroft was annexed to Dover. In 1812 a distillery was built. It proved injurious to the morals, industry and estates of the people, and unprofitable to its owner. Its fires went out, and it was converted to better uses. About 1819 a carding-machine was put in operation by a Mr. Sherman where Jordan's grist-mill now stands. The next year the first bridge across the Piscataquis was built, heavily taxing the town of Foxcroft. It was a complicated piece of architecture, and stood about ten years, when it was replaced hy another. This was swept away in 1854, and the present bridge succeeded it. In 1823, Rev. Thomas Williams was settled as the minister of the town, and Foxcroft Academy was chartered and opened, the first north of Bangor. Before 1844, fulling, carding and lumber mills and a tannery had been constructed. In that year J. G. Maj-o & Co. put up a woollen-factor3% It is still running, and employs about 60 operatives. A spool-factory was erected in 1870 by L. H. Dwelley & Co. It was burned in 1877, but has been rebuilt. It works up some 1,200 cords of white and yellow birch annuall3\ Foxcroft lies north of Dover, and has an excellent water-power. It contains eight school districts, one graded school, a flourishing academy, and with its varied industries presents a thriving appearance. The Congre- gational Church of Foxcroft and Dover was organized in 1822, and in 1833 a house of worship was built in the former place. It was laid in ashes soon after its con- struction, but a second edifice was erected in another place. This, too, was burned in 1850, and the next jear the present handsome edifice was built. Foxcroft has a population of about 1,200. Parkman, formerly No. 5, 6th range, was bought by Samuel Parkman, father of the late Dr. George Parkman of Boston. The first settlers P. and William Cummings, A. Andrews, A. Briggs, and William Brewster, moved in about 1812, and were from Greene. Samuel Pingree, Esq. , -was an early settler, and acted as agent for Mr. Parkman. In August, 1818, a Baptist Church was organized. The settlement had a steady growth, and in 1820 there were 255 inhabitants. In 1822 it was incorporated as the town of Parkman. Several persons in this town were sufferers by the ' ' great fire." Parkman is situated 12 miles west of Dover on the south branch of the Piscataquis and the Pingree River. It contains 14 school districts and four religious societies. Elder Z. Hall was long an influential minister in this town. The remaining towns of Piscataquis County are : — Guil- ford (population, 800) , incorporated in 181G : Brownville, containing extensive slate-quarries (860, 1824) : Atkin- son (800, 1819) : Abbot (700, 1827) : WelUngton (680, 1828) : Monson, the location of six slate-quarries (600, 1822) : Orneville, population, 575 ; incorporated as Mil- ton in 1832, as Almond in 1841, and by its present name the following year : Greenville, the entrepot of lumbering on a part of the Kennebec and Piscataquis waters (375, 1836) : Medford, population, 300 ; incorporated as the town of Kilmarnock in 1824, and by the name it now bears in 1856 : Shirley (200, 1834) : Williamsburg, also the site of slate-quarries (175, 1820) : Kingsbury (175, 1836) : and Blanchard (165, 1831). Beside these, there are several unincorporated townships and plantations. SAGADAHOC COUNTY. BY UEV. HENRY 0. THAYER. Sagadahoc County comprises the territory lying chieflj' on the Sagadahoc River and Merr^-meeting Hay. New Meadows, or Stevens' River, and the Androscoggin separate it on the west from Cumberland County. The Sheepscot and the Kennebec divide it from Lincoln County. Its length, north to south, is 33 miles ; breadth, between Stevens' River and the Sheepscot, 7J- miles. Northward it varies from 6 to 17 miles. Three of its eleven towns are islands ; three others nearly so ; only one is not reached by the tide. The shore-line on tide- water, excluding smaller bajs and creeks, is 165 miles. Its land area is about 250 square miles. An additional water area of 45 square miles is included within its proper bounds. Soils are widely diverse, claj-, loam, sand, and every variety of mixture. In the lower towns prevail rocky, ledgj' ridges and heights, joined to arable and meadow lands, and salt marsh. The first view suggests rock and HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. sterility, especially near the coast ; but better knowledge discerns valuable tillage and grass lands for a large pop- ulation. These ledgj' and forbidding shores are yet dotted with the homes of hard}' fishermen and mariners. The northern towns present wider extent of tillage, bet- ter soils and farms. In 1854 Sagadahoc County was formed from the west- ern part of Lincoln. Bath became the shire town. The population of the county, in 1870, was 18,803 ; and its valuation, $11,041,340. The first known entrance of Europeans to the Saga- dahoc was in June, 1605, M' the intrepid Champlain, leading the exploring compan}' of De Monts from the j St. Croix. After the failure of Popham's attempt to establish a colony at the mouth of the Sagadahoc, as elsewhere de- tailed, voyages for fishing and the fur-trade were made to this region. At a later period, the French from St. Croix -N-isited Popham's Fort as they came to the river for grain. In 1G14 Capt. John Smith explored the region. On his map King Charles afterwards displaced the aboriginal Sagadahoc by the name Leethe. The Council of Plym- outh planned occupation and laid schemes of trade.' Sanguine of rich harvests, expectations centered in the Sagadahoc. The islands in its mouth (Arrowsic and Parker's) were set apart for a city. When the council was dissolved, and the territory from the Hudson to Cape Sable divided, 10,000 acres on the east part of Sagadahoc were added to each of seven of the twelve divisions, that these noblemen might share in the sub- urbs of this visionary metropolis of New England. Yet, had events turned otherwise than thcj- did, the vision might have in part been realized. The grant to Gorges, in 1G22, had for its eastern boundary the Sagadahoc. From this he granted, in 1C37, to Sir Richard Edgecomb, a tract on Merrymeeting Bay, and another on the coast, probably on New Mead- ows harbor. Thomas Purchase received an extensive grant west of the Sagadahoc, and located on it as early as 1G27. He is the first known settler in this region. Fishermen may have had temporary dwellings on the shores. The Pilgrim colonists at New Plymouth ob- tained a patent on the upper Kennebec in 1023; en- larged in 1G29. Four j-ears later the}' came here with a shallop-load of corn, and began traffic with the natives. It can scarcely be doubted that Edward Winslow, after- wards governor of the Colony, the commander of these first coasting expeditions, left his name to the noted lodge in the channel against the citj' of Bath, which at least for 230 years has borne its present name, " Winslow's Rock." Their trading-house was built in 1G28 ; at what point is not certain. Permanent occupation now began. Rights to the soil were obtained from the Indians. The first known was the Nequasset purchase, in 1G39, one of the earliest deeds on record. Lands adjoining, on the north, were bought in 1648 ; the islands below soon after ; and within a score of years the whole of Sagada- hoc Count}' and adjacent lands were held under titles derived from the native lords of the soil. Grants from the king covered large portions also — seeds of litigation for future generations. Boston mer- chants chiefly were engaged in this eastern trade. Many earUest residents are traced to that city, Salem, and vicinitj'. Probably not many actual settlers were here prior to 1650. But from this date larger operations began; farms were opened, stocks of cattle introduced, lumbering operations were commenced, mills built, and coo])er and smiths' shops set up. Ship-building, also, was undertaken ; grain-mills, with bakeries for the convenience of the people, were in existence as early as 1660. The lands west of the Sagadahoc were in Gorges' jurisdiction. That on the east, and all lands as far as Pemaquid, made one of the divisions of the Plymouth Council. Their scheme of government failed. Fisher- men, planters and traders seemed to have been a law unto themselves, except as offences were brought under the cognizance of the parent Colonies at Pl3mouth or Massachusetts Bay. But in 1654 New Pl^-mouth Colony instituted a form of government, in view of her opera- tions on the Kennebec. This practicall}' covered the Sagadahoc territory. But the endeavor shared the for- tune of their waning occupation. Business declined ; they withdrew in 1660, and sold their right the next year. A change of aflfairs came with the restoration of Charles II. in 1660. James, his brother, was put in possession, in 16G4, of eastern Maine. His bounds extended from the St. Croix to Pemaquid, and thence by a direct line to Kennebec. The lands below this hue, comprising all of Sagadahoc County east of the river, lay outside of this grant ; yet they were really brought under the Duke's government — for the king's commis- sioners appeared on the Sheepscot in September, 1665, and erected the Duke's territory into a county called Cornwall. Eight persons from the Sagadahoc lands yielded to the call for allegiance. Justices were ap- pointed, and the machinery of government set up. This authority was proljably slight ; it was certainly brief. In a few years it had faded out. Hy the treat}' of Breda, Nova Scotia was resigned to the French. They boldly claimed to the Kennebec, and might proceed to talic possession. This was distasteful to Massachusetts, who, 113^ concurrence of popular favor, had established her jurisdiction over western Maine. Hy ordering a new surve}' of her eastern line, and by a politic expedient, she brought all as far as Pemaquid under her charter rights. The Sagadahoc settlers had no objections, as man}- were Massachusetts men. In 1672 the}' petitioned for her protection, having had no government for previ- ous 3-ears. This territor}- bejond the Sagadahoc became a count}- called Devonshire. West of the river was York- shire. The river, which had been the boundary of early divisions of the Plymouth Council, — then of Gorges' and the Duke of York's grants ; then, under the claim of France, the dividing line between two nations, — now only separated two counties under a common govern- ment. James was careless of his Province. Massachu- setts quickly and firmly established her authority ; ap- pointed officers ; set up courts ; organized militia, and levied taxes. The population then within the present Sagadahoc County can only be imperfectly estimated. Forty to fifty families of planters arc believed to have been resident ; also fishermen, workmen and traders. Fifty years' advance Lad given prosperous settlements and apparent stability. Fishing, farming, the mechanic arts and trade were profitably prosecuted. The founda- tions of civil order were laid, and institutions of religion were not neglected. Robert Gutch and Ichabod Wis- WL'll ministered to the people. This period of peaceful promise was followed by various Indian troubles. The autumn of 1675 brought no hostile acts in this region but the plundering of Mr. Purchase's house, and threats. Disarming of the Indians was undertaken, conciliation effected, and ratified by old Robinhood's applauded dance. A year of quiet gave confidence and relaxed watchfulness. Suddenly, in August, 1676, the storm fell, in the treacherous surprising of the house of Richard Hammond (quite certainly in Woolwich) , and the stealthy seizure of the strong fort of Messrs. Clarke & Lake, on Arrowsic, who were wealthy Boston mer- chants, and large owners of Kennebec lands. Ham- mond, a step-son, and a workman were killed. Capt. Lake escaped, but was pursued and slain on Parker's Island. Fift\-three were made captives. This opened the war which in following days swept over the settle- ments east of Casco Bay. No concerted resistance was possible. The terrified people fled to the coast and the islands, and then to the western towns and Boston. How many were slain can never be known. Cattle and crops were surrendered to the savages — mills and dwell- ings plundered or burned. In November a treaty was arranged with the Penobscots, and some captives re- turned, but no similar favor was received from the Ken- nebecs. Maj . Waldron's expedition, in February, accom- plished little in subduing the enemy or obtaining cap- tives. He established a garrison of 40 men near the present Phipsburg Centre. This, after sad losses, was soon withdrawn. In July the Kennebecs held at least 20 captives. The Androscoggins put their prisoners to death. In April, 1678, articles of peace, made at Casco, embraced the release of captives and the return of inhab- itants without molestation. In 1679, 60 persons were living on Stage Island, at the entrance to the Sagadahoc. In answer to a petition of 26 men in their behalf, Gov. Andros assigned to them the lower part of Arrowsic for a compact settlement. This, when established, was defended by a fort, and bore the name of Newtown. Another fort was in this period built near the mouth of the river. Andros had set up, in 1677, a vigorous government over the Duke's eastern Province. Pemaquid became the seat of authority, and the port of entry for all vessels. In 1683-84, there were some seven families on the west side of the river. This territory belonged to Yorkshire, and was under the juris- diction of Massachusetts. Yet Andros's authority encroached upon it. The government of " New York and Sagadahoc," practically comprised both banks of the river. In 1684-85, many new Indian purchases were made of land long before bought and occupied. Among these was the deed of Worumbo and others of the lands in the purchase and Wa}- patent. Seguin was bought in 1685 by Robert Patteshall. Andros visited the Sagadahoc in the spring of 1688, and also the Penobscot, and established garrisons ; one at Newtown, one at Sagadahoc, somewhere near the mouth of the river ; also at Fort Anne, which may have been the name given to the block-house that had been built on Merrymeeting Bay. There was also the new neighboring fort at Pejepscot. One hundred and eighty men garrisoned these during the winter. On the insur- rection against Andros in Boston, in the next April, the soldiers revolted, and abandoned the forts and the river. The Indians, under French instigation, had begun bloody work elsewhere in the previous season, as at N. Yar- mouth and at Shecpscot. Captives had been taken at Sagadahoc, and many were killed at Merrymeeting Bay. But the summer of 1689 brought final destruction on this region. Newtown was burned, all but one house. The inhabitants retired to western towns and to Boston. The number slain is altogether unknown. Property was wasted, and mills and houses ruined. The savage was again master of the soil. It is doubtful if anywhere HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. inhabitants liad a foothold in Sagadahoc County in the next 25 j-ears. The first expedition of Maj. Church ascended the Kennebec in the fall of 1689. The second visited Pejepscot Fort and the Androscoggin, in 1G90. On his third, two years later, he had a fight with the savages in the Kennebec, and pursued them into the woods. Maj. Hilton's expedition in March, 1707, sur- prised a party at Cox's Head, and slew 18. The treat}' of Utrecht in 1713, gave hopes of settled peace. At once the principal landholders planned re-oc- cupation. The heirs of Clarke and Lake projected a settlement, and extensive operations. Sir Bibye Lake of London, grandson of Capt. Thomas Lake, killed in 1G76, furnished means and aid. John Watts, a merchant of Boston, was agent and owner, and was succeeded, on his early decease, by Capt. John Penhallow. In 1715, 20 or more families were bj' them located on Arrowsic Island, and soldiers were ordered for their protection. In Maj', 1710, the island, with its hopeful colonj-, was incorporat- ed under the name of Georgetown. On the west of the river, the larger part of the present Sagadahoc Count}- was comprised in the Wharton right. This, and nearl}- all minor titles, were purchased hy eight gentlemen — all but one of Boston — who took the name of ' ' The Pejepscot Proprietors." Divisions were made to each. Besides their settlement at Brunswick, one was projected by Dr. Oliver Nojes, one of the compan}', on the western side of the Small Point Peninsula, now Phipsburg. This, laid out on a liberal scale, provided with a strong stone fort, received the name of Augusta, which for a time was indeed applied to the whole penin- sula. Swan Island, and the shores of Merrymeeting Bay, received early settlers. From 1717 to 1720, large numbers of Scotch-Irish immigrants — Presbyterians — were induced to come hither. The Indians, stirred by French influence, soon mani- fested hostilit}', and resented occupation of their lands. Gov. Shute's conference with them at Arrowsic in 1717, maintained the lawful rights of the settlers. Sentiments of peace prevailed, and a former treaty was renewed. Two years later, insolence, threats, and the killing of cattle, evinced the hostile spirit of the Indians. Con- ciliation was found impossible, and the military force was increased. The Jesuit Rasle, the agent and intriguing tool of the French, had unbounded influence. In 1721, a large force, accompanied by Rasle and others, visited Arrowsic, making demands and threats ; and only the peace policy of a few hindered a bloody assault. Jn June. 1722, settlers' houses about the baj' were dcstroj'ed, and some captives taken. In September, a body of Indians burned a largo part of the houses on Arrowsic, whose garrisons alone saved the inhabitants. ]\Iany settlers became discouraged and abandoned their homes. Gov. Dummer's treaties of 1725-27 relieved the harassed people of Maine. A new period now began. Fresh accessions of enter- prising men and families entered all these Sagadahoc towns. In 1738, bj' increase of inhabitants, the lands between the chops of Merr^-meeting Bay and the sea were united with Arrowsic, to share its incorporate rights and name, Georgetown. Again war burdened and afflicted the people. France had allies and emissaries in the savages, whose prowling and skulking bands were a constant terror. From 1 744 to 1758, bold incursions and murderous work and seizure of captives for sale in Canada, were frequent. Gamson houses were the means of safety. In 1751, at least 20 of these were in Georgetown. Richmond Fort, built in 1718-19, was the frontier post till 1754. The fall of Quebec in 1759, terminated the Indian wars. Not alone did the savages render the settlers insecure in their possessions. Disputed land-titles were a con- tinual cause for vexation and discouragement. In 1729 came Col. Dunbar, the king's commissioner, asserting the roj-al ownership in the soil from the Kennebec to the St. Croix. This subverted previous ownership, and dis- heartened persons located or about to enter. In behalf of the Clarke and Lake proprietors, and others eastward. Sir Bibye Lake presented a petition to the king, who sus- tained the ancient rights, and confirmed the owners in quiet possession. A new state of public ferment began 20 j-ears later. The ancient New Pl3-mouth patent was bought by some wealthy men, who became the " Company of the Kenne- bec Purchase." An obscure phrase allowed them to push their claim to the ocean. Fifteen miles each side of the river took in much more than all the present Sagadahoc County. This claim would sweep avray the rights of the Pejepscot, the Clarke and Lake, and the Wiscasset pro- prietors, and all derived from them. Fierce controversy and prolonged litigation resulted. The owners of the Kennebec Purchase, with generosity which was also pol- icy, offered full titles to all actual owners who would take up under them. Legal decisions and acceptance did not bring quiet to the Sagadahoc residents till after nearlj- a score of years. For others on the Androscoggin and the Damariscotta, the case was not set at rest for more than half a century. Neither these difficulties, nor the alarms of the " old French war," prevented a substan- tial growth. In the period from 1750 to the Revolution, civil and religious institutions were developed, education fostered. and quite a number of houses of worship built. In 1752, Georgetown was divided into two parishes. The northern or second parish rapidlj- advanced in numbers, and became the town of Bath in 1781. In 1759, the Nequassct district was separated from Georgetown, and became Woolwich. Settlements north of the baj- were advanced, and Bowdoinham was incor- porated in 17G2 ; and likewise Topsham in 17G4. Lincoln County was formed in 17G0, at the instance of the Kennebec Compan3% As the Revolution drew on, the " Sons of Liberty " were active in resisting British aggression. The king's cause, too, had many friends, bold and open, or dis- guised. The search for and destruction of tea, forcing to sign the league under threats to burj' alive, the mob spirit, collisions between patriot and Torj- townsmen, in- dicated the fierce spirit of the times. A large amount of the king's timber in the docks was seized. Coast guards were maintained, and especially' a careful watch at the mouth of the river. The burdens of war in fur- nishing supplies, — the required clothing and beef, — paying bounties, and the hindrance to coastwise trade, were grievous. In 1778, one-seventh of the male popu- lation of Georgetown was in the Continental army. In 1780, two British ships entered the river, anchoring in Jones's Eddy, against Arrowsic. Night preparation of cannon on the bluff, the rall3-ing of the citizens, and a spirited attack caused them to slip their cables and has- til}' retire. The occupation of the Penobscot by the British created great apprehensions lest the Kennebec should be seized. This alarm continued, and even in the beginning of 1783, was so great as to induce a memorial to Gen. Washington. The Tories, fugitives from these towns and elsewhere, congregated on the Penobscot, were exceedingly troublesome in foraging along the shores and islands for sheep, cattle and crops. A company was despatched on the Lexington alarm. Forces sent in 1776 were ordered to Rhode Island. Others were assigned to the coast defence, here and at Boothbay and Machias. A portion participated in the attack on Castine. Cols. Samuel McCobb and Dummer Sewall were the leading officers. With the dawn of peace, strenuous opposition was declared against the return to their homes of all loyalists. But one act of confiscation of their property occurred in this count}-. This was against the ancient Phipps farm in Woolwich, owned hy Col. David Phipps of Cambridge. B3' reason of a technical error the case was continued for judgment, when a new resolution of Congress staj'ed proceedings, and left the property to its owner. In the years following the war, an extensive trade with the British and Spanish islands was established. In the prospect of war in 1794, the militia was filled up, and soldiers were equipped for service at a minute's warning. The embargo acts of 1808-9 were burdensome and ruinous to a people largely engaged in commerce. Memorials were presented to the government, with great unanimitj', against the embargo, which was prostrating business and causing suffering. The disturbed condi- tion of the following years of war seriously affected a people whose earnings were so largely derived from busi- ness connected with the sea. Twentj'-four vessels are reported built in 1812; onlj- three in 1813; sixteen in 1814 ; and but forty-five in 1815. Nor will it be strange in tliis depression of business, the closing of usual mar- kets, and the scarcity of monej-, if provisions which finallj- fed the enemy were slipped to sea. Armed cruisers sent boats ashore for forage, or to empty the housewife's milk-pans, as the mood suited. On such an errand, or, as her antagonist's men said, " chicken- stealing," was the boat of the brig "Boxer" engaged when the " Enterprise" sighted her at Pemaquid. This notable engagement, and victor}- by the " Enterprise," east of Seguin, Sept. 5, 1813-, was watched with eager ej-es bj' the people of Parker's Island. British cruisers on the coast gave constant apprehensions to the people. Especially was this felt in 1814, when England attempted the blockade of the coast, from Nova Scotia to Florida. The " Bulwark," of 74 guns, laj' ofl'the Kennebec. The militia were put in readiness. Detachments were sta- tioned at Cox's Head, and near Goose Rock passage, north of Parker's Island, while at other points sentinels were readv to give earliest alarm. Twice in 1814 was the soldicrj- called out. In September, an alarm was given that the enemy was coming up the river. Great excite- ment prevailed in Bath, verging to a panic. Impromptu batteries were erected, goods prepared for removal, and specie conveyed from the bank to a place of safety. The fright was causeless. British barges in this j-ear made an incursion up the Sheepscot, to burn some ship- ping. The military companies on that side hastil}' as- sembled for possible skirmishing, and at one point were under fire of their swivels, probably the only touch of actual warfare in this count}-. The growth and improvements of peace followed. A half-century's changes, inventions and successes brought the people in very different condition to the war of the Rebellion. Materials and men were not lacking. Two full companies from Bath and vicinity entered the third Maine regiment. Men and officers wore furnished to many others. The Bath soldiers' monument, erected in 18G7, bears 110 names of those whose service even unto HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. death the city honors. The total number of men cred- ited to Sagadahoc Countj- is 2,488. The countj' has great manufacturing facilities in an extensive water-power. Steam-power is also emploj'ed for local convenience. Lumber in everj' variety is still a large product. A considerable export of brick is maintained. Several quarries of feldspar have been opened. In 1878, coal was discovered near Fort Pop- ham, but in what quantity is not determined. Ship- building has from the first been a foremost industry, and even now, in the depression of this business, is weU sustained. The shore fisheries of cod, hake and mackerel are well prosecuted. On the interior waters, by weirs and seines, large quantities of shad and alewives are taken. Salmon are now obtained in considerable numbers, in- creasing by the fostering of fishery laws. The winter smelt fishing is productive. The sturgeon fishery, pros- ecuted extensively in the first settlements, has been recentlj' i-esumed, with large returns. The ice business, so noted on the Kennebec, has had large increase in the county since 1870. Steam-power was used on the Kennebec as earlj- as 1818 forpropelhng a rude craft. In 1823, steam com- munication was opened from Bath to Boston. The Kennebec and Portland Railroad was opened from Brunswick to Bath in 1849. From Brunswick it intersects Topsham, Bowdoinham and Richmond, on the route up the river. The Knox and Lincoln Railroad, opened for traflSc in 1871, has its western terminus at Bath ; thence by steam ferry across the Kennebec, and through Woolwich east to Rockland. In 1820 was published the first newspaper in the county. There are now but two, — both at Bath. Eight banks and two institutions for savings are lo- cated in the countj-. Towns. Bath, a city of nearly 8,000 inhabitants, occupies a portion of a tract containing some 14,000 acres between the Kennebec and New Meadow rivers. It is attached by narrow necks to Phipsburg on the south-cast and Brunswick on the west. The central part of this penin- sula, where the city is built, was bought by Robert Gutch in 1660, who was minister and missionary here. It was subsequently purchased by Nathaniel Donnel and others, and furnished a test case in the controversy with the proprietors of the Kennebec Purchase. In 1738 it was joined to Georgetown, and in 1753 40 ftimiUes had settled within its limits. A house of worship was built in 1758-60. The early ministers were Solomon Page, John "Wyeth, and Francis Winter. In 1781 it became a separate town by the name of Bath. It was organized as a city in 1847. Three years pre- vious the south-west portion was set off as the town of West Bath. The first bank was organized in 1810. Bath is the foremost of Maine towns in ship-building. It has also extensive manufactures of anchors, boilers, engines, iron and brass, lumber, cars, drain-pipe, &c. The city contains seven churches, a fine custom-house, a military and naval orphan asylum, and an old ladies' home. Phipsburg is situated on a peninsula between the Kennebec and New Meadows Baj-, and is joined to West Bath bj' a neck of 200 rods, the Winnegance carrjing- place. The south part was bought of Indians in 1656 by Thomas Atkins, the remainder by John Parker, Jr., in 1659, and the northern part was assigned to his brother-in-law, Thomas Webber, who also obtained an Indian title. The well-known Silvanus Davis owned and improved a farm south of Webber's. These lands were in the Purchase and Waj' grant, and were confirmed anew to Parker after Wharton's purchase. The heirs of Parker occupied lands here in the second settlement. The Pejopscot proprietors purchased (1715-20) the rights of most of these owners. Dr. Noj-es's town, called Augusta, at Small Point Harbor, was onlj' well begun when the savage hostilities of 1 720-22 forced the settlers to abandon all. The place was re-occupied in 1737 by Clark, Hall, Wallis, Wj-man and others. The extension of the North Yarmouth line direct to the ocean brought this part into that town, but for con- venience to the inhabitants it was annexed to George- town in 1741. Additions were made to the settlement on the Ken- nebec side after Dummer's war. Col. Arthur Noble built a strong garrison about 1734 on the north side of the peninsula near Fiddler's Reach. Near this was erected in 1736 the first house of worship known in this settle- ment. Some 35 years later an Episcopal Church was erected on the same site. About 1802 the present Con- gregational Church was built at the " Centre," soon dis- placing the use of the old house of the first parish opposite on Arrowsic. At the entrance to the river at HunneweO's Point is Fort Popham built of granite ; begun about 1861, but j-et unfinished. A brick breastwork and water-batterj' had existed previously, planned, and probably in part built, in the French wars. Near this was the location of the noted Popham colony in 1607. Cox's Head, a mile north, had an earthwork for defence of the river in 1812. The village at " Parker's Head " (formerly Vereen's Head) Is 3 miles, and the " Centre" 5 miles from the entrance to the river. Phipsburg was separated from Georgetown in 1814, and named in honor of Sir William rhips. Population in 1870, 1,344. Parker's Island, or Georgetown, is east of Arrowsic, and extends below to the mouth of the river. It was purchased in 1G50, of Robiuhood, bj- John Parker of Biddeford, Eng., who is said to have been a fisherman here for 20 years. A part was sold. The rest became the inheritance of his son Thomas, some of whose de- scendants bj- the name of Oliver, have occupied lands to the present. In 1804 one-fifth of the polls bore the name of Oliver. Its Indian name was Rascohcagan (variously spelled). Its southern part is the locality bearing the name " Sagadahoc " in early voyages and history, and was a centre of fishing operations in the seventeenth century. Georgetown, the incorjjorate name of Arrowsic, was extended over this island and other territory in 1738. After successive portions had been erected into towns, the final separation of Arrowsic in 1841 surrendered to Parker's Island that ancient town-name which its sister island had first received. It shared similar disasters with Arrowsic in the Indian wars. The second or per- manent settlement dates from about 1730. Robinhood's Cove is thrust in from the north, and Sagadahoc Ba}' from the south, almost dividing it into two islands. Attached to it are McMahan's, and The Five Islands on the Shecpscot side. Stage and Salter's islands on the ocean, and Long and Marr's islands in the river. The " Centre " at the mills on the Cove is 12 miles b}- stage line from Bath. Population in 1870, 1,135. Woolwich is the northerly- town east of the river. Its Indian and plantation name was Kequasset (Ne- guascag), from its pond and stream. It was purchased in two portions, in 1G39 and 1G48, of Robinhood. Bate- man, Brown, Smith, Cole, Phips and White were the first known residents. It passed, in 1G58, into the hands of the Boston merchants, Clarke and Lake. The title to part of the territorj' was disputed, and finally jielded to the heirs of James Smith. Mills at Nequasset Falls were built between 1650 and 16G0. The south-east sec- tion was owned and occupied b}' James Phips (or Phippes), where was bom, in IGol, the son, afterwards distinguished as Sir Wm. Phips, by whom and his heirs the farm was possessed for more than a century. Verj- direct tradition determines that his ship which saved the inhabitants in 1C76 was built on this shore. The second settlement was begun in 171 G in the southern part and on Merrj-meeting Bay, but abandoned or destroj-ed in 1722. This region was permanently re-occupied in 1730. Settlements were made under the direction of Cadwalader Ford, Esq., of Wilmington, Mass., agent for Clarke and Lake, proprietors, and bj- Samuel Martain of Andover. In 1740 fourteen families were located in the place. Thirty more were added bj' 1754. It was set off from Georgetown and incorporated in 1759, a house of worship having been previously erected. The ministry of the Rev. Josiali Winship of Cambridge, Mass., began in 17G5. He was the first Congregational pastor ordained over a church in the Kennebec valley. Woolwich has manufactures of lumber and brick. Three ice companies carry on an extensive business. Population in 1870, 1,1G8. BowDoiNHAJt, north and west of Merrj-meeting Bay, originally extended up the river and included Richmond. The sachem Abagadasset had his residence on the Point now bearing that name. Alexander Thwait purchased of the Indians and lived at this place before 1C5G. After some j-ears residence in the territorj- now included in Bath, he returned here in 1665. In the next centurj- the Pejepscot proprietors claimed the territory, made divisions, built mills before 1718, but flnalh' j'ielded to the Kennebec proprietors b^' adjustments of 1758 and 1763. It included a grant of 3,200 acres made to Wm. Bowdoin. The town was incorporated in 1762. It has manufac- tures of lumber, plaster and brick, and contains a bank, three churches, and about 1,800 inhabitants. Richmond, the most northerly town of the count}' west of the river, is 14 miles from Bath. It was included in Christopher Lawson's purchase from the Indians in 1G49. Thwait had previouslj- obtained a tract. Fort Richmond, built in the south-eastern part, and rebuilt in 1740, was demolished on the erection of forts Halifax and Western, on the river above. It was a truck-house where Indians were supplied, and to which they came for conference and complaints, and was sharplj- beset by them in 1722 and 1750. This tract was united with Bowdoinham in the incor- poration of 1762, and l)orc the name Plantation of Rich- mond. It became a separate town iu 1823. Richmond has two banlcs, three churches and a libraiy association. Several active ship-building firms and ice companies are engaged in business here. The chief manufactures are lumber, brick, boots and shoes, harnesses and brass. Population in 1870, 2,442. TopsnAM is situated on the north of a bend of the Androscoggin, as it approaches the lower falls, and there joins MeiTj-meeting Bay. The first known residents were Thomas and James Gyles (1658), and three men by the HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. name of York, who bought lands on the ba}- and river before Philip's war. The new settlement was projected bj' the Pejepscot proprietors in 1715. Sixteen families had located by 1721. In 1750 there were said to be only 18 families. The town was not incorporated until 17G4. A minister was employed in 1721, but later the people probabl}' worshipped at Brunswick, till the erection of the meeting-house in 1759. The first church organi- zation in 1771, was Presb3-terian. The town furnished 50 men for various service in the Revolutionary war. In the war of the Rebellion 144 men entered the service. The Johnson Family School for boys is located here. The falls of the Androscoggin furnish abundant and unused water-power. Tlic manufactures arc lumber, sash, flour, feldspar, paper. The Bowdoin Paper Com- pany employs 75 hands. Population in 1870, 1,498. The remaining towns of the county are: — Bowt)OIN, named from the family of Gov. Bowdoin, incorporated in 1788 ; population, 1,345 : West Bath, set off from Bath in 1844 ; population, 375 ; having a valuable water priv- ilege, where mills were built in 1039 : Arrowsic,* an island on the east side of the Kennebec, the site of one of the earliest settlements of the countj', set off from Georgetown, and incorporated in 1841 : and Perkins, or SwAn's Island, incorporated in 1847, and containing less than 100 inhabitants. SOMEESET COUNTY. BY E. r. MAYO. The early histoiy of Somerset County is the old stor3' of struggling against many odds with but few helps. What are to-day the beautiful cultivated farms and flour- ishing villages along the banks of the Kennebec, were but a centur3' ago an unbroken forest. The Indian tribe which inhabited the region now included in Somerset and Kennebec counties, was known as the Canibas or Ken- nebecs, a name which they doubtless took from an old chieftain who lived in this region about IGGO, and whose name was Kennebis. From this tribe the river which runs from Moosehead Lake to the sea took its name. Upon this stream the dusky redskins formerlj- paddled their canoes unmolested. Where this tribe originated, or how long thcj* had been here, is not known positively', but suffice it to say they were here in 1614, for Capt. John Smith, of Poca- hontas fame, came and saw them — the first Englishman who ever looked upon them. They were early subdivided into clans, and the Nor- ridgewogs were those stationed at what is now Norridge- wock. These several clans owned the soil in common. They did not believe that one person could own soil. Each person owned an undivided portion of the whole. The sachems were able to convey to another certain por- tions of land, but always with the understanding that • The island was three times (in 1676, 1689 and 1722) nearly swept clean of inhabitants by the savages. It is said tliat there are more old and unknown cellars in the place than those now occupied. The first when the purchasers died the land reverted to the trilje again. It was this point that caused, perhaps, one-half of the trouble between Indians and white men in this section. When the white men bought, they made out the deed holding the land forever ; and so the trouble began which cost many lives, broke up many homes, and only ended when the red man was driven from the land. Early in the history of these Indians we find records of French Jesuits, who came into the unbroken forests uninvited, to preach the Catholic religion, and strive to lead the natives to live a better life. They came from France to Canada, and not being as well received as thcj' thought their ser\-ices deserved, came to the forests now embracing this countj-. They took up their abode with the Kennebecs about 1613. At this time there was an Indian population in Maine of about 37,000, including 11,000 warriors. Of these probably about 1,500 war- riors, or an entire number of 5,000, lived on the Kenne- bec, and were known as Kennebecs, or Canibas. Some of these Jesuits were a great help to the ignorant savages, both physically and morally, while others tended to de- grade them even lower than before thej- were taught at all. The Jesuits, in their labors at Norridgewock, suc- ceeded in erecting a chapel of fir-trees in 1646, — it being the first church ever built on the Kennebec River. known house of worship in the Sagadahoc region, was bnilt probably about 1660, at the northern point of the isLind. In the southern part was erected, in 1761, the meeting-house of the First Parish of Georgetown. In this chapel great numbers -were converted to the Catholic religion. It was destroyed by a party of Eng- lish hunters in 1G74, but was rebuilt in 1G87 by English workmen sent for the express purpose from Boston, according to treaty stipulations. In many instances the Jesuits caused the Indians to be hostile to the English, but friendly to the French. The last and most dis- ' tinguished of the Jesuits in America was Sebastian [ Kasle, who came from France, where he was educated, in ! 1G89. He learned several Indian languages, and, doubt- less, taught the Indians many things, and inculcated habits of industry to which they were strangers before. He came to Norridgewock in 1G89, and at once began his labors. His success was simply astonishing. The governor-general of New England, hearing of his suc- cess, and not being friendly to the Catholic religion, sent several missionaries to this tribe, hoping to divert their ! minds from the French teacher. It was of no avail however ; Raslc had obtained such a hold upon the ] superstitious red men bj^ his forms and ceremonies, that j a no less formal service could effectually engage their ' attention. The missionaries were finally driven away. j It was a great victory for Rasle. j During Queen Anne's war the Norridgewogs were ver}- troublesome to the English. About 1710, in one day the}' killed over 200, and took 500 prisoners. They returned to tlieir encampment after the slaughter, with 10 canoes filled «ith valuable plunder. Two hundred and fifty warriors did the work, under the command of Rasle, it is charged. If he did not order it, there is no record I that he used his influence to prevent such things so long ■ as the English were the victims. So great was the feel- ing against him at this time, that a reward of £1,000 was offered for his head. This did not frighten the Indians nor their spiritual teacher, for the outrages continued until the government became alarmed, and the capture and punishment of Rasle was determined upon. In December, 1721, Col. Westbrook was ordered to Nor- j ridgewock to secure him. War was formally declared against the Indians in August, 1722. An unsuccess- ful attempt to capture the Norridgewogs was made in 1 1720 by Capt. Harmon, with 120 men. What was then called Norridgewock is now known as Old Point. It is situated three miles above Norridgewocic village, near the confluence of the Sand}' River with the Ken- nebec, and is one of the most beautiful spots in New England. The rude huts of the Indians — that of Father Raslc undistinguished from the rest — were placed in two par- allel rows, running north and south ; a common road skirting the bank of the river, while, between the rows of cabins, was a fine street 200 feet wide. At the north- ern extremity of the street stood the church. Whittier has graphicallj' described this sylvan village in all its loveliness in his poem of " Mogg Megone." At the lower end of the village was a chapel erected and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, while at the upper end there was still another chapel, erected and used for the worship of secular days. In 1721 the government of Massachusetts sent a de- tachment of troops, with instructions to capture Rasle if it were possible. The troops were only able to secure the priest's papers, he having fled. The documents secured, however, revealed the plans of the Jesuits. These remarkable documents are now in the librarj' of Harvard University. This attack on Rasle greatly enraged his devoted followers, and several startling atrocities followed, which induced the government to capture the source of all the trouble at any hazard. On the 19th of August, 1724, a detachment of four companies, consisting of 208 men, in 17 whale-boats, left Fort Richmond, guided by three Mohawk Indians. On arriving at what is now Winslow, the}' left the boats under a guard, and proceeded along the river through the woods to the \'illage. Capt. Harmon crossed the river at the Great Eddy in Skowhegan with 60 men, for the pur- pose of cutting off the retreat of those who might be at worlc in the corn-fields on the Sandy River, while, after lea^ang 10 men with the luggage, Capt. Moulton proceeded with the remaining 98 men for the doomed village. They reached the highlands overlooking the village August 24. The Indians, GO in number, were in their huts, and the troops approached unobserved. An old Indian, acci- dently stepping to the door, discovered the troops and gave the war-whoop, which brought out the warriors. The engagement was short and decisive. There were 80 warriors slain and 14 wounded. The rest escaped. Rasle was discovered, and not only shot through and through, but he was scalped and his body mutilated in a horrible manner, showing that not all savages have dusky faces. Little children and women were cruelly shot down while escaping for their lives across the river. The church was robbed of its sacred vestments, and then set on fire. The bell on the church was afterwards hid- den by the Indians who returned to view the scene of their former peaceful village. Some years ago it was brought from its hiding-place, and is now to be seen in the cabinet of Bowdoin College. It weighed 64 pounds. After the capture, or outrage, as it might have been more properly termed, the English forces returned to Rich- mond without the loss of a man. The Norridgewogs who escaped from the slaughter, returned to find their HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. village ill ashes. They were thoroughl}- disheartened, and left to take up their abode in the north, thus giving way to the march of civilization. In 1833 Dishop Fen wick of Boston purcliased an acre of land around the grave of Rasle at Old Point, and caused an appropiiato monument to be erected to his memory. The dedication of this monument proved to be a very imposing affair for the Catholics. The monu- ment now stands on the spot where Raslo is supposed to have fallen, facing death manfuUj'. It is a plain granite l>yramidal shaft or obelisk, 1 1 feet high, and 3 feet square at the base. This monument is now all that remains to mark the existence of this once strong and powerful tribe. After the death of Raslc, in 1724, there was a pros- pect that this vast waste of wilderness would at last be opened to en i\- ization. As early as 1G07, according to Sul- livan's history, an at- tempt was made by tlio English to settle on tlic Kennebec River. Ihe colonists remained about a jear, when, beoomnig discouraged, they rehn- quished their holdings, and departed in quest of some more genial clime In 1771 the first dcUi- mined effort was made to settle what is now Somerset County. The Kennebec Company had granted a strip of land to Thomas Temple, consisting of several thousand acres, reaching through a part of the towns of Fairfield, Canaan, Norridgewoek and Starks. This strip struck the Kennebec River on the north side, and was a mile in width. It was bought by John Nelson, and, at his death, sold to J. Palmer, of New Hampshire, Out of this lot, 1,780| acres were reserved to give away to actual settlers, to advance the price of the land about it. In accordance with this plan, Peter Hc3'wood secured 600 acres on the river, two or three miles below Skowhegan Falls. Joseph Weston pro- cured a lot in that vicinity in Julj^ 1771- They came from Concord, Mass., and their descendants are still living here. These two sturdy j-eomen were the first settlers north of Winslow, excepting a few at Sebasti- cook. These men carried with them 20 head of stock, and, on their arrival iu the spring of 1772, erected a MOM MIlNF ' camp 20 feet square. They went to work with a will, and were soon able to cut hay on the islands in the river, which were included in their purchase. What land they cleared on the Bloomfield side of the river, was devoted to corn and potatoes. With Peter Ile^wood and Joseph AYeston were John Ileywood, son of the former ; Isaac Smith, aged 16 years, and Eli Weston, son of Joseph Weston, aged 11 3'ears. Peter Ileywood, Jr., joined the settlers the nest j-ear. Mr. Ileywood, Sr., died in 1803, aged 77 years. Joseph Weston died in 1775, aged 43, having contracted a severe cold while accompany- ing Arnold's expedition up the Kennebec. Peter Iley- wood, Jr., and Isaac Smith, then but mere bo3-s, were the first white persons to pass a winter above Water- m11( The next settler « IS .lohn Hale, from S( li isticook, who settled on the fann known now as the residence of the late Dca. Thomas Pratt. Hale did not stay very long, and the boys Hey- nood and Smith, aged ^o 10 and 11 j-ears, were ^ left to winter alone in ^^'A*^fe»%l then small cabin. They li id good trusty firo- j iiins however, and they (hd not want for what is nou a gi-eat rarity, — lusli game. In the fall of 1772, John Oakcs, AMth several sons, came to settle ; and Messrs. Ileywood and Weston gave them what is now known as Oakes Island, and thej- located on a farm opposite it. Mr. Oakes went into the French war soon afterwards. He helped make the coffin for Gen. Wolfe. He afterwards returned to Canaan, where he died iu 1788. His son William, born soon after his removal to Canaan, is believed liy many to be the first white child born in the town, or in what is now Somerset County.* Now that a settlement was once firmly established, other settlers took courage and moved into the clearing. Jeremiah Pease, Scth Wyman, Dea. John White and Joel Crosby came in 1773. The latter came to assist AVeston, Heywood and Oakes in erecting a mill at Skow- hegan Falls, — the first mill erected on this part of the river, if not the first north of Gardiner. Mr. Crosby • The cjaim is disputed, however, many claimlnpc that Abraham Smith, son of Isaac, who came to Canaan in 1773, was the older. siE, ^()RI!II)(.^^^ocIl. afterwards moved to Starks, where lie was a successful ruill-wright up to the time of his death. In 1774 Jonas Parlin came and settled in Skowhegan village. Daniel Steward settled in Bloomfield in 1775. The following year came Solomon, Phineas and Dea. William, uncles of Daniel Steward. Joseph Weston was the only Revo- lutionary soldier from this part of the Kennebec River. Canaan was survej-ed in 1779, and was called for the first settlers, Ileywoodstown ; but, for some reason, was soon changed to the plantation of Wesserunsett, the name of the river running through it. Afterwards the present name of Canaan was selected, as best typifj-ing the charming appearance of the place to its residents after their struggles and discouragements. What was then known as Canaan has since been divided into the three towns of Canaan, Skowhegan and Bloomfield. In 1769, emigration not progressing as fast as it was desirable, the Plymouth Company offered to give awaj- land in the region of the Kennebec River, beginning at Skowhegan Falls, and running up to Old Point on the north side, to all persons who would immediatelj' settle on the same. It was decided that the lots in what is now Nor- ridgewock should begin on the river and i-un back one mile and a third, and be 75 rods wide. Subsequently thej' offered another tier of lots on the south side of the river, reaching from Sandy River to i Canaan, — the new gift containing a good mill-privilege, which was highlj' prized in those days. This very liberal offer brought William Warren here from Pepperell in 1773. James McDaniels, William Fletcher and a Mr. Lamson came about the same time, and settled in what is now Norridgewoek village. The passage of Arnold's anny up the Kennebec in Sep- tember, 1775, was a great event in those days of dreariness. The armj' halted at Skowhegan and at Norridgewock. At the former place they marked a road around the falls bj- spotting the trees, — the location of the flourishing tillage of Skowhegan of to-daj'. At Norridgewock thej^ left the last trace of the white men ; for, at that time, no track of a settler could be found farther from the sea than Xorridgowock village.* Somerset County was organized March 1, 1809, and Norridgewock was selected as the shire town. For a number of years the courts were held in an old wooden building. In 1810 the present jail was built, and, ten • Forty-eight miles above Sliowhegan the army encamped for several weeks, and the national ensij^i was there planted ; and ever since that time the place is known as FlagstaflT. A gentleman of some note resides here, bearing the honored cognomen of Miles Standisli, a descendant of Capt. Miles Standish of Plymouth memory. Among his ancestors he also includes the excellent Gov. Bradford. Mr. Standish is said to be the first male descendant of the Bradford family born out- years later, a court-house was erected. This continued in use as built until 1847, when extensive repairs were made. In 1871 the legislature changed "the shire to Skowhegan, on condition that that town should furnish suitable accommodation for the offices of the county. The offices were furnished, and the shire was removed, thus causing a feud between the two towns that only 3ears can heal. In 1873 ex-Gov. Abner Coburn erected, at his own expense, a court-house costing upwards of $54,000, and presented it to the county. The old jail in Norridgewock is still in use, but that must soon give place to a better structure in the shire town. From the old towns of Canaan and Norridgewock the settlements spread in every direction, following the rivers the more closelj', however. Starks was probably the next settled, and then came Anson, Fairfield, Cornville, Athens, Bingham, Mercer, New Portland, Salem, Har- mony, Ilartland, Palmyra, Madison and others in quick succession. In every instance the best land was taken first. The settlers were remarkably fortunate in this respect, or thej' would not have prospered so well. What is now Somerset County was formerly the upper part of Keniiebec County. When it was incorporated, in 1809, it took about four-fifths of the territory from the mother county. Since that time, the territory has been curtailed to help make up Franklin, Piscataquis and Aroostook counties. Divided as it has been, it is still of good size, and has a steady and substantial pop- ulation. Notwithstanding it has miles upon miles of fine farms, there are still large tracts of woodland j-et to know the axe of the settler. Somerset has 28 incor- porated towns, and has some 20 or 30 plantations. The county is bounded on the north bj' the Canadian line, on the east by Penobscot and Piscataquis counties, on the south b}- Kennebec County, and on the west b}- Frank- lin County. In the north-east corner of the county lies a portion of Mooschead Lake, a body of water 35 by 12 miles, with an area of 120 square miles. The lake is 1 ,023 feet above the level of the sea. This lake is the source of the Kennebec, which runs the entire length of the countj', furnishing unsurpassed water-power. The whole county lies in the valley of the Kennebec, making the soil of great value. The principal tribu- taries of the Kennebec in this county are the Sandy River at Starks, Corobossett at Anson, Dead at Bow- side the limits of Plymouth County. His mother, horn in Gorham Me., in 1804, is still living, an excellently preserved and intelligent old lady. Mr. Standish himself, so rich in ancestral memories and virtues, is also rich in temporal things. Of a very commanding presence, moving to Flagstaff in 1841, for 33 years he has been successfully engaged in the lumber-trade. There is probably hardly a man in Somerset County who, in the same length of time, has carried on a more extended business. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. town, Moose at Moosehead Lake, and the Wesserimsett at Skowhegan. The prevailing rock is mica-schist, run- ning into claj' slate in and broken 113- gran- ite veins. In nearlj every portion of the countj- granite of suf- ficient quantitj for or- dinarj- building pur- poses can be found The lower part of thi county is onl}' brok( n by small hill-, , but about the forks of the river the hills rise to the dignitjr of small mountains. In the yi- ciuity of the like the mountains and hills disappear, lea^ uig i flat, open coun tn • It will thus be seen th it the land is S])(tiill3 adapted to agncultu- ing at the falls to catch salmon and other fish in abun- dance. The town formerlj- had an area of 19,071 acres, elsewhere into gneiss, but in 18G1 Bloomficld, just across the river, was an- nexed, so that it now has an area of 30,981 acres. Of this, some 75 or 100 acres are covered by ponds of water. The popula- tion is over 4,000. The water-power fur- nished by the Ken- nebec River is very valuable. The total fall is 28 feet in half a mile, a large por- tion of which is per- [icndicular. An isl- and at the head of the fall divides the river into two chan- nels. The bed of the river on both sides is of solid rock. The i^??<^V-«f _ s 1 \N'NLL D \M, SKOW 1 lal pursuits, while the water-power of the Kennebec and I power is estimated at 5,852 horse-power, or 234,000 its manj- tributaries, great and small, affords unsurpassed spindles. There are two saw-mills, a carding-miU, two facilities for manufacturing purposos. Two rnilrondf! run ' pii«t-mill=;, two or '•'hrop mnohine-sliops, paper, pulp and into the count}-, fur- nishing excellent fa- cilities for transpor tation on favoraljU terms. The principa towns are as follows : Skowhegan (situ- ated at the t( nnuui of the branch of tht Maine Central Rul road from AVater\ lUe) is the shire tow n, and the largest and mist wealthy in the ( ount \ The territory was a part of Canaan, the first town settled in the county. In 1S23 it was incorporated under the name of Millburn. In 18 ( it took its present i.amo, the falls by the Indians, watch," referring to the planing mills, an oil- cloth factory, and a number of smaller establishments. The town is the natural centre of trade for all the upper part of this county, and for por- lous of Franklin and Piscataquis counties. Its churches are in a flourishing condition ; in 1 its schools are >uccessfuUj- managed. J li } town, as well as th( county and State, 1 largely indebted to ex Gov. Abner Co- buin for its present prosperous condition. .isuN 11 IDOL iuib AN UN VND MADISON, ME jir. Cobum's father, iL.^L was g.\^.. t„ tl.„ l„v-..Lt, ct , LLv. Zv.r C„l , n.„.cd f.o..i M-.ssachusetts in 1792, The name signifies a " place to at the age of 15 years, being one of the early settlers on habits of the savages of gather- | the upper Kennebec Valley. The father was a farmer and survej-or. Abner was born in 1803 in Canaan, and after arriving of age, he, mth a younger brother. Philander, assisted his father in survej-ing and exploring the million acres included in the " Brigham purchase," so called. The three afterwards formed a copartnership under the name of E. Coburn & Sons. At the death of the father, in 1845, the sons continued the business. The junior partner died in 187G. The companj-, of which the governor is almost the sole member, now owns about 450,000 acres in Maine, and several thousand acres in the Western States. In fact, Mr. Coburu is said to be the largest landholder in the United States, and the wealthiest man in Maine. He was governor of the State in 1863. His charities have been very large of late years. The largest have been the gift of lu elo_ mt court-house to his na- J tive county, and $75,- '■ 000 to Colby University. NOKEIDGEWOCK (for- "^ • merly the shire town) is five miles from Skow- hegan on the Kennebec River and the Somerset Railroad. The name was derived from the fa- mous Indian chief Nor- ridgewog, which signi- fies "smooth water." The river, as it passes through this village, is remarkabh' smooth, — but three miles above there is an unimportant water-fall of eight feet, at what is known as Bambazee Rips. In the village, on the south side of the river, there is a small power furnished by the Sawtelle stream, which runs into the Kennebec here. The town was settled as early as 1773. It was incorporated in 1788. While agriculture is the principal business of the place, the village contains manufactories of lumber, furniture, harnesses, boots and shoes, granite, &c. The popular Eaton Family School is located here. The streets of the village are lined with beautiful trees, set out many j-ears ago. Old Point, the home of the Indians 200 3ears ago, was formerly in this town, but has passed into the limits of Madison. The population is nearly 2,000. Canaan was the first town settled in Somerset Countj-. Skowhcgan was set otf from it in 1822, and later. Bloom- field. The town was settled in 1770, and incorporated in 1788. The population is about 1,500. The principal 1 business is farming, although there is considerable lum- s VI ber manufactured. One of the sons of Joseph Weston, one of the very first settlers — Samuel — was a verj' prom- inent man in the town, ClUng a large number of local offices. His descendants are now living here in large numbers. Starks was first settled b^' James Waugh, who came from Massachusetts in 1772. Ho started up the Kenne- bec river, with his gun and dog, and said he was deter- mined to travel until he found a farm to suit him, if ho went to Canada. He settled at the mouth of the Sandy River, on the site of what is now one of the very best farms in the State. This farm is opposite Old Point, and its productiveness is truly wonderful. Capt. Fletcher and his two sons, also from Massachusetts, were the IK xt to arrive to keep him eompany. In 1734, Waugh and the two younger _ I letchers were married, a and brought theu' wives £^ — into the little settle- ment to help them share the hardships of the al- most imbroken forest. Air. Waugh was tho ihief man of tho place lor many 3'ears, in fact, during his lifetime, and he left a largo familj-, fiom which descended ne irh' all who bear the name in this vicinitj- to daj-. In February, 1795, the town was in- corporated, taking its name from Gen. John Stark, the Bennington hero. Tho population is about 1,100. Principal among the remaining towns are : — Anson (in- corporated in 1798 ; population, 1,74G), having an acad- emy and a newspaper — the "Advocate" — and devoted successfully both to agricultural and manufacturing pur- suits — stock raising being somewhat of a specialty hero, wool also, and formerly wheat: Madison (1804, 1,408), named for President Madison, and containing 30,000 acres of land, its principal business being farming: PiTTSFiELD (populaiion nearly 2,000), formerly called Plymouth, but in 1824 named Pittsfield in honor of William Pitts, Esq., then a large property-holder in town ; a small manufacturing town, and the seat of the Maine Central Institute, a preparatory school of Bates College: New Portland (1808, 1,454), settled in 1783, and originally given to tho sufferers of Falmouth, now Portland, by the General Court of Massachusetts, to in- demuily thorn in part for losses sustained by the destruc- r f 13 M^^-,' ^^J ^v 111 I-IILID HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. tion of the town by the British fleet in 1783, "its oldest inhabitant" bavins; been Andrew Elliott, one of the earlier the manufacture of lumber : Salem (incorporated in 1808, 1,170), settled in 1782, one of the most beautiful settlers, a verj' public-spirited man, and who lived to the villages of the Kennebec valle}-, and the centre of trade advanced age of 103 years: Fairfield (1788, 2,999), for several towns: and Athens (1804, 1,540), settled so called because of the flne appearance of the country, about 1782, a flourishing agricultural town, and favored having five -vdllages, and doing a flourishing business in I with a thriving village. WALDO COUNTY BY ALBERT C. WIGGIN. A GLANCE at a map of the State of Maine, shows that Waldo County is situated upon the waters of Penobscot Bay and River, which bound it upon the east and south- cast. Knox County forms the southern border, Kenne- bec County the western, Somerset the north-western, and Penobscot County the northern. Waldo County is some- what near a square in form, although its outhne is irreg- ular. Its largest side, and nine of the towns, are upon the bay and river ; this extent of shore line gives excel- lent maritime facilities. An open winter harbor anj-- where on the coast, and many spacious havens wilh good depth of water, afford the best of advantages for ship- building, commerce and the fisheries. The agricultural resources of the county are good, and farming is carried on in oveiT town with more or less success. Waldo County formed part of York County's territory until 17G0, when Lincoln County was established, which included it till 1789, when Hancock County was erected ; this next held it until 1827, when on Februarj' 7th, it was incorporated as the county of Waldo, and was named for Gen. Samuel Waldo. The erection of Knox County in 1860, took off from Waldo County the towns of Appleton, Camden, Hope, North Haven, and Vinal- haven. In its present form, Waldo County embraces 25 towns and one city. The population in 1870 was 34,640. There are no mountains in the county, strictly' speaking, but there arc several high hills which have been given the title. The surface is broken and uneven. In Pros- pect, Stockton and Frankfort, the view of the Penobscot River and valley from the high, rounded hills, almost equals the sceneiy of the Hudson. At Belfast, the har- bor has often been called as beautiful as the Bay of Naples. A history of Waldo County properly begins with an account of the Muscongus, or Waldo Patent. This grant, issued by the Plymouth Council in 1630, to John Beau- champ of London, and Thomas Leverett of Boston, Eng., extended on the seaboard between the Muscongus and Penoliscot rivers, and comprised nearlj- 1,000 square miles, taking in the whole of the present county of Knox, except the Fox Islands, and of Waldo Countj^ with the exception of territor}' now covered by five towns. No price was paid for this tract ; it was thought that the settlement of this section would enhance the value of others. Success in the fisheries at Mouhegan, and in other localities along the coast of Maine, hastened an occupation of the Muscongus grant ; and in the spring of 1630, Edward Ashley and William Pierce, agents of the patentees, came with laborers and mechanics, and established a trading-house on the George's River, in what is now Thomaston. This settlement was broken iip by King Philip's war, which terminated in 1678. After this the whole territorj- lay desolate for nearly 40 years. On the death of Beau- champ, Leverett became bj- law possessed of the whole grant, and for several years he assumed its management. Through him the patent descended to his son. Gov. John Leverett of Massachusetts, and in 1714, to President John Leverett of Harvard College, the grandson of the latter, and the great-grandson of the original grantee. In 1719, peace was apparently restored, and Leverett entered upon measures for resettling and reorganizing the patent. He parcelled the land into ten shares in common, and conveyed them to certain persons thence- forth called the "Ten Proprietors." These owners admitted 20 other partners, termed the "Twenty Asso- ciates," among whom were Cornelius and Jonathan Waldo of Boston. The Twenty Associates afterwards transferred to the Waldos, 100,000 acres. Under their auspices, in 1719-20, two plantations, which subsequent- ly became the thriving towns of Thomaston and Warren, were commenced. This may be regarded as the first permanent settlement of the patent. In 1726, one David Dunbar, -who had obtained an appointment styhng him " Survej'or-General of the King's Woods," became very aggressive. He claimed a reservation of all pine-trees in Maine, in diameter over two feet, as masts for the British navy. He drove the lumberers, by force, from their homes, seized their timber, and burned their saw- mills. Samuel Waldo was sent to England to procure a revocation of Dunbar's authority, and in the end suc- ceeded. For this, and other valuable ser^^ces, the 30 partners conveyed to him one-half ot the whole patent. In 1 744 he distinguished himself at the capture of Louis- burg, and gained the title of General or Brigadier Waldo. After the accession of Gen. Waldo to so large an inter- est in the patent, added to what he had inherited of his father's share, about 200,000 acres still belonged to the old proprietors. In 1734 Gen. Waldo contracted with the Twenty Associates to purchase one-half of their shares, leaving them 100,000 acres ; this arrangement ■was not completed until 1768. Gen. Waldo offered favorable inducements for Eui'opean immigration, and in 1749 German colonists established the town of Waldo- borough. Owing to his influence Fort Pownall, Stock- ton, -was built at a time when no white inhabitant retained a dwelling-place upon the shores of Penobscot River or Belfast Bay. While upon a tour of observation to this portion of his estate, he died suddenly near Bangor, May 23, 1759, at the age of 63 years. A county, two thriving towns, and the lofty elevation of Mount Waldo, perpetuate his name. The land descended to the general's four children, Samuel, Francis, Lucy and Hannah. The last named became the wife of Thomas Flucker, secretary of the Province. Flucker afterwards purchased the shares be- longing to Samuel. Lucy died without children, and her interest fell to the brothers and sisters. Flucker and Francis Waldo were Tories. Thej' removed to England, and their property became forfeited to the State. In 1774, Henry Knox, afterwards a general in the Revo- lution, married Miss Lucy Flucker, the second daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Waldo) Flucker, and the grand- daughter of Gen. Waldo. When the Revolution had ended, Gen. Knox purchased four-fifths of the whole patent ; the remainder was the property of his wife. The territory was surveyed, the lines adjusted, and in 1792 Gen. Knox took formal possession of his estate, which then contained only nine incorporated towns. He did much to induce immigration. Sometime before his death — which occurred in 1806 — he became involved in pecuniary embarrassments. In 1798 he mortgaged that part of his domain now comprised in Waldo County to Gen. Lincoln and Col. Jackson, who had been his sure- ties. This mortgage was in 1802 assigned to Messrs. Israel Thorndike, David Sears, and William Prescott, of Boston ; and they foreclosed it. They established a land agency in Belfast in 1809. Many of the land titles in Waldo Count}^ are derived through these proprietors. It is not known what price was paid for the mortgage by Thorndike, Sears and Prescott. The valuation of their unsold land in the county was, in 1815, $148,000. The lands owned by the original mortgagees are now aUenated excepting Brigadier's of Sears Island in Sears- port, which is the property of David and Henry F. Sears, of Boston, great-grandsons of the first mortgagee. It was not until the j-ear 1 759 that a permanent settle- ment was planted in Waldo County. The British crown had secured and fortified St. John's River, and the en- emy had no other outlet to the sea than through the Penobscot River. Gov. Pownall of Massachusetts hav- ing called the attention of the legislature to the im- portance of establishing a fortification at Penobscot, an expedition, headed by the governor, proceeded to the region, and began the construction of a fort at Wasaum- keag Point, now Fort Point, within the present limits of Stockton. [See p. 479.] It was while accompanying a detachment which had ascended the river a few miles above where Brewer now stands, and had taken formal possession of the country for the Province of Massachu- setts Ba}-, that Gen. Samuel Waldo dropped down in a fit of apoplex}-, and soon after expired. The deceased general was buried at the " Point," with military honors and religious services, on the evening of May 25, 1759. A sermon, the first in Waldo County, was preached by Rev. Mr. Phillips. The fort, completed July 28, 1759, was called Fort Pownall. Until the Re- volutionary war a garrison was constantly maintained. Gen. Jedediah Preble, with a force of 84 men, was first placed in command. Both in civil and military life he so distinguished himself as to inscribe his name upon the page of history. He was the father of Commodore Preble, a still more distinguished man. He died at Portland in 1807, at the age of 77. In 1763, Gen. Preble resigned the command of the fort, and was suc- ceeded by Col. Thomas Goldthwaite, a native of Chelsea, Mass. He was paymaster in the expedition against Crown Point in 1755. While resident at Fort Pownall, he was commissioned as the first justice of the peace in this section. He solemnized the first marriages on the river. In 1770 he was superseded by John Preble, son of the first commander of the fort. But Gov. Hutchin- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. son, a zealous roj-alist, coming into power the following j-ear, reinstated Goklthwaite into his former office. Be- ing a Torj-, Goldthwaitc permitted Capt. Mowatt, of the British sloop " Canseau " to dismantle the fort and take away its defences in 1775. This brought down upon him the wrath of the settlers. The next year all his commissions were revoked, and Goldthwaitc joined the British forces. He was drowned during the Revolution- arj- war bj- the shipwreck of the vessel in which he had taken passage for Nova Scotia. In July, 1775, the block-house and all the wooden works were burned to the ground for fear that they would be occupied by the enemy to the prejudice of the neighboring inhabitants. The trading-house was kept up until 1777. The remains of the breastwork of Fort Pownall are 3'et to be seen, about 25 rods from the water's edge, in front of the present great summer hotel, called the Wasaumkeag House. Fort Point is the outer promon- tory of what is now the town of Stockton, but was the town of Prospect formerly. It rises quite abruptly on the south and east, some CO or 70 feet from the sea, but on the westerly side a passage opens of easy ascent from the water's edge to the heights above. Looking down the eastern channel of the Penobscot Bay a long and fine sea-view is had, while all the towns and villages from Bucksport round nearly to Owl's Head, are distinctly seen. On the old parade-ground a growth of trees — some 18 inches in diameter — now stands. One of the first centennial celebrations * ever held in this country was held at Fort Point, on the 28th of July, 1859. The number of persons present was estimated to be at least 8,000. When it was found that the garrison at Fort Pownall afforded protection and securit}', the tide of emigration soon began to set in the direction of Waldo County. Between 1760 and 1772 all the towns washed bj- Penobscot waters, between Camden and Bangor on the one side, and Castine and Brewer on the other, were penetrated by hardy yeomanry, designing here to make a home for themselves and their descendants. All the towns within the shore limits of the count}-, except Sears- port, Stockton and Winterport, received acts of incorpo- ration between 1773 and 1812. Little did the men who erected Fort Pownall, or the men who, under its protec- tion, first settled the shores of the Penobscot, apprehend what marvellous changes the succeeding century would witness. • The Rev, Joshua Hall of Frankfort, 91 years of age, was president of the day. Among the aged people in attendance was a Mrs. Bassick, aged 97 years, who was born near the fort soon after its erection, and who had lived to sec its last perishable vestige pass away, and the gene- ration with it. Towns. The city of Belfast is the shire town of Waldo Count}', and the terminus of the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad. It is situated at the mouth of the Pas- sagassawakeag River, in the north-west angle of Penob- scot Bay, about 20 miles from its entrance, and about 10 miles westerly from the mouth of the Penobscot River. Belfast Harbor is the north-western arm of Pe- nobscot Ba}'. The situation of the city is elevated. Along the shore of the bay and river the land rises graduallj', exhibiting an undulating surface, intercepted bv an occasional riv- ulet. The summit of Congress Street is 1 78 feet above tide-water. From this point is a prospect of great ex- tent and beauty. Passing over the populous part of the city, which occupies the declivity of the hill, the eye commands a A'iew of Penobscot Bay, having a width of 12 miles, with the lofty peaks of Mount Desert rising in the far distance. Next to Prospect, as originallj' formed, Belfast, then called Passagassawakeag Plantation, was the first tract surveyed b}' the Waldo proprietors for actual purchasers. This was in 1768. The first settlers were of Scotch- Irish extraction, who emigrated to America, and built up a town in New Hampshire, which they called Lon- donderry. Among the first settlers of Londonderry' was one John Mitchell. His son in after j'ears acquired a high reputa- tion as a practical surveyor. In 1765, while on the pas- sage from Passamaquoddy, where he had been making surveys under the direction of Gov. Barnard, he visited Penobscot Bay. Impressed with the natural advantages of the harbor, and learning at Fort Pownall that the land upon which it bordered was for sale, he communi- cated the information to his neighbors. The result was the establishment of a " communitj'," or " proprietary," as it was called, for the purchase of the township. Mitchell was the largest owner, and is generall}- regarded as the founder of the town. In Maj', 1770, the first immigration of the new settlers took place. A party of 30 or more removed their goods from Londonderr}' to Haverhill. Here a gondola floated them down to Newburyport, where they embarked. On reaching Belfast, some of the pilgrims were so discour- aged at the gloomj' prospect that they did not even step a foot on shore, but returned iu the vessel. Others, however, were not so easilj' cast down. With hopeful hearts, James Miller and wife, two sons and a daughter, first landed, at the foot of the Frothingham lot. For manj- years, the descendants of Miller used annually to repair to the rock where the first landing took place, and I dulj' celebrate the event. The settlement thus begun grew slowly, and June 22, 1773, Belfast was incorporated a town, although but 25 families had arrived. The name was given by Miller to perpetuate that of his birth-place in Ireland. In their religious beliefs, the first settlers were rigid Presbj-terians. Two meeting-houses were erected in the summer of 1792 — one on either side of the river. Rev. Ebenezer Price, the first minister, was settled four years after. After the occupation of Castine by the British, the settlers deserted the town and did not return until 1783. Town government was resumed in 1786. In the war of 1812, Belfast was invested by the British, but no harm was done to any person, and all goods taken were paid for. The first post-oflSce was opened in 1797 ; and Belfast was made a port of entrj' in 1818. The " Hancock Gazette," begun in 1820, was the first news- paper. The present newspapers published in Belfast are "The Progressive Age," and "The Republican Journal." There are no other papers published in Waldo County. Belfast was made the shire town of the county in 1828. A city charter was adopted in 1853. The first mayor was Hon. Ralph C. Johnson. Belfast has twice been visited by extensive conflagra- tions. The first was Oct. 12, 1865, when the loss was $2dO,000. The second, and the more disastrous, oc- curred during the afternoon and evening of Sunday, Aug. 24, 1873. The whole loss by this fire was $350,000. At present, Belfast is a handsome city, well laid out, compact in the business portion, while the streets de- voted to residences are wide and well shaded. In the past, ship-building has been the principal business of the place, and to-day the citizens have large amounts in- vested in navigation. A large shoe-factorj' gives steady emploj-ment to a considerable number of men, and a sash and blind factory is also a flourishing institution. There are also many minor manufactories. The city contains two banks, a custom-house, and six churches. There is no instance of the trial of any person for a • There is extant an ancient acconnt-book, which was liopt at the fort from 1773 to 1775. It is in that fine record-hand our ancestors were accustonicd to write, and is in every way a rare cariosity. From the prices charged, the currency then used must have been some kind of depreciated money. Like almost every book of its kind and date, nearly every other charge reads, " for rum." One gallon of this great article of trade was considered a fair equivalent for about half a dozen moose. On some pages of the account-book, one-third of the charges are for rum, and on some others, nearly one-half. Against the most respectable names of that day are frequent charges of J pint rum, '2s. 3d., and perhaps at the same time, i pound tea, 15s., or two ounces, 7s. 6d. Using ardent spirits freely at such a price will partly account for the poverty of those early days. Yet so strong was the conviction of their necessity, or so imperious the demand of appetite, that men would go in debt for N. E. rum at 2s. 3d. a half-pint. capital oflence alleged to have been committed in Belfast. But four trials for murder have ever taken place in the county. The present population of Belfast is about 6,000 ; valuation of estates, $2,660,879. Prospect was the first town settled in Waldo County. The 3-ear 1759, in which Fort Pownall was erected, doubtless dates the beginning of its historj-. The early settlers named their plantation Frankfort. When Frank- fort was incorporated, June 25, 1789, it embraced the present towns of Hampden, Winterport, Prospect, and parts of Stockton, Searsport and Belfast. Feb. 24, 1794, Frankfort was divided into three towns, and Prospect was incorporated on that date. The latter, being the longest settled, retained the old records but not the name. This town was set off from Hancock County, and annexed to Waldo County in 1827. Later, Prospect was itself divided, Searsport being taken off in 1845, and Stockton in 1857. Fort Point is now in the town of Stockton, but for the sake of clearness we shall tell the story of the first settlement of this region under the head of Prospect. The first inhabitants of what was originall3- Frankfort, then Prospect, and now Stockton, settled near Fort Pownall. Several had been soldiers in the French and Indian wars, and some had helped to construct the fort.* The season of the Revolution was a time of privation and peril, as well as poverty to the earl}- inhabitants. Fort Pownall, having been dismantled, afforded no pro- tection to them. Castine was in the possession of the British in 1779. f The people were required to take the oath of allegiance to the king of England. But this did not save them from various annoyances. While the British had possession of Castine, they frequently sent their boats across the bay for plunder. Subsequentlj', the Americans kept a small force at Camden for the pro- tection of the inhabitants of that vicinit}'. One of the earliest settlers of the region contiguous to Fort Pownall, was Joshua Treat, | the ancestor of the great and respectable family of Treats now inhabiting t Great was the terror following the defeat at Castine. Part of the vessels of the American fleet fled up the river, and were pursued in the night by British vessels, which kept up a firing upon the shore as they proceeded. The inhabitants fled to the recesses of the forests for safety. Parents took their children to some deep glen, out of the reach of the enemy's shot. There, wrapping their little ones in blankets, and laying them upon rude beds of boughs, they watched them with sleepless an.xicty. X He is spoken of by Gov. Pownall as Lieut. Joshua Treat, and was employed by him at Fort St. Georges, when on his voyage to the Penob- scot, as interpreter in an examination there had of some Indians. He evidently was an officer in that fort. When Fort Pownall was built, that at Georges River was abandoned, and Lieut. Treat being a gun- smith by trade, soon came to this place, settled near the fort, and pur- sued his trade not only at the garrison, but also with the Indians. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Knox, in honor of Gen. Knox of Revolntionarj' fame, j The river here is confined between high banks, and Fort Knox commands tlie narrows and the river in both directions.* Before the decay of American shipping \ several surrounding towns. He is believed to have been the first person of English extraction that settled upon the Penobscot River. Between the time of the settlement of Mr. Treat, 1759, and 1775, several men, from whom have descended large families, settled these j interests considerable ship-building was carried on in shores; Zetham French in 1766, Benj. Shute and Henry Prospect. About one-fourth of the land is fertile, — ! Black in 1769, Miles Staples near the same time, i the remainder is rockj' and hilly. The south branch Staples's son Crawford, bom in 1771, was the first white of Marsh River runs through the town. There arc male child born in the place. Phoebe, a daughter of | three small ponds. The two principal elevations are Charles Curtis, bom Feb. 5, 1770, was the first white child claiming nativity in the town. In 1773, Jas. Nichols settled at the shore, wheic the village of Sears- port now is. John Park and Peleg Pen dleton settled at tli Harbor shortly alt i the Revolution. John Odom, who settled it Sandy Point, about three miles above the fort, built the first mill on the Penobscot River. At the close of the Revolution, there were 23 fami- lies in the territory afterwards incorpo- rated as the town of Prospect. Deep pov- erty prevailed in the little communitj'. The first post-office in Prospect was es- tablished in 1795, and Bcnj. Shute was postmaster. At the time the town was incorporated, it was 17 miles in length from north to south. About 18 square miles of it were taken off to form Stockton, March 13, 1857, leaving but 13 square miles to Prospect. The United States govern- ment began in 1846 the erection of a stupendous fortifi- cation at Prospect Ferry. Tliis fort was named Fort * Fort Knox has no garrison ; it is in cliarge of old Serg't Walker, a veteran who was a favorite of Gen. Scott, and is therefore kept in the service. The fort is built of granite from Mt. Waldo, and it is massive and solid as the rocks on which it rests. Begun in 1846, it is not yet completed, as work on it has long since ceased and will probably never be resumed. Costing about a million dollars, it stands a monu- FOKT KMiX 1 I (isl K I ML [The view wliich wo have given aiiove, has l>t-cn carefully cupici from a photograph of this interesting fortification, recently taken ] Heagan Mountain, in the north-east, and Mack Mountain, in the west. The popu- lation numbers 886. Seaesport, former- ly a part of Prospect and Belfast, was set off and incorijoratcd Feb. 13, 1845, and numcd in honor of I )avid Sears of Bos- ton, owner of Sears's , Island. The village ' is located on the Pe- ! nobscot River, and is a landing-place for steamers. Back from the river there are some excellent farms. The inhabitants have always been largely interested in naviga- tion and ship -build- ing. The natural ad- vantages of the place are indeed remark- able. There is a fine harbor, and therefore excellent facilities for ship-building. Man}' wealth}" sea-captains reside here. A spool-factor}' does a prosperous business. There are several shipyards, and some of the best ships that float have been built here. The churches are three in number. At a large and handsome building called Union Hall, the Farmers and Mechanics' Association hold an annual fair, which has ever a great variety of exhibits. Many ment of human folly; for since the present advance in the science of war, it would not be much more eifective in time of danger than an ancient feudal castle of the Middle Ages. A walk through its winding passages and long encircling rifle-gallery is interesting to the visitor, but wearisome. The fort has reached its only usefulness — that of a good show place. of the farmers arc those enterprising and adventurous men who have made their town famous the world over for the beaut}' and stanchness of its ships, as well as for the skill with which the}- are handled. " And they are good farmers," saj-s the "Belfast Journal," " strange as it may seem that those who in their j'oung daj-s ploughed the sea, should in the leisure of middle age successfullj- plough the land. Thej^ bring into their land vocation the heartiness of the sea, and the en- thusiasm of the amateur. They have travelled. The quiet-looking man who smokes his evening pipe at the gate can, if he chooses, tell you of the dangers of the sea in far-off regions, of hurricanes and cyclones, of the sailor's perilous }ard-arm in mid-ocean gales, of the winter night's watch on the icy deck, of the captain's anxietj' for the safety of property- and life. Thej^ have doubled the eastern and western capes, sailed to far India and Australia, and brought the wealth of seas to improve and adorn their homes. One prevailing excel- lence of the Searsport man is the neatness about his grounds. It is born of that pride which delights in the smart appearance of a ship, and which holj'stones the deck to snowy whiteness, squares the yards to exactness, and disposes the running rigging in concentric coils. So the home on land is one of clipped lawns, handsome houses, well-kept fences, and a general air of thrift." The population in 1870 was 2,282. Stockton, on the west bank of the Penobscot River, was incorporated from Prospect, March 13, 1857. The town comprises much level and productive land. For- merly ship-building was extensively earned on, and much of the wealth of the town is due to that business. There are good harbors at Sandy Point, Fort Point Cove and Cape Jellison. A light-house, erected in 1837, stands on Fort Point, which has an elevation of 123 feet above the level of the sea. Population in 1870, 2,089. WiNTERPORT, formerlj' part of Frankfort, is situated on a fine harbor in the Penobscot River, which is gener- ally open in winter, hence the name of the town. The capacious wharves, large storehouses and quiet ship-yards, tell of the former activity and prosperit}'. Since 1870 there has been little, if anj-, increase of population, many mechanics having moved to the granite islands of Penobscot Bay, while some have gone West. Formerly ship-building was carried on, making this one of the most prosperous towns in Maine. The hard times of 1857, and stagnation of vessel property following, brought financial ruin to builders and owners ; but an • These haulers were dubbed " Israelites," for their early rising. Fre- quently 100 or more teams would bo on the wharf for a load, at one or two o'clock, A. M. in the winter, and the late hours of the day would occasional vessel has been built here since then. Years ago large quantities of flour, grain, and other commodi- ties were landed here and hauled 13 miles to Bangor, thus making employment for farmers' teams for miles | around.* Thirty years ago Theophilus Cushing conducted a steam mill, the usual annual product of which was 11,000,000 i feet of lumber, and 200,000 sugar-box shooks. The mill then employed 100 men, and was run day and night. "VVinterport is the pioneer town in the State in the man- ufacture of clothing. The town was incorporated March | 12, 18G0. Population in 1870, 2,744. LiNCOLNViLLE, situated on the western shore of Penob- scot Bay, was incorporated June 23, 1802, and named in honor of Gen. Lincoln of Massachusetts. The first per- manent settlement was made bj' Nathan Knight, in 1770, and on the farms now occupied by his two grandsons, | Rufus and Samson Knight. j Joseph Thomas settled in the plantation in 1773, on the farm where Capt. James Thomas now resides ; the latter is the only surviving member of a large family. Charles Thomas, brother of Joseph, came about the same time ; ho had a family of 20 children, all living at one time. Noah Miller was another earlj- comer. At one time he was so straitened for bread for his family-, j that he travelled on foot to the distant town of Waldo- borough, and paid four dollars for one peck of corn. Having got it ground, he brought it home on his back, fol- lowing a rugged path over the mountain. He arrived at home about midnight. The faithful mother of his chil- dren made some bread immediately, and awakening the little ones, gave each one a piece ; it was the first bread thej- had had for two weeks. Maj. Gen. George Ulmer, who called the first town meeting, settled at Duck Trap, shortl}- after the close of the Revolution, in which war he was an officer. lie was born in Waldoborough, Feb. 25, 1756. Gen. Ulmer engaged largely in the lumber business, and was one of the most noted and prominent men in this section. In any group or assembly of men. Gen. Ulmer was person- ally conspicuous ; tall, broad-shouldered, and somewhat corpulent, he always bore the air of a military man. His holiday dress was ever of the militarj- cut. He died at Kendall's Mills, where he had removed some years pre- \ \-ious. Major Philip Ulmer, brother to George, was born in Waldoborough, Dec. 25, 1751. He was an officer in the Revolution, and was at Bigujduce, now Castine, when it find the " early bird " of the morning back for a second load, so that ho could get an early start on the next morning. The road to Bangor was, in good sledding, covered by one continual string of teams. HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. was taken by the British. He settled here soon after the war. Mrs. Hope Gould, a daughter of Noah Miller, was the first female child born in Lincoln\ille. The first white person buried in the town was a man named Car^^er, belonging in Waldoborough. He became lost in the woods, and after wandering in the forest for a number of daj-s without food, arrived at the house of Nathan Knight in a perishing condition. He survived but a few hours. He was buried near the margin of the beautiful meadow in the vicinity of Lincolnville Comer. The first settlers of this town during the Revolutionary struggle, endured great privations and suffering, not only from the common difficulties incident to the settle- ment of a new country, but from the depredations of the " Tories," who robbed them and drove off their cattle and sold them to the British, then at Biguyduce. These set- tlers of this town would undoubtedly have perished for want of food, had it not been for the abundance of wild game at that time. There are three small villages — Duck Trap, French's Beach, and Lincolnville Centre. The two former, or rather the one continuous village which extends two miles along the shores of the baj', has an extended har- bor of good anchorage. The surface of the town is broken and hillj'. Peaked Mountain, in the north-west part, has an elevation of 800 feet. The shore villages lie upon the bay between the two eminences which form the two ends of the semi-circular chain of hills. It will at once be seen how these settlements became the depots of the larger part of Lincolnville, as well as of other towns. Formerly considerable ship-building was carried on, the facilities for procuring the timber in this and the adjacent towns then being good. It was here that the barque "Georgiana" was built, which was seized by the Spanish steamer "Pizarro," and confiscated bj' the government of Spain. Thirty j-ears ago 100,000 barrels of lime were made at Lincolnville ; now the manufacture is reduced to a small amount. Farming is at present the principal occupation, and as an agricultural town Lincolnville ranks high. There are three church edifices. Population, 1,900. Searsmont. — The first permanent settlement occurred about 1800 ; the town was incorporated and named for the first of its three proprietors, Feb. 5, 1814. The pop- ulation in 1870 was 1,418. In the latter part of the last century there was undoubtedly more pine standing in Searsmont than in any other town in the Waldo patent. This fact, and the feasibility of turning the pine to a ready account, early attracted the attention of Gen. Knox, the proprietor under Flucker. His lumbering operations in Searsmont were continued from 1798 to 1806, the last date being two years subsequent to what I may be called the first settlement. | One of the pioneers, and withal the singular characters of Searsmont, was Mr. Joseph Meservey. He was famil- j iarly called "Uncle Joe." He had lived to see a flourish- i ing village grow up where 70 j-ears before he had hunted with the red man, the moose, deer, bear and wolf.* Searsmont once had its hermit, Mr. Timothj- Barret. He had his abode at the head of " Hook's mill-pond," sleeping in a hollow log, or cave, for nearlj- 35 j-ears. Civilization advancing upon him, he retreated to the west branch of George's River, at the head of " True's mill- pond," in Montville, where, in his hermit's soUtude, he continued to live until his death. ! The growth of Searsmont has been slow, though the farming is good, and the water-privileges are perhaps unequalled by those of any town in the State. Montville, originallj' called Davistown, and incor- porated, Feb. 18, 1807, has a population of 1,468. It was settled between 1780 and 1783. The first perma- nent settler was James Davis, a Presb3'terian minister from Massachusetts. Hence the name Davistown. Wm. Clark and Archibald McAlister were also earlj- settlers. I Timothy Barret, from Concord, Mass., to whom refer- ! ence is made in Searsmont, came in 1793. I The surface of the town is broken into hills. In the j centre is Hogback Mountain, a considerable eminence. , The principal business of the town is farming ; the [ slopes of the hills furnish good pasturage, and in many 1 places fair tillage. Lumber was once extensively manu- factured, but now the forests are nearly exhausted. There are four church edifices, and three postal vil- lages, — Montville, Centre Montville and South Mont- i ville. Benj. White of Montville was a representative to Congress in 1843 ; he was a farmer. Rev. Ebenezer Knowlton, another resident, was representative to Con- [ gress in 1855. Richard S. Aj-er, who now resides in • A writer in an old newspaper printed 30 years ago, says of " Uncle I small island of which we have spoken. The beautiful place of his resting Joe Mcsen'cy," then living : " lie has always preserved his youthful is known to very few ; and this is all the world knows of him, who he predilection for the forest and the stream. Among the earlier recoUec- ] was, except by name, and why he chose the solitary life of the forest. His tions of Mr. Meservey, is that of a Mr. Braddock, who lived in a camp simple request marks him as a man who had fine sensibility, however alone, near the head of the pond. There he died, and by his o\vn re- rough might have been his person or manner. How many romances quest, made to these only companions he knew, he was buried upon the have had a less romantic foundation than these simple circumstances." Montville, was formerly representative in Congress from Virginia. Frankfort is situated on the west side of Penob- scot River, 15 miles from Belfast, on the Belfast and Bangor stage-Hue. It was incorijorated, June 25, 1789. Originally Frankfort extended from the Sowadabscook stream to Belfast. It was the north-east town in the Waldo patent. The first settlers were J. Treat, E. Grant, J. Kinna- kum, J. Woodman, P. King, S. Kenney and E. Ide. These settlers got their living by hunting moose, beaver and muskrats, and by fishing in Penobscot River. Ship-building was formerly extensively carried on in Frankfort, but it has now died out. John Kempton of Oak Point built the first vessel. The inhabitants were at one time extensively interested in navigation, and several good-sized fortunes were once made in it. There are some well-cultivated farms, but the surface is rough and broken. In the south part of the town are Mount Waldo and Mosquito Mountain, where there are quarries of granite, immense quantities of which are annually wrought out. Mt. Waldo is a huge, dome-shaped mass of naked rock, and rises 964 feet above the river. It can be seen for the distance of 20 miles around. From its summit a magnificent view is obtained, embracing a vast extent of countrj', dotted with villages, hamlets and towns, among which are the cities of Bangor and Belfast. The mountain is composed entirely of a peculiar porphj-- ritic granite — remarkably pure, free from foreign mat- ters, and wiU resist well the action of the weather.* Mosquito Mountain is 527 feet in height above high- water mark. It is composed entirely of porphyritic granite, which is extensively quarried. The rock is a handsome building material, and withstands the action of the TV eather without changing color. Operations were first commenced there in May, 1838, since which time a large fortune's worth of granite has been quarried and hammered for the New York market. The Albany Exchange is constructed of this stone. From this quarry the Maine block of granite was forwarded to Washing- ton, in 1849, for the Washington National Monument. The population of Frankfort in 1870 was 1,152. NoRTHPORT is on the west side of Penobscot Bay, and joins Belfast on the south. It has nine miles of sea- coast. The na\'igable advantages are good, nevertheless it is not a seaport of much importance. Formerly there • " The Pharaohs of Egypt," Bays Dr. Jackson, " would have gloried in a mountain like this, for after removing sufficient granite to build a city, the nucleus, if left in a pyramidal form, would be more than twice the magnitude of the Great Pyramid of Egypt, and this mountain has the advantage of being founded upon an immovable basis." were some ship-building and lime-burning done here, but both industries have fallen into decay. The principal resource of the town is agriculture. The surface is broken, especially along the shore ; a high bluflf that rises directly from the water, can be seen for a great dis- tance on the bay, while from its crest the view is of great extent and beauty. Northport was first settled about 1780, and formed the north part of the plantation of Duck Trap until it was incorporated, Feb. 13, 1796. The first settlers were Thomas Burkmar, Samuel Bird, David Miller and others. These men were hardly settled when they were called off to the war of the Revolution. The settlement made no progress until peace was proclaimed. While the British' troops held Castine — across the bay — they made raids upon the farmers and fishermen of this plantation, and sometimes shots were exchanged between the Yankee yeomen and the red-coats ; but no blood was spilled. The place grew but slowly, and its history is uneventful. There are three small villages : Brown's Corner, Wes- leyan Camp Ground and Saturday Cove. The second named is a picturesque collection of summer cottages in a noble grove on the shores of the baj'. Formerly the Methodist societies of the neighboring towns met here every year in the month of August, lived in canvas tents and held open-air meetings ; gradually they began to build cottages and reside several weeks in the summer at the camp-ground. Within the last few years the place has grown rapidly, and now there are nearly 300 cottages and a large hotel, which in the summer of 1878 entertained upwards of 3,000 guests. This resort at fast changing from its original design, as a place of religious gathering, to a summer watering-place. Dur- ing the warm season several steamers touch at the wharf, and there are daily excursions from all the river and shore towns. The natural beauties of the place are many ; it reminds one forcibly of the Cottage City of Martha's Vineyard. The third-named village, Saturday Cove, is also finely situated upon the bay, with a view of Long Island, with its farm-houses and churches, immediately opposite, and offers, by its retired and pleasant position, as well as by its refreshing air, a pleasant sojourn in warm weather. There is a neat and cosy hotel here. The salubrious climate and quiet life of Northport are fitted to produce longevity, and many of the citizens have attained a good old age, but none before reached the years of Mrs. Rebecca Pendleton, who died in 1863, aged 104 years and 6 months. There is one church edifice, occupied by all denomina- tions, and at Wesleyan Grove there is a sheltered pulpit HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. and a large collection of comfortable benches roofed only by the overhanging branches of trees. Population atlast census, 902. IsLESBOEOUGH consists of several small islands and a large one, in Penobscot Bay. The latter is called Long Island, and is 12 miles in length, and 3 miles in its greatest width, but in the middle it does not exceed three rods in width. The population in 1870 was 1,230. The settlement was begun in 1769, by Wm. Pendleton and Benj. Thomas. The town was incorporated Jan. 28, 1789. One of the early settlers named Gilkey was impressed into the British sen-ice, while his wife and two children were left in povert}- on the island to gain a living as they best could. At the end of the Revolution the town began to be tLicklj' settled. In June, 1794, Elder Thomas Ames was ordained the first pastor. The inhabitants are largelj* engaged in maritime pur- suits, but far more so formerlj- than now. In 1855, 153 vessels sailed from Islesborough, many of which were owned in the town, while all the masters were residents there. The inhabitants are hardy, vigorous and intelli- gent. Islesborough has three churches, all Baptist, and eight school districts. The towns of Waldo County not already described are: — Trot (incorporated in 1812, population l,2i:i), first called Bridgton Plantation, in honor of Gen. Bridge, and at the time of its incorporation as a town known as King%'iUe: Unity (1804, 1,202), having a number of manufacturing establishments: Moneoe (1818, 1,375), a farming town named for President Monroe : Palermo (1804, 1,224), containing saw and grist mills: Liberty (1827, 907), a manufacturing town of considerable acti\'ity and thrift: Knox (1819, 890), so called in honor of Gen. Henry Knox, and a good agricultural town: Brooks (1816, 868), mainly engaged in farm- ing: Freedom (1813, 717) : Jackson (1818, 707), con- taining the remains of the celebrated " Great Farm" of the proprietors of the Waldo Patent, and the native town of Ezra Abbot, LL. D., the distinguished oriental scholar: Burnham (1824, 788), well supplied with water-power by the Sebasticook River: Belmont (1814, 629), a pleasant rural town: Swanville (1818, 770) : Thoendike (1819, 730), having a number of flourishing farms: Waldo (1845, 648), formerly engaged quite largely in the manufacture of lumber : and Morrill (1855, 523), the birthplace of Addison O. Whitney. killed, at the age of 22 years, in the Baltimore riot of April 19, 1861. WASHINGTON COUNTY. BY GEORGE W. DRISKO. There is strong evidence that the " first English foot- print upon the soil of Maine " was on Cross Island, at the mouth of Machias River. This first adventurer on these shores was Capt. John Rut and his crew of the English vessel called " The Mary of Guilford," in 1527. Capt. Rut reconnoitered along the shore of Maine, sailing westerly from Liverpool, N. S. His journal shows that he landed on a small island, westerly from Eastport, which he called "Neutral," and which, in 1603, was named by De Monts, the "Holy Cross." Evidence of De Monts' visit to Cross Island existed to within the present century, and by the white settlers was attributed to the Indians. There is no authentic record of a settlement bj' whites on Machias River prior to June, 1763. There is good authority for the belief that "trading-posts" were estab- lished here prior to that date ; also that Richard Vines set up a trading-house on the west side of Machias River, near Clark's Point, now Machiasport, in 1632 or '33. Vines did not remain here long, but left his store in charge of five men. In less than one month, La Tour, a French explorer on the Maine coast, visited Vines's store and confiscated all the property, made pris- oners of the men and sent the whole to France. In 1644 the French planted a few habitations here, but were unsuccessful ; and in 1674 a similar effort by them re- sulted in failure. In July, 1734, Gov. Belcher visited Machias River. He was accompanied by Rev. Mr. Prince, pastor of the Old South Church ; Edward Winslow, sheriff of Suffolk County; and other distinguished residents of Boston. This company spent a Sabbath on board their vessel in the harbor, but found no inhabitants in the region. These visits attracted the attention of the Massachu- setts Colonj- to this section of the territoiy now Wash- ington Count}-, and efforts were made to encourage set- tlement here. In 1748 Richard Hazen was emplo3-ed bj- the governor to make survej's and form a chart and plan of the coast. The governor of Massachusetts in 1753 recommended the appointment of a tribunal for the settlement of land titles, and for devising measures for filling up the country with settlers. Floreutius Vassal, a resident of the Island of Jamaica, proposed that if Massachusetts would transfer the terri- torj- between St. Croix and Penobscot to him and his associates, thej would settle there, within a specified time, such a number of inhabitants as would form an effective barrier to the French, and hold in check the Indian tribes. The legislative branches assured him that if he would, within five j'ears, obtain His Majestj''s approbation, introduce 5,000 settlers, a proportionate number of Protestant clerg3'men, and satisfy the Indians 1 as to their claims, the emigrants should have all the I lands they would settle, and all the islands within three [ miles of the coast. About 1760 another proposition was made to Massa- chusetts, b}' the Earl of Catherlough and Francis Vassal, to settle the lands on each side of the Machias River, 12 miles in width, extending from the mouth of the river upward for 50 miles, the colony to contain 600 Protest- ant families, and not less than 3,000 persons. This was so near the close of the old French war, that nothing was done. About this time the king authorized the General Court of Massachusetts to make free grants of land, which might be selected from the royal domains, to those officers and privates who had ser\'ed in the French and Indian wars, just terminated. A captain was to receive 3,000, a subaltern 2,000, and a private 50 acres. This decree of the king no doubt interfered with the proposition of Catherlough and Vassal. After the close of the Indian war, in 1760, the native tribes of Maine, especially the "Quoddies" and other lesser tribes, between Quoddj' and the Penobscot, mani- fested a disposition to maintain peace and amity with the white settlers, and to the present time this friendship has not been interrupted. This, and the cessation of active hostilities between the English and French, proved to be events of great utility to the settlers of Washing- ton County. For many years Joseph Neptune was the chief of the " Passamaquoddie " tribe. He was assisted b}' Francis Nacola Neptune, "Captain Salmo," and other leading Indians. Their fighting force numbered 500 able-bodied men. During the Revohitionarj- war this force of friendly- Indians was increased to 600. Joseph Neeala was the chief of the Indian forces at Machias. The " Mereshete " tribe, who had their headquarters at or near St. Andrew's, N. B., contributed many fighting Indian aids and expert gunners to the Machias colonists, in their subsequent successful efforts to repulse British war vessels which were sent to reduce Machias and all neighboring settlements. The descendants of the above- named chiefs have in their possession ' ' Proclamations and Letters, greeting," issued as early as 1776-7, by Jeremiah Powell, president of the Council, at Boston, for the ' ' State Massachusetts Bay." These letters and documents, so much as could be deciphered, were pub- lished in the early part of 1857, in the "Boston Jour- nal," and the latter part of the same j'ear were incorpo- rated, bj' the publishers of the " Machias Union," into a volume entitled "The Life of Hannah Weston." The principal rivers in Washington County are the Narraguagus, Pleasant River, Machias, Denny's and the St. Croix. These rivers were formerly noted for their falls and rapids, affording excellent power for driving machinerj' ; for their lakes, ample reservoirs, frequented by pickerel, trout, togue, perch and salmon. They were heavily timbered on their sources, and at their outlets vast territories of salt marsh have been diked, re- claimed and made valuable ha3--producing lands. The bottom lauds are rich, and these tracts, fine arable soils, are bearing heavy j-ields of corn, wheat, ha}' and potatoes. The fisheries emplo}' an extensive capital and large numbers of men and boys. At Lubec, and other places in proximity to Passamaquoddy Bay, fishing is a re- munerative industry. The granite business is receiving much attention. Excellent granite is found for building purposes at Addi- son, Jonesborough, Marshfield, and Red Beach in Calais. Quarries are in operation in each of the above places. At Red Beach improved machinery- has been erected, for sawing, planing and moulding, so that posts for gate- way's, arches and bases, and columns for monuments, tops for tables, and shelves and chimney-pieces are fur- nished. The Scotch granite, at Red Beach, when pol- ished, becomes a beautiful material for house-furnishing. Prior to May, 1790, all that part of Maine east of the Kennebec was known as Lincoln County. In May, Hancock and Washington counties were organized, in- cluding all the territory east of the Penobscot River. The di\'ision line between Hancock and Washington was the westerlj^ line of Steuben ; the latter included in Washington, the western town, and Gouldsborough, the eastern town in Hancock. Washington County, in 1790, contained 2,758 inhabitants. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Bj^ an act of Congress, passed in 1789, all the coasts and ports of Maine were classed into nine commercial districts, in each of which a collector and other customs officers were appointed bj' President Washington. Ma- chias was made a port of entrj-, and Stephen Smith received the appointment of collector. Since the earliest settlement of the county, the people have been largel}- engaged in ship-building, and are now extensive ship-owners. In 1873, 9,482 tons of shipping were built in Machias district. In 1856, 17 vessels, 100 to 1,000 tons each, were built at Robbinston. Pembroke, Calais, East Machias, Lubec, Millbridge, Columbia Falls and Addison are ship-build- ing towns. There are many enterprising vessels' masters in the above towns. The J'oung men commence sea-life at an earl_v age. By saving their earnings, at 21 thej' are fre- queutlj' masters and owners of an eighth or a fourth of the vessel each commands. In a few years thej" become shareholders in several vessels. When they retire from sea-life they not unfrequently become builders them- selves. Towns. Machias. In 1762 persons from Scarborough, Me., in scows and boats, passed along the shores of the State eastwardly as far as Machias River. They landed in September, and made some explorations of the marshes, water-power, forests of timber, and privileges for fishing and trapping game. On their return their neighbors were so well pleased with the report thej' made, that an association of 16 persons was formed the succeeding winter, and in the April ensuing they embarked in a small vessel at Black Point, and on the 20th of May, 1763, they landed at Machias. These settlers made a double log-house on the bank of the river, where is now the central part of the town. Two women, wives of Westbrook Berry and Isaac Lar- rabee, and their children, were of the compan3'. Joel Bonney, a millwright, and Wooden Foster, blacksmith, had been hired by the settlers to assist in building a mUl. This saw-mill, the first built on the Machias, or in this section of Maine, was erected on the site now occu- pied by Ilemenway's steam-mill. In August, 17G3, the wives and families of nine more of the settlers were removed from Scarborough to Ma- chias. They were conveyed in a vessel by Capt. Joseph Wallace, father of the Capt. Joseph Wallace who settled at Mill River, now Harrington, about the same time Machias was settled. In 1765, the colony was increased by immigrants from Scarborough, Kittery, Cornwallis, N. S., Boston, and other places. In 1787, the saw-mills were destroyed by fire. In the spring of 1789, a high freshet carried 3,000 logs out to sea, and damaged the mills to the amount of £600. In 1794, 1,600,000 feet of lumber was manufactured in the place. Morris O'Brien and his sons came to Machias in 1765. He had resided at Boston, but was a native of Ireland. O'Brien and his sons built a double saw-mill on the site where the present Dublin mill stands. The O'Briens settled on the south side of the river ; hence the name " Dublin " given that important section of the town. The season of 1767 was noted as a season of great scarcit}'. The winter was unusuallj' severe, harbors were ice-bound, spring was late. It has been designated "poverty times." The settlers subsisted on clams, eels, potatoes and moose meat — the latter a luxury. In 1768, Ichabod Jones, Jonathan Longfellow and others built a double mill on the island, where the Rock mill now stands. Tlie same year, Joseph Getchell and others built a saw-mill at the outlet of Bowker's Lake, on Middle River, now Marshfleld. A militia company of 100 men was formed in 1769. Stephen Jones was conunissioned captain. Late in the year 17G9, 80 men, all residents of Ma- chias, addressed a petition to the General Court of Mas- sachusetts Bay, for a grant of land eight by ten miles square, to include all the settlers' lots in Machias. The General Court, on the 26th of April, 1770, acted upon the request, and granted the tract desired and described bj- the petitioners. His Majesty's surveyor restricted cutting all trees on the township 21 inches in diameter 12 inches upward from the ground. Similar reserves were made in all land grants, the timber being designed for use in the ro3'al navj'. The larger and best trees were called king's masts. A fine of £100 was imposed for cutting such reserved trees without a license. This grant established the petitioners " proprietors or owners in fee of the soil," within the limits described. The town now seemed to enter upon general prosper- ity. Immigrants were arriving monthly ; new lots were taken up above and below, on both sides of the river, and saw-mills were erected at East Machias and on the outlet of Gardner's Lake. In Jul}-, 1771, the settlers voted to hire a minister of the gospel. In 1774, the first meeting-house was built. It was placed on a lot given by George Libby, — the same lot on which Libby Hall now stands. The church was one story high, 42 feet long, and 25 feet wide. There were no pews, but plank seats arranged on each side of the narrow aisle. The cost was met by private subscription. The building cost $220. On the 29th of Ma}-, 1786, by vote of the town, £200 were raised to build two meeting- houses. The people at Machias are noted, not only for having declared war against Great Britain, and introduced the Revolution, as it were, on their own responsibility, but for having fought the first naval battle, and captured the first naval prize of the Revolutionary epoch. A Mr. Ichabod Jones of Boston, and temporarily residing in Machias, having, in 1774, brought from Boston to Ma- chias two boat-loads of provisions, which, by the British Admiral Graves he had been directed to exchange for lumber for the use of the British troops, and the patriots of Machias having quietlj' determined that Jones's ves- sels with their lumber should not return to Boston, ar- rangements were made for attacking the latter, together with the British naval consort of the same, the " Marga- retta," Capt. INIoore, commander. The chief leader in the proposed attack on the " Margaretta " and Jones's vessels was Benjamin Foster, a bold, energetic man, who had had some experience in the French wars. He was strongly supported bj- one Jeremiah O'Brien. After a meeting or two had been called for purposes of con- sultation, plans were matured first of all for the capture of Jones's vessels, which were successful. These were then duly manned, and an attack made on Capt. Moore. During the brief conflict which followed, the latter was mortally wounded, and his vessel surrendered. The "Margaretta" was taken to Machias, and her crew detained as prisoners of war. Capt. Moore was taken to the house of Stephen Jones, where he died, June 13, 1775. Tradition states that on board the " Margaretta " were two 3'oung ladies, to one of whom Capt. Moore was shortly to be married. Shortl}' after this, the schooner " Diligence," carrying four four-pound guns, and the schooner " Tatmagouch," were also captured bj- Captains Foster and O'Brien.* For these brave deeds these patriots and their associates, as yet utterly unrec- ognized, received a vote of thanks at the hands of the Provincial Congress. In the summer of 1777, the governor of Nova Scotia ordered Sir George Collier, with a fleet of 4 vessels and 80 men, to proceed to Machias and reduce it, as a chas- tisement of the people for their resistance to the king's authority. So warm, however, was the reception which * Albert Gallatin, afterwards in Jefferson's cabinet as secretary of the treasury, came to Machias in September, 1780. He was placed in com- mand of the fort at Quoddy, and when he left for Eastport, ho assisted his men in dragging a cannon a distance of nearly fifty miles through the woods, over streams, — there were no bridges or turnpikes, — to be placed in the intrenchraents at Quoddy. When .at Machias ho made I they received, that they were glad to beat an earlj- and \ a hasty retreat to Halifax. ! The British obtained no foothold at Machias during } the Revolutionarj' war. j Machias was incoqjorated June 22, 1784. Popula- i tiou, 2,530. The town has some fine public buildings. The court- house and jail, brick and granite, were built, the former in 1855 at a cost of $25,000, and the latter in 1857 at a cost of 835,000. Centre Street Church and Libby Hall are fine wooden buildings. The post-office and custom- house, erected in 1871, of brick and granite, cost §30,000. This afi'ords as large and well arranged offices as any similar building in Maine. The town has nine buildings for the use of schools, some being large and commodious. There are thirteen saw-miUs, one operated by steam, the others by water- power. There are six lath-mills ; two grist-mills ; card- ing-machine ; one foundry and machine shop, and three carriage-factories. The first newspaper published in Machias was by Jeremiiih O. Balch, dated Dec. 23, 1823, caUed the " Eastern Star." The water-power afforded by the falls at Machias, is one of the finest in North America. Vessels of 600 tons receive cargoes within 300 feet of the saw-mills, and mill- machinery is secure, hence valuable, by the natural for- mation of islands at the head of the falls in connection with banks of the river. In early times alewives and salmon were abundant. Multiplied saw-mills became oflTensive to these fish in their migratory habits, and the}' disappeared. Within ten years past fish-ways have been built, and it is thought the fish are gradually returning. The forests of timber on Machias River have been a source of large wealth. The first church in Machias, Congregationalist, was organized in September, 1782, Rev. James L)-on, pastor. This was the first church established in Washington County, and is one of the largest in the State. Col. John Allan, one of the patriots of the Revolution, was born in " Auld Reekie," Edinburg Castle, Scotland, Jan. 14, 1746. His father, a man of letters and wealth, removed from Scotland to Halifax, N. S., in 1750. His sympathies being with the American patriots, Mr. Allan the acquaintance of Col. O'Brien, spent some time at O'Brien's house, and shared largely of the Colonel's well-known hospitality. During the last years of Jefferson's administration, Mr. Gallatin caused Col. O'Brien to bo appointed collector of customs for the district of Machias, an office which he held eight years. It was complimentary to the Colonel, as he had not asked for it, neither had his friends petitioned for him. 580 HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. was forced to leave Nova Scotia in 1776, and when onl}- 30 years of age came within the limits of Maine. Sub- sequently he established his residence at Machias, and later at Allan's Island in Eastport. In 1777, by order of Gen. Washington, and by direc- tion of Congress, Col. Allan was made superintendent of Indians in the eastern department, and commander of the troops at Machias, under the General Court of Massa- chusetts, which positions he continued to hold till near the close of the war. Gen. Washington had unbounded confidence in Col. Allan. Congress entrusted to him important interests. The Indian tribes respected him as a father. Love of liberty seems to have been a ruling passion with him. On the curtains of his bed he inscribed in large letters: "Where liberty dwells, there is my countrj." His descendants are numerous, and distin- guished for industry, frugality and integrity. Col. Allan's burial-place is on the island formerly owned by him, latterly known as Treat's Island, in East- port. A marble monument, suiTounded by an iron fence, marks his resting-place. Rev. James Lyon was a native of Princeton, N. J., a graduate of Princeton College, and was first settled as a minister in Nova Scotia. He came to Machias in 1771. He was the first pastor in town, and continued preaching at the West and East villages until he died in 1795. He was a man of more than ordinarj' ability, of deep piety, and great energy of character. He was very active as a patriot during the Revolution. The descend- ants of Mr. Lyon are living at Machias, Marshfield, and adjoining towns. No headstone marks his burial-place. George S. Hillard, who died in Boston Jan. 21, 1879, was a native of Machias. Mr. Hillard became a leading law\er at the Suffolk bar, served in both branches of the legislature, and was United States district attorney for three yeais. He was author of several works on history, geography, philosophy and travel, and a series of school- readers known as " Ilillard's Readers." He was a man of rare literary ability. Calais. — Daniel Hill, who came from Jonesborough, Me., was the first permanent white settler of Calais. He was piloted through the woods from Machias by a friendly Indian. He made a clearing on Ferry Point, built a cabin there, and often declared that he found a much better countrj' than he had anticipated. He was a remarkably athletic and fearless man, and served as a private in the Indiau war of 1758-60. The Quoddy Indians knew this fact, and although Mr. Hill kindly aided them and instructed them in farming, thej- greatly feared him. In 1781 Samuel Hill came to Calais from Machias, and engaged in farming. In 1782 Daniel Hill, Jacob Libby and Jeremiah Frost built the first saw-mill. It stood near the mouth of Porter's stream. There were so few men that the women assisted in raising the frame of the mill. Daniel Hill imported the first oxen and did the first farming in Calais. In 1789 the General Court of Massachusetts ordered the division into townships of a large tract of land bordering on the St. Croix. Calais included about 19,000 acres of heavily timbered and valuable land. In June, 1789, a committee appointed by the General Court sold the township to Waterman Thomas of Wal- doborough. Me., for the sum of about £672. About six years later, Mr. Thomas sold half the township to Shubael Downes of Walpole, Mass., one-quarter to Edward II. Robbins of Milton, Mass., and one-quarter to Abiel Woods. Subsequently Edmund Munroe bought a large share of the lands belonging to Downes and Woods. In a few j'ears Samuel Jones re-surveyed the township and divided the land into settlers' lots of 50 to 100 acres each. Jones's lines remain the boundarj- and division farm-lines to this day. It is said that Calais in 1 790 contained less than 20 white residents. Its present 'population is 5,945. Jairus Keen, from Duxbury, Mass., came to Calais, and in 1801, built a vessel which he named "Liberty," the first vessel built on the river. In 1803, Abner Hill & Co., and others, erected a very good saw-mill at " Still- water," now Milltown. This machinery worked so rapid- Ij^ that it became known to lumbermen as the "Brisk mill." Other mills were built, and the lumber business increased largely year by year. In 1804 or 1805, Stephen Brewer, Esq. of Boston, became a resident of Calais. He was educated, wealthy, and became influential. He was the first to export lum- ber from Calais. He presided at the first town meeting, was the first justice of the peace, and the first postmas- ter. He introduced the first wagon, and aided largely in fitting and furnishing the first church. Mr. Brewer died in 1814. In 1815 his widow received a chaise from friends of her late husband in Boston, the first carriage of the kind seen at Calais. Shubael Downes, Jr., son of the land proprietor, came to Calais in 1804. He was an energetic, industrious man, and built and kept the first hotel. He also con- structed the first grist-mill. Frederic A., James S., and Charles E. Pike, sons of William Pike, an earlj' settler, became distinguished as financiers, writers and politicians. Frederic repre- sented his district in Congress eight j-ears. James S. was several 3'ear3 on the editorial staff of the " N. Y. Tribune." Calais was incorporated in 1809. The first minister who preached here was Rev. Duncan McCall in 1790. The first Congi-egational church, however, was not organ- ized until Aug. 17, 1825. Their first church was built in the ensuing year. Among the earliest itinerant preachers in these parts were Rev. Mark Trafton and Rev. Jere- miah Eaton. Two newspapers are pubhshed in this place, the "Ad- vertiser," and the " Times." The first bridge built across the St. Croix was at Milltown, in 1825. The bridge con- necting Calais and St. Stephen was constructed in 1826. Calais has produced a few authors of note, among whom ma}- be mentioned Mrs. F. A. Pike, author of '■Ida May," "Caste" and "Agnes," and Harriet Pres- cott Spofford of Newburyport, Mass. In 1849-50 a railroad, mainly for the transportation of lumber, was built, connecting Calais and Baring. A few years later the road was extended up the St. Croix to Princeton. A city charter was granted to Calais Aug. 24, 1850 ; Hon. George Downes was chosen mayor. In 1872, 38 mills, besides lath, clapboard and shingle mills, were in operation at Baring and Calais, mostly owned by resi- dents of Calais. But the once stately pine forests on the St. Croix have disappeared, devastated bj^ the axe and by fire, and the very superior water-power of Calais is now left comparativelj^ unimproved. Eastport, first settled by James Cochran, who came from Newburj'port, Mass., in 1772, was incorporated Feb. 24, 1798, as Eastpoi-t, because it was the most easterly port in the United States. The first church (Free Baptist) was built in 1810. There are now seven chiu-ches in the place. Rev. James Murphy, Baptist, was the first settled minister. Fort Sullivan is situated upon a hill in the central part of the town. The fort, with its lunette breastwork in front of the same, was built in 1809, the year of the embargo. United States troops were stationed here dur- ing the war of 1812, under command of Col. George Ulmer, succeeded by Maj. Perley Putnam, who was in command of the fort when it was captured by a British fleet in 1814, who held possession of the town until 1818, claiming that the island was included in the orig- inal limits of New Brunswick. The island is about four miles long and two miles wide. The earliest settlers were fishermen from Newburyport, Mass., and Portsmouth, N. H. Catching and curing fish for the leading markets in the United States has been, and is, the principal industry. The Soldiers' Monument, of marble, was built in 1868. A Memorial Hall was erected by the town in 1870. A fire swept off the principal business street in the town in 1839. The same street and territory was again burned in October, 1864. In October, 1869, a tidal wave swept along the bay, causing damage to the extent of $100,- 000. The loss by the two fires and the tidal wave exceeded half a miUion of dollars. The town, situated on the southerly side of the island contains 100 ware-houses and stores, and is connected to the mainland with a long covered bridge leading to Perry. Its population is 4,000. The harbor is spacious, and never closed b}' ice. The town has eight schools, graded and well con- ducted ; one newspaper, the " Sentinel "; a savings bank ; a bank of discount, the Frontier National Bank ; a library ; and various manufacturing establishments. The Passamaquoddy Hotel is one of the largest and best public houses in the State. Eastport is yearly becoming more favorably known as a watering-place. Prior to the incorporation of the town of Eastport in 1798, it included the territory of the present town of Lubec, which was afterward set off and incorporated in 1811. Pembroke was a part of Dennysville until Feb. 4, 1832, when it was incorporated. Population, 2,550. Hatevil Leighton, who came from Gouldsborough, Me., in 1774, was the first settler. In 1780, Edmund Mahar and William Clark, from Boston, — the former an Irishman, spelling his name "Meagher," a man of parts, — settled near Cobscook Falls. He and his wife were buried on the farm where they first settled. The Herseys, early settlers, were soldiers in the war for independence. Theophilus Wilder was a captain in the Revolutionary army under Gen. Gates, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, Oct. 17, 1777. Captain Wilder died at Pembroke, Oct. 28, 1821. The proprietors of the township were Gen. Ben- jamin Lincoln, Thomas Russell and John Lowell, all of Massachusetts. The natural curiosity of the town is Cobscook Falls. The tide rises 30 feet at these falls. Above is a wide and deep basin, and there is a similar basin below. The fall is through a narrow, walled passage, and over a jagged, rocky bottom. The volume of water passing four times each twentv-four hours is greater than the volume passing Hell Ciate at New York. Ezekiel Foster commenced building the iron-works es- tabhshment in 1832. Foster & Bartlett operated them a few 3'ears. Subsequently, Gray & Co. of Boston bought the property. In 1849, the works were purchased by HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. -^ the present proprietors, William E. Coffin & Co. of Boston. For fifteen j'ears prior to 1873, tiie company did an extensive business. Ship-building has been a prominent industry, com- mencing in 1825. Union Church was erected in 1842, the first in the town. Robert Crossett, Congregationalist, was the first settled minister. There are now four religious societies. Stephen C. Foster, a native of East Machias, came to Pembroke in 1833, and was long identified TNith the business prosperity of the place. He was a representa- tive in Congress from 1857 to 18G1. lie was at one time nearly resolved tocdiiciti hmi'-tlt for the nnni^tn He died in October, 1872, aged 74 years. East Machias, — previous to 1826 a part of Machias, — was incorporated as a town Jan. 24, 1826. Sam'l Scott was the first settler, in 1 765. He was followed by Col. Benj. Foster and others in 17G8-69. The first church built in the town, a small, one-stor}- building, is used now for a store. There are now three organized churches. James Lyon was the first minister. Washington Acad- emj- was established in 1823. For 56 years it has been a successful educational institution. The first principal was Solomon Adams. Among the natives of East Machias who received their academical training in this institution maj' be mentioned : Samuel Harris, D. D., of Yale College ; Prof. Roswell D. Hitchcock, Union Theological Seminary ; William C. Talbot, San Fran- cisco, capitalist ; Andrew J. Pope, of the same city, who died in January, 1879, leaving an estate valued at $3,000,000; Frederic Talbot, New York, merchant; Charles H. Talbot, Providence, ship-owner; P. Foster Folsom, merchant, Boston; Rev. M. J. Talbot, D. D., Warren, R. I. ; Rev. Henry L. Talbot, Durham, N. H. ; Thomas H. Talbot, Brookline, Mass. ; and George F. Talbot, Portland, and John C. Talbot, East Machias, brothers, lawyers ; Leonard Scott, of the L. Scott Pub- lishing Company, New York ; Stephen C. Foster, who IjOWKU JTAl^Lb, JiASI MACHIAS, Mii died in 1876, at Pembroke, Me., member of Congress from Maine, two terms ; Stephen C. and Lowell Talbot, commission merchants. New York ; S. H. Talbot, James R. and F. Loring. of East Machias, and P. S. J. Talbot, Maiden, Mass., four brothers, sons of M. Jones Talbot, merchants and ship-owners. In January, 1827, the first temperance societj- in this section was formed at East Machias. Gardiner's Lake and Hadley's Lake are bodies of water in near proximity to the wharves at tide-water. Their outlets afford unequalled water-powers. The population of the town is 2,017. ! Llbfc wis settkd b^ P rendi people, who came from Nova .Scotia in 1758. Most of these fami- lies remained but a short time, but went to Madawaska, on ^ the St. John River, or to Lower Canada. Col. John Allan, and several others, came from Cumber- land County, Nova Scotia, in 1776, and commenced a per- manent settlement. June 21, 1811, the town was incorporat- ed, and named "Lu- beck," from the old German city of that name. The Congre- gational church was organized in 1820, under the labors of Rev. Elijah Kel- logg. Rev. Andrew Bigelow was the first pastor, or- dained in 1821. The people of Lubec are largely engaged in the fisheries and agriculture. Population, 2,136. When the British occupied Eastport in 1814, Louis F. Delesdernier and Nehemiah Small moved to " Flagg's Point," where Lubec village now stands, and built houses and stores, being the first settlers and traders on the Point. Cherkyfield was settled in 1757, by Ichabod Willey and Samuel Colson. The first meeting-house was built on the east side of the river, near Campbell's mill. Cherryfield Academy was incorporated in 1829. In 1850 the present academ}- building was erected. It has done much excellent work. { Union Hall, the pride of Cherryfield, is in the academy building. There are three churches in the place. The population is 1,760. '«§i»«^i^^*'?fe«^|ft^i.«^»^^- William Freeman, born at Portland in 1783, died Feb. 22, 1879. He was a lawj-er by profession, and a person of rare literarj- attainments. In his dying mo- ments he asked his daughter Lizzie, who sat by him, '■Lizzie, are my feet in the right way?" "Yes, father." " If my feet are in the right way I will move on ;" and with this last utterance he departed. Other towns in the county are : — Machiaspokt (in- corporated in 182G, population 1,514), formerly a part of Machias : IIarkington (1791, 1,192), for 30 years largely interested in ship-building: Jonesport (1832, 1,305), extensively engaged in the fisheries: Mill- bridge (1848, 1,565), one of the pleasantest towns on the coast of New England: Addison (1797, 1,201), the native place of William J. Corthell, a leading educator of Maine: Peket (1818, 1,149), containing, at Pleas- ant Point, a remnant of the Passamaquoddj' Indians ; an excellent agricultural town, 48,000 bushels of pota- toes having been raised there in 1878 : Steuben (1795, 1,063), named in honor of Baron Steuben, and a noted lumbering town : Princeton (1832, 1,073), previous to the destructive fire of 1876 quite largely engaged in manufacturing: Robbinston (1811, 926), ship-building, until quite recently, being a leading industrj' : Cutler (1826, 926), having one of the finest harbors on the Atlantic coast: Columbia. (1796, 607), famous for its blueberries, thousands of bushels being gathered ever3' season: Columbia Falls (1863, 608), in ancient times a very patriotic place: Trescott (1827, 603), a good farming town: Whitneyville (1845, 569), lumbering being its chief industry : Jonesborough (1809, 522) , the birth-place of John L. Shorey, the well-known Boston publisher: Denntsville (1818, 489), so called from Denny's River: Charlotte (1825, 467), famous for its five lakes: Alexander (1825, 456), producing large quantities of hay : Baring (1825, 464) : Topsfield (1838, 453), containing the farm of William Stewart, Esq., one of the most productive in New England : Whiting (1825, 445), its principal founder being Col. John Crane, a Revolutionary patriot, and one of the " Indians" who threw the tea overboard in Boston har- bor: Edmunds (1828, 448) : Bailetville (1828, 377), once the residence of Hon. William Delesdernier : Cooper (1822, 360), named from Gen. John Cooper, an early and honored settler: Marshfield (1846, 350), containing the old homestead of Samuel Harmon, at one time largely engaged in ship-building: Wesley (1833, 336), its leading industries being lumbering and farm- ing: Danforth (1860, 313), another agricultural town : Marion (1834, 213) : Meddtbemps (1841, 200), sup- plied with abundant water-power: Crawford (1828, 209), having a range of fine lakes: Northfield (1838, 190) : Deblois (1852, 139), with its excellent water- privilege at the Falls: Centreville (1842, 145), con- taining immense tracts of bottom lands, producing 3'early thousands of tons of hay: Beddington (1833, 134), its lake and Spruce Mountain affording superior sporting grounds and fine scenery : Eaton (incorporated in 1873), with its tanneries : Vanceborough (1874), also having tanneries: Talmadge (1875): and Waite (1876). There are five townships not incorporated, occupied by settlers engaged in farming and lumbering. Y O E K C C) U ^^ T Y BY REV. GEO. B. ILSLEY. The territory now included in York County was orig- inally embraced in lands granted to Ferdinando Gorges by the Plymouth Council in 1622. Settlements were commenced at Kitter}', Agamenticus (now York), Berwick, Wells, Cape Porpoise, Biddeford and Saco nearly at the same time. Belknap thinks there was a beginning at Agamenticus as carlj- as 1623. Wil- liamson places it in 1624. Edward Godfrey, governor of the Province, under or after Gorges, says that "he was an inhabitant in 1629 & 30, & the first that built a house." Gorges was ambitious to have his colony rival that of Massachusetts. For this end he had sent hither mechanics and common laborers to carry on improve- ments, and so concentrate the population that the place might be regarded as one of safety for immigrants in taking up lands in its vicinity. To effect his pui-poses he even caused it to be incorporated as a cit}- — the first in America — and gave it the name of Gorgeana, in honor of iiimsclf. For a few years the place enjoyed prosperity. It is thought that the men whom Gorges sent to pre- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. pare the way located on the eastern bank of York River, near its mouth. The settlement at Kittery Point commenced in 1623. It was called Piscataqua until 1G52, when it received its present name. John Andrews, John Bursele}', Humph- rey and William Chadbourne, Nicholas Frost, WilUam Everett and Nicholas Shapleigh were some of the first inhabitants. The exact date of the settlements in Saco and Bidde- ford is not known. A grant was made to Thomas Lewis and Richard Bon3-thon in 1630, on the east side of the river, extending inland eight miles. Thej- took legal possession June 28, 1631. Edward Hilton acted as attornej- for the council. This grant was overlapped bj- the Plough patent, given the same year, which extended 30 miles on the coast and 40 miles inland. For many years the settlers made their residence at Old Orchard Beach and towards the mouth of the river. The settlement on the Biddeford side was near the Pool. As early as 1616-17, Richard Vines passed the winter here. But the date of the charter'made to him and John Oldham was not till Feb. 1, 1630. Legal pos- session was taken the next June, before Isaac Allerton, Capt. Thomas Wiggin, Thomas Purchase, Capt. Waters, and others. Rev. William Blackstone of Shawmut (Bos- ton), William Jeffries and Edward Hilton of Piscataqua were the attorneys of the council to deliver the possession. An agreement between Pe3'ton Cook and Richard Wil- liams, for the furthering of clapboard-making, is dated Jan. 27, 1635. They were rived and not sawn. If we maj' rely on the minister's rate-book for the names of early settlers, we have those of Richard Vines, Henry Boade, Thomas Williams, Samuel Andrews, William Scadlock, and others. A place near the head of the Pool, long known as Leighton's Point, is said to have been the site of a court- house in the early da3-s of the Province. Wells appears to have had settlers previous to 1640. In 1640 Gorges ordered that all the inhabitants, from Piscataqua to Kennebunk, should present their children for baptism as soon as they had a minister, from which it is inferred some families were located east of York. History' seems to award the honor of being pioneer in the settlement of Wells to the celebrated Rev. John Wlieelwright. But it is evident that Edward Littlefield had previously established himself here by building a saw-mill. It is probable that Wheelwright came to the mouth of the Ogunquit River, and that many of his fol- lowers came with him, among whom was Robert Boothe, the clerk of the plantation. In 1643 Gorges conveyed to Wheelwright about 400 acres on the eastern side of [ the Ogunquit. It is thought that he did not continue his residence here more than three years, but, with others, returned to New Hampshire. And j'et some of his asso- ciates made their permanent abode here. Stephen Batson was the first occupant of Drake's Island. The farthest inland settlement at this early period was probably at or near the village of North Ber- wick. Arundel, or Cape Porpoise, was no doubt occu- pied between 1624 and 1640. Newichawannock, or Ber- wick, was settled, it is supposed, as soon as 1624, near South Berwick village, known in Indian dialect as Quampheagan Falls. The government which prevailed at first seems to have been vested in Gorges himself. Courts were soon estab- lished to adjust legal and moral difficulties. Gorges, in the capacity of absolute monarch, by the terms of his char- ter appointed the governors and councillors. There was no popular election of officers, and yet there was no doubt a very good mutual understanding among the settlers. Thomas Gorges, brother of Ferdinando, was the first governor. He opened a court in Saco, June 25, 1640. His councillors were Richard Vines, Francis Champernoon, Henry Jocelyn, Richard Bon3thon, Wil- liam Hooke and Edward Godfrey. On the governor's return to England, in 1643, Edward Godfre3' was ap- pointed his successor, with Nicholas Shapleigh and Thomas Withers as members of his council. The provincial government included Piscataqua, Gorgeana, Saco and Casco, It appears that when the incorporation of the city government of Gorgeana took place, Thomas Gorges was also made its first mayor. In 1644 a woman was tried in the mayor's court for the murder of her husband, and was condemned and executed. About this time troubles arose in England between the king and parliament, which culminated in war. Al- though a man of seventy. Sir Ferdinando espoused the cause of the king, and was in Prince Rupert's army at the siege of Bristol, in 1643. When the forces of par- liament retook it, in 1645, Gorges was captured, plun- dered and thrown into prison. During this period he gave no attention to affairs here. Hearing nothing from him, the court appointed a governor and deput3', and continued the administration as provided by the charter. In 1647 they heard of his death. They then called a popular convention at Gorgeana, and after discussing their rights, duties and difficulties, the inhabitants of Kitter3', Gorgeana, Wells, and probably' those of the Isles of Shoals, formed themselves into a confederacy for mutual protection and the support of government. Edward Godfrej' was elected and was serving as governor, when the Massachusetts commissioners came to set up their claim of jurisdiction. The General Court at Bos- ton had so interpreted the terms of their charter as to warrant it. Weakened by dissensions and the instabil- itj' of their government, there was but slight resistance. Most of the people accepted the new order of things. Godfrey and his oflScers of course withstood it. Having no disposition to j-ield, he called a general court, and determined to send a petition to England and get his confederacy established. But Massachusetts at once took steps to defeat it. Replies and rejoinders followed. With so many choosing to come under the rule of Mas- sachusetts, Godfrey saw his efforts to resist would be futile. Furthermore, Cromwell being in power, and favoring the Puritans, it would be of little use to send his petition home to England. His struggle ended by signing the re- quired articles of submis- sion in 1653. This being done, an annual court was appointed at York, to be conducted by one of the principal magis- trates of the Colony, to- gether with four assist- ants nominated by the freemen of the county, and approved by the General Court of Massa- chusetts. The first bench thus constituted was com- posed of Edward Godfrey, Abraham Preble, Edward Johnson, and Edward Eishworth, all of York. Henry Marshall was appointed sheriff of the county. "The right worshipful Richard Bellingham presided." This was in 1653. During this year, according to Williamson, a jail was built. Ineffectual attempts, continuing through a series of years, were made by the heirs of Gorges . to obtain possession of his American gi'ants. The commissioners sent over by Charles II. to effect a settlement of the many disputed points in the controversy, accomplished comparatively nothing. In the meantime Maine was independent of the other Colonies. It was while in this relation that the first inferior court was held at Wells, in 1665 ; and one of its orders was, that every town should have erected before the next court met, " a pair of stocks, a cage, and a cucking-stool on which to punish common scolds." GARRISON nOUSE, TORE, ME, In 1668 Massachusetts sent four commissioners with a military escort, who proceeded to open courts and exercise the functions of government. This was a bold step on the part of Massachusetts, but it was success- fully carried out till 1676, when, after sending agents to England, and upon a careful hearing of the case, the king confirmed the original charter of Massachusetts, and left Maine to the heirs of Gorges, " both as to soil and government." As soon as Massachusetts learned of the decision she sent an agent to Gorges with propo- sitions to purchase the Province. He accepted the terms in March, 1677, and without consulting the wishes of the king or people, relinquished his rights for £1,250. This offended the king and astonished the people. He demanded a re -assign- ment of the pro'vince to the crown, and offered to repaj' the agent the price given ; but Mas- sachusetts refused, and proceeded to organize a new mode of govern- ment. Under this ar- rangement the first court was held in York, in March, 1680. Thomas Danforth was president. In 1716 all the lands, families and settlements east of Sagadahoc, with- in the provincial char- ter, were ordered by the General Court to be an- nexed to Yorkshire, and York was appointed to be the county seat. In 1735 the legislature of Massachusetts allowed inferior courts to be held alternately in York and Fal- mouth (Portland). It was at this time that the county took the name it now bears. In 1760 the counties of Cumberland and Lincoln were formed and set off. Oxford was set off in 1805, making the Great Ossipee the boundary. In 1800 the Supreme Court was held in Kennebunk. After a severe contest it was removed to Alfred in 1802, which is still the county seat. In late years the Supreme Court is held at Saco. Indian troubles did not become severe tiU 30 years after the settlement ; then York County had its full share. The hostility of the savages was such that they seemed determined to utterly destroy the settlements. Garrison-houses were early erected, and a brave defence HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. made against the wily foe. A sudden and most disas- trous attack was made upon York Feb. 5, 1692. The force was made up of nearly 300 Indians under the lead ' of French Canadians. In half an hour over 150 of the inhabitants were killed or captured. Those who suc- i ceeded in getting into the garrisons made good their- I defence. Preble's, Harmon's, Alcock's and Norton's I were the houses best fortified. Those north of the river were burned. The Rev. S. Dummer, for 20 years minis- I ter of the town, was killed while mounting his horse at his door. His wife also was taken cajJtive. The Indians I made a hasty retreat, taking prisoners and booty with tiiem. This march was attended with such suffering from cold and snow that many of the captives died before reaching Canada. Another attack was signalled by the burning of a ; house on the Saeo side on Sept. 18, 1675. The sentinel ! soon discovered an Indian lurking behind a fence. Maj. Phillips, exposing himself to \'iew, was slightly wounded in the shoulder. Supposing him killed, a fierce assault was made upon the garrison, but they were re- ; pulsed, with their leader mortally wounded. They set fire to Maj. Phillips's saw-mill, hoping thereby to draw the people from their defence. They next made an i unsuccessful attempt to fire the garrison. Six were j killed, 15 wounded, and the assault abandoned. Of the 50 persons in the house, none were killed. In the summer of 1693 Maj. Converse built a stone fort just below the falls. Until quite recently, its re- mains could be seen. Soldiers were stationed here under ; Capt. George Turfey and Lieut. Pendleton Fletcher. The latter, his two sons and three soldiers were after- wards captured while shooting water-fowl. During King Philip's war, in 1676, 40 were killed or taken captives, and the whole village at Cape Neddoek [ burned. Only two men and women, with two or three I children, escaped. It was in September of this year that ) James Gooch of Wells was shot on returning from j worship, and his wife cut in pieces. At a later period, an attack on WeUs was repulsed with a slight loss to the garrison. The treaty of peace concluding King Philip's war was made at Canso April 12, 1678. j During King William's war, which soon followed, the tribes of Maine were the first to begin hostilities. Wells seemed to be an object of their special hatred. Here, and in other places in the \dcinity, several des- perate and sanguinary contests ensued. We have no means of estimating the numbers who perished. The war closed in 1697. In 1703 the hostilities of Queen Anne's war com- menced. Winter Harbor near the mouth of the Saeo was attacked in December, 1703, and again in August, 1710. This war ended in 1713. At the outbreak of King George's war the defences were on a larger scale than ever before. Two regiments of soldiers were raised, containing 3,105 men. Col., afterwards Sir Wm. Pepperell, commanded one of them. He was at this time very popular. At the commencement of the Revolutionary war, many in this county were enlisted, and the coast was guarded from Kittery to Falmouth. Men hurried into the ranks on the impulses of patriotism, rather than good pay. The conflicts of the past had nurtured brave men in these towns. No sooner was the Declaration of Inde- pendence adopted than it began to be read from pulpit to pulpit. The morning after the news of the battle of Lexington reached Y'ork, 60 men set out for Boston. Not long after James Scammon led a full regiment to Cambridge. It may seem incredible to the reader that the evils of slavery ever had an existence in this eountj' ; but such was the case. In Kittery, York, Wells, Biddeford and Saeo, slaves were once held. When inventories were taken they were usually classed with the farm stock. Sometimes they were sold at public auction. Indians as well as negi-oes were held in bondage. Kittery at one time retui-ned 43 slaves, three of whom were Indians. In 1754 a smart negro boy was appraised at £53. The meeting-houses had a place set apart for the slaves. It was the upper story of the porch. Instances are not wanting in the records of this county of the cruel sepa- ration of mother and child, and it seems not to have affected the sj'mpathies of either seller or buj^er. In 1764, there being no newspaper in Maine, the ' ' Portsmouth Gazette " was made the medium for adver- tising the sale of slaves. Old Tom, owned b}' Capt. James Littlefield of Wells or Kennebunk, is supposed to have been the last. He died earl}- in the present century, aged over 100 years. TOWKS. BiDDEFOBD, in population and rapidity of growth, is the leading town in the county. It was also among the earliest settled. Until 1718 it included Saeo, when it was incorporated and named from Biddeford, Eng., whence some of its settlers emigrated. The city charter was adopted in 1855. D. E. Somes was the first major. Richard Vines, the founder of the settlement, was a gentleman of education and a skilled physician. He was a leader in the business of the Colony, and was left in charge when Gorges went to Europe. He removed to the West Indies in 1645. The right to build the first saw-mill on the Saco was granted to Eoger Spencer in 1653. For many j'ears after 1742, Hon. Rishworth Jordan, who lived in the lower part of the town, was chief magistrate. He afterwards became chief justice. Lieut. Wm. Phillips was an extensive lumberman ; he sold half of Factor}' Island to Capt. Bonython for 800 pine-trees. He also was a large landholder. Capt. D. Smith, who came from Exeter in 1719, was for a long time tavern-keeper. Thomas Gilpatrick, the ancestor of a numerous family, emigrated from Colraine, Ireland, and others built the first bridge to Indian or Factory Island, in 1767. The first resident minister was Eichard Gibson. Pre- vious to 1636 he Uved at Spurwink. In 1640 Rev. Eobert Jordan came from the west of England. Thomas Jenner, a Nonconfoi-mist, preached here in 1641, and is thought to have been the first Puritan minister in Maine. George Barlow, a follower of Wheelwright, so annoyed the people by his efforts to preach that the court forbade him under penalty of £10. The first Congi-egational church was formed in 1730. EAILEOAD BRIDGE, SACO, ME. and settled here in 1735. He had nine sons. In 1750 the Biddeford side of the river was the most populous. At that time three saw-mills were in operation. A few years previous a ferry had been established just below the lower bridge. In September, 1746, two sons of Joseph Gordon, working in Cole's mill, were sirrprised while on their way thither by the Indians. One was kUled and the other taken to Quebec. H. Scamman was the first town representative. Capt. P. Goldthwait, the inspector of the port, was the only person in town who opposed the Revolution. Some shipping belonging here was destroyed bj^ the British in 1812. The post-office was established here in 1789, Benjamin Hooper, postmaster. The mail was carried by Joseph Barnard, on horseback. Thomas Cutts The same year S. Willard was ordained pastor. His son Samuel became an eminent divine, and for several years was president of Harvard College. In 1742 Moses Morrill, a recent graduate of Har^-ard, was set- tled here. His useful and happy pastorate lasted 35 years. During this period Whitefield's labors were exciting great interest. Mr. Morrill invited him to preach for him several times. The second church was organized in 1805, and the Pavilion Church in 1857. The Methodists organized a church here in 1847, and the Baptists in 1852. Other leading denominations are well represented, and few New England cities have finer or more attractive church edifices than Biddeford. Dr. Lj-man, from York, was one of the early physicians. The Saco has a descent of 40 feet in an eighth of a HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. mile. On this are several manufactories. The Pepper- ell Company, capital $1,000,000, has three extensive mills, operating 70,000 spindles, and producing on an average 1,200,000 yards of various kinds of cotton fabrics per month. The Laconia Company has also a capital of $1,000,000, and runs 1,100 looms. Besides these are the Harding Machine-Shop Company, the Saco Water-Power Company, the Gas Company and the Paper-Collar Company. Biddeford has two newspapers and four banks. The 1 population of the city is 10,285. The Pool is a most charming summer resort. Saco, when incorporated in 1718, was a part of Bidde- ford. It was sep- arated in 1762, and received the name of Pepperellborough, in honor of Sir William Peppercll. In 180."i it acquired its present name. On accoimt of its excellent falls, the neighboring lands were soon regarded I as very valuable, and [ the heirs of the Lewis I and Bonythou patent were eager to clabu their titles. It ap- t pears to have been di- ^■ided into small lots just east of the falls. The large purchases by Pepperell in 1716 included the right of timber on 4,500 acres. This estate at the time of his death amoimted to 5,500 acres. It was confiscated b3' an act of the General Court in 1779, in consequence of j-oung Sir William's adherence to the crown ; but the life-interest of his wife and daughter was respected by the authorities. Of those who have been conspicuous in the affairs of government, may be mentioned John Fairfield, after- wards governor of the State and U. S. senator ; John F. Scamman, member of both houses of Congress ; Seth Scamman, congressman in 1858 ; and E. P. Tapley, asso- ciate justice of the Supreme Court in 1865. A city char- ter was obtained and adopted in 1867. Joseph Hobson was chosen first mayor. The population has never ex- ceeded 6,300. Saco has been noted for its extensive manufactm-e of lumber ; 21,000,000 feet were cut in the year ending Sept. 30, 1827. Iron-works were erected on Factory Island in 1811 by Joseph Calef and Thomas Cutts. In 1825, a company, mostly from Boston, bought the larger part of Factory Island, with the water-power on both sides, for cotton-mills. The canal was dug through solid rock. Extensive buildings erected in 1829 were burned in 1830. Soon after, the York Manufacturing Companj' was formed, with a capital of $1,200,000. It has five mills with 35,000 spindles and 800 looms. It employs 1,200 hands, and produces 6,000,000 yards of cotton goods annually. Saco liberally contributed men and means in the war of the Revolution. In the late civil war Saco was also truly loyal. Samuel White was j the first regular phj-- sician. Hon C3TUS King, Joseph Bart- lett, Wm. P. Preble, and Ethan Shepley, are the names of law- yers who once prac- tised in this town. The Congregation- al was the first church erected. Sir William PeppereU gave four acres in 1752, for a church, school-house and burj-ing- place, and " for no other use whatever." John Fairfield was ordain- 3'ears. The present beau- a 1863. The other religious BEACH, ME ed first pastor, and served 36 tiful church edifice was built i societies are now, as a general thing, in a flourishing state. Saco has had excellent schools for the past 50 years. It has two national, and also two savings banks. Old Orchard, with its extensive beach, has become widely' known of late years as a summer resort. The outlook upon the sea is grand. Its spacious hotels, private cottages and accessibility, must continue to keep it in popular favor. The surface of Saco is generally level, and its soil well adapted to tillage. There is a thousand-acre bog in the centre. On Foxwell's Brook there is a beautiful cas- cade of some 60 feet in the midst of romantic scenery. KiTTEET was first called Piscataqua, and was settled at the Point in 1623. It was incorporated in 1647. Nicholas Shapleigh, John Heard, and Nicholas Frost were the first selectmen. The Quakers were watched with a jealous ej^e after the submission to Massachusetts. At one time the Superior Court ordered Nicholas Shap- leigh and the other selectmen to be deposed on account of defending the Quakers in their rights to worship. In the struggle for independence, although some of the leading citizens were Tories, j-et Kitterj- voted men and means as thej- were required. The harbor was fortified and garrisoned. Fort McClarj' was garrisoned in 1812, and in the late EebelUon. Previous to 1800 rum was considered essential at all ship-launchings — a barrel for the men, and a barrel of wine for the women A bill of expense incuirtd it an ordination near Kittt i \ Point was as follow s — ^ quarts of rum and 2 quaif', of brand}- for the tkig\ and council. For a func ral there were allowed > gallons of rum, 10 lbs I sugar, and a half pouii 1 of allspice for the mouin ers. The old whipping post was at Spruce Creek Of the men distinguished in the earl^' annals of this town, Robert Cutts stands first. He was one of thi\ e sons who came from Wales Christopher Adams was an earlj- inhabitant. His son Mark represented the tow u in the Massachusetts legis lature 20 j'ears. He used to weai a thiee-coinered hat, and scull across the river Sundays to hear Dr. Buck- minster preach. Gen. William Whipple, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was born here. He was commander of a vessel before he was 21. He made successful trips to Europe, the West Indies, arid the coast of Africa, whence he brought home slaves. The name best known to fame is that of Pepperell. Sir William was born June 27, 169G. He was early trained to habits of business as clerk in his father's counting-room. As soon as he was free, he became justice of the peace and captain of a cavalry company, and at the age of 30 he was a colonel. He was representative to Boston in 1726-7, and councillor of the government there for 32 3-ears. His career at Loui.sburg gained for him the rank of baronet. He died July 6, 1759, soon after his appointment as lieutenant-general. The old Pepperell mansion is now in a dilapidated condition. In the Eevolution it was used as barracks. Besides John Braj', William and Samuel Badger were noted ship- builders — one building 100 and the other 45 ships during their lifetime. " The America," famous as a war ship, was built at Badger's Island, and launched Nov. 5, 1782. The navy yard was established at Kittery in 1806. The largest ships can be built or repaired here. An in- genious piece of machinery is the "Floating Balance Drj^ Dock." There are three immense ship-houses. The keel of the frigate "Con- gress " was laid here in 1837. The " Kearsarge," which sunk the rebel cor- sair "Alabama," was also built here On account of its facihties for shipping and fishing interests, Kit- t( 13 increased in its early d n s moie rapidly in popu- lation and wealth than any othei place in Maine. The I't ppi ull tomb and monu- 1111 lit IS well as the family 111111-.! in the old Congre- ^iliouil Church, and the piisonage, in which Dr. StL^ ens had his study for 10 jeais , and the Spar- iT\k house, are all objects of great interest to visitors. 1 oit McClarj fine views of sea tki, mL From Batten Hill iii and land are gained. The First Congregational Church was organized in 1714 ; Eev. John Newmarch was its first pastor, and his ministry lasted 55 3ears. Dr. Stevens served 40 3'cars as the next pastor. In 1814, at the time of Rev. Wra. Briggs's dismissal after a ministry of 20 years, there was not a male member left. The First Baptist Church in Maine was formed here, Sept. 25, 1652. A large part of the Isles of Shoals belongs to Kittery. Some years ago the government built a sea-wall from Star Island to Smutty Nose, so as to form safe anchorage for fishing vessels. Between Smutty Nose and Malagur, a sea-wall 14 rods long, 13 feet wide, and 20 or 30 high, was built by Mr. Haley, " king of the Shoals." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. The chasms in the rocks appear to have been made by earthquakes. Star Island is most remarkable. Tradition says that Betty Moody hid herself here from the Indians. The Betty Moody Hole is now pointed out. The islands were once called Appledore, and had from 300 to 600 population. A later name was Gosport. They are now a noted summer resort, with large hotels. The popula- tion of Kittery is 3,335. York. — This town was first called Agamenticus, a name wliich its highest hill or mountain still bears. The ancient city of ' ' Gorgeana " was within the present limits of the town. For nearly 120 years York was the shire town, and courts were held there till 1833. It suffered of Massachusetts in 1777, and served 12 years. In 1789 he was appointed judge of U. S. Court for the district of Maine, which office he held for 29 years. He died in 1825, aged 90 j-ears. Wm. P. Preble, a native of Y'ork, was a foreign minis- ter during Pres. Jackson's administration. The First Congregational Chm-ch, formed in 1672, had Rev. Shubael Dummer as its first pastor. His pastorate of 20 years was terminated by death bj^ the Indians. Rev. Samuel Moody was his successor for 49 years. He was a good but eccentric man, was called Father Moody, and served as chaplain in the ex]3edition to Louisburg. The next pastor, Isaac Lyman, sei-\ed nearly 60 years. &LIIL.LANT LAliUAJJELS UAKlUbON, KLNNLLl Nli — l,ij greatly from the Indians. It is said to have sent the first soldiers that entered the Continental army from Maine. One Benj. Simpson, a young man of 19, an apprentice to a bricklayer in Boston, was from this town, and helped destroy the tea in the harbor. Johnson Moulton led forth the town troops, and rose to the rank of lieutenant- colonel. Daniel Bragdon was delegate to the Provincial Congress. Col. Jere. Moulton, who was captui-ed by the Indians and taken to Canada in 1692 when the town was destroyed, led 200 men with Capt. Harmon to Nomdge- wock in 1724, and destroyed an Indian \illage, killing Father Rasle, and 26 others. He also commanded a regiment at the taking of Louisburg. Henry Sewall is said to be the first emigrant from whom all of the Sewall name descended. His son John settled in this town. His son David, who graduated from Harvard in 1755, became judge of Supreme Court The Second Church was organized in 1730. Joseph, son of Father Moody, was its first pastor. York has an extensive sea-board, with good beaches and harbors. Agamenticus, 680 feet high, is a noted landmark for sailors on the coast. The people are mostly engaged in agricultural pursuits. Cape Neddock and Y'ork Village are fine places for summer resort. The population of the town is 2,654. Kennebunk was set off from Wells in 1820. Perma- nent settlements did not take place on the Mousam till 1718. Up to the time of the Revolution, its increase in population and business enterprise was very rapid. Ship-building and trade with the West Indies were ex- tensively carried on. In 1798, 50 vessels were owned in Kennebunk River. Previous to the Rebellion, ship-building had become extensive. Much of the wealth of Kennebunk was gaiued by commerce. It ranks as one of the richest towns of Maine. Its beautiful village has quite a num- ber of fine residences, and considerable manufacturing business is done on its excellent water-privileges. The first Congregational church was organized in 1751, and Daniel Little was ordained its pastor, which office he filled most acceptablj' for 50 j-ears. His suc- cessor was pastor 28 j^ears. The church is now the Unitarian church of the village. There are several other denominations in town. Many able and distinguished men have been residents here. Of later date, we may mention Judge Bourne, Sr., Judge Bourne, Jr., and J. M. Stone. The Hon. Hugh McCulloch was formerly among the business nicn of Kennebunk. There are many venerable families, ^..^ whose names are still repre- sented by worthy descend- ants. Population, 2,603. Kennebunkport. — The Ijoundary between this town and Wells was fixed in 1G6() Cape Porpoise was so called by Capt. John Smith, who saw a school of porpoises oflf the cape in 1614. Legal town meetings were held as early as 1688, but the re- incorporation of the place, with the name of Arundel, did not take place till 1719. The present name was taken in 1821. Steps were taken to build a meeting-house in 1727. The Indians did not so severely trouble this place as others. A fort was erected on Stage Island, which was besieged so long at one time that Nicholas Morey, a lame man, took a broken canoe, the only thing then in their possession, and embarked one dark night for Ports- mouth for aid. The inhabitants were taken on the ves- sel which came to their relief, and never retui'ned to the cape. In the Revolution, two companies of militia were raised, commanded by Jonathan Stone and Benja- min Durrell. When news of the battle of Lexington came, many of the citizens went to Cambridge and joined the army, and took part in the battle of Bunker Hill. Cape Porpoise harbor was visited but once, when an English brig of 18 guns came in. A crazy man, one Wildes, went out in a small canoe, and demanded that the enemy surrender or leave the port. He was wounded, but escaped. The inhabitants soon gathered on Trott's Island, and then passed to Git Island, where a conflict ensued. A number of the British being killed, they finally retreated. Capt. James Burnham was the only one killed on the Ameroan side. In 1812, a fort was built at the Point, and a company under Capt. Small from Limiugton stationed there. The privateers fitted out from here were captured. At the end of the Revolution, there were but four houses within the village limits. Cape Porpoise was the centre of business. The custom-house was established at the Port in 1800. The village was incorporated in 1837. Of late years it has become a favorite summer resort. There appears to have been a church at Cape Porpoise :it an early ilale. The first town minister was Rev. John Everleth, a Harvard gradu- -^_ ate. He was school-teacher, blacksmith and farmer, and the best fisherman in town. Thos. Prentice was ordained in 1730, and remained eight years. He bought the first slave, and introduced pota- toes into the place. Rev. John Hovey was his succes- sor for 27 years. There be- ing a dispute over the loca- tion of the meeting-house, two boys set it on fire and consumed it, Apr. 28, 1763. The new one was placed on Burbank HiU. Silas Wood, the next minister, had a pas- The number of inhabitants in the THE CLjrrS, CAPi. AKUNDJiL, ILL. torate of 44 3-ears. town is 2,372. Wells was incorporated in 1653. John Wheelwright, grandson of the celebrated Rev. John Wheelwright, was a most earnest, public-spirited citizen. "He was deemed the bulwark of Massachusetts against the Indians' as- saults on the east." One of the brave women was Mrs. Abigail Littlefield. She defended her home against scores of Indians, while her husband was haying on the marsh. The first preacher employed by the town was probably Rev. John Wheelwright. A Congregational church was gathered in 1721. Samuel Emery was the first pastor. Rev. Moses Hemmenway, D. D., settled in 1759, was an eminent theologian. He was pastor over 50 years. Wells, whose population is 2,774, has a large and productive territory, a pleasant village, and a fine beach, with excellent hotels. Buxton was early known as Narraganset No. 1, having been granted to the soldiers who had fought in HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. the Narraganset war. The grant dates from Boston Common, June 6, 1733. The soldiers belonged in Ips- wich, Haverhill, Greenland, and other towns in that ■\icinity. In 1750, 'William Hancock, John Elden, Sam- uel Merrill, and four others began a pennaneut settle- ment. Great dangers were encountered from the In- dians. Buxton gave early attention to building roads, l>ridges and mills. It sent a goodly number of soldiers into the war of the Revolution. The first glass window was a single pane, procured bj- Rev. Mr. Coffin from Saco. It was 4 hj 6. He set it in a board for his study. He soon obtained from Boston four panes, 7 by 9, and set them in sash. The first public school, taught by Rev. Silas Moodj', began in 1761. The first meeting-house was built of logs, not far from the Lower Corner. The Congregational chui'ch was foiTued in 1763, with Paul Coffin, a graduate of HaiTard, for pastor. Bux- ton, containing a population of 2,546, has excellent farms, and fine water-power. Hon. Mark H. Dunnells, representative to Congress from Minnesota, is a native of this town. Berwick (Newichawannock) , whose present popula- tion is 2,291, was settled in 1624 bj- emigi-ants sent by Gorges to the New World. Rowles, the sagamore of the Indians up and down the Piscataqua, sold the lands. In his old age he requested that a few hundred acres should be marked off for his children, and recorded as a pubUc act of the town, so they might not perish as beg- gars. The Parish of Unity was organized in 1673. Dur- ing the Indian troubles many lives were lost and much property destroyed. This town furnished 150 men for Pepperell in his expedition against Louisburg. In 1735 its population was over 3,300. It then included South and North Berwick. John, father of John SuUivan, gov- ernor of Massachusetts, came from Limerick, Ireland, and for some time taught school in the town. He pur- chased 70 acres nearly opposite Great Falls, where he lived for 60 j-ears. At his death he was 105. Jeremiah Wise was pastor of the Parish of Unity for 48 j-ears. His successor, Jacob Foster, a gi-aduate of Han-ard, entered the army of the Revolution as chaplain. The history of the Baptists begins with 1768. The church formed at Great Hill was the second in the State. The village adjacent to Great Falls is a growing place. Alfred, the county seat, formerly a part of Sanford, and called North Parish or Massabesic, was incorporated in 1794. Its forests were often visited by trappers and hunters, but Simeon Coffin has the honor of being the first settler. This was in November, 1764. He dwelt for a time in an Indian wigwam, Daniel Lary, a tanner, is supposed to have built the first frame-house in town. The Shakers residing here have excellent orchards, and are a temperate, industrious and quiet people. The Con- gregational church was formed in 1780. Among the prominent men of Alfred have been Hon. John Holmes, who was active in promoting the separa- tion of Maine from Massachusetts, and was afterwards TJ. S. senator for 11 years; Hon. Daniel Goodenow, LL. D., judge of the Supreme Court; Hon. N. D. Appleton, Hon. William C. Allen, Jeremiah Bradbury. Esq., Jeremiah Goodwin, Esq., Dr. Abiel Hall, and Dr. Usher Parsons, author of "Life of SirWilUam Pepperell." The north part of Alfred is hilly, and abounds in gran- ite rocks and hard-wood forests. Its beautiful village is situated near the centre of the town. There is some business in lumber stiU carried on, but farming is the main occupation. Its present population is about 1,400. The remaining towns in the county are: — Sanford, incorporated in 1768, population, 2,403, a thrinng man- ufacturing place: South Bervtick (1814, 2,511), a manufacturing town with some excellent farms, also the site of a flourishing academv ; its prominent men in for- mer times being Gen. Ichabod Goodwin, of Revolution- ary fame ; Gen. John Lord, a prosperous merchant, whose father, Nathan Lord, LL. D., was once president of Dartmouth ; and Benjamin Green, U. S. marshal under John Quincj' Adams : Lebanon (1767, 1,953), with sev- eral excellent farms, and an academy in its west village : Paesonsfield (1785, 1,894), one of the largest towns, and the seat of a once famous seminarj- ; its eminent men being Hon. J. W. Bradbury, a classmate at Bowdoin with Longfellow, Hawthorne, CiUey and Cheever, and U. S. senator in 1853, when Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Cass and Douglass were members ; Dr. Moses Sweat, a skilful surgeon ; and William B. Wedgwood, LL. D. : Elliot (1810, 1,768), a fine fruit-growing place : Lisi- ington (1792, 1,630), having excellent water-power, but partially improved: North Berwick (1831, 1,628), having a fine gi'owth of pine timber, and the birth-place of President Chadbourne of Williams College : Water- borough (1787,1,548), mainlj- an agiicultural town: HoLLis (1798, 1,544), with abundant water-power, and some good farms : Limerick (1787,1,425), one of the finest interior towns of the county: Newfield (1794, 1,193), with its two villages and four churches : Cornish (1794, 1,100), a picturesque town, formerly regarded by the Indians as good hunting-ground: Shapleigh (1785, 1,088), having beautiful landscapes: Ltman (1780, 1,053), so named in 1803 from Hon. Theodore Lyman of Boston: Acton (1830, 1,008), with its recently-dis- covered silver mines : and Dayton (1854, 612), contain- ing a boiling spring, regarded as quite a cmiosity. NEW HAMPSHIRE. NEW HAMPSHIRE BY DANIEL F. SECOMB, ESQ. In 1621 Capt. John Mason procured a grant of land from the Council of Plymouth, extending from the river of Naumkeag, now Salem, round Cape Ann to the river Merrimack, and up each of those rivers to the farthest head thereof, then crossing over from the head of the one to the head of the other, with all the islands Ij-ing within three miles of the coast. This district was called Mariana. The next year another gi'ant was made to Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges jointly, of all the lands lying j between the rivers Merrimack and Sagadahoc, extending back to the great lakes and the river of Canada. This territorj^ was called Laconia. A company was formed in England soon after, styled the company of Laconia, who took measures to estabhsh a colony and fishery at the river Piscataqua. In the spring of 1623 they sent over David Thompson, a Scotch- man, and Wilham and Edward Hilton, fishmongers of London, with a number of other people, furnished with all necessaries to carry out their design. One of the parties, under Thompson, landed on the southern shore of the river, at a place they called Little Harbor, where they erected salt-works, and built a house, afterwards called Mason's Hall. The Hiltons, with their party, proceeded eight miles farther up the river and settled on a neck of land called •by the Indians Winnichahannat, which they named Nor- tham, and afterwards Dover. Near the close of 1623 Mason and Gorges divided the territorj' of Laconia into two parts, the part lying east of the Piscataqua being assigned to Gorges. This part was named by him Maine ; the portion lying west of the Piscataqua was assigned to Mason, and bj- him named New Hampshire, from the place of his residence in England. In this division the rights of each of the grantees and the other members of the company in the settlements commenced were reserved. Most of the proprietors relinquished their claims to Mason and Gorges. The latter soon transferred his interest to Mason, who thus, in a few j-ears, became almost the sole proprietor. Endued with untiring perseverance. and sanguine of ultimate success, he continued to send over supplies of settlers and means of subsistence. While anticipating an improvement in his affairs, he was, in 1635, removed by death. Although he commit- ted many mistakes in the management of the Colony, his name deserves to be held in grateful remembrance as the father of New Hampshire. By the pro\'isions of his will the bulk of his property here was left to his two grandsons ; 1 ,000 acres of land, however, was devised for the support of "an honest, godly and religious preacher of God's word," and another thousand for the support of a grammar school. After his death his widow and executor sent over an agent to take charge of the plantation. She, however, soon became discouraged with an enterprise which required a great outlay with but slight returns, and in 1639 sent over word to her employes that they must pro- vide for themselves, appropriating her goods' and cattle in the payment of the arrearages of their wages and can-ying with them the avails of their shares. Some of the settlers left the plantation, others remained, keeping possession of the buildings and improvements, which thej' thenceforth claimed as their own. In a few years the principal agents and stewards had left the Piscata- qua, and the proprietor's goods and effects were scattered to the winds. Being thus left without a government, the settlers at Dover and Portsmouth formed themselves into voluntary associations for the management of their affairs. This arrangement continued but a short time, when the neces- sitj' of a stronger and more energetic government was felt, which they saw no prospect of obtaining but by union with the prosperous Colony of Massachusetts. Overtures for that purpose were made, and being ac- cepted, in 1641 a union took place, which existed to the satisfaction of both parties nearly 40 years. In 1638 a settlement was made at Exeter by Rev. John Wheelwright and a company of his friends and adherents who had been banished from Massachusetts on account of their religious belief. Here they formed the first Congregational church in New Hampshire. Hamp- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. ton was settled about the same time by Rev. Stephen Batchelder and a colony from England, who formed the second church. The union of New Hampshire with Massachusetts being noticed b}- the heirs of Mason, Joseph Mason was sent over to look after their interests. He found the lands at Newichwannock in the possession of Richard Leader, against whom he brought actions in the count}' court ; but the court judging the action not to be within their cognizance referred the matter to the General Court, who ordered a survej' of the northern bounds of their patent to be made. This being done, it was decided that some lands at Newichwannock, with the river, belonged to Capt. Mason, and a quantity- of land pro- portionable to his disbursements, with the privilege of the river, was ordered to be laid out to his heirs. Hav- ing tarried long enough in the country to observe the temper of the government and the management used in the determination of his suit, Mason returned to Eng- land and the estate was given up, unless the English government should interjjose. In 1647 the foundation of the present New England school system was laid by the legislature. A law was passed which required a school to be kept in every town which contained 50 families, where all the children might learn reading and writing. As the towns increased in population thej' were divided into districts for the sup- port of schools. In 1652, Dover, having a sufficient number of inhabit- ants, was allowed to send two representatives to the General Court. Strawberry Bank, at that time contain- ing less than 60 families, was incorporated as Ports- mouth. In 1675, Robert Mason, the only sur\-iving heir of Capt. John Mason, petitioned to the king the second time for the restoration of his property, and the crown officers, as before, reported favorably to his claim. The king, who was displeased with the government of Massa- chusetts and disposed to favor Mason, caused a letter to be sent over requiring that government to send agents to England within six months, fully empowered to answer the complaints made against them b}' Mason and the heirs of Gorges, and to receive the royal determination in the matter. This letter was sent over by Edward Randolph, a kinsman of Mason, who was interested in his behalf, and was prepared to use all means to further his interests. After laying the king's order before the government of Massachusetts, Randolph passed into New Hampshire, freely declaring the business on which he had come, and reading a letter from Mason to the inhabitants, some of whom he found ready to complain of the government and anxious for a change. The great body of the people, however, were satisfied. The inhabitants of Dover in open town meeting protested against the claim of Mason and appointed Maj. Waldron to petition to His Majesty in their behalf to inter|)ose his royal authority that they might continue peaceably in the possession of their rights under the government of Massachusetts. A simi- lar petition was prepared at Portsmouth. ' On Randolph's return to Boston he was reproved by the governor for making his errand known and endeav- oring to cause discontent among the people. After about six weeks' stay he returned to England irritated at the reception he had met with, and reported that the people of New Hampshire were complaining of the usurpations of the Boston government, and were earn- estl}' hoping that the king would interpose and grant them relief from their oppressors. In a strain of bitter- ness he inveighed against the government of Massachu- setts. Ilis report still further inflamed the prejudice felt against that Colony, and prepared the way for the sepa- ration which was meditated. William Stoughton and Peter Bulkley were sent over as agents of Massachusetts to defend her interests, j After hearing the parties the judges decided that the j towns of Dover, Portsmouth, Exeter and Hampton were out of the bounds of Jlassachusetts. This decision was i accepted and confirmed by the king in council. I In 1679 a royal commission was issued restraining the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, and erecting New Hamp- shire into a ro3"al province. A form of government was provided, a president and council named and the election of an assembly provided for. This commission was sent to New Hampshire b^y Randolph, who arrived at Ports- mouth Jan. 1, 1680. It was received by the officers named with regret. They however took the necessary : oaths and assumed the government of the Province. In the meantime, during Philip's war, incursions were made into New Hampshire ; houses were burned and persons killed in Somersworth and Durham. Between Exeter and Hampton, the whole country was in confusion and alarm. The people collected together in large houses, which they fortified as well as they were able, and armed bands of men scoured the woods in quest of the enemy, but met with no great success. The winter of 1675 was one of uncommon severity. The ground was early covered with snow to a great ! depth, and the Indians in the northern part of New ' Hampshire, being unable to procure the means of sub- j sistence, became inclined to peace. Thej' came to Maj. Waldron at Dover, professing sorrow for the past and j NEW HAMPSHIRE. promises of friendship in the future. A peace was con- chuled with them, by which the captives were restored, and the colonists had a breathing time of several months' duration. Philip being killed in August, 1676, some of his followers came north and east and joined the tribes in New Hampshii-e and Maine, who were incited by them to a renewal of hostilities. Two companies of soldiers were sent from Boston to assist in the defence of the colonists. On their arrival at Dover thej' found a large number of Indians of the Pennacook and other New Hampshire tribes collected together for the purpose of confirming a peace with Maj. Waldron. With them were quite a number of refugees from the southern tribes who were known to have been engaged in the late war. B}' a stratagem the Indians were put in the power of the soldiers, who dismissed those of the New Hamp- shire tribes, but secured the refugees, some of whom were executed, and the rest sold into slaver}-. Against this procedure it is said Maj. Waldron protested. The Pennacooks, who had hitherto been peaceable, were deeplj' incensed at what thej' deemed a breach of faith on his part, and j'ears afterwards took their revenge. The war was finally closed in 1678, by a treaty made with the chiefs at Casco. A general assembly was called together at Portsmouth, March 16, 1680. During this administration, things went on nearly in the old channel, and in the same spirit as before the separation. A jealous watch was kept over their rights and privileges, and every encroachment upon them was withstood to the utmost. Near the close of 1680, Mason came over from Eng- land with a writ from the king to the president and council, commanding them to admit hun to a seat in the council, which was complied with. He soon entered upon his business, endeavoring to persuade some of the people to take leases of him, threatening others, if they did not, asserting his right to the Province, and assuming the title of lord director. His agents made themselves obnoxious to the people by demanding rents, and threat- ening to sell the houses of several persons for pa3Tnent. The council, taking notice of this, ordered him and his agents to desist from their proceedings, upon which he refused to sit with them ; and when they threatened to deal with him as an offender, he in turn threatened to appeal to the king, and published a summons to the president and several members of that body, and other persons, to appear before His Majesty within three months. This was deemed an usurpation over His Maj- esty's authority, and a warrant for his arrest was issued, which he evaded and returned to England. Being convinced that the government he had caused to be erected was not likely to be administered to his satisfaction. Mason, on his return to England, made it his business to solicit a change. In accordance with his request, Edward Cranfield was sent over as governor, with almost unlimited powers. Of a tj-rannical disposi- tion, he soon became an object of popular aversion. Failing to induce the assembly to submit to his wishes, he dissolved it. Members of the council who were ob- jectionable to him were suspended from office. The death of others made vacancies which he filled with men subservient to his wishes, and the courts were filled with officers prepared to enforce his commands. Before these tribunals suits were brought by Mason against some of the principal inhabitants for holding lands and felling timber. Seeing no chance for an impartial trial, no de- i fence was offered, and judgment was given against the parties. In one instance, an appeal was made to the king, but without success. I The people were finallj- driven to the necessity of ' making a vigorous stand for their rights. C'ommunicat- | ing their sentiments to one another, they privately' 1 raised a sum of money by subscription, and appointed an agent to proceed to England and present their com- j plaints. The result was, the govei-nor's suits were not I sustained. Mason, being disappointed in obtaining possession ofi the inhabited parts of the Province, endeavored to laj' a foundation for realizing his claim to the waste lands- i He confirmed the million-acre purchase made of the i Indians }-ears before by Tyng and others, for the annual rent of ten shillings, and about the same time farmed out the mines, minerals and ores of the Province for 1,000 j-ears, reserving one-fourth part of the roj-al ores and one-seventeenth part of the baser ones. Having put his affairs in as good order as the times would admit of, he sailed for England. On the departure of Cranfield, Lieut. Gov. Barefoote assumed the chair, and occupied it until the arrival of President Dudley. His method of government seems to have been similar to that of Cranfield. Attempts to levy executions were forcibly resisted at Dover, and when the sheriff sought to arrest the rioters, he and his assistants were so roughly handled that they were glad to escape with their lives. Barefoote himself, in at- tempting to assist Mason in a personal contest, was assaulted and badly injured. During his administra- tion, a treaty was made with the Pennacook and Saco Indians. When the charter of Massachusetts was forfeited, and a new government established for New England, its HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. jurisdiction included Maine, New Hampshire, Massa- chusetta, and the Narraganset or King's Province. Being left, upon the occasion of the deposition of Gov. Andros, ■(vithout a government, the people of New Hampshire thought it best to return to their ancient union with Massachusetts. A petition for that purpose ha^•ing been presented. tlie_v were readily admitted until the king's pleasure should be known. This union lasted about two j-ears. In the meantime Mason had died, and his heirs had sold their claims in New Hampshire to Samuel Allen, a merchant in London, who solicited a recognition of his title from the crown, and a commission for the govern- ment of the Pro\-ince, which he finallj- obtained. His son-in-law, John Usher, was appointed lieutenant-gov- ernor to " act in Allen's absence. The councillors ap- pointed to assist him were generaUj' acceptable to the people, but Usher was not, as he had been one of the adherents of Andros in his oppressive government, and also had an interest in Allen's claim upon their lands. He arrived with his commission and took the command in August, 1692. Another Indian war was now in progress. Incited bj the recollection of previous wrongs, and by more recent troubles on the Penobscot between the French and Gov. Andros, on the 27th of June, 1689, the Indians, ha^dng by artifice obtained admittance into several houses at Dover by night, revenged themselves by killing Maj. Waldron and other inhabitants of the place. Others were carried into capti^ity and sold to the French in Canada. With the exception of some short truces, the war lasted until the close of 1699. But few of the New Hampshire towns escaped injury from the furj- of their savage enemies in this war. Soon after Usher's arrival, he made inquiry for the papers relating to Mason's suits. These were kept secreted for some time, but were finally delivered to him. He also exerted himself to have the boundar}' line estab- lished between the provinces of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. A charter was granted in 1694 of the township of Kingston to about 20 inhabitants of Hampton. Gov. Allen came over in August, 1698, and, his com- mission being still in force, assumed authority. The Earl of Bellamont, who had been appointed gov- ernor of New York, Massachusetts Ba^-, and New Hampshire, came into the Province and published his commission, July 31, 1699. As the new governor was a fiiTO friend to King William, and had no interest in oppressing the people, they rejoiced iji the change. The government was settled in their favor, and the waj- } seemed open for an adjustment of their difficulties and disputes. Allen now began to take measures to enforce his claims. On examining the records of the Superior Court, 24 leaves were found missing, in which it was supposed the judgments recovered by Mason were recorded. No e\-idence appearing of his having re- covered possession, the whole work had to be com- menced anew. A suit was brought against Waldron, one of the principal landholders, in which Allen was defeated, judgment being given against him, with costs. From this decision he appealed to the king, but his ap- peal was not allowed by the court. He then petitioned to the king, who by an order of council granted him an appeal, and allowed him eight months' time to prepare for its prosecution. The appeal being brought before the king. Usher managed it on the part of Allen, and Vaughan acted as attorney for Waldron, the assembly bearing the expense of the defence. After hearing the case, the judgment in favor of Wal- dron was affirmed, but the order Of council directed that Allen should be at liberty to begin de novo by a writ of ejectment in the courts of New Hampshire, to tr}- his title to the lands or to quit-rents payable for the same. In answer to a petition praying that Allen might be put in possession of the waste lands, the attorne^'-gen- eral reported that Allen's claim to the wastes was valid, and that all lands unenclosed and unoccupied were to be reputed waste ; that he might enter into and take pos- session of them, and if disturbed might assert his rights, and prosecute trespassers in the courts there. This re- port was accepted, and the assembly of New Hampshire were apprised of the royal determination on the appeal and petition. Allen soon after took possession of the common land in each township, and brought a suit of ejectment against Waldron, at the same time notifying Gov. Dudlej' of it, that he might be present and demand a special verdict. The governor being taken ill at Newbury, while on his way to tije court, was unable to be present. The jury refused to find a special verdict, but found for the defend- ant with costs. From this verdict Allen appealed. Perplexed by his repeated disappointments, and becom- ing low in purse and weakened bj' age, Allen now sought an accommodation with the people with whom he was desirous to spend the remainder of his days in peace. Very advantageous offers were made to Waldron and Vaughan if thej- would purchase his title, but thev utterly refused to do it. j After his death his son, Thomas Allen of London, re- newed the suit bj- pernussion of the queen, by bringing >JP:W HAMPSHIRE. a new suit of ejectment against Waldron in the Court of Common Pleas, where it was decided against him. He then removed it to the Superior Court where it had been tried three 3-ears before. On this occasion the full strength of both parlies was brought out, the managers on Allen's part being James Meinzies and John Valentine. Waldron was represented by John Pickering and Charles Storj'. The famous Wheelwright deed here made its appearance. The jury returned a verdict for Waldron with costs, thus affirming the decision of the court below. Being sent out a second time with instructions from the court in regard to a special verdict, they returned with the same verdict ; thereupon the court ordered judgment to be entered. An appeal was moved to the Queen in Council which the court allowed, on a bond being given to prosecute it ; but the loyalty of the people, and the distresses under which they labored by reason of war, caused the queen's ministry to suspend a final decision. The death of Allen in 1715 put an end to the suit, which was not renewed by his heirs. During Queen Anne's war several expeditions were sent out against the Indians with varjing success. At- tacks were frequently made upon the settlers, many of whom were killed. Others were carried into captivity, their houses burned, and their cattle killed. This state of affairs continued until July, 1713, when the hostilities were ended by a treaty made at Portsmouth. It being a time of peace, attention was now paid to the improvement of the Province, and the development of its natural resources. Its lumber and naval stores became objects of close attention both here and in Eng- land. Laws were passed and directions sent from the liome government for the preservation of all pine trees lit for masts, and a surveyor of the woods was appointed to cause their enforcement. These acts caused much 1 trouble among the people. The cultivation of the land, the manufacture of iron, and the raising of hemp were encouraged. In 1719 the Province unexpectedly received an acces- j sion of inhabitants from the North of Ireland, the I descendants of a colony of Scotch Presb3-terians who ] had settled in that country during the reign of James I. They had borne a large share in the sufferings which the Protestants in that country underwent in the reign of • In the dispute about the bound.ary lines, the long dormant Mason claim was revived, through the instrumentality of some of the Massa- chusetts politicians. A flaw having been discovered in the title held by Allen from Mason, John Tufton Mason, a descendant from the first pro- prietor, was induced by them to make an effort to recover the posses- sions of his ancestor. They first treated with him for the release of all Charles I. and James II. Some of them were engaged in the famous siege of Londonderry-, where they endured all but death in its defence. Having spent the winter in Haverhill, Mass., they heard of good land about IG miles further up the river at a place called Nutfield, where they located themselves on a tract six miles square, by per- mission of the Assemblj' of Massachusetts. In 1722-23, hostilities on the part of the Indians hav- ing been renewed, the frontier settlements in New Hamp- shire suffered severely. Dover, Kingston, and Oyster River were visited, and some of their inhabitants killed or can-ied into captivity. Scouting parties ranged through the forests and occasionall}' met and despatched some of the enemy. The war was closed by a treaty made at Boston, in December, 1724. In 1 728 the Province was visited by a destructive sick- ness to which the name of' the throat distemper was given. It first made its appearance at Kingston, from whence it spread into other places. Its ravages continued for more than a j-ear, during which time not less than 1,000 per- sons, 900 of whom were under 20 years, became its ^'lc- tims. On the 6th day of March, 1740, after repeated and long protracted controversies, the boundary line* be- tween New Hampshire and Massachusetts was estab- lished substantially as at present ; a division eminently satisfactory to the former Province, inasmuch as it gave it a tract of country 14 miles in breadth, and above 50 in length more than had ever been claimed, including 28 new townships from the territor3- of Massachusetts. In 1 741 , when New Hampshire was finally made a distinct Pro- vince, Benning Wentworth, oldest son of the late lieu- tenant-governor, John Wentworth, was appointed gov- ernor. In the expedition against Louisburg in 1745, about 500 men were engaged from New Hampshire, who aided largel}' in the capture of the place. With the war between France and England, came another war with the Indians who were friendly to the French. The settlements in the south-west part of the Province, near Connecticut River, were attacked, and persons were killed or carried into captivity from Bos- cawen, Hopkinton, Concord and Rochester. Scouting parties were kept out for the protection of the frontiers, but with little success. The war was finally closed in those lands in Salisbury, Amesbury, Haverhill, Methuen and Dracnt which the line would cut otf, and for £500 currency obtained a quit- claim of them. In regard to liis claims in New Hampshire in January, 174G, he conveyed his whole interest to a company of 12 persons, for the sum of £1,500 currency. Controversies, however, in reference to the grants, continued until closed by the Revolution. HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. the summer of 1749. For several jears subsequent to this war, the progress of the Pro\-ince was greatly retard- ed by the various disputes that prevailed between the governor and the assembly. War was again commenced by the Indians in August, 1754, at Plymouth. Soon after an attack was made upon Salisbury, and a few days later Charlestown was assaulted. During this war not less than 4,000 men were raised for various expeditions against the enemj-. Mean- while the settlements were continually harassed by the attacks of the St. Francis Indians. Hopkinton, Keene, Walpole, Charlestown and Hinsdale suffered severely. In 1 759, 1 ,000 men were raised who served under Gen. Amherst in the successful campaigns of that year. In September, Maj. Robert Rogers, with about 200 rangers, was sent to destroy the Indian A-illage of St. Francis. After a fatiguing march of 21 daj'S, he came within sight of the place, and halted his men at a distance of about three miles. In the evening he entered the ^•illage I in disguise, with two of his officers. On the ensuing morning the town was, just before daj", attacked, set on 1 fire, and destroyed. After experiencing many hardships, and suffering much from hunger and fatigue, a remnant of the company finally reached their homes. In 1756, Daniel Fowle setup a printing-press at Ports- mouth, and on the 7th day of October, issued the initial \ number of the "New Hampshire Gazette," the first news- paper printed in the Province. The western boundarj- of the Province remaining un- settled, Gov. Wentworth maintained that it extended as far west as that of Jlassachusetts and Connecticut. He accordingly' granted a township six miles square, situated 24 miles east of Hudson's River, and six miles north of the line of Massachusetts, in the year 1749. Objection being made by the government of New York to Went- worth's claim, they claiming the territory eastward to the Connecticut River, it was agreed to submit the matter to the king. Gov. Wentworth, however, continued to make I grants of townships in the disputed territory, until the commencement of hostihties in 1754 put a stop to appli- cations. The same cause prevented a decision being made by the king until the close of the war. Durilig the war the territory was often traversed by the soldiers and the value of the land became known. When peace was restored, numerous applications were made for grants, and in 1763, 138 townships of six miles square had been granted west of the Connecticut River. The authorities of New York becoming alarmed, issued a proclamation setting forth the right of that Province to the territory. This was answered by one from Gov. Wentworth asserting the rights of New Hampshire in the premises. Finally the case was decided by the king in council, who on the 20th of July, 1764, passed an order declaring the western bank of Connecticut River from where it enters the Province of Massachusetts to the 45th degree of north latitude to be the boundary-line between the provinces of New Hampshire and New York. This was the beginning of a controversy which lasted in various forms for more than 20 years. It was finally amicably adjusted. The war having been happily closed by the conquest of Canada, the English government proposed to reim- burse themselves for some of the expense they had en- countered in its prosecution by taxing the Colonies. The measures taken for that purpose met with a decided op- position, and nowhere were these claims resisted more forcibly than in New Hampshire. Men whose whole lives had been a constant struggle for existence knew the value of their rights, and were determined to main- tain them. Some complaints having been made in England against Gov. Wentworth in relation to the grants of land and the manner of discharging his duties as survej'or-general of the forests, it was decided to remove him. His nephew, John Wentworth, being then in England, and in a posi- tion to favor him, so used his infiuence with the ministry- that he was permitted to resign instead of being censured and removed. Upon the resignation of Gov. Wentworth, John Went- worth was appointed governor and sur\'e3-or-general. He was a native of Portsmouth, a son of Mark Hunting Wentworth, and a graduate of Harvard College. He was received by the people with every mark of respect and affection, and exerted himself to merit their good opinion. During his administration agriculture and man- ufactures were encouraged, schools were established, roads built, and all proper means used to develop the resources of the Pro\'ince and promote the welfare of its inhabitants. But he had fallen upon evil times. Loyalty to the king was not consistent with loyalty to the people, and after an administration of eight years, he withdrew fi-om the Province, the last of the royal governors. In 1771 the Province was divided into five counties, three of which, Rockingham, Hillsborough and Cheshire were organized at once. Strafford and Grafton were an- nexed to Rockingham until 1773, when they were organ- ized. Five other counties have since been organized, — Coos in 1803, Merrimack in 1823, Sullivan in 1827, Bel- knap and Carroll in 1842. In the troubles preceding the Revolution the governor exerted himself to preserve the peace of the Province. NEW HAMPSHIRE. His prudence and the -Nagilance of the magistrates pre- vented an outbreak at Portsmouth when the East India Companj' sought to introduce their tea into the place. He endeavored, but without success, to prevent the sending of delegates to the Congress at Philadelphia. On the 14th of December, 1774, a companj' led l^y John SuUivan, John Langdon and Thomas Pickering, assaulted the fort at New Castle, and carried off barrels of gunpowder which were stored there. The next daj' another party removed 15 of the lightest cannon, all the small arms, and some other militarj' stores. Shortly- after a frigate and sloop arrived, with several companies of soldiers, whp took possession of the fort and the heavy artiUerj*. The assault upon the fort was an act of treason, and the governor felt it his duty to do all in his power to ar- rest the perpetrators. He accordingly issued a procla- mation calling upon all officers, civil and military, to assist in the effort, and exhorting and enjoining all of His Majesty's liege subjects to beware of suffering themselves to be seduced by the false arts or menaces of designing men. A member of the assembly, who had been expelled from the house, having spoken his mind freely in public, was assaulted by the people and took refuge in the gov- ernor's house. The people demanded him, and brought a gun mounted on a carriage to the door, upon which he was delivered up and conveyed to Exeter. The gov- ernor, deeming himself insulted, retired to the fort, and the house was pillaged. He finally sailed for Boston, but returned in the month of September to the Isles of Shoals, where he issued a proclamation, adjourning the assemblj' to the next April. This was the final act of his administration, and the last time he visited the Province. On the receipt of the news of the battle of Lexington, about 1,200 men marched from New Hampshire to join their brethren who had collected in arms in the vicinity of Boston. Of these some returned ; others formed them- selves into two regiments under the authoritj' of the Massachusetts convention. When the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire met thej^ voted to raise three regiments for the service of the country. The men were to serve until the last of the next December unless sooner discharged. The command of the regiments was given to John Stark, Enoch Poor and James Reed. Some 1,060 volunteers from New Hampshire, including Stark and Reed's regiments, and a full company from Ilollis in Col. Prescott's regiment, were engaged in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Gen. Sullivan making an appeal to the citizens of New Hampshire, for aid to strengthen the siege of Boston, 31 companies, numbering 2,058 men, were promptly raised, who remained until the evacuation of the city the following March. On the 5th day of January, 1776, a temporary consti- tution was adopted, to continue in force throughout the war with Cxreat Britain. Three regiments, numbering in the whole 2,000 men, were raised this year. Three hun- dred men were posted at the forts in Portsmouth harbor, and a regiment recruited in the western part of the State was sent to Canada to assist in the operations there. On leaving Boston, the three regiments went with Gen. Washington to New York. From thence thej' were sent up the Hudson and down the lakes to Canada, under the command of Gen. Sullivan, to reinforce the army sent the preceding year into that country-, which was now retreating before a superior force. They met the re- treating troops at tlie mouth of the Sorel. Their com- mander, Thomas, having died of the small-pox, and the second in command having been taken prisoner. Gen. Sullivan assumed the command and conducted the re- treat with great prudence. At St. John's the pursuit ceased. Nearly one-third part of the New Hampshire troops are said to have died from sickness this year. The forts of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence hav- ing been fortified by the militia from the neighboring States, the New Hampshire regiments continued their march to Pennsylvania, where they joined Gen. Wash- ington, and although they were worn down with fatigue and almost destitute of clothing, they participated in the battles of Trenton and Princeton. They remained in the army six weeks after their term of enlistment had ex- pired, and two regiments of militia which were sent as reinforcements remained until March. In 1777 the regiments were reorganized, and the term of enlistment extended to three 3'ears, or during the war. Stark, who considered himself superseded by the appoint- ment of Poor as brigadier-general, resigned his commis- sion and left the armj', his place being supplied bj' Joseph Cilley. Nathan Hale and Alexander Scammel commanded the other regiments. Thej- were stationed at Ticonderoga under the immediate command of Gen. Poor. On the approach of Gen. Burgoyne'a army, Ticon- deroga being found untenable, it was decided to evacuate it, and in the retreat the garrison were pursued b}' the British who overtook them at Hubbardston. In the action which ensued. Col. Hale with several other officers of his regiment and about 100 of his men, were taken prisoners. The main body of the army continued their retreat to Saratoga. The people of the New Hampshire grants, finding their HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. country invaded, wrote in the most pressing terms to the authorities of New Hampshire for assistance. The legis- lature was called together, but the prospect was gloomj-. Their means were nearly exhausted, manj- of their men were slain or in captivit}-, and a powerful foe was on their borders. For a time thej- sat in silence. At length John Langdon, the speaker of the House, left his place, and said : "I have $3,000 in hard money ; my plate will bring as much more. I have also 70 hogsheads of Tobago rum, which shall be sold for what it will bring. With the avails of this property we will organize an expedition, and mj' friend John Stark shall command it. If we suc- ceed, I may be repaid ; if we fail, the property is of no consequence." Within three days provision was made for the expedition, and Stark engaged to command it. The result of this expedition was the victory of the Americans over the British forces at Bennington, and the ultimate defeat of Burgoyne's army. John Langdon's speech at Exeter was the turning point of the Revolution. All danger of an invasion from Canada being removed, the New Hampshire regiments, in the year 1778, were engaged in the operations at New Jersey and other points in the Middle States. At the battle of ]Monmouth their bravery elicited the praise of Washington. In the summer of 1779 the New Hampshire brigade formed a part of the expedition sent under the command of Gen. Sullivan against the Indians in central New York. In 1780 the New Hampshire regiments served at West Point and in New Jersey, where Gen. Poor died. The next j'ear a part remained in New York, while the others were engaged in the operations around Yorktown, and witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis, which practi- callj' closed the war. Shortly before this event Gen. Scammel died. June 2, 1784, the new State Constitution went into operation. With the amendments made in 1792, 1851 and 1876, it remains in force at the present time. In 1786 the people of this State, in common with those of the neighboring States, were excited on the question of a supply of money. A mob at one time assembled around the court-house in Exeter when the legislature Was in session and held that body prisoners, demanding the passage of laws they deemed desirable to relieve them from their troubles. This outbreak was speedily quelled by the promptitude and firmness of President Sullivan. June 12, 1788, the delegates of the people of New Hampshire, assembled in convention at Concord, ratified the Constitution of United States. In the war of 1812, New Hampshire men retained the good name as soldiers won by their fathers in previous wars. Their prowess was displayed on many a bloody field, and the names of Miller, Cass, McNiel and Ripley, and their commands, will not soon be forgotten. In the recent war of the RebeUion the sons of New Hampshire were not behind their fellows. The quotas of the State were promptly filled, and her soldiers were found in the severely contested battles of that conflict, freely giving their lives for the sake of the Republic. The State prison was erected at Concord in 1812, and shortly' after a revision of the criminal laws was made. The number of capital oflFences was diminished and imprisonment substituted for the whip and the pillory. A large addition was made to the penitentiary in 1832. In 1877, the latter being filled and inconvenient for the management of the inmates, provision was made for the erection of new prison buildings at some distance from the village. These are now in process of construction. Concord having been fixed upon as the permanent capital of the State the erection of a State house was commenced in 1816. It was completed in 1819. In 1863-4 the house was enlarged and refitted. The New Hampshire Bank, incorporated in 1791, was the first banking institution established in the State. Near the close of 1804 the first cotton-factorj' in New Hampshire was put in operation at New Ipswich. It was used at first in the manufacture of cotton yam. The fii-st cloth woven by a power-loom in the State was under the direction of John Steele at Peterborough, in May, 1818. From small beginnings the manufacture of cotton goods has become one of the most important branches of industry in the State. Villages and cities have sprung up around the falls in the water-courses ; old busi- ness centres have been deserted, and new ones better adapted to meet the wants of the population have arisen. Besides the cotton manufactures, other branches of industry have sprung up, giving employment to thou- sands of the people. In October, 1838, the Nashua and Lowell Railroad was opened to Nashua. In the following year the Bos- ton and Maine Railroad was opened to East Kingston. From these lines others have been built, so that but few of the towns are without railroad facilities. We have thus glanced at the history of New Hamp- shire since its settlement. The struggle for existence in which its early settlers were involved, fostered a race of hardy, self-reliant men, who have left their impress upon their descendants, and probably at this day no half million of people exist on the face of the globe superior in intelligence and enterprise to those who claim New Hampshire as a birth-place. HI H- PUT R(0 '."Whiip "M(Tiral;nni;-. NEW HAMPSHIRE. BELKNAP COUNTY. BY BEV. LEANDEB Perhaps no more suggestive statement describing this county can be made, tlian that it furnishes the larger part of the shore of New Hampshire's crystal gem, Lake Winnipiseogee. By what authority the orthography of our childhood's memory has been ch:nig"d It is filled with islands ; It is said there are 365, one for each day in the year. But as this is affirmed of several other places, it is to be doubted if this statement is correct. The lake is 30 miles long, and nearly 15 wide, and nostles among tlic mountains, which form the southern RATTLESNAKB ISLAND, LAKE -WINNrPISEOGEE. we do not know. But to-day the above is accepted as the coiTect name of the lake, which Indian tradition informs us signifies " The smile of the Great Spirit." The Creator's orthography, by which he has written its meaning before our eyes, has never changed. Even in winter, when its mask of ice covers with a sterner mean- ing, and hides the smile, it still is beautiful in its repose. But when the hills which so nearly encu'cle it are covered with their summer garbs ; when the fields at their bases are ripening for the harvest ; when the elegant steamers that ply its waters begin their trips ; when the summer resorts around it are astir with the throngs which come to rest and admire, then the lake is simply entrancing. extremity of the White Mountain cluster. On the north rise the old gray mountains of Tamworth and Ossipee. To the west Mount Bellinap and Mount Major. ' To the south-west the hills of Alton Bay. To the south-east the more even lands of Wolfborough break the moun- tainous monotony. The outlet of the lake is about 20 miles from its southern extremity on the western shore, and is the source of the world-renowned Merrimack ; a river not as grand as the Connecticut or Penobscot, in- deed, but much mightier than they in power. The main feeder of the lake is the Merrymeeting River, which has its rise from a lakelet of the same name in the town of New Durham, not 25 miles in an air-line from the At- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. lantic. There is a tradition, that the waters of this river once flowed down the Cocheco Valley, the head-waters of which river flow south-east within a very short distance of where the Merrj-meeting flows north-west, seeking the Merrimack tlirough the lake, making the distance of nearly 200 miles to reach the sea, only 25 miles from its source. There is some indication of this. Just before the Merrymeeting flows into the lake, at Alton Hay, it cuts its way through a " horseback." to distinguish between the terms incorporated and char- tered. The former is the term used to define the act of New Hampshire as a sovereign State. The latter is the term used to define the act of the British Crown, either dii-ect or through a governor appointed by the crown. Old Gilmanton was granted, by a charter from King George, to 24 persons by the name of Gilman, and to 152 other subjects of Groat Britain. Mav i:^. 17-27. The ILTON EAY. which once must have formed a lake whose waters would perhaps have flowed the other way. The growths of trees, and all the conditions of the ' ' cut " through which the river flows, show it to be of quite recent formation. This county was originally a part of old Strafford, and was incorporated Dec. 22, 1840. Its present population is 18,549. There are ten towns in Belknap County. The early history of the countj- will be introduced into that of the towns, whose history antedates many years the incorpo- ration of the countj'. Towns. GiLMANTOK. — There are towns to-day in the county of greater importance and influence than this. But in the early pioneer history, this town leads. It may be well here following is the heading and declaration of the charter making the grant : — " George, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, &c. "To all people to whom these presents shaU come, greeting : " Know that we of our especial knowledge and mere motion, for the encouragement of settling a new planta- tion, by and with the consent of our council have given and granted, and by these presents, as far as in us lies, do give and grant, in equal shares, to sundry of beloved subjects, whose names are in a schedule hereunto an- nexed." It will be seen by this that the history of Gilmanton takes us well back into colonial days, when Portsmouth was an important town full of loj-al subjects of the crown ; NEW HAMPSHIRE. to days when the hardj- settlers had to battle not only with inhospitable forests, but also with the savages. For j'ears the only approach was through bridle-paths from Dover. And now, while the tides of modern travel thunder on railwa3'S up the vallej-s of the Merrimack and Cocheco ; while the steamers on the lake take the place of the canoes of the savages, for travel and commerce, the old cemetery and Smith's meeting-house, on Meet- ing-house Hill, the old theological seminary, long since Dec. 30, 1768. It was originally called New Salem. The situation of this town, and its scenery upon the shore of the lake, render it a favorite summer resort. It is an excellent farming town, and has considerable mechanical and mercantile enterprise. The population is 1,807. Sanbornton was chartered March 1, 1770. This is an agricultural town. By its dismemberment the thriv- ing towns of Tilton and Franklin came into existence. abandoned to be used as a simimer resort — Andover and Bangor ha-^dng taken its place — all stand, along with the square old mansions of Gilmanton Corner, as stranded evi- dences of New England's early civiUzation and enterprise. Gilmanton has furnished her quota of men in every war for national integrity. She has enriched the man- hood of the Commonwealth with many noble names. Every walk of life, ci-\ic, military and commercial, has been honored and adorned by the noble sons of this, one of our oldest towns. Population, 1,644. Baknstead was chartered March 28, 1761. Rev. Joseph Adams and others received this territory as a grant from the crown as early as Maj' 20, 1727. This is one of the best farming towns in the State. The Sun- cook River passes through the town. Population, 1.544. Meredith is the next in the historical order, and was chartered by John Wentworth, the provincial governor. The town lies to the west of Meredith, and has a popu- lation of 1,236. New Hampton was chartered in 1777, and had pre- viouslj' been known as Moultonborough Addition. The name of this town was given by Gov. Wentworth in honor of his native town. The Freewill Baptist denomi- nation has a flourishing school here, the " New Hampton Literary and Biblical Institution." The business of the town is agriculture. Population, 1,257. Alton, a large, irregular-shaped town, diversified by mountain and lake scenerj^, was incorporated in 1796. The place is delightful as a summer resort. The beauti- ful steamer " Mount Washington " makes daily trips across the lake, connecting with the Boston and Maine Railroad trains. The Advent camp-grounds are situated at the Bay. A fine hotel accommodates the many visitors who resort here for health or pleasure. Population, 1 ,800. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Centre Harbor was incorporated in 1797. It is chiefly noted as a summer resort. The Boston and Maine Company's steamer makes two daily trips to this town during the travelling season. The Senter House, one of the most elegant summer homes in the White Mountain region, is always open, and many smaller and less pretentious houses furnish delightful homes. The scenery around Centre Harbor, northward toward the White Mountains, and southward over the lake, is not surpassed in the world for loveliness, although it may be in grandeur. The population of the town is 515. Gilford, incorporated in 1812, was taken from Gil- manton. The enterprising place known as Lake Village is situated in this town, although it is more intimately, associated with Laconia, which it joins, and forms with it really one village. Population, 3,361. Laconia, although in area one of the smallest towns in the county, and one of the most recently or- ganized, being incorporated in 1855, and taken from Meredith, is the most important town in the county. It is the county seat. Through this town, the vast supplies of water which enter the world-renowned Merrimack from Lake Winnipiseogee, flow, furnishing an excellent water-power which is well improved for manufacturing purposes. The population of the town is 3,100. TiLTON, a thriving town of 1,147 inhabitants, and for- merly a part of Sanbornton, known as Sanbornton Bridge, was incorpoi'ated in 18G9. It is the seat of the New Hampshire Conference Seminary and Female College. Interesting Indian relics are found here. Belmont, also incorporated in 1869, was taken from old Gilmanton, before noticed. Population, 2,185. CARROLL COUNTY EY HON. LARKIN D. MASON. The early history of Carroll County must be taken in connection with that of Straff'ord till the year 1840. At that time, this county, together with Belknap, was given an independent organization. The south-western border of the county is washed by the waters of Lake Winni- piseogee, and a portion of its northern boundary extends through the midst of mountains. It is estimated that more than half its surface is covered with lakes or mountains. Towns. WoLFBOROTJGH, a town of 2,000 inhabitants, on the eastern shore of Lake Winnipiseogee, is the most impor- tant town in the county. The scenery is of surpassing beauty. On the east and north, the lofty mountains of Ossipee and Tuftonborough rear their towering heads, while numerous lakes nestle within the broad, rich valleys lying between the woody hills of the town. At the foot of a hill near one of these lakelets is a mineral spring, which is a place of considerable resort. With these natural attractions, and the ample facilities of the fine hotels to give entertainment to summer guests, Wolfborough may be styled the Saratoga of Carroll County, and perhaps of New Hampshire. This town was granted, in 1770, to Gen. John Went- worth, Mark H. Wentworth, and others. Among the first settlers were John Flagg, Joseph Larry, James Lucas, John Kennet, Benjamin Blake and William Rogers. These early settlers were mostly poor. Horses and oxen were not generally possessed ; hence there was a great demand for physical strength. The necessary articles of food were brought on the shoulders of men from Gilmanton, Rochester, and other more distant towns. The first person who permanently established himself in town was Benjamin Blake, a hardj' and some- what eccentric man, who often remained in his field for days, taking his food and sleeping upon the bare earth. He served for a time in the northern army ; and when returning from Ticonderoga, walked the entire distance home barefoot, though the ground was partially' covered with snow. Of himself and worthy wife are related many incidents illustrative of their hardihood. Jona- than, a son born soon after their arrival at Wolfborough, became one of the most promising citizens of the town. William Fullerton, another of the earliest settlers, was drowned while attempting to ford the strait between the inner and outer bays near Smith's bridge, soon after he removed his family to the township. James Lucas was the moderator at the first town meeting, and his de- scendants are still prominent citizens. Jonathan Larry NEW HAMPSHIRE. held paternal relation to the child who first raised its infantile cry in Wolfborough. Reuben Libby made a incorporated, Feb. 22, 1829. The first minister in town was Rev. Samuel Arnold, settled in 1829. The Ports- WOLFBOROUGH. permanent settlement in town, and stocked it with cattle. I mouth, Great He married Sarah Fullerton, and this was the first mar- | tions in this riage solemnized in the town. The first meeting-house erect- ed in Wolfborough was the one known as the town meeting- house, which was oc- cupied by the Con- gregationalists until the death of their pastor, Mr. Allen, in 1806. Afterwards it was occupied by min- isters of different de- nominations till the year 1840, when it was converted into a town-house. The population numbers about 2,000. OssiPEE, south of Tamworth, is the shire town of the i Sandwich county. It was originally called New Garden, and was town in the WOLFIiOKOUOII. Falls and Conway Railroad has four sta- town. West Ossipee is a favorite resort for summer boarders. John G. Whittier, the poet, has spent a portion of the sum- ! nioi, for many con- secutive years, at (he Bearcamp River House. The popu- tion numbers 1,822. This town was, a few years since, the scene of a revolting nuu'der. A man by tlie name of Abbott killed his wife, and attempted his own destruction, but was auested, tried, and sentenced to State prison for 30 j'ears. , having a population of 1,85-1, is the first : L'ounty in tlu' iirodiiction of fruit and maple j HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. sugar. It was granted to Gov. Benning Wentwortli in I 1763, and comprised sis square miles. In 1764, the grantees received additional territory on the east and j south sides. This was incorporated, Oct. 25, 1768, and was called, " Sandwich Addition." Rev. Daniel Smith, settled in 1827, was the first minister. The first house was built in 1725, on land now owned by William M. Weed, Esq. The scenery of this town is very beautiful. Not less than a thousand persons spend their summer vacations beside the mountain streams in this vicinity. In Octo- ber, 1820, after a long drouth, a hea-\-j- rain set in, and continued for several days, causing a heavj- slide from Mount Whiteface into the valley at its base. A deep ra\-ine was formed in its sides for several miles in extent. Hon. Isaac Adams, the distinguished inventor of the power-press, has his residence in this town, and gives emplojTnent to a large number of men. Conway, containing 1,607 inhabitants, and the second town in the county in importance, was first settled in 1764-5, by James and Benjamin Osgood and others. Conway village (Pequackett) , on the Great Falls and Conway Railroad, contains a savings bank and an ex- tensive machine-peg manufactory. Conway Centre, a flourishing rural hamlet, is the resi- dence of Hon. Joel Eastman. North Conway has become a city of hotels, and it is estimated that 2,000 strangers spend a portion of the summer months in this enchanting village, besides the tens of thousands who are transient visitors. This region is a favorite resort for artists, no other place affording finer views of Mount Washington. The house on Mount Kearsarge looms before the \asitor as from no other standpoint. The Portland and Ogdensburg Rail- road intersects the Great Falls and Conway Railroad in this village. Conwaj^ Academy, a well-managed literary institution, and several churches, furnish educational and religious facilities. The Kearsarge House, of extensive reputation, has accommodations for 300 permanent boarders. The broad and fertile interval on the south side of the street, with the Saco River meandering through it, together with the grand sceneiy of the mountains, give an almost enchanting variety of landscape to this most favored town. Tamworth, a town of 1,344 inhabitants, in the north- ern central part of the county, was granted Oct. 14, 1766, to Jonathan Moulton and others. The first per- manent white settler was Mark Jewell, who came about the j-ear 1770. This town was the head-quarters of the Rev. Samuel Hidden, celebrated for his efforts in behalf of the cause of education in Carroll County. He was for man}' years the faithful pastor of the Congregational church, being ordained in 1792. The place chosen for the ceremonj-, was a huge rock in the wilderness, capable of seating 20 people on its flat top. The scene was at once novel and striking. In 1862, the seventieth anniversar}- of this event was celebrated, and a monument erected commemorating the ordination. At this meeting four persons were pres- ent who, 70 years before, had attended the ordination ser\ice. Tamworth is well watered by the Beareamp and Swift rivers, which oflfer valuable water-power. The largest manufactory of rakes in the world is run by Beareamp water at South Tamworth. The first cut nails manufac- tured bj' machinery in New Hampshire, were made in this town bj- Samuel Folsom. The first screw-auger ever made was invented by Nathaniel Weed, a mechanic in this town. Iron was manufactured from ore taken from the bed of Ossipee Lake, from about 1775 to 1810. In 1876, a scene of tragic character was enacted in this heretofore quiet and peaceful town. The scene was at the beautiful Chocurua Lake, where resided one Syl- vester W. Cone. Becoming enraged at some intrusive fellows who attempted to bathe in the lake within sight of his family, he, instead of taking proper measures for their arrest and punishment, fatally shot the leader of the company who was advancing toward him. After a prolonged trial. Cone was sentenced to Concord prison for 30 years. MouLTONBOROUGH is Situated north of Lake Winnipi- seogee, and touches Squam Lake on the west. It has a population of 1,300. Red Hill, which rises about 2,000 feet above the level of the sea, is composed of a beauti- ful sienite, in which the feldspar is of a gray ash color. Near the summit, where the ledges of rock are exposed to the action of the air, the rock is of a reddish hue. The first frosts always change the foliage a deep crimson, from which fact the eminence received its name. This town was granted Nov. 17, 1763, by the Maso- nian proprietors to Col. Jonathan Moulton. The first house of public worship was erected in 1773, and was blown down by a violent east wind in 1819. The Con- gregational church was formed in 1777, and Rev. Samuel Perley was the first minister. In October, 1767, a colony containing thirteen families, settled in Moultonborough, which township was owned mostly at this time by Gen. Jonathan Moulton of Hamp- ton. These families appear to have been the first to make a permanent settlement. One of the colonists, a NEW HAMPSHIRE. 607 boy 14 years old, tired of this kind of life, resolved to recross the lake on the ice to Alton Bay and return to Old Hampton. He was found three days after near the Weirs, completely exhausted and nearly frozen. He was conveyed to Portsmouth, and had both legs amputated, and the knee-caps removed. He recovered, and after- wards wore a boot resembling a huge oval box. For half a century he was a wanderer among the hills of Car- roll County, and known to aU its inhabitants as Uncle Nat. Mason. He died in Old Hampton in 1836. The Ossipee tribe of Indians once resided in this vicin- ity, and some 3'ears since a tree was standing in Moulton- V)orough, on which was carved in hieroglj-phics, the his- tory of their expeditions. Many native implements and relics have been found, indicating this to have been at one time their favorite residence. In 1820, on a small island in Lake Winnipiseogee, was found a curious gun- barrel, much worn by rust and age, divested of its stock, and enclosed in the body of a pitch-pine tree 16 inches in diameter. About GO years ago, at the mouth of Mel- vin River, a gigantic skeleton was found which had been buried in the sandy soil, apparently that of a man more than seven feet high. In August, 1784, a huge bear attacked a child of Mr. Leach, who had been sent to a pasture with a horse. Be- fore the father could reach the spot, the bear took up the l)oy and fled to the woods, in the very sight of the father, It being night-fall, pursuit was impracticable. The parents, after a night of anguish, discovered the hat and the bridle which the boy had with him, and following a trail of blood about 40 rods, found the mangled bodj', one tliigh partly consumed by the savage beast. The latter was discovered near the spot and killed. Wakefield is situated on the Eastern Raihoad, 50 miles north-east from Concord. The former name of the town was East Town, and it was incorporated Aug. 30, 1774. The surface is broken and hilly, and dotted here and there with ponds. Province Pond lies for 450 rods on the boundary between this town and Effingham. The principal branch of the Piscataqua River takes its rise from East Pond in the south-eastern part of the town. Capt. John Lovewell surprised and destroyed a party of Indians in the early days, near the eastern shore of a large pond lying in the south part of the town. This pond was named from him, Lovewell's Pond. Pine- River Pond is the source of a river of the same name. • Upon the summit of this mountain is a commodious summer hotel. The view from this house is grand, the White Mountains on the west, and the ocean on the east, being plainly visible. t About 1788 Col. Jerry Oilman, from Plaistow, N. H., Esquire Weed, Mr. Mead and Mr. Emerson settled the inteiTal lying east of Chocu- These sheets of water afford several very valuable mill- privileges. Along the streams there is considerable interval, which is very productive and well cultivated. The Congregational chm'ch was organized in 1785. Rev. Asa Piper was the first minister. The scenery of the town is fine, and the place has been quite a favorite resort for tourists. It has a popu- lation of 1,185. Two celebrated lawyers, Josiah Hobbs and his son Frank, were born in this town. TuFTONBORODGH, ou the north-cast shore of Lake Winnipiseogee, was originally granted to J. Tufton Mason. It was settled about 1780, and incorporated Dec. 17, 1795. Among the early settlers were Benja- min Beau, Phineas Graves and Joseph Peavey. Rev. Joseph KeUum (CongregationaUst), was the first minis- ter (1800). The number of inhabitants is about 950. Effingham was settled but a few years before the Revolution. It was first called Lea\'itt's Town. It was incorporated Aug. 18, 1778. Rev. Gideon Burt was the first settled minister. He entered upon his duties as pastor of the Congregational church in 1803 and was dismissed in 1805. The best water-power in the county is at Effingham Falls. Iron was formerly manufactured by this power from ore taken from Ossipee Lake. Population, 904. The towns of Carroll County not previously described are : — Freedom, incorporated in 1831 ; population, 738 ; formerly called North Effingham, and having an impor- tant lumber business: Eaton, granted in 1766; pop- ulation, 656 : Madison, set off from Eaton in 1852 ; population, 646, including a valuable mineral region : Baktlett, incorporated in 1790, having at present 630 inhabitants, and containing beds of iron-ore : Jackson, incorporated under the name of Adams in 1800, receiv- ing its present name in honor of President Jackson in 1829 ; population, 475, having an inexhaustible supply of tin and iron ore : Chathaji, a town of 450 inhabi- tants, originally granted in 1767, and containing the noted Kiarsarge Mountain,* 3,400 feet high, and Bald- face Mountain 3,600 feet high : Brookfield, incorporated in 1794; population, 416; the scene of the revolting murder in 1875 of Susan Hanson by James Buzzell : and Albany, t granted in 1766, called Burton until 1833, having a population of 340. From 1790 to 1793, a linen manufactory, established bj'' Col. Jerry Oilman, was operated in the latter town, and was the only estab- lishment of the kind ever known in the State. ma, which bid fair to be a fine farming section, till a murrain called Bur- ton-ail appeared among their neat-stock, and swept off their herds. The progress of the town was greatly retarded by this disease, render- ing it almost impossible to raise cattle. Superstition and tradition point to the curse of Chocurua as the cause. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. CHESHIKE COUNTY. WILLIAM E. GRAVES. The snow was Ijnng deep, covering the rude stone walls and fences, that faintlj' traced the lines of almost obliterated roads ; 3-et, in the meadows, the fleecy mantle seemed to soften and to slowlj' settle and sink away un- der the bi-ight sun and westerl3' winds of a cheery spring morning, near the close of a long and dreary winter. As the daj' advanced and the roads were broken out, the fanners sought the woods where the air was fragrant with the breath of pines. Noon came, and with it, warmth ; and as the hours of afternoon sped on, the fainter blue of the sky, and lengthening shadows, foretold the approach of evening. But long before the sun had set behind the distant Monadnock, the last important work of the Colonial legislature of New Hampshire had been accomplished, and John Wentworth, its last Pro- vincial governor, had approved the act of March 19, 1771, forming that Province into counties — five in num- ber — the one nearest the west bearing the title of Cheshire, from a county of that name in the west of England. Nearly 150 j^ears had passed since the landing within the Province of a company of European colonists at a place now known as Dover Point. Beyond a doubt, they were the first white men whose feet had pressed that barren soil. Leanng home and friends for a cheerless wilderness — the abode of uncivilized Indians — these Colonists had suffered hardships almost beyond endur- ance. Dover, Portsmouth, Exeter and Hampton had been settled ; Charles II. had made New Hampshire a roj'al Province ; its destinies had been swayed 133' various provincial governors ; and now its last royal ruler — hav- ing signed the act dividing it into counties — was about to leave the land of his birth, a voluntary exile, never more to return.* Time passed on, and the long struggle of the Revolu- tion followed. During that eventful period, and for many years in the present century, the old charter of Cheshire embraced numerous towns not included in its I present limits. As the count}" increased in wealth and population, the courts were burdened with business, and • Gov. John Wentworth left New Hampshire at the beginning of the I Revolution. He died at Haliiiix in 1820. a part of its territory was set ofl^ to form a new county. At a later period the State legislature of New Hampshire passed an act dated Jan. 2, 1827, defining the boundaries of Cheshire as follows: "Beginning at the south-east corner of Rindge ; then westerly bj' the State line to the west bank of Connecticut River ; thence, up the same bank to the north-west corner of Walpole ; thence by the northerlj' lines of "Walpole, Alstead, Marlow and Stoddard, to the line of the county of Hillsborough ; thence, by the line of the last-mentioned county to the bounds first mentioned." Fiftv j'ears have passed since the passage of that act, and the boundaries of Cheshire remain almost undisturbed. At the present time the county contains 22 towns, including the city of Keene, for many 3'ears its capital or count^'-seat. By no means a level territorj", Cheshire abounds in pleasant plains. The largest of these lies in the lovelj- valley of the Ashuelot River, and forms the site of Keene. Here, a large area of open country — ^three miles in extent, and about the same in width — forms one of the finest plateaus of fertile meadow and rich interval land to be found in the State. Many similar vallej-s, smaller in size, but mostly light sandy plains bordered bj- upland, are scattered throughout the various towns. As a whole, the surface is generallv uneven, with a few prominent elevations like the Ashuelot Mountains, and the Monadnock, regarded bj' geographers as a continua- tion of the White Mountain range. The county of Cheshire contains almost everj' variety of soil, and much of it is good. Along the vallej- of the Connecticut River which washes its western border, the soil is unsurpassed for general agricultural purposes, and abundant crops amplj- repay the farmer for his toil. Both the Ashuelot and the Sugar rivers flow into the Connecticut, the western bank of which forms the bound- ary between New Hampshire and Vermont. The first named of these rivers has its source from a pond in the town of Washington, Sullivan County ; and after receiv- ing two branches from Keene and Swanzey, and several smaller streams in Winchester, empties into the Con- necticut River at Hinsdale, in the extreme south-western corner of the county. Sugar River flows from the west NEW HAMPSHIRE. side of Lake Sunapee, where it lias its source, and pass- ing tiirough Newport and Claremont, unites witli the Connecticut. The Ashuelot and its tributaries, and the head Ijranches of tlie Contoocook, witli other streams, supply an abundance of water for manufacturing and otlier purposes. Lakes Sunapee and SpafTord are Lirge sheets of water, in the latter of whicli is a picturesque island, containing about eight acres. Mount Monadnock, — mostly in Dub- lin, but partly- in Jaffrey, and the highest mountain in the county — is 3,450 feet above the level of the sea. The well-known Bellows Falls on the Connecticut River in Walpole, are the finest in the county of Cheshire. The Cheshire Railroad, from Fitchburg, Mass., to Bellows Falls, Vt., and the Ashuelot Railroad from South Ver- non, Vt., to the city of Keene, are wholly within this county. Cheshire belongs to the third judicial district, a law- term for which is held annually on the first Tuesday' in July. There are two jury terms for the Supremo Judi- cial Court, and for the Court of Common Pleas, both commencing at the same time, on the third Tuesdays of March and September. The vicissitudes of a New England climate are less strongl}- marked in Cheshire, than in counties bordering on the seacoast ; and its exceeding healthfulness is shown by manj' noteworthy instances of longevity, and by a sustained and gradual growth which neither war, pestilence, nor emigration has been able to overcome. In 1 77.5 the countj' was peopled by a stern and hardy race of men, who made the forests recede to give place to the comfortable habitations and cultivated farms of civilization. The earliest settlement in this county was made about the year 1G82 at Hinsdale, then a part of Northfield, and imder the government of Massachusetts. This town was incorporated in 1753, receiving its name from Col. Ebenezer Hinsdale, at that time a prominent resident of the place. It was settled as earlj- as 1G83, and was formerl3' known as Fort Dummer, and later as "Bridg- man's Fort." In common with all frontier settlements, it suffered severely during the Indian wars. At the time the fort was built, murders were frequent, and captures of the settlers an almost every-day occuiTence One of the band of Indians who attacked this fort in 1746, was killed by Daniel How, who was at last taken prisoner. In the Indian assault of 1747, the savages killed several, took others prisoners, and finally burned down the gar- rison. The fort was re-built, but was afterwards attacked in 1748, when three persons were killed and seven cap- tured ; and again, in 1755, when two were killed and one taken prisoner. The Rev. Bunker Gay, a Harvard grad- uate, settled over the first Congregational church formed here in 17G3, died in 1815. A Baptist church was or- ganized in 1808. Remains of an Indian fortification, l)uilt before the settlement of the town, maj' be seen on the point of a hill not far from the Connecticut River. Tlie Indians were also a source of much trouble to the early inhabitants of Swanzcy, whose settlers came prin- cipally from Massachusetts, which gave the first grant of that town in 1733, when the plantation bore the name of Lower Ashuelot, from the Indian name of the river, which was originally Ashaolock. Being unprotected b3' Jlassachusetts whose jurisdiction they then acknowl- edged, the settlers were forced to abandon the place in 1747, burying in the ground all their most valuable ar- ticles of furniture. During, the absence of the settlers, all their buildings with a single exception, were destro3'ed. Three j-ears afterward the former inhabitants returned ; and when the boundary lines between New Hampshire and Massachusetts were finallj- adjusted, Swanzej^ was incorporated by the former State in 1753. The Rev. Timothy Harrington, a native of Waltham, Mass., the first minister of the Congregational church, organized in 1741, lost the records of the societj' when his house was burned by the Indians in 1745. In consequence of the war, he withdrew from the town in 1747, resigning his right to a lot of land given to the first pastor, and pre- senting the church and society a costly silver chalice. He was settled at Lancaster, Mass., in the following year, and died Dec. 18, 1795, at the age of 80. In the month of October, 1753, Keene and Swanzej- united in support of the gospel, and this union continued about seven j'ears. Rev. Ezra Carpenter, the first minister of the Union So- ciety-, remained wiih the people of Swanzey, after the dissolution. The Baptist church in this place was founded about the year 1804. In the westerly' part of Cheshire County, 55 miles from Concord, 60 from Dartmouth College, and 80 from Boston, lies Keene, first settled under the authority of Mason, in 1 734, by parties who remained onl^- for a short time. The first who attempted to pass the winter in Keene encountered many hardships, and left before the winter expired. At this time the lines between New Hampshire and Massachusetts had not been determined, and it was generally supposed that the valley of the Ashuelot would fall within the boundaries of the latter. The town was then called Upper Ashuelot, which means in the Indian language " a collection of many waters." Upper Ashuelot was a frontier settlement in the bosom of the wilderness, and was much exposed to Indian as- saults — its nearest neighbor being Northfield, Mass., 20 HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. miles distant ; while Winchester (Lower Ashuelot) , al- though first granted, was almost uninhabited. The town of Keene was originally laid out in lots of eight rods front and 150 deep, 54 being on the main street, — 27 on each side ; and in 1736, the proprietors voted to erect a meeting-house, " 40 feet by 35, and 20 feet stud," at the south end of main street, the building to be completed some time in the month of June, 1737. During the fol- lowing year. Rev. Jacob Bacon,* a native of Waltham, and a graduate of Harvard, was settled as the first min- ister. The same year a fort was erected, for protection from the Indians, who, in 1745, killed Josiah Fisher, a deacon of the church. A savage attack upon the town was made in the following j'car, when all took refuge in the fort, which was assailed on every side. During the attack, relief came from Swanze3-, when the savages sud- denly decamped, carrying off the cattle, and burning every house in town. The inhabitants remained in the fort till 1747, and then abandoned the settlement. In 1 750, fiftj-'two inhabitants returned to Keene, which was incorporated in 1753, under its present name, prob- ably in honor of an English nobleman, Sir Benjamin Keene, British minister at Spain, and cotemporary with Gov. Wentworth who granted the charter. The Indians who visited the town between the years 1754-55, com- mitted no important depredations. Benjamin Twichell, whom they carried to Quebec, died on his return to Bos- ton. The old town of Keene proved herself especially patriotic during the war of the Revolution, On the afternoon of the day on which occurred the murderous attack of British troops upon the peaceable farmers of Lexington, there was raised a company which started for Concord the next morning, under command of Capt. Wj-man. He was present at the battle of Bunker Hill. At a later period, certain contemplated assaults upon the few "Tories" in the neighborhood, were prevented by the humanity and forbearance of the good people of Keene ; and several disturbances which occurred in 1782, regarding the adjustment of a divisional line between New Hampshire and Vermont, were at last amicably settled. Two farms were annexed to Keene from Swan- zey, in 1812. On the east side of INIain Street there formerlj' stood a neat little public house called " Shurtleflfs Hotel," kept by Bononi Shurtlefl!", whose wife was a sister of the famous Thomas 0. Selfridge of Boston, and whose three or four daughters were genteel, sprightlj', intelligent young ladies, ambitious of displaj', and of setting a rich and elegant table. Here a select few, the elite of the • He served as minister till 1747, when, the settlement bcin^ broken up, he went to Plymouth. He died at Rowley, in 1787, aged 81. New Hampshire bar, were wont to resort during the sit- tings of the court. In 1815, the companj' consisted of i the chief justice, Jeremiah Smith, Daniel Webster, Geo. | Baxter Upham, Judge Ellis, Judge Hubbard of Ver- mont, Roger Vose of Walpole, Le^i Chamberlain and his elder brother, John C. Chamberlain. The feast of fat things which came out of the mouth when this com- pany w^ere seated at the table, was more exhilarating than that which went in. For comic wit, Vose had no superior in New England ; for refined intellectual acu- men. Judge Smith was not surpassed. No matter where placed, — on the bench, in the halls of legislation, in a popular assembly, or in a compan}' of young ladies, — he was sure to be first, imparting pleasure and instruction to each, and commanding the admiration of all. Web- ster was graceful and dignified in manner, uttering but few words, but those always forcible. It is deser\-ing of mention that a female high school was established here by a Miss Fiske, about the year 1810, and was continued for 20 or 30 j-ears with great success and credit to herself, and to her numerous pupils far and near. Gov. Washburn, in his history of Lan- caster Academy, speaking of the first female teacher of that institution. Miss Holmes, — a young lady of dis- tinguished learning, ability and accomplishments, — says " she was educated at that excellent school, whose repu- tation was so long sustained, and at which so many of the best- trained minds of New England were educated, — Miss Fiske's, of Keene." Miss Fiske, in her quiet, unobtrusive employments, accomplished much for the public good, and deservedly will her memory be en- shrined in manj' grateful hearts. Another town granted by the Masonian proprietors and incorporated in the year 1774, on the anniversary of Washington's birthday, February 22, was named Pack- ersfield, from Thomas Packer, who owned about one- half of the township. The town was originally called " Monadnock No. 6." The first settlement was com- menced in 1767 by Breed Batchelder, followed in 1768 by that of Dr. Nathaniel Breed. The Rev. Jacob Foster, first minister of the Congregational church, formed in 1781, was dismissed in 1791, and died Dec. 3, 1798, at the age of 66. Rev. Gad Newell, a graduate of Yale, succeeded to the pastorate in 1794, and served 42 jears, greatly beloved and esteemed. In 1814, the name of the town was changed to Nelson. On the boundary between New Hampshire and Mas- sachusetts, in the southern part of Cheshire County is Richmond, incorporated in 1752, and settled five j'oars later bj' emigrants from Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The first native of the town was born in 1757, and the NEW HAMPSHIRE. first Baptist church was formed in 1768. Rev. Maturiii Ballou, ordained in 1770, died in 1804. Rev. Artemas Aldrich was settled in 1777. A second Baptist church was organized in 1776, and Rev. Isaac Kenney was or- dained pastor in 1792. There was formerly a large societ}' of Friends in Richmond. A notable instance of promptness ,n answering the summons " to arms !" occurred in the town of Rindgc, whose inhabitants were early opposers of British tyranny. On the night subsequent to the murderous Are of the English troops at Lexington, a messenger arrived at the house of the captain of the company of minute-men, with news of the commencement of hostilities. The men be- longing to this companj' lived in various parts of the town ; and so ready were they to obey the summons for men that at sunrise on the following April morning no less than 54 were assembled on the common readj' to march and meet the foe. Three of this number fell at Bunker Hill. From its earliest settlement, Rindge has been constant in support of the ministr}'. The town was incorporated in 17G8, and for a period of 92 3ears had onlj' three pastors. The first minister, Rev. Seth Dean, served 15 j-ears ; the second. Rev. Dr. Pajson, 37 j-ears ; and the third. Rev. A. W. Burnham, about 40 j-ears. The Congregational church, the first in town, was organ- ized in 1765. The first native was Samuel Russell. Another of the Jlasonian proprietors, George JaflTre}', gave his name to a Cheshire County town, incorporated in 1773, previous to which time the place had been known as " Monadnock No. 2." At the first town meeting, held iu the autumn of the same j'ear, it was voted to procure the services of a minister. In 1774, it was decided to build a meeting-house " 60 feet by 45, posts 27 feet," with a porch at each end of the house, — " the frame of the building to be raised by the middle of June, 1775, and be finished by the first of June, 1776." It is worthy of record that the frame of this church is asserted to have been raised on the memorable June 17, 1775, and that those engaged in its erection heard the report of the cannon discharged at Bunker Hill. The edifice was not completed for many years, doubtless owing to the un- settled state of the times in consequence of the war. Although money was annually' raised to pay for preach- ing, pulpit ministrations were infrequent until 1780, and no regularly settled minister was employed till 1782, when Rev. Laban Ainsworth, a graduate of Dartmouth, was installed as pastor, and continued alone in the work for nearly half a century.* » From 1830, the active duties of the ministry were performed Ijy a junior pastor. Mr. Ainsworth died Mareh 17, 1858, aged 100 years 7 months and 28 days. The famous Mount Monadnock, — a solid mass of coarse granite and rough slate rock, interspersed with mica, quartz and garnets ; its eastern side abounding in plumbago, good for crucibles, but not fine enough for pencils, — lies on the boundary' line between JafTrej' and Dublin, but mostly in the former town. Many years ago, the mountain was nearly covered with evergreen wood of a large growth ; but the repeated ravages of fire have left nothing but bald and barren rocks, between which are small plats of earth giving growth to the blueberry, cranberry, mountain-ash, and a variety of shrubs. Low whortleberr3--bushes between the rocks produce great quantities of fruits ripening in the latter part of August, of a very rich flavor, and peculiarly grateful to those who ascend the summit at that season. The mountain can be distinctly seen in a clear day from the State House in Boston ; and in the olden time was a conspicuous land- mark for the mariner. The view from its top is ex- tremely rural and beautiful. No less than §0 ponds, — some of them large enough to contain islands of 8 or 10 acres, — cluster around its base. Several mineral springs surrounding it, — containing carbonate of iron and sul- phate of soda, — are more or less valuable. Tons of j-ellow ochre, dug near a spring in the vicinity, have been exported. At a distance the summit appears rounded, and destitute of those high cliffs and mural precipices belonging to granite mountains. On the height of land between the Connecticut and Merrimac rivers lies Dublin, formerly called "Monad- nock No. 3," and sometimes North Monadnock. This wild, rock}^ tract of land was originally granted by its Masonian proprietors to persons who never resided with- in its limits. Dread of the Indians drove away the earlier settlers, and 12 or 15 persons of Scotch-Irish descent took up their abode in the place, sometime pre- vious to 1771, the jear in which the town was incor- porated, and in memory of home called the place Dublin. Bequests, amounting to about $20,000,— for the support of schools and preaching, — made by the Rev. Edward Sprague and the late Samuel Appleton, have been funded by the town. Rev. Joseph Farrar, the first minister of Dublin, was settled about 1772. The Rev. Mr. Sprague, who contributed the larger portion of the fund above mentioned, was ordained in 1777, and remained in town till the time of his death, in 1817. He had been reared in Boston, and was a graduate of Harvard College. Many troubles attended the build- ing of the first meeting-house. After its proprietors had expended about $600, they voted to give the rough- boarded building up to the town. The gift was ac- cepted, and the town committee required every purchaser HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. of a " pew-groimd " (as the space upon the floor was termed), to build his own pew. Those who failed to comply with this regulation forfeited all right of owner- ship. Besides this, there were several restrictions that caused hard feelings. If a man owned two pews, he was not allowed to oscupy the second till the first was com- fortably filled ; nor was he allowed to shut it up, and keep people from sitting in it. For 10 years the building remained unfinished ; and indeed it never was finished according to the original plan. The Congregational meeting-house built in 1818, stands on such an elevation, that the rain which falls from the west roof runs into the Connecticut River, and that from the east roof into the Merrimack. AVhen " Monadnoek No. 4 " was incorporated, in 1773, it was called Fitzwilliam, from the Earl of that name. Brig. Gen. James Reed, who was the first settler in the place in 1 760, afterwards became distinguished as one of the bravest oflScers in the Revolutionarj- war. The first minister was the Rev. Benjamin Brigham, a Harvard graduate, whose pastorate, commencing with the erection of a Congregational church in 1771, continued till the ' period of his death, about the j-ear 1800. A tasteful ' and convenient church edifice, built in 1816, was struck by lightning on the night of Jan. 17, 1817, and entirely ! consumed. The loss was supplied bj- a new meeting- house, dedicated in November, the same year. Gap Mountain, partly in Fitzwilliam and partlj' in Troy, is famous for its whetstones. The town last named was formed from tracts of land taken from the towns which now surround it on every side, and was incorporated in 1815. Its first minister, j Rev. Ezekiel Rich, left in 1818, and was succeeded by ' Rev. Seth E. "Winslow. The town is small, but large I enough to maintain a station on the Cheshire Railroad. It is a singular fact that Josiah Willard, one of the I principal grantees of the town of ^^'inchcster, first called I Arlington, refused to have Dartmouth College located in \ that town, on account of his belief that it would have a tendenc}" to depreciate the value of his i^ropert}-. The I town was first settled about 1732, hy families from Northfield, Lunenburg, and other towns in Massachu- I setts, and was incorporated in 1733. The original set- tlement was broken up in 1745 bj- the Indians, who destroyed a commodious house of worship on "Meeting- house Hill," near the bend or " bow" of the Ashuelot 1 River, together with all the dwellings and improvements ' in the place. The Rev. Joseph Ashley, a graduate of Yale, the settled minister of the place, was ordained in 1736, but left when the inhabitants were scattered b}- the Indians. His successor in 1764, was Rev. Micah Law- rence, a Harvard graduate, who was dismissed in 1777, on account of his "unfriendliness to his country." A number of ministers have officiated in the town since his time. In 1756, Josiah Foster and his family were cap- tured by the Indians. About 100 acres of land were detached from Richmond, and added to this town, Jul}- 2, 1850. The picturesque farming town, with its rich meadows and uplands inferior to none in the State ; with its prin- cipal \-illage * pleasantly situated on an extensive plain, where wide streets shaded with elms and maples are flanked bj- elegant and costly residences ; the Walpole of to-da}-, bears few memorials of the old-time Indian village of Great Falls. Its settlement was commenced in 1749 b}' John Kilburn-f and family, who were fol- lowed two years later by Col. Benjamin Bellows. { For a long time after its settlement, the place was exposed to hostile attacks from the Canadian Indians and other savages, — the colonists having only the protection of a small fort with an insufficient garrison. The town was incorporated in 1752; and in 1755 the settlers learned from Gov. Shirley, that a band of nearly' 500 Indians then assembled in Canada had planned an expedition to plunder and destroj- all the white settlements on the Connecticut River. Fortifying their houses as well as they could, the hardy pioneers were but poorly prepared for defence when the Indians made their appearance at Walpole. Thej- were seen, by Kilburn and his men, who hastened home to defend their property, or to die in the attempt. Kilburn's house was half a mile from the fort, which the Indians had already surprised and taken, having killed two men who had been left in charge bj" Col. Bellows, who was absent at the time. Creeping stealthily along and carefully concealing themselves behind the trees, the Indians at length drew near the house of Kilburn, who succeeded in getting the first fire, which proved fatal to their leader, who fell dead upon the spot. With fearful yells, and desperate with rage, the savages discharged their muskets, a id 400 bullets entered the house at the first fire. While one band of these savage marauders were butchering his cattle, another destroyed his grain, and an incessant shower of bullets stormed the ill-fated house. In the • The old turnpike road from Boston ran through this village, and by a bridge crossing the cataract of Bellows Falls, passed over the Green Mountains to Rutland, and from thence through Middlebury and Bur- lington by Lake Champlain to Montreal. t Capt. Kilburn lived to sec his fourth generation, and the town popu- lous and flourishing. He died April 8, 17S9, at the age of 84. J In the cemetery, not far- from Bellows Falls, a marble monument in memory of Col. Benjamin Bellows has been erected by his numerous descendants. NEW HAMPSHIRE. meantime Kilbiirn and the inmates were b}' no means idle. So rapid was the firing that the guns grew hot, — each shot telling upon the enemy with deadlj- effect. The women were as active as the men, — wasting no time in loading the muskets ; and when the supplj- of lead gave out, the3' suspended blankets in the roof of the house to catch the enemy's bullets, — which were re- cast and returned to them with interest. The Indians made several attempts to force the doors, but the shots from within compelled them to desist. Towards evening, seeing their efforts unavailing, the}' graduallj' slackened their fire, and when the sun disappeared below the hori- zon, the savages evacuated the town and returned to Canada. There is little doubt that the obstinate resistance of Kilburn saved the other settlements. On the return of Col. Bellows with 30 men, he met 50 of the savages, fought his way through them, and recovered the fort without losing a man ! In 1817 Mrs. Shepard, widow of Gen. Amos Shepard, a wealthy resident in the town of Alstead, left a legacy of $1,000 to support a Congregational minister in that town ; otherwise for a school in the old meeting-house district. In 1818 Maj. Samuel Hutchinson left the same amount, to be similarly appropriated. The town, originally called Newton, was incorporated in 17G3 ; and the first Congregational church, gathered in 1777, had for its first minister the Ee^-. Jacob Mann, or- dained ill 1782. His more immediate successors were Rev. Samuel Mead, in 1791, and Rev. Scth E. Arnold, in 1817. Notable religious revivals occurred in this town during the years 1788, 1798, 1808, 1815 and 1819. Gen. Shepard served as presiding officer of the State senate from 1797 to 1804, and was one of the principal inhabitants of Alstead from 1 777 to the time of his death, Jan. 1, 1812. Alstead Academy was incorporated in 1820. During the Revolution, the town was one of the most patriotic in the State. The town clerk of Chesterfield records that Moses Smith and AVilliam Thomas, with their families, — the first settlers in that place, — " established themselves on the Connecticut River." The fact seems hardly worth recording, as, if they went to Chesterfield at all, thej- could not verj' convenientlj' have established themselves any where else, — as the town, throughout its whole extent of six miles, borders upon the river. True, they might have settled upon the verj' beautiful Spafford's Lake, about eight miles in circumference, and containing a surface of 526 acres ; or upon a six-acre island in this lake, used as a delightful retreat for students of the 1 academy, in the summer. The Hon. Levi Jackson, for six j'ears principal of the academy, was for manj' j-ears a representative and senator; and, in 181G-17, a mem- ber of the governor's council. He was a native of the town, and a graduate of Harvard. lie died in 1821. Chesterfield was incorporated in 1752. If the Indians who frequented Cheshire County could see it now, thej' would doubtless describe it as " the county whose towns have many names." For instance, Westmoreland, originally known as "Number 2," was subsequently called "Great Meadow," and was incor- porated with its present name in 1732. Mrs. L3'dia How, who died in 1806 at the age of 91, was one of the first inhabitants, and mother of the first child born in the township. The four families who first settled here in 1741 had considerable trouble with the Indians, who, in one of their excursions, killed "William Phipps, the first husband of Jemimah How ; and, in another, carried Nehemiah Ilow, the father of her second husband, a captive to Canada, where he died. The first minister, Rev. William Goddard, a Congregationalist, was ordained in 1764. His successor. Rev. Allen Pratt, was installed in 1785. The town is just 100 miles from Boston. The French and Indian wars delayed the settlement of Marlborough, originally " Monadnock No. 6," after- wai-ds called " New Marlborough," from Marlborough Mass., the home of its earlier settlers, but incorporated under its present name in 1776. One condition of the original grant of this townsliip to Timoth}- AVhite and others was, that "a convenient meeting-house" should be buUt within 10 j-ears. The Congregational church formed in 1778, ordained Rev. Joseph Cummings as its first minister in the same j-ear. His successor, the Rev. HoUowaj- Fish, occupied the pastorate " with great suc- cess" from 1793 till the time of his death in 1824,— almost 31 j-ears. The Ashuelot River passes through the whole length of JMarlow, leaving it an abundance of rich meadow lands, but no ponds of note, nor any mountains. Incor- porated in 1761, it was first settled by William Noyes and others, from Lyme, Conn. In 1772 there were 29 families in the place, and a town government was organized in 1 776. The first inhabitants, being Baptists, soon formed a church, whose pastor. Rev. Caleb Blood, ordained in 1778, left in the following 3'ear, and was succeeded by Rev. Eleazer Beckwith, who remained till the period of his death in 1809. Bj- a vote of the town, Rev. Paul Dustin was settled over a Methodist society. He died in 1811. Marlow Academy is under the super- vision of the Jlethodist denomination. Next to Marlow, with no ponds, lies Stoddard with 14, the largest of which. Island Pond, covers 300 acres, HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. and is studded with islands. It is another of those towns situated on the " height of land," where the rain from the roofs runs on one side towards the Connecticut, and on the other towards the Merrimack. It was orig- inally called Limerick ; but, when the town was incor- I porated in 1774, its former name was changed to Stod- dard, — in honor of Col. Samson Stoddard, to whom, with others, the township was granted in 1769. Manj' of the early settlers came from Peterborough, and from Leominster, Chelmsford, Westford, and other towns in Massachusetts. The first minister. Rev. Abisha Colton, a Congregationalist, was installed in 179.3. The Rev. Isaac Robinson, D. D., was pastor from Januarj-, 1803, till his death in July, 1854, a period of more than 50 years. In the centre of the county, adjoining Keene, is Gilsum, first granted in 1752 to Joseph Osgood and others, who named the township " Boyle." In 1763 the land was re-granted to Messrs. Gilbert and Sumner, who, combining the first S3-llable of their names, formed the word Gil- sum, under which appellation the town was incorporated the same year. A Congregational church and society, formed in 1772, were unable to complete their meeting-house till 1794. Rev. Ellas Fish, the first minister, settled in 1796, died in 1807. The society was incorporated with no denominational name, but simply- as a Christian organization, in 1816. Half-a-dozen miles from Keene, in the 3-ear 1787, a new town was incorporated named Sullivan, in honor of Gen. John Sullivan, then chief magistrate of the State, under the title of President. In acknowledgment of the courtes}'. Gen. Sullivan presented the town a book in which to keep its records. A Congregational church was organized and a small meeting-house erected in 1791. Rev. William Muzzej-, a graduate of Harvard, the first i minister, was ordained in 1798, and served as pastor till 1827. A new meeting-house was dedicated in 1808. At the raising of the frame, a dinner was provided, and liquor ad libitum, prayers being otfered by the Rev. Mr. Muzzey ! In the summer of 1763 Peter Ilaywara commenced clearing a piece of wild land, upon which he settled the following year. Whilst clearing the farm, his home was j at the fort in Keene ; going to his work in the morning, ! and returning at evening, — his onl}' protection from savages, then lurking near, being his dog and gun. This was the first settlement made in the town of Surrj-, — named from Surrj', England, and incorporated in 1769. It was originally part of Gilsum and AVestmorelnnd. The first Congregational church was formed in 1769. Rev. David Darling, who had just graduated from Yale, was ordained as pastor in the following year. His suc- cessor, the Rev. Perley Howe, a Dartmouth graduate, was ordained in 1795. The smallest town in Cheshire Countj^ is Roxbury, formed from portions of Nelson, Marlborough, and Keene, and incorporated in 1812. A Congregational church, formed in 1816, ordained Rev. Christopher Page, its first minister, the same year. The meeting-house is in the centre of the town. Tuwxs. Keene is one of the handsomest cities in New Eng- land, its main street extending one mile in a straight line, almost a perfect level, and bordered by beautiful trees. It is connected with Boston by the Cheshire Railroad, over which is a great amount of travel to Saratoga Springs, Canada and the West. It is also connected by the Ashuelot Railroad with Springfield and New Y''ork. It is a place of large business, its location furnishing great facilities for trade. The width and uniform level of its streets ; its smooth, dr}' sidewallis ; the abundance of beautiful shade-trees, behind which, half-hidden, many beautiful residences are seen ; the pleasant gardens, ornamented with every variety of flower; its large and comfortable hotels, handsome stores, beautiful public buildings, and generally thrift}' appearance, — all render the city peculiarly attractive. Its population is about 6,000. The viaduct over a branch of the Ashuelot River, near the South Keene station, is a beautiful specimen of granite masonry-, and its City Hall one of the largest and best in the State. Its banks have a combined capital of $300,000 ; and, besides its high schools and academies, its institutions for savings and fire-insurance companies, its factories of all kinds, iron foundries, steam saw-mills, and 25- horse-power engines, there is a machine-shop, built of brick, 160 feet bj- 40, where are made planing, moulding, sash, mortising and various other machines, some of which are sent to nearly every quarter of the globe. Among the many distinguished men, not heretofore mentioned, who, at one time or another, have found a home in the humble town, the thrifty -vallage, or the proud little city of Keene, may be noted the names of Judge Daniel Newcomb ; Peleg Sprague, M. C. ; the two governors Dinsmore, father and son ; Gen. James Wilson and his father, also M. C. ; Joel Parker, the able, upright and higlil}' esteemed chief-justice of New Hampshire, afterwards Royall professor of law, at Harvard University ; Levi Chamberlin, eloquent in the senate and at the bar ; John Prentiss, the veteran editor of the "Keene Sentinel," started by him in 1799 — the NEW HAMPSHIRE. third in senioritj- of all newspapers extant in the vState ; and the reverend and learned Dr. Barstow, author of a historj' of New Hampshire. ■\Valpole, the best agricultnral town in the county, and containing about 2,000 inhabitants, has many de- lightful hills, valleys, meadows and uplands, and one lofty eminence, Fall Mountain, a part of the range of Mount Toby. The largest village lies at the foot of this mountain, on an extensive plain, where its principal street is bordered with substantial dwellings, stores, business-blocks, churches, hotels and manufacturing es- tablishments. Walpole Common, with its handsome shade-trees, is an ornament to the town. Drewsville, on Cold Elver in the northern part, — a busy, bustling til- lage, — is a prosperous and pleasant place. The Cheshire Road accommodates Walpole with all needed railway facilities. Winchester, pleasantly situated on the Ashuelot River, has probably more water-power than any other town in the county. It has two villages, two post-offices, and a bank with a capital of Si 00, 000. The town has a population of 2,100. Its forests contain much valuable lumber. In 1822, there were sent to Connecticut market, from this town, nearly a quarter of a million white-oak staves, and about 1,000,000 feet of pine lumber, and large quantities of shingles, clapboards and laths. The Ashuelot Railroad is of great advantage to the town. SwANZEY has good mill-sites on the Ashuelot and South Branch rivers, the only streams of note. The town numbers about 1 ,650 inhabitants ; has three post- offices, and the four manufacturing villages of Swanzey, West Swanzey, Westport and Unionville ; also a steam- mill at the Centre for grinding grain, and for the manu- facture of pails, chair-stuff, clothes-pins and other wooden ware. A branch of the Connecticut River Raibroad passes through the town. Hinsdale, with its famous bridge, built in 1802, and re-bnilt in. 1820, over the Connecticut River, opposi.e Brattleborough Village, in Vermont, has about 1,630 in- habitants. Beside its farming interests, it has a cashme- rette and a carriage manufactory, a pail factory, tannicry, and two bobbin-shops, five or six saw-mills, two grist- mills, and several small manufacturing and mechanical industries. Chesterfield is undoubtedly a well-to-do, if not a wealth}- t iwn, since " it raises and sends to market beef, pork, butler and cheese," — all staple commodities that poor people find it difficult to raise. That they " send them to market," shows that these comforts are not needed at home. Hence Chesterfield, with its popula- ' tion of 1,300, must be a thriving place. Westmoreland has about 1,260 inhabitants in its three villages, which have excellent water-privileges and some good farming lands. There are several saw and grist- mills ill the town ; also a carding-machine and a carriage manufactory. The remaining towns in the county are : Jaffrey, with a population of 1,256, — the birthplace of Hon. Joel Parker, for many years chief justice of the State ; Alstead (1,215), — with its academy, paper-mill and iron foundries ; Fitzwilliam (1,140), — with its rich meadow-lands, and beautifully romantic scenerj- ; Rindge (1,197), — the birthplace of the late Rev. Edward Pay- son, D.D., of Portland, Me., and the native home of Hon. Marshall P. Wilder,* born here in 1798 ; Marl- borough (1,017) , — a superior grazing and grain-growing | town ; Dublin (930) , — with its three villages, four churcli- ediflces and two post-offices ; RiCHMONDt (868), — whose sales of home-made manufactures (palm-leaf hats, &c.), amount to $50,000 annually; Troy (767), — whose in- habitants are mostly farmers ; Nelson (741), — contain- , ing cotton, woollen and chair factories, three shoe manu- factories, one tannery and a blacksmith-shop ; Marlow (716), — with eight or ten saw and grist-mills, a carriage manufactory, two tanneries and a tin-shop ; Stoddard (667), — containing saw and grist, clapboard and shingle i mills, a pail and two rake factories, also two glass estab- i lishments, each of which has two pot-uirnaces emploj-ed six months of the year, manufacturing about §10,000 worth of window-glass and glass-ware of various kinds ; GiLsuM (590) , — with its woollen mill, tannery and chair- factory ; Sullivan (347), — a quiet farming-town, with some valuable mills; Surry (318), — a rural town, with fertile meadows and rich interval land ; and Rox- BURY (174), — nothing if not agricultural. For "some reason, — emigration, perhaps, or possibl}' a want of en- terprise, — the population of this town is less than half of what it was fifty years ago. Yet the grazing lands are excellent, and abundant crops reward the farmer with all the various products peculiar to Cheshire County. » Mr. Wilder removed to Boston in 1825. Eminent for his knowledge of agriculture and horticulture, he has filled the office of President of the Massachusetts Senate ; of the Mass. Historical Society ; of the Norfolk Co. Agricultm-al Society ; of the U. S. Agricultural Society ; and of the Historic and Genealogical Society. He is still living, in November, 1879. t Beautiful specimens of " iolite," a rare mineral, of considerable value, have been found in this town. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. COOS COUNTY. BY J. II. HUNTINGTON. It was not until 1C42 that white men came within the present limits of Coos County. The story of their coming is this. The people who had settled on the seacoast of Maine and New Hampshire had eveiy daj- seen the mountains, except when thej- were concealed by clouds or haze. In summer, the gray summits of the great moun- tains lifted themselves above the surrounding forests, and in late spring and earh' autumn, long before snow fell on the coast, the white crests of the mountains must have been objects of admiration and wonder. Besides the dwellers along the coast had heard of won- derful lakes in the interior of Laconia, and they dreamed that the mountains might contain abundant mineral wealth. These were the motives that led Derby Field and others to explore the wilderness. It is probable that Field was the first white man who ever stood upon Mount Washington, or came within the limits of Coos County-. It is stated that about a month after Field's first visit, he went again with five or six in his companj'. The glowing accounts that he gave " caused divers others to travel thither, but they found nothing worth their pains." Among these are mentioned Thomas Gorges and Mr. Vines, two magistrates of the province of Sir Fcrdinando Gorges, who went about the end of August of the same year. Prof. E. Tuckermanf in 1843 en- deavored to trace the path of these early explorers, and he had little doubt that Field entered the valley of Ellis River and left it for the great south-east ridge of IMount Washington, the same which has since been called Bootts Spur. In " Josselyn's Vo^yages," published a year or two later, we have rare and interesting accounts of the mj-- thology of the White Mountains. Not finding minerals or precious stones but only high mountains with narrow valleys and deep gorges, there were no inducements for • The to\vns of Coos County are Berlin (population 529), Cambridge (28), Can-oil (378), CLarksvUIe (269), Colcbrook (1,372), Columbia (752), Dalton (733), Dummer (307), Errol (178), Gorham (1,161), Green's Grant (64), Jefferson (825), Lancaster (2,248), Martin's Grant (17), Milan (710), Millsfield (28), Northumberland (955), Pittsburg (400), Randolph (138), Shclburne (259), Stark (464), Stewartstown (909), Stratford (887), Success (5), Wentworth's Location (38), and Whitfield (1,196). further explorations. The Indians at this time were not A'ery numerous in New Hampshire. War, famine and the pestilence of IGIG had taken away the very life of all these northern people. Entu'e villages had been swept awaj", and tribes became extinct. Those that were here belonged to the Abeuaqui nation, and were called Nip- mucks. Of the thirteen New Hampshire tribes, three lived partlj- within the limits of Coos County. The " swift deer-hunting" Coosucks lived on the Connecticut and cultivated the Coos intervals. The " death-dealing" Ameriscoggins set up their lodges on the banks of the Androscoggin, where the waters teemed with fish and the forests abounded in moose. The Pequawkcts had flourishing villages on the Saco interval, and they " wor- shipped the great Manitou of the cloud-capped Agio- chook." Besides this, the Arosagunticook or St. Francis tribe made Coos County, their hunting-ground, and that, long after all the other tribes had disappeared. Potter says that " AVonnalancet in the autumn of 1675, for fear of molestation, and thinking that he might not be able to restrain his warriors from attacking the English, with- drew with his people farther into the wilderness, and passed the winter about the head-waters of the Con- necticut. ' Here,' says Gookin, ' was a place of good hunting for moose, deer, bear, and other such wild beasts.' Here Wonnalancet lived with much of trouble and hardship rather than be in any way drawn into the war his companions were making upon the English." At the close of the war (1G76) he led his people back, and was made the victim of base treachery. After the exploration of Field and others, it was more than a centurj' before we again hear of the white man in Coos County. The English were pushing their settle- ments up the valleys of the Merrimack and the Connect- icut. Trappers penetrated the wilderness far above the t The name of Dr Edward Tuckcrman is most intimately associated with the study of the lichens that grow upon Mount Washington. Ycai- after year he sought the mountains, climbed even,' summit, and followed the streams of every r.irine. He collected from 1837 to 1840, and then again from 1842 to 1853, spending each year several months among the mountains. The ravine named for him is a fitting monument to his real and knowledge, and is pointed out as an object of interest to the tourists who, in the summer season, visit the White Mountain region. NEW HAMPSHIRE. settlements, and they often met the Indians on these hunting excursions, and were on friendly terms with them. But the French as well as the Indians were be- coming jealous of the extension northward of the English settlements. As the latter contemplated laying out two towns in the spring of 1652, which should embrace the Coos Meadows, the Indians remonstrated and threatened. It is probable, however, that their threats were not known to all the settlers, for four joung men from Londonderry were hunting on Baker River in Rumney. Of these, two, John Stark and Amos Eastman, were surprised and cap- tured by the Indians in April, 1752. They were taken to Canada, but were shortly after ransomed by Capt. Stevens of Charlestown, N. H., and Mr. Wheelwright of Boston. From this, and a circumstance to be mentioned hereafter, it is altogether probable that John Stark, afterwards so famous in American history, was the first white man who ever saw the broad intervals of the Upper Coos. Notwithstanding the threatening attitude of the French and Indians, a company was organized in the spring of I 1753 to survey or lay out a road from Stevenstown (Franklin) to the Coos Meadows. Capt. Zaccheus Lovewell was commander, Caleb Page, surveyor, and I John Stark, guide. The best known of all the expeditions to the Coos countrj' was that of Capt. Peter Powers in 1654. They were ten daj's in reaching " Moose Meadows," which are supposed to have been in Piemiont. Ou June 30th thej' I reached John's River in Dalton. This river thej' called John Stark's River, probably for the reason that John Stark hunted with the Indians ou this river. They went as far north as Israel's River in Lancaster, when the^- concluded to go no farther with a full scout, but Capt. Powers, and two of his men, went five miles farther up the Connecticut, probably as far as Northumberland, where thej' found that the Indians had a large camping- place, which they had left not more than a day or two before. On July 2d they broke up their camp on Israel's River and began their march homeward. Capt. Powers, with his command, was the first body of white men who camped on this broad interval of Coos County. In the spring of 1755, when an expedition was being fitted out to attack the French at Crown Point, so little was known of the country between the Merrimack and Lake Champlain, that it was supposed that the Coos Meadows were upon the direct route from Salisbury Fort (Franklin) to Crown Point. Hence Gov. Wentworth directed Col. Blauchard when on his march to stop and build a fort upon the Connecticut at these meadows. While he was delayed in making his preparations for the march, Capt. Robert Rogers, with his compau3' of rangers, and a detachment from other companies, was sent forward to Coos to build the fort. It was located on the east bank of the Connecticut, just south of the mouth of the upper Ammonoosuc, and was called Fort Went- worth, in honor of the governor. The autumn of 1759 is noted for the expedition of Maj. Robert Rogers and his rangers against the St. Francis Indians. The expedition itself was successful, but the return was disastrous. Many of this companj' never reached their homes. Wearied, exhausted, cold and almost destitute of provisions, a portion of the band struck the Connecticut River, in November, at the upper Coos, which they mistook for the lower Coos. Here they separated. One of their number, named Bradley, ac- cording to tradition, started, with a party of four or five men, for home. It is supposed that they all perished with hunger and cold amid the snows of the wilderness. In the following spring a party of hunters found the bones of a man in Jefferson, near the White Hills. Near by were three half-burnt brands piled together, and a quantity of silver brooches and wampum lay scattered about. The hair was long and tied with a ribbon such as Bradley wore. No arms were with him, nor any signs of any companion. Not many years ago a sword of peculiar make was found in the village of Lancaster, and in the early set- tlement of the country some guns were found in the Con- necticut, at Fifteen-Miles Falls. It is said, also, that a man named Hall, one of the rangers, perished in one of the chief sources of the Connecticut, and the stream now bears his name. After war and bloodshed for 15 years, peace came to the New Hampshii-e frontier by the conquest of Canada, the people began to be inspired once more with the hope of better da^'s. To David Page, Jr. and Emmons Stockwell, belongs the honor of being the first men who came to what is now Coos County for the purpose of making a permanent settlement. It was in the autumn of 1763 that they left Haverhill, pushed boldly into the wilderness, and pitched their camp on the meadows in the township of Lancaster. Here they spent the winter, felled trees, made a clearing, and prepared the land so that they could put in a crop the coming spring. April 19, 1764, David Page came to Lancaster with his large family, and with him probably came Edwards Bucknam, and several other j'oung men. Stockwell was one of Rogers' Rangers, and is repre- sented as having been a man of great muscular power. Bucknam was a skilful and accurate sun'eyor, propri- etors' and town clerk, and afterwards general of militia. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. His daughter was the first child of Lancaster, and a child of Emmons Stockwell was the first son. In her old age Mrs. Stockwell could call around her 190 descendants. For 3-cars the river was the only highwaj' that fur- nished communication with the settlements at Haverhill and Charlestown. In summer, canoes hewed from the trunks of huge pines were used, but on the rapids they had to be pulled up by ropes, or in descending were let down by a man standing on the bow with a pole to pre- vent their being dashed upon the rocks. For light trans- portation they used birch canoes which could be taken out and carried around the rough water. In winter they used sleighs and oxen with sleds, but upon the rapids there was always danger of breaking through the ice, and sometimes men and teams were drowned. The first summer the settlers had 12 acres of corn. It grew, as it seemed to them, as corn never grew before, but on a fatal night, August 25th, it was killed by frost. But they came here to stay, so on the open land about Beaver Brook they cut the luxuriant growth of blue-joint for their cattle, brought corn from Ilaverhii], but lived chiefly on the meat of the moose. It was not long before the people of Lancaster had neighbors, for in 1767 Thomas Burnside and Daniel Spaulding came with theii- families and settled in North- umberland. This township was at first called Stoning- ton. Like many others it was granted years before it was inhabited. Shelburne was first chartered in 1768, and then re- chartered in 1771. Among the settlers who arrived here between the years 1770 and 1772, were Hope Austin, Benjamin and Daniel Ingalls, Thomas G. Wheeler, Nathaniel Porter and Peter Poor. The last was after- wards killed by the Indians. From 1770 to 1775 various townships and tracts of land were granted in this region. In 1770 there were a few people in Lancaster, some in Northumberland; and in 1772 (others say 1768), Col. Joseph Whipple came to JeflTerson, and brought with him 12 men, besides several women. One of these, after- wards Mrs. Stalbird, from the practice of medicine be- came known in every household in all the settlements. At the beginning of the Revolution the number of inhabitants in Lancaster was 60 ; in Northumberland, 57; in Stratford, 41 ; in Cockburn (Columbia), 14; and in Colebrook, 4. Of the last town, Capt. Eleazer Rosebrook was one of the pioneers. By the war of the Revolution these towns were reduced to the greatest distress. Being on the ver}- frontier, they were every day subject to Indian raids. Several persons were captured on the Connecticut and carried to Canada. These, however, were soon exchanged. This serious exposure led the settlers to the determina- tion of abandoning the country, and for this purpose thej^ collected at the house of Emmons Stockwell ; but he had no idea of leaving the fertile fields on which he had spent so many days of hard labor, and when they all had had their talk he said, " My family and I shan't go." This changed the opinion of several who had determined to leave. There were, however, veiy few accessions to the colony during the entire war. They early petitioned for soldiers, and a block-house was maintained during the war on the site of Fort Wentworth. Agents of the British government frequently visited the Indians, who were living on the head waters of the Androscoggin, and tried to induce them to take up arms against the United States. But agents from the States went among them, gave them presents, and furnished them with supplies. As earl}' as October, 1776, Capt. Joseph Heath had a talk with some of the Indians, and Sabattos was sent to notifjf others of the time and place of a proposed confer- ence. Capt. Heath met the Indians on the 19th of October, and agreed with them on the part of New Hampshire to furnish certain supplies. A fulfilment of this agreement kept the Indians peaceably disposed until near the close of the war. In August, 1781, an Indian raid from Canada was made upon Shelbm-ne, then containing six families. Sev- eral houses were plundered in this and other places, some persons killed and others carried into captivitj'. About this time another partj' made a raid on Jeffer- son. They seized Col. Joseph Whipple and a Mr. Go- tham. They allowed the colonel to go into an adjoining room to make some preparations for the journey to Can- ada, when he took the opportunity to escape through an open window, and succeeded in reaching the woods. When the Indians started in pursuit, Mr. Gotham fled in an opposite direction, and thus both escaped. The Indians consoled themselves by plundering the house, and, having obtained abundant spoils, they departed for Canada. It was about this time that the savages made the attack on Lancaster. These were the last raids made by the Indians on the frontier of Coos County. Col. Joseph Whipple was the most prominent man in all this northern colon}', and was chosen to represent the towns in the legislature. When the war ended people came and settled their fertile lands, built saw and grist mills, while scientific men * came also and explored the mountains, and called * One of the most important, because one of the earliest and most appreciative, contributions to the literature of this county is found in " Dwight's Travels." NEW HAMPSHIRE. the attention of the world to the magnificent seenerj- and the rare flowers that they found. A party made the ascent of Mount Washington, July 24, 1784. It con- sisted of Dr. Manasseh Cutler of Ipswich, Mass. ; Dr. Jacob Little of Kennebunk, Me. ; Dr. Fisher of Beverly ; Dr. Jeremy Belknap, the historian, and several others. Dr. Belknap, who afterwards published on account of the expedition, sajs that eight of the partj' reached the summit. As the State increased in population, new counties were formed, and Coos, the sixth in order, was incor- porated Dec. 24, 1803. This name is said to mean ceiving supplies from the States. The war was unpop- ular with the Federalists, and they did not scruple to sell the enemy a few cattle, nor receive from Can- ada those little luxuries of which they were deprived by the embargo. On account of this state of affairs, a com- panj' under the command of Capt. Ephraim H. Mahurin was stationed at Stewartstown. It entered the service July 27, 1812, and was discharged Jan. 27, 1813. With the exception of the captain all the officers and the men were from Grafton County. Capt. Mahurin was an officer of customs on the frontier, and did much to sup- press the smuggling of those times. He was afterwards CI V\MORD crooked, but the best authorities sa}- that the meaning of the word is pine, or pines. The year following the treaty of 1783 two families established themselves on Indian Stream, and in 1804 Seth Wales made a settlement near them, and Gen. Moody Bedell followed in 1811. Having means, they constructed roads, built bridges, and made many other improvements. But tills northern section had scarcely begun to see the fulfilment of any of its great projects for improve- ment before the country was again threatened with war, and this took Gen. Bedell from the settlement. Coos County being upon the frontier, was in immediate dan- ger of raids from Canada ; besides, the enemy was re- * The original Crawford House was very near the White Mountain Notch, and on the north side of the valley. It was built in 1828, and sheriff and deputy-sheriff of Coos Count}' for more than 25 years. Maj. John W. Weeks of Lancaster did gallant and most efficient service in this war. He served also in many capacities in town, county and State, and was elected representative to Congress in 1829, and served two j-ears. But the war at length ended, and the peopie again re- turned to the arts of peace. The mountains began again to attract attention. William Maclure, who afterwards published a geological map of the United States, and George Gibbs, came to study the geolog}- of the region ; and Capt. Partridge, founder of Norwich University, measured the height of the mountains. In 1819 Abel Crawford opened a foot-path to Mount burned in 1855. The present Crawford House was built in 1859, to re- place the one destroyed by fire in the spring of that year. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. "Washington. It began at the Notch and followed the south-west ridge. Three years later, Ethan Allen Craw- ford, who had succeeded to the estate of his grandfather, made a path along the Ammonoosuc to the base of the mountain, and thence it followed very nearly the course of the railway. Afterwards Mr. Horace Fabj'an, from a point on this path, near the base of Mount Pleasant, made a path to the top of that mountain, and it joined the main path from the Notch between Pleasant and Franklin. The next step was the building of a carriage- road in 1855 to the point near the base of Mount Pleasant, where the path diverged. This road was soon after ex- tended nearly to Cold Spring Hill. The agricultural interests of the county were ad- vancing apace, and in 1819 the legislature incorporated "The Coos County- Agricultural Societ3-," with Adino N. Brackett as president. Settlements were now being ex- tended northward, and Gen. Moody Bedell in 1820 began clearing three miles below the outlet of Connecticut Lake. He sought for many jxars to have his claims to these northern lands confirmed bj' the legislature, but his efforts were all in vain. Here, July 8, 1822, was born his son, John Bedell, who served with distinction as an officer in the Mexican and the Civil war, and at the close of the latter was made a brevet brigadier-general for gallant and meritorious conduct on the battlefield. For two succes- sive years he was Democratic * candidate for governor, and died at his home in Bath, N. H., Feb. 26, 1875. Nothing shows better the interest that people began to take in the mountains than the fact that in July, 1820, a party, chiefly from Lancaster, ascended the mountains b^' the new path, and gave names to all the higher sum- mits in the immediate vicinity of Mount Washington ; but when the latter received its name is still involved in ob- scurity, probably however just at the close of the Revo- lution. About a month after this visit, J. W. Weeks, A. N. Brackett, C. J. Stuart and Richard Eastman spent seven days in levelling from Lancaster to the tops of all these mountains. August 31 they camped on the summit of Mount Washington. They must have been the first persons who ever spent a night upon the very top of the mountain. In 1821 Ethan Allen Crawford had built a stone cabin near the summit, and this year, for the first time, three young ladies, the Misses Austin of Portsmouth, ascended * Coos County has had among its citizens many who were influential in the Democratic pai-ty. Among these was Hon. Jared Wamcr Wil- liams, LL.D., a resident of Lancaster. After holding important State offices, he was in 1837 elected to Congress and served two tenus. Ten years later he was elected governor of New Hampshire, and was re- elected to that office. In 1853 he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate. He died Sept. 29, 186i. the mountain. They were women of courage, too, for they staj-ed three whole days in this rude cabin waiting for the storm to pass awaj-. The3- were at length, how- ever, rewarded by one of the finest of prospects, and thus their name has become associated with the history of the mountains. Hayes D. Copp settled in Martin's Grant in 1826. He is still living, hale and hearty, and in November, 1871, he walked with the writer from the Glen House to the summit of Mount Washington in three hours. The jear Copp came Mr. Hanson built a farm-house at the Glen, and he was the first man in this region to keep travellers. In 1825 William Oakes of Ipswich, Mass., came to the mountains. He was the most enthusiastic of all the explorers. His perseverance in collecting plants was the wonder of all the country people. He collected in 1825-26, and again in 1843, and continued each j-ear until his accidental death in 1848. This year his book on the scenery of the White Mountains was published. In the northern portion of the county a new element of discord appeared. The commissioners who had been appointed to estabUsh the boundary between New Hamp- shire and Canada could not agree upon which was the most western branch of the Connecticut River. The United States Commissioners contended that Hall's Stream was the one intended in the treaty, and the British Conunis- sioners were sure that it was not. In consequence of this disagreement the local authorities claimed all the land west of Indian Stream, and the Provincial govern- ment located a township east of Hereford, which they called Drayton ; built a road from Hall's to Indian Stream ; and in 1831 required the inhabitants to perform militaiy dut}- ; j-et the government of New Hampshire exercised its control there, and its officers executed the processes of the courts within that domain. The number of inhabitants had increased to nearly 500, and some began to talk of resistance to the government of New Hampshire, while others talked of fijrming an independent government of their own. This was pre- cipitated by an attempt of two officers of customs to collect duties of citizens of Indian Stream Territory, who brought then- produce into New Hampshire and Ver- mont. This affair at length assumed a threatening aspect, and a war between the United States and Great Britain was imminent. But the statesmanship of Webster averted the calamity, and the line was definitely fixed bj^ the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of Aug. 9, 1842. In 1838 an act was passed to provide for a geological survey of the State. Dr. Charles T. Jackson was ap- pointed State geologist, and entered on his duties next NEW HAMPSHIRE. year. J. D. Whitney was appointed assistant in 1840, and he here began a career which has made his name known wherever geology is studied. In the explorations of this survey, they penetrated the wilderness as far as Mount Cai-mel. Besides their scientific work, they called attention to the remarkable scenery of the northern por- tion of the State. Dr. Jackson was of the first party who made the first ascent of Mt. Washington on horseback. From this time a new era dawned on these mountains. The establishment of a second geological survey in 1868 was one of great importance to Coos County, not only showing the geological structure of the northern portion of the State, but doing important work in botany, zoology-, and topography, as well as meteorologj'. The writer travelled over almost the entire wooded section of the county on foot, sometimes camping in the forests for weeks at a time. The geological structure of the county north of Sims Stream in Columbia is less complicated than in many other portions of the couutj'. For the most part we have strat- ified rocks, argillite and chloritic schists. A band of erup- tive rocks commences in Colebroolt, and it can be seen in Stewartstown at Bear Rock ; from thence it can be fol- lowed northward to the Provinces near Third Lake. The immense deposits of diatomeceous earth on the western border of Umbagog Lake, which are of great interest, were first pointed out by the survej-. Gold was found in the drift on Indian Stream, and may yet prove to be of some value. Several interesting dikes are found in the vicin- ity of Dixville Notch, and a sienitic rock is worked just south of Colebrook Village. South of Sims Stream there are great ridges of intrusive granite, and sienitic rocks, with gneiss and schists. The great mass of the Pilot range is a feldspar porphyrj-, while the White Mountains are gneiss and mica schist, with some great dikes of diabase. It has been shown by Prof. C. H. Hitchcock, the State geologist, that the great ice-sheet once ex- tended over the top of Mount Washington. In 1838 Pittsburg, the northermost town in the State, was incorporated. The northern boundary of New Hampshire, which is also the northern boundary of Coos County, was fixed by the commissioners appointed under the treaty of Aug. 9, 1842. It follows the water-shed between the Connecticut and St. Francis rivers, from Crown Monument to Hall's Stream. The total length of tliis line is 110 miles, but a direct course between the extreme points is 32.7 miles. Thirty-three iron monu- ments mark this boundary at various points along its course. From the head of Hall's Stream the boundary follows that stream to the line of ^^ermont. The project of building a house on the summit of Mount Washington received serious consideration for a number of years. It was esteemed, however, a most hazard- ous undertaking, for everybody said that a house could not stand there for a day in winter. Yet there were two men, J. S. Hall and L. M. Rosebrook, who were willing to risk their time and money in building a house on the top of the mountain, and they did it in 1852, and the house stands there to-day. The next summer S. F. Spaulding & Co. built the Tip-Top House on "the most bleak crag of Mount Washington." John H. Spaulding kept these houses for several years. He was a Lancastsr man, a real lover of the mountains, not for the salce of lucre, but because he appreciated their grandeur and beauty. He wrote a pleasing little book, "Historical Relics of the White Mountains," and furnished many bright sketches for the county papers. As soon as it appeared that the top of the mountain was of some value, there was a contest to see who was the owner of this propertj'. By the early surveyors this high, barren sum- mit was considered worse than worthless ; hence they were not particular in determining the exact limits of the tracts of land on the border of which they were sit- uated. In June, 1853, a company was chartered to build a caiTiage road from the Glen to the Tip-Top House, with a capital stock of $50,000. The road was completed to the summit in 1861. The summit of Mount Washington was occupied dur- ing the Tvinter of 1870-71 b}- J. H. Huntington, princi- pal assistant on the geological survey ; Mr. S. A. Nelson of Georgetown, Mass. ; Serg. (now Lieut. ) Theodore Smith, U. S. A. ; Mr. A. F. Clough ; and Mr. Howard A. Kimball. Thej- are the first persons who are known to have occupied a station for meteorological observations where there are winds of so great velocities. Winds of 125 miles per hour have been repeatedly measured, and one observer claims to have measured a velocity of 180 miles. During the late civil war, although Coos County was situated so that men were constantly crossing its border to avoid the draft, its citizens were true and loyal, and ever ready to respond when called upon to take their part in the great conflict. Coos County did not, how- ever, receive the honor which is justly' its due. One whose memory the people of Coos County delight to honor on account of his great bravery is Col. E. E Cross. He was born in Lancaster April 22, 1832. By f life upon the plains and in Arizona, where he frequently met the most warlUce of savages, the Apaches, he was well fitted to be a leader in our civU war. That he was r most gallant soldier is the testimony of every one. As colonel of the Fifth Regiment he led it through many a HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. blood}- fight, until, at the battle of Gettysburg, he was mortally wounded. The Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad was com- pleted to Gorham in June, 1851, and through Coos County in 1853. The year the road was finished it was leased to the Grand Trunk Railway for a term of 999 years. There were men who saw the possibilities of the Bos- ton, Concord and Montreal, and the White Mountain railroads, if the latter could be extended northward through Coos County to the Province of Quebec, with a New Hampshire by opening up, as it did, an immense area of valuable timber land, and the encouragement which it gave to the building of hotels and houses for the accommodation of summer travel. It may be added in this connection that the success of this railroad enterprise was almost entirely due to the personal efforts, foresight, and capital of Mr. Lyon, whose accidental death occurred at the Pemigewasset House, April 11, 1878. In 1858 Mr. Sylvester Marsh obtained a charter for the Mt. Washington Railway, but the road was not completed until 1869. There was no confidence in the undertak- branch at the bisc of Mount Wishmgton No one saw it more clearlj than Mi. John E. L^on, who was made president of these corporations for many years. In November, 1870, the road was opened to Lancaster, and by Jan. 1, 1872, a branch road had been opened to Pierce's Mills, in Bethlehem. In August, 1872, the main road was opened to Northumberland. The branch was extended to the Twin Mountain House in time for the summer travel of 1873. This j-ear there was a union of the two corporations under the name of the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad. The road from the Twin Mountain House to the Fabj^an Place was opened in July, 1875. In July of the following year, the branch from the Fabyan House to the base of Mount Washing- ton was completed. The completion of this system of railroads was of great material advantage to northern uig until Ml Marsh had shown its feasibilitj' b} building a section himself, and putting on an engine constructed under his patent. Others then joined in completing the enterprise. Mr. Walter Aiken has been the successful manager of the road almost from the beginning. The Portland and Ogdensburgh Railroad extends through the southern part of the county. The White- field and Jefferson Railroad, recently fitted for a first- class passenger and freight road, renders the north side of the mountains much more accessible, and opens up a field for tourists, hitherto comparatively unknown. King's Ravine, with its grand rock scenery, will shortly become as familiar and famous as are the great ravines on the east side of Mount Washington. The first newspaper published in the county was the " White Mountain iEgis," which appeared at Lancaster NEW HAMPSHIRE. in 1838. It was shortly after removed to Haverhill, Grafton County. About the same time the "Coos Dem- ocrat," a paper of opposite political principles, was started. In 1859 it was removed to North Stratford, and soon after ceased to exist. In 1854 the "Coos Republican " was estabUshed at Lancaster. Four years after, the paper passetl into the hands of Col. Henry 0. Kent. It was subsequently pub- lished under the auspices of the " Coos Republican As- sociation," and since April, 1878, when its office was destroyed by fire, has been in charge of Mr. James S. Peavey. In November, 1870, the latter gentleman began the publication of the "Northern Sentinel" at Colebrook, which paper is now owned hy A. Baker. The " Northern News " was also established at Cole- brook. The "Mountain- eer " is a lively paper, printed at Gorham by V. V. Twichell. The only daily paper of Coos County is published during the summer months upon the summit of Mount Washington. Far up among the hills of Northern Coos, almost on the very border of Quebec Province, is a small lake which has an area of scarce- ly- more than three acres. In early spring, while as yet the snow lies along its border, the woods resound with the croaking of numerous frogs, which, here undisturbed, find a congenial habitat. This little lake in the cold, dark forest, 2,500 feet above the level of the sea, is the source of the Connecticut River. Its outlet, a mere rill leaping over the rocks in beautiful cascades, now flows into Third Lake. This lake contains an area of about 250 acres, and is sun-ounded by lofty hills, except on its southern border, where the undula- tions are more gentle. Its outlet, a stream ten feet wide, is in the south-east corner.. From Third Lake the Connecticut flows four and a half miles, when it re- ceives from the east a tributary nearly as large as itself. One and a quarter miles farther south it flows into Sec- ond Lake. This lake is also surrounded by high hills, but they recede farther from its shores, while in the dis- tance they rise to mountain heights. Besides the Con- necticut, it receives two tributaries from the north-east and one from the north-west. It is the most beautiful of our Northern lakes. The graceful contour of its shores, the symmetry of its projecting points, the stately growth of the primeval forest, the carpet of green that is spread along its border and extends through the long vista of the woods, the receding hills and the distant mountains, present a combination of the wild, the grand, and the beautiful that is rarely seen. On its borders the moose and the deer feed almost undisturbed, on its tributaries the beaver builds its house, and the otter slides into the clear and lim- pid stream, while the shores are still the resort of the sable and the mink. The outlet is on the west side, near the southern bor- der. The descent at first is gentle, but the distant roar that greets the ear indicates that rapids are near. So it rushes on over its rocky bed, occa- sionally forming deep ed- dies, only to become more rapid still. For a mile and a half from the lake it forms a series of wild cas- cades, which continue for half a mile. Then, after receiving two tributaries from the west, it flows into Connecticut Lake. Here we find rich farms and the habitations of men upon the border of the great forest. Thus extremes meet, — nature and culture, the past and the present. But the river itself flows on by farm and village and city, until it mingles with the waters of the ocean. " Land of the cliff, the stream, the pine, Blessing and honor and peace be thine ! Still may the giant mountains rise. Lifting their snows to the blue of June, And the south wind breathe its tenderest sighs O'er thy fields in the harvest-moon I " HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. GRAFTON COUNTY. BY PROF. JOHN K. LORD. The county of Grafton is situated on the western side of the State. It touches Sullivan and Merrimack coun- ties on the south, Belknap and CaiToU on the east, Coos on the north, while its western side borders on the Con- necticut Eiver for about 70 miles. Its length from north to south is about 60 miles, and its width from east to west about 40 miles. Its area is 1,460 square miles. In agriculture it ranks first in the State ; 442,738 acres, some of which are the finest farming lands in New Eng- land, are under cultivation, and 230,300 are woodland. Besides unincorporated territory Ijdng in the northern and mountainous part, the county contains 39 towns. The territory embraced in Grafton County was never, within the memory of the whites, the settled abode of the Indians. It was covered by a thick forest of beech, maple, oak and white-pine, and was a favorite hunting- ground for the Indians who lived to the south and to the north of it. In the summer they planted corn on the I rich meadows of the Connecticut VaUey, and, perhaps, on the Pemigewasset, but on the return of winter retired to their homes. As the white settlers advanced north- ward thej' coveted these rich hunting-grounds, which thus became the scene of long and bloodj' border wars. In the spring of 1712 Lieut. Thomas Baker, who had been captured by the Indians and taken to Canada in 1709, but returned the following year, started from Northamp- ton, Mass., with a company of 33 white men and one Indian guide. He came upon a gi-oup of wigwams, where the \'illage of Plymouth now stands, and com- pletely destroyed it, taking a large booty of fiu's, besides killing many natives. He immediately' retreated, but the Indians pursued and soon overtook him. A brisk skirmish ensued, in which the Indians were repulsed. In the progress of the fight, Baker and Waternomee, the chief of the Indians, met. They saw each other at the same moment and instantly fired. The Indian's bullet gi-azed Baker's eye-brow, but Baker shot the Indian through the heart, who, leaping into the air, fell dead. Subsequently, Baker brought his party to Dunstable, now Nashua, without the loss of a man. The memory of this expedition was preserved by changing the name of the Asquamchumauke to Baker's Eiver. In the war between France and England that began in 1743, the Indians joined the French, and the following eight years witnessed repeated incursions of the Indians, which the system of defence by forts, adopted by the Province, was powerless to prevent. The peace of Aix- la-Chapelle did not put an end to these wars, and they continued with varying intensity tiU the subjugation of the Indians by the whites, more than ten years later. In 1701 Gov. Wentworth chartered 12 towns in Graf- ton County. Enfield, Hanover and Lebanon received their charters July 4 ; Cockermouth (now Grafton) and Lyme, July 8 ; Canaan, July 9 ; Grafton, August 14 ; Bath, September 10 ; Orford, September 25 ; Campton in October ; Holderness, October 24 ; and Lyman, No- vember 10. Holderness had been chartered once before, Oct. 10, 1751, and was the first town chartered in the coimty, but the grantees failing to fulfil the conditions of the charter, a new one was granted as above. The first settlement in the county was in Haverhill, in 1761. Col. Jacob Bailey of Newbury, Mass., and Capt. John Hazen of Haverhill, in the same State, were given cause to expect a charter of a township, and took imme- diate measures to take possession of the land. Col. Bailey took possession of the township in Vermont, and called it Newbury, from his home. Capt. Hazen took the township on the east of the river and called it Haverhill. He sent Michael Johnston and John Pettie with some cattle to make a beginning. Thej^ took their station on the Little Ox Bow, which was covered with a luxuriant growth of grass. Thej' built a hut and shed for the cattle and passed the winter alone. In the spring of 1762 Capt. Hazen came with men and assistance. With him was Col. Joshua Howard of Haverhill, Mass., who lived in the new town which he helped to establish, till his death in 1839. Uriah Morse and his wife Hannah, came from Northfield, Mass., and were the first family in town. A child was born to them in the following year, which was the first of English parents in the county. May 18, 1763, a charter for the town of Haverhill was granted to Capt. John Hazen and 74 others. This Capt. Hazen was one of the most energetic men on the border. He had been an efiicient officer in the French and Indian NEW HAMPSraRE. war. At the close of the war he threw himself boldlj' into the scheme for settling the Coos meadows, but on on the breaking out of the Revolution he adhered to the roj'alists, and took no active part. He died in Albany about 1790. Among the arrivals of the next j'ear was Ezekiel Ladd, who became a judge of the county court. So rapidly did the town increase, that in 17G7 it had a population of 172. For many j-ears the nearest grist- mill was in Charleston, GO miles down the river, to which the gi'ain was taken in the summer in canoes and then brought back in the winter on the ice. In the fall of 1764 the Rev. Peter Powers came to Newbury and organized a church for the two towns of j Newbury and Haverhill. Jan. 24, 1765, he received a call to its pastorate. As there were no ministers in the neighborhood by whom he could be installed, the town voted that he should be installed " down country where it is thought best." Accordingly he was installed in Hollis, Feb. 27, 1765, and was the first settled pastor in the countj-. In 1769 there came to the town Charles Johnston, who became a colonel in the Revolutionarj' war, a justice, — -the only one in the town before 1773, — and a judge of probate for the county. The second settlement was in Lebanon in 1762. The town had been granted the previous j-ear to William Dana, John Hanks, and 63 others from the towns of Norwich, Mansfield and Lebanon, Conn., and was named from the last of these. In 1767 the number of inhabitants in Lebanon was 162. The first church was organized in 1768; and, in 1772, the Rev. Isaiah Potter was installed over it, and continued to be its pastor for 45 years, till his death, July 2, 1817. The year 1763 witnessed the settlement of Plymouth and Holdemess. The men who took possession of Plymouth were almost entirely from Hollis ; and their energetic character, together with the fertility of the intervals and the easy communication with the lower towns bj'^ waj' of the river, gave Pljinouth a rapid growth. In 1762 eight men from Hollis came up to \-iew the country. Their impression was very favorable, and, on their application, a charter was issued July 15, 1763, to Stephen Ames, Joseph Blanchard, Elnathan Blood, and 60 others. Eight men were emplo3-ed in making clearings during the siimmer, and some of them remained through the winter. The next year saw many new arrivals ; and, b}' 1767, when the census was taken, the number in the town was 227, — the largest in the countj'. The first care of these godly men, the descendants of the Puritans and Pilgrims, was to found a church; and, April 16, 1764, they met in Hollis and organized a church before a single family had moved to Plymouth, and six months before the organization of any other church in the county. Rev. Nathan Ward, who preached the first ser- mon in the county, was installed in July, 1765, and con- tinued as pastor of the church at Pl^-mouth for 32 years. Among the grantees and settlers of Plj-mouth, David Hobart was one of the foremost. He became a colonel in the Revolution, and led a regiment under Stark at the battle of Bennington, but his name appears in history under the erroneous spelling of Hubbard. Holdeniess was probably named from the Earl of Holdemesse, who was secretarj' of state in 1751. The first settler was William Rper of Durham ; but the majority came from Barrington, Mass. Hon. Samuel Livermore, who was one of the original grantees, and who gained nearly iialf the town by purchase, came in 1765. In 1769 he became king's attorney-general, and continued to hold the office after the establishment of popular government. He was for several years a dele- gate to the old Congress, and in 1782 he became chief justice of the Superior Court. He was United States senator from 1792 to 1802, when he resigned on account of ill-health, and died in 1803. Lyme, which received its name from Lyme in Connecti- cut, was next settled ; and, in 1765, the five towns of Bath, Compton, Enfield, Hanover and Orford were occu- pied, and shortly afterwards chartered. The first settlement in Hanover was in the eastern pnrt of the town by Col. Edmund Freeman, to whom, wath ten of the same name, and 52 others from Connecti- cut, the town was granted. The increase was small till the foundation here of Dartmouth College in 1770 by the Rev. Dr. Eleazcr Wheelock. This institution was established by royal charter bearing the date Dec. 13, 1769.* Dr. Wbeelock came to Hanover with a few students in August, 1770, and immediately began to prepare his dwellings. He came to an unbroken wilderness. On the plain he had chosen for a site, the pines rose nearly 300 feet toward the sky. The only welcome which he received was the howl of the wolf and the growl of the bear. It was a strange place to found a seminary of learning ! But the corner-stones were laid in faith and prayer, and the future growth of the college proved the wisdom of the founder. Later in the fall his family, students and attendants, in all about 70, joined him, and the season was spent in preparations for the winter. In January of 1771, Dr. Wheelock organized a church, of which he was pastor till his death. The following years » For an account of initiatory steps leading to the establishment of the college at Hanover, see page 385. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. were years of intense activity and labor. Dr. Wheelock ■was president and professor of the college, pastor of the church, superintendent of the fann, magistrate for the town ; in short, the soul of the college and the settle- ment. The clearing of the land, and the sowing and har- vesting of the crops, went on together with the work of instruction. The students took their recreation in felling trees or hoeing corn. About 3,000 acres were given to the college in its immediate vicinitj-. The first commencement was held in the open air, in August, 1771, when four young men received their di- plomas. Gov. "Wentworth and a company of gentlemen came from Wolf borough to honor the occasion, and after the exercises there was a barbecue of an ox in the clearing in front of the college-building. One member of that first class was John "SVheolock, afterward presi- dent of the coUege ; and among its first students was John Ledyard, the famous traveller, who died in Cairo, Egjpt, in 1789, as he was setting out on an exploring expedition into the interior of Africa. Under the burden of these manifold cares Dr. Wheelock administered the new institution with great success till his death, April 24, 1779. He was a man of extraordi- nary powers. To an indomitable will, great executive ability, thorough understanding of men, and wisdom in their management, he added remarkable kindliness, generositj' and piety. President Wheelock was succeeded by his son. Dr. John Wheelock, who, after a presidency of 36 years, was removed from the office by the trustees in 1815.* He was succeeded by Francis Brown, D. D. In 1820 Rev. Daniel Dana was elected president, who, after one year, was succeeded by Bennet Tyler, D. D. Upon the resignation of Dr. Tyler in 1828, Nathan Lord, D. D., was chosen president, and performed the duties of that office till 18G3, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Asa D. Smith, LL. D. The present official head of this insti- tution is Rev. Samuel C. Bartlett, D. D. In addition to its academic, Dartmouth has an excel- lent medical department, established in 1 798 through the exertions of Dr. Nathan Smith, an eminent physician of his daj' ; and a scientific department established, in 1851, by the gift of $50,000 by Abiel Chandler of Walpole, N. H. • In the latter part of Dr. John "VVheelock's presidency arose the quar- rel which resulted in the celebrated " Dartmouth Colleee case." A dis- agreement between the president and a majoiity of the trustees resulted, ! in 1815, in open rupture. The president accused the trustees of pen-ert- j ing the funds, and attempting to subvert the charter of the coUege ; and appealed to the legislature for an investigating committee. The latter body meantime claimed the right to amend a charter of which it was the guardian, and in 1816 passed acts creating a new corporiition, in which the property was vested, and changing the title of the college to Dart- For several years after 1765, one or more towns were settled almost every year. The first settlers came to Canaan and Alexandria in 1766 ; to Warren in 170 7 ; to Groton and Thornton in 1770 ; to Dorchester and Graf- ton in 1772; to Orange and Woodstock in 1773; to Franconia in 1774, and to Bridgewater and Wentworth in 1776. Of these towns Canaan, Warren, Groton, Grafton and Woodstock were twice chartered, and Dor- chester three times. In several cases the original names have been changed. Lisbon was originally Concord. Nov. 20, 1768, it was re-chartered under the name of Gunthwait, which it held for a few yeyirs, when Concord was resumed, and this continued until 1817, when Lisbon was taken. Littleton j was first called Chiswick, but was re-granted in 1770, | under the name of ApthorjD, and in 1784 this town was ] divided into Littleton and Dalton, the latter of which is now in the county of Coos. Ellsworth was called Tre- cothick till 1802, while Coventry became Benton in 1840. [ A part of Cockermouth (Groton) and Plymouth was in- corporated by the name of Hebron, June 15, 1792. June 24, 1819, Bristol was taken from Bridgewater, and on the 29th of the same month, a grant was made to Josiah GiUis and Moses Foss, Jr., and others, which was known as Gillis and Foss Grant, until 1829, when it was incorporated July 1, by the name of Waterville. In 1854, July 13, Monroe was taken from Lyman. In 1868 a part of Holderness was set off into the new town of Ashland. In 1876 Easton was taken from Landaff, and in 1877, Livermore was formed of the unincorporated grants north of Waten'ille. The difficulties and hardships in the settling of these new towns were similar to those in case of the others. The lack of communication necessitated the coarsest fare and the plainest living. The food often consisted of bean porridge, and the flesh of whatever game might be taken in the forest. The furniture was such as could he made with an axe and a saw, and the clothing was made from leather and homespun. The ground had to be cleared of the dense growth of trees before any crop could be planted, and a constant watch kept against the bears and the wolves that liy day and by night prowled around the log huts. During the long winters the snow month University. The old trustees began a suit for the recovery of the college property, which was decided against them in the Supreme Court of the State. It was earned by appeal before Chief Justice Marshall in the Supreme Court of the United States, where the judgment w.-is reversed, and the principle of the inviolability of chartered property was fully established. It was by his elaborate and convincing argu- ment on behalf of the plaintiffs in this case that Daniel Webster, at the age of 35, took rank among the most distinguished lawyers of the country. NEW HAMPSHIRE. lay three or four feet deep for several months at a time, and the onlj- occupations were felling trees and hunting. Besides the bears and wolves, the forest con- tained lynxes, moose, deer, beavers, otters, and other small animals, while the brooks and rivers swarmed with trout and salmon. In the winters the only means of locomotion were snow-shoes, and the only means of trans- portation were hand-sleds.* The county of Grafton f was incorporated March 19, 1771. The act which divided the Province into counties had been passed nearly two years before, April 27, 17C9, but the time of its operation had been left to the pleasure of the governor, and he had thought best to delay it. By an act of the governor and councU the county re- ceived its full privileges in 1773. The question of the location of the county seat now arose. After a pro- tracted and earnest controversy between the eastern and western sections of the county, Haverhill was finally settled upon as the shire town. The county had hardly become established when the discontents that had been rising throughout the country cuhninated in the Declaration of Independence and the war of the Revolution. That the fire of patriotism burned as brightly here as anywhere, there is no doubt. While the county was never distressed with the actual presence of the foe, — there being little indeed in the wilderness to tempt the approach of the British army from the south — there were jet fears and real danger of invasions bj' both British and Indians from Canada. The vigorous attitude of defence, however, in which the border towns constantly stood, together with the crafty temporizing policy of Vermont authorities, pre- vented the approach of any real danger, until the expe- dition of Burgoyno in 1777. When the news came that the British were actually coming in force down Lake Champlain, and that one detachment was to proceed to No. 4 (C'harlestown) , and another to Coos (Haverhill), the whole country was alive, riymouth and adjacent towns sent a companj- of 45 men. Haverhill and vicin- ity' sent another, Orford, Ljme and Piermont another, and other towns their quota. After the victory at Ben- nington, some of the troops went on to New York, and under Gen. Gates, took part in the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga. The complete success of the American • The first settler of Canaan, John Scofield, who came to the town in the winter of 1706, brought all the property which ho possessed for his new home, U miles on a hand-sled. Months would frequently pass over a company of settlers without the sight of a new face, and it was only after years of loneliness and toil, that the construction of even rude roads brought relief to such isolation, and the priyations attendant upon it. arms in Vermont and New York, put an end to the real danger to New Hampshire. The patriotism of the great body of the people was unmistakable, but here, as elsewhere, were some who sympathized with the royal cause, and did what they could to advance it. Their operations were always secret, but if detected led to speedy punishment. One of these Tories was Col. John Fenton of Pljmouth. He was a man of note in the county, and a member of the Assem- bly. Having advised his constituents and others to re- frain from giving their support to the war, he was imprisoned. Afterwards he was permitted, at the instance of Gen. Putnam, to leave the country. Grafton County had an opportunity, which it was not slow to improve, upon the organization of the new gov- ernment incident to the opening of the Revolution, to declare its attachment to the great principle of local self- government. The Provincial Congress had voted that £200, lawful money, should be required as a qualification for the office of representative. Against this measure, Grafton County earnestly, not to say indignantly, pro- tested, insisting that under the circumstances the Assem- bly had no authoritj', constitutional or natural, thus to prescribe a mode of procedure in election ; that for cor- porate towns thus to be unwillingly restricted in their choice of representative by an arbitrary property qualifi- cation, was inconsistent with liberty, and was not to be tolerated. For several years, accordingly, or until the adoption of the permanent State Constitution in 1784, Grafton County, though cheerfully consenting to bear its share of the burdens of government, yet refused to send delegates to the Provisional Assembl3^ Probably one reason why Grafton County was not unwilling to yield to this disaffection, was the advan- tageous inducements offered about this time by Vermont to the Connecticut Valley towns, to withdraw their alle- giance from New Hampshire, and cast in their lot with the Grants. Certain it is that several of these river towns, embracing, indeed, a large share of Grafton, Cheshire and Sullivan counties, did, in the spring of 1781, formallj- dissolve their eonnectiou with New Hamp- shire, and adopted the Constitution of the more demo- cratic State of Vermont. I After the return of peace and the establishment of a settled government, the county grew apace. Its pro- t So named by Oov. \ycntworth, in honor of Arthur Augustus Fitz- roy, Dulio of Grafton. + But for the intervention of Congress, which made the amendment of this eastern compact a condition of Vermont's admission to the Union, all this section of New Hampshire would, doubtless, still bo embraced in the Green Mountain State. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. ductive fields were very attractive to settlers. No por- tion of tlie State was more fertile. In 1 790 its popula- tion was 13,472. There was a stead}' increase until 1840, when the census gave 42,311 inhabitants. From that date to 1860, owing to the tide of western emigration, it barely held its ovra, ha\'ing in the latter year, 42,260. From that time the combined effect of emigration, and the war of the Rebellion, was to diminish the population, so that in 1870 the number was 39,103. In 1803, the northern portion was set off into a new county called Coos. The boundary ran along the northern line of Lit- tleton and Bethlehem to the White Mountains. The cause of education has always been well supported in the count}-. Dartmouth College, as has been seen, was founded in the infancy of the settlements, but preliminary education was not neglected. Common schools were at first impossible, but as soon as a few families were estab- lished in a neighborhood, some one of their number be- came a private instructor, and at the earliest practicable opportunity schools were established. In 1 767, Lebanon, whose first settler had come in 1762, voted to estabUsh a school. Orford, settled in 1705, provided for a school in 1770. One of the earliest academies in the State was incorporated at Haverhill in 1794. They were also es- tablished at Orford in 1836, at Canaan in 1839, and at Bath in 1848. Several others have been established but have graduall}' decayed. Many of the towns have graded schools, and Bristol, Lebanon and Littleton have high schools. In 1792 a general militia law was passed under which Grafton County raised three and one-half regiments, comprising all the " free able-botlied white male citizens from 18 to 40 years of age." On the breaking out of the war of 1812, these regiments, with several others, were formed into the " Western Brigade," under the command of Brig. Gen. John Montgomery. There were men from the count}' in the Florida and in the Mexican wars. In the war of the Rebellion the county spared neither her men nor treasure. The county fm'nished 3,376 men, beside those who responded to the first call. Of this number over 400 were killed, or died in consequence of wounds and exposure. Grafton County is mainly an agricultural one, in this respect taking the lead of all in the State. On its western border, the intervals along the Connecticut River, extending back toward the hills, from half a mile to a mile and a half, are among the richest lands in the State, while the meadows along the valleys of the Mascoma, Pemigewasset and Baker rivers, are scarcely inferior. The hills, which have a general southern slope, are also very productive. On the western side, at a varying dis:. tance of from three to six miles from the Connecticut, is a range of hUls, often interrupted in the southern part but more continuous in the north, having a general ele- vation of from 1,500 to 2,000 feet, but rising in one or two instances to a greater height. Moose Moxmtain in Hanover has an altitude of 2,326 feet, and Mt. Cuba in Orford of 2,927 feet. Toward the south in Orange, Cardigan Mountain has a ridge 3,156 feet in height, while farther north, in Benton, Moosilauke lifts a single sharp Tpeak 4,811 feet. This range expands in the north-eastern part of the county into the group of moun- tains known as the Franconia, and into the lower White Mountains. These mountains, which are separated from the larger group of the White Mountains by the cele- brated White Mountain Notch, have no peak as high as several in that group, but are hardly inferior in grandeur of scenery and points of particular interest. Among the natural wonders is the "Old Man of the Mountain," a peculiar arrangement of five granite blocks which jut from an almost peri^endicular cliff on Mt. Cannon, 1,000 high, in such a way as to present, viewed from the right point, the rugged features of an old man. The Franconia Notch is a narrow gap between Mt. Cannon and Mt. Lafayette, which expands into a pass about six miles in length, through which, from a small pond l}ing at its upper extremity, flows the Pemigewasset. On the east of this pass is the " Flume," a deep chasm cut through the solid rock, within which a bowlder about ten feet in diameter is suspended and kept from falling by the slight contraction of the sides of the chasm. Beneath it flows a rapid stream from the mountains. The highest p')int in this group is Mt. Lafayette, which has an eleva- tion of 5,259 feet, and the second is Mt. Lincoln, 5,101 feet. Besides Twin Mountain, which comes next (4,920 feet) and its southern peak (4,900 feet), there are 19 mountains in this group above 4,000 feet in height. A considerable portion of the county is covered with trees. The forests are everywhere decreasing, through the activity of the demand for lumber. The county is well watered. Besides the Connecticut, the Pemigewasset, which unites with the Winnipiseogec to foiTfi the Merrimack, is the main river, and rises in Profile Lake among the Franconia Mountains. Its length is 52 miles, and its fall 1,085 feet, of which 1,150 arc in the. fii'st nine miles. There are few large bodies of water in the county. The largest lying entirely within its limits is Newfound Lake in Hebron, Bristol and Bridgewatcr having an area of nearly seven square miles. Squam Lake, about two-thirds of which hes in Iloldcr- ness, contains 11 square miles. Mascoma Lake in Enfield is of much smaller dimensions. NEW HAMPSHIRE. All of the towns, except those Ij-ing along the ridge in the centre and those in the mountainous districts, have the benefit of railroad communication. Towns. Lebanon is the most important town in the county. It stands first in population, wealth, and manufactures, but fifth in agriculture. It is situated in the south- western comer of the count}' on the Connecticut. The town has a population of 3,094. Its growth during the decade ending in 1872-73 was very rapid, but since that time it has barely held its own. It contains three vil- lages, all on the railroad. East Lebanon is situated at the outlet of Enfield Pond. Four miles down the Mas- coma is the thriving manufacturing village of Lebanon. There are four churches, and a good high school, for which a commodious brick building costing $20,000, was erected in 1873 ; two banks, and a weekly newspaper. The river falls within the village 100 feet, aflbrding an abundant water-power. The largest manufactory is that of Mead & Mason, who manufacture doors, blinds, fur- niture, &c. Sc3-thes, snaths, and rakes ai-e manufac- tured by different companies. There is a large grist- mill, and also a manufactory for cabinet organs. West Lebanon, on the Connecticut River, one mile above the mouth of the Mascoma, is the terminus of the Northern Railroad. It is opposite the mouth of the White River, and the beauty of the two valleys renders its situation unusually attractive. The Tilden Female Seminar}', taking the name of its largest benefactor, William Tilden, Esq., of New York, is located here. The seminary building, which is of brick, three stories high, and 96 feet in length by 55 in width, was erected in 1854. In 18C5 the propert}- was leased by Hiram Orcutt, A. M., a teacher of much experience, under whose careful management the institution has steadily prospered. In 18G8 an additional gift of $20,000 by Mr. Tilden was expended in the enlargement of the main building. Littleton is the second town in the count}' in popula- tion and wealth, and the third in manufactures. Oppo- site the western side of the town are the Fifteen Miles Falls in the Connecticut, which begin in Dalton and end in Monroe. In that distance, the river falls 400 feet. The population of the town is 2,740. The one village is situated on tiie Ammonoosuc, and since the opening of the railroad has grown with great rapidity, it being on the direct route of White Mountain tra\'el. The town contains two banks, an equal number of newspapers, five churches and a school-house, which is by far the best building in the place. The industrial interests of the town include the manufacture of starch, churns and scythes. There is also a woollen-mill, now idle. The lumber business is quite extensive, and the value of the yearly productions is in the neighborhood of $500,000. Hatehhill is the most important agricultm'al town in the county. Here are the rich intervals on the Connec- ticut, the celebrated Ox Bow, where the Indians raised their corn, and of which the whites were so eager to gain possession. The hay crop of Haverhill exceeds that of any other town in the State by nearly 1,000 tons. The estimated value of its farm products is $272,000. There are nine saw-mills, turning out yearly about 5,000,000 feet of lumber, three grist-mills, the same number of starch-factories, and valuable whetstone quarries. At Woodsville there is a large box-factory, and another for shovel handles. Paper is also manufactured. A soap- stone quarry in the north part of the town produces a stone of superior quality. East Haverhill is largely interested in the lumber business. Haverhill, often called Haverhill Corner, is the largest village. It is well laid out, with a fine common in the centre, and com- mands a fine view of the surrounding country. There are two chiu'ches and an academy, one of the oldest in the State. Haverhill is one of the shire towns of the county. North Haverhill, opposite the Great Ox Bow, consists of a single street, lined on either side \^ith houses. Woodsville, opposite Wells River, is a thriving and rapidly growing village. The population of the town is 2,271. Lisbon, whose population is 1,844, is well watered by the Ammonoosuc and its tributaries. The articles of manufactm-e, which are various, include carriages, of which there is an extensive factory. In the eastern side of the town, adjoining Franconia, is found a deposit of iron ; and in the west part are veins of the more precious metals. Limestone is found in the eastern portion of the town. There are three churches, a high school and a village library association. Enfield, with a population of 1,662, produces manu- factures amounting to $450,000 annually. There are five ponds of considerable size in this town. On the northern side of Mascoma Lake, at the entrance of the river, is situated the prosperous village of Enfield. The principal part of the manufacturing is done here. On the south-west side of Mascoma Lake is a settlement of the Shakers, whose possessions have gradually increased until now they own all the land for two miles along its border. Their farms are in the highest state of cultiva- tion. They have about 20 acres devoted to the raising of garden seeds and medicinal herbs, of which they sell a great quantity. The Shakers make large quantities of IIISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. butter and cheese, and manufacture tubs, pails' and brooms. The number in this settlement is 300. Haiersons. In 1 725 Capt. John Lovewell of Dunstable raised a company of volunteers, and marched in pursuit of the Indians. They fell into an ambuscade at Lovewell's Pond, in Frycburg, Me. Eleven of the whites were wounded, and 16 killed, among the latter Capt. Lovewell, Lieut. Farwell, and Ensign Robbiiis of Dunstable. The famous chief, Pau- gus, fell during the fight. This event, though disastrous to the settlers for the time, nevertheless taught the Indians a salutarj- lesson, that " swift retribution was sure to follow their savage cruelties to the settlers." A word should be said with respect to those persons who settled in the northern and western portions of the county, outside of the limits of old Dunstable. They were mostly English and Scotch-Irish — largely of the latter nationality. The last named, though not of 'Ma.s- sachusetts Piuitan or Pilgrim stock, nevertheless held "like precious faith" with those, and were no less ardent lovers of liberty and free institutions. Perse- cuted in England, they had fled to Ireland. Persecuted still, in 1718 a company of 120 families emigrated to this country, and 16 of these families settled the next year in Nutfield, now Londonderry. Here, by their NEW HAMPSHIRE. industry and economy, they prospered and increased. Colonies -went out in all directions. "A large number of the pioneers of civilization in New Hampshire, Ver- mont, Maine, New York and Nova Scotia, were from this town." During 25 j^ears subsequent to 1750, "ten distinct settlements were made by emigrants from Lon- donderry, all of which have become towns of influence and importance in New Hampshire." These colonists, by their integrity, industry, economj-, and firm religious faith, made a deep and salutary im- pression upon every community in which they lived. The names of McGregor, Pinkerton, Taylor, McKeen, Duncan, Bell, Patterson, Aiken, McFarland, Gregg, Stark, Thornton, Greeley and Adams fill an honored place in the secular and ecclesiastical historj' of our State. The Scotch Presbj'terian element, thus introduced from Londonderry, became an important and valuable factor in the early, and no less in the later, history of Bedford, New Boston, Antrim, Peterborough, Manches- ter, Litchfield, Hudson, Francestown and Deering. The second element of immigration which entered largely into the early history of this county was from Massachusetts, of English origin, and of the Puritan faith. At first there was some want of harmony between the two elements, and misunderstandings arose ; but, in process of time, the two classes of immigrants came to know and appreciate each other's character and virtues, and the result was co-operation and assimilation. In most of the towns above named, the Presbyterian element predominating, churches of that order were organized at the outset. In Amhei'st, Milford, Hollis, Merrimack, Wilton, Mount Vernon, Lyndcborough, New Ipswich, Hillsborough, Mason, Temple, Hancock, Brook- hne and Nashua, settlers of English ancestry being most numerous. Congregational churches were the first eccle- siastical product. Churches of other denominations sprang up in various towns of the county at a later period. The original settlers of this county were the warm friends and generous patrons of popular and liberal edu- cation. The meeting-house and school-house were the first pubUc edifices erected by their hands. Appleton Academy, at New Ipswich, chartered in 1789, and Fran- cestown Academj', chartered in 1818, have ever main- tained a high rank, and been liberally patronized. In the cities and larger towns, the high school, with its ample equipments, takes the place of the academ}-. As we have seen, some of the towns of this county were organized at an early period. The principle which led to this organization was that of mutual protection and security'. These town organizations are the purest democracies the world has ever seen. Together with the church and the school, they are the corner-stones of the temple of liberty. Through their combined agency, we have free men, free thought, free speech. "Town meetings," saj-s De TocqueviUe, "are to lib- erty what primary schools are to science ; they bring it within the people's reach ; they teach men how to use and how to enjoy it." As another writer has fitly said, " This element of popular liberty was so important through the whole colonial history of New England, that it has been affirmed with great truth, that the American Revolution had its birth in the town-meetings and school- houses of the scattered colonists." In the arduous struggle for liberty, known as the Revolution, Hillsborough County bore an important part. Mr. Fox, in his " History of Dunstable," saj's that, in Maj', 1775, this county, with a population of 15,948, had G50 men in the army ; that is, more than one in every 25 of its inhabitants. The famous hero and veteran. Gen. John Stark, then a resident of this county, was a prominent leader in the bloody straggle. This gallant soldier and his noble compatriots, by their courage and valor displayed at Bunker Hill and Bennington, did much toward securing the final success of the colonists. The bench and bar of Hillsborough County have com- prised many men of high ability and eminence. Among these may be mentioned Judge Timothy Farrar, first judge of the Court of Common Pleas, under the new constitution of New Hampshhe, — a man whom Daniel Webster held in the highest esteem for his abilities, his integrity, and his judicial impartialitj' ; also, Judge Jere- miah Smith, "distinguished as a jurist of great legal acuteness and rare integritj'," eminent not only as an attornej', but also as a peace-maker, in his native town of Peterborough. At a somewhat later period, the BeUs, Athertons, Woodburj'S and Pierces have been prominent in the annals of the State and nation. Hillsborough County has been frequently represented in the gubernatorial chair of New Hampshire. Of natives or residents of the county, the following named gentlemen have hold that important position : Jeremiah Smith, Levi Woodburj', David L. Morrill, Benjamin Pierce, John H. Steele, Frederick Smyth, James A. Weston, Ezekiel Straw and Person C. Chenej-. It is scarcely necessary to add, that a president of the United States, Frankhn Pierce, was a native of this county. The pulpit of Hillsborough County has been, from the beginning, one of great influence and power. It has largely controlled the educational interests, and given HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. shape to the politics of the county. " The ministers of the ' standing order,' " saj'S Prof. Sanborn, in his " His- tory of New Hampshire," "became politicians in the higliest and noblest sense. They sought to make human law identical with the divine." It should be added that the early ministers of this countj' were not only men of marked abilities and strong character, but also of high culture. Rev. Stephen Farrar, first pastor of the church in New Ipswich, was one of whom it was said, that "sanctity of manners, devotion to God, and benevolence to man, were the great leading traits of his character." Rev. Dr. John H. Church of Pelham, a sound theologian and an instruc- tive preacher, acquired a wide fame by his zealous pro- motion of education and all matters of public interest and utility. Rev. Ephraim P. Bradford was settled in New Boston. One who knew him well says : " Mr. Bradford was literally one of nature's noblemen ; of princely person, with sonorous, commanding voice, ex- ceedingly fluent and accurate in speech, moulded some- what after Johnson's style." Such were his talents and abilities that he might have acceptabl}- filled any pulpit in the land. Rev. Dr. Humphrey Moore of Milford ; Rev. Dr. Whiton of Antrim ; Rev. Dr. Day of Hollis ; Rev. Dr. Silas Aiken of Amherst, and later of Park Street Church, Boston, were prominent among the ministry of the county. Rev. Nathan Lord, D. D., president of Dartmouth College for many years, and possessing a world-wide fame as a disciplinarian and educator, was for some 12 years pastor of the church in Amherst. Many others might be named who " served their own generation by the will of God," with no less of fidelity and consecration. The medical profession in Hillsborough County has embraced many men of high attainments and great skill. Dr. Edward Spalding, a graduate of Harvard in 1798, located in Amherst in 1806, gained a wide reputation as a skilful physician and surgeon. In social qualities, Christian urbanity and unwavering principle, he had no superiors. Dr. Daniel Adams of Mount Vernon was distin- guished as a phj'sician, and as the author of the excel- lent arithmetic which bears his name. He was marked by fine social qualities and firm religious faith. Ebenezer Rockwood, M. D., assistant-surgeon in the war of 1775, settled first in Hollis, and afterwards in Wilton, where he gained, and retained for more than 50 years, the confidence of his fellow-citizens. He was largely instrumental in the formation of the Orthodox Congregational church in that town, and was afterwards one of its strongest pillars. Dr. Jonathan Parker, a contemporary of the preceding, was a physician of considerable eminence in Litchfield. Matthew Thornton, one of the signers of the Declara- tion of Independence, was, before the Revolution, a lAysician of repute. His residence was Merrimack. Reuben Dimond Muzzey, a well-known physician and author, was a native of Amherst. He was for a time professor in Dartmouth College, Ohio Medical College and Miami Medical College. Our county has not been prolific in journalists. The lale Isaac Hill, though a native of Massachusetts, commenced his journalistic career in the town of Amherst, N. H. He established the "New Hampshire Patriot " in Con- cord, in 1809. Luther Roby, a native of Amherst, removed to Con- cord, where, in 1822, he established the " New Hamp- shire Statesman." John Farmer, the celebrated antiquarian, a native of Chelmsford, Mass., spent a considerable portion of his life in Amherst, N. II. The far-famed Horace Greeley was a native of Am- herst. " Possessing but few of the advantages enjoyed by youth at the present day, by his energy and perse- verance he wrought his way up from poverty and ob- scuritj' to a commanding position among the journalists of the country and the world. The ' Tribune,' with 1,250,000 readers, was a power in the land, and its editor-in-chief well deserved the title given him by a distinguished contemporary, — ' Our later Franklin.' lie died Nov. 29, 1872." The inhabitants of Hillsborough Count}- have been distinguished, from the outset, by patriotism and public spirit. The annals of the Revolution, and of the war of 1812, furnish ample proof of this fact. Nor did the people fall behind in the late protracted and sanguinary struggle of the Rebellion. Several of the New Hamp- shire regiments were raised and furnished with officers, wholly or largely within this county. It might seem invidious to particularize where all did so well. Suffice it to say, that the soldiers of Hillsborough Countj^ gave a good account of themselves " in the day of battle." Among oflScers coming from this countj-, may be named Gen. Aaron F. Stevens of Nashua ; Gen. Joseph C. Abbott, Manchester; Col. Thomas L. Livermore, Mil- ford ; Col. Samuel G. Langley, Manchester ; Col. Charles Scott, Peterborough; Col. Oliver W. Lull, Milford; Col. Michael T. Donohoe, Manchester; Col. George Bowers, Nashua; Col. Dana W. King, Nashua; Col. John F. Marsh, Hudson. The number of soldiers furnished by the county during I the war was 4,G83. It is thought that not less than one- NEW HAMPSHIRE. tliird of this number were killed, or died of -wounds received or sickness coutracted in tlie sci^vice. Manchester is the most important citj-, located in the eastern part of the count)', and mainly upon the eastern side of the Merrimack. This town, then called Derrj-- ucld, was incoiporated in 1751. It was settled as earlj- as 1736 bj' Archibald Stark (father of Gen. John Stark) and others. In 1775, the town contained only 2fi5 in- habitants ; in 1820, only 762. The present population is nearly 30,000. A most wonderful growth within the last GO j-ears. " The rise, growth and prosperity' of this — the largest citj- in the State — have been almost wholly dependent upon its great manufacturing interests. There are now in the city four large corporations ; viz., the Amoskeag, the Stark, the Manchester and the Langdon, with an aggregate capital of §6, 750, 000 ; besides manj' other manufacturing establishments of less importance." The manufacture of cotton goods was commenced in 1809, at Amoskeag Village, on the west bank of the river, and then included \^'ithin the limits of Goffstown. The next j'ear, as the business proved successful, a stock compan}' was formed and incoq^orated, under the title of the "Amoskeag Cotton and Wool Company." Great success attended the efforts of the company. In 1830-31 , immense tracts of land, comprising more than 1,500 acres, were purchased on the east side of the river. A new compan}' — the "Amoskeag Manufacturing Com- pany" — was formed, in which the old compan}' was merged. A new stone dam was constructed ; also, two canals, with guard locks. The present capital of the company is $3,000,000. They have ten mills, which are among the largest in the couutrj'. Thej' emploj- 4,000 persons, have an annual paj'-roU of $1,100,000, and manufacture 3'early 24,000,000 yards of cloth. Besides, this corporation owns all the land and all the water-power used and occupied by all the other mills and shops. The needful land and power is rented to the other corporations at low rates. From a recent report of the treasurer, it appears that the annual dividends for the last 40 j'cars have averaged 13 per cent. ; the total value of the property Is now §5,300,000 ; there is also a reserve fund of some $1,700,000. The Stark Mills Company was incorporated in 1838, with a capital of $1,250,000. The Manchester Print Works, originating in 1839, has a capital of $2,000,000, and occupies six mills. The Langdon Mills Company' was incorporated in 1857, with a capital of $500,000. The ^Manchester Gas-light Company, incorporated in 1841, with a capital of $100,000, had laid, in 1873, twenty-one miles of gas-pipe, and has capacity' to furnish daily 300,000 feet of gas. The Manchester Locomotive Works has a capital of $150,000, employs 675 hands, and has an annual product of 150 locomotives, besides castings of every description. Besides the above, we must not omit to mention the Manchester Water Works, which bring water from Lake Massabesic, and are capable of furnishing over five mil- lions of gallons daUy, — enough to supply a city of 125,000 inhabitants. The entire cost was about $625,000. Manchester is well supplied with schools and other literar}' institutions. It has 45 schools, 36 of which are gi-aded. The estimated value of school-houses and lots is $220,000. jSTo city in New England makes better provision or more generous appropriations for school purposes than docs Manchester. The State Reform School, chartered in 1856, stands on a delightful eminence, on the east side of the river. The grounds contain 110 acres, and the buildings are of suitable size and character. The institution is reforma- tory rather than penal, and is supported by annual ap- propriations bj' the Legislature, and b}- donations, and the income of certain legacies. The leading newspapers are the " Mirror and Ameri- can " (daily), "Mirror and Farmer" (weekly), "Man- chester Dailj' Union," "Union Democrat" (weekly), and the " New Hampshire Journal of Music " (monthly) . Manchester has a fine public librar}- of some 20,000 volumes, in a beautiful edifice erected for the purpose at a cost of $30,000. The city is well supplied with banks, in which is placed more than one-fourth of the whole amount depos- ited in all the savings banks of the State. There are 15 public halls, of which the Citj- Hall, built in 1845, at an expense of $35,000, Smj'th's Hall, and Music Hall are the cMef. The combined Vallej- and Pine Grove cemeteries, con- taining some 60 acres, are pleasantly located along the meandering Mill Brook, and are laid out with much care and taste. Other cemeteries — three on the west side of the river — are found within the city limits. The churches of the city represent the leading denom- inations, and are 17 in number. There are some singular circumstances connected with the early religious history of the town. Not till 90 years after the incorporation of the town was a minister settled within its limits. No house of worship was completed within the town, nor were public schools introduced, tUl very near the close of the last century. As a correlative fact, it may be added that " for nearly a century after HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. the settlement of the town, neither lawj-er, doctor, nor minister was found among its permanent inliabitants. And so far as known, no man born in town during that period devoted his life to the pursuit of any one of those professions." These circumstances cannot, we believe, be paralleled in American history. The Congregational pulpits of the city have been ablj' filled. Rev. C. W. Wallace, D. D., was pastor of the First Church for nearl}^ 30 years. The Franklin Street Church has enjoyed the pastoral ministrations of such men as Rev. H. M. Dexter, D. D., of Boston, Rev. ^M%'. HIGH -SCHOOL BLILUI Pres. S. C. liartlett ot Dartmouth College, and Rev. W. J. Tucker, D. D., of New York City. The gubernatorial chair has been filled since 1865, eight years in tlie thirteen, b}- gentlemen from Manches- ter. Messrs. Frederick Smyth, James A. Weston, Eze- kiel A. Straw, and P. C. Cheney each occupied the chair of State for two years. The Bench, the Bar, and the Press have found able representatives in Manchester. We need not mention such men as Hon. Daniel Clark, Hon. John B. Clarke, Hon. G. W. Morrison, Hon. David Cross, Hon. C. R. Morrison, Hon. Isaac W. Smith, Judge C. W. Stanley, Hon. Samuel N. Bell, Hon. Lewis W. Clark, Hon. James F. Briggs, Hon. Moody Currier, Hon. J. P. Newell, and G. W. Riddle, Esq. The whole number of persons emplo3"ed in the various professions, in trade, and in transportation, is estimated at 2,700, or nine per cent, of the population. The city has an extensive trade, affording a good market for the country around within a radius of eight to fifteen miles, thus furnishing facihties for marketing to an outside pop- ulation of some 15,000 persons. Nashua is the second and onl}- remaining citj- in Hills- borough County. It is beautifully situated on the west side of the Merrimack, and is nearly cquallj- divided by the Nashua River, which gives name to the city. On the south the city extends to the State line. It has an area of 18,898 acres, and has an agreeably diversified siu'face. Together with the other towns which were, as we have seen, comprised within the limits of " old Dunstable," Nashua was chartered in 1673. It took its present name Jan. 1, 1837. Its present population is about 13,000. It is abundantly supplied with water- power, furnished bj- the Nashua River and bj- Salmon Brook. In June, 1823, the Nashua Manufacturing Company was incorporated, with a capital of $300,000. Mill No. 1 was erected, and went into partial operation in 1825. The corporation now has a capital of $1,000,000 ; employs 1,100 hands, and manufactures 17,500,000 yards of cloth per annum. About 1825 the Indian Head Company was in- corporated, which, in 1830, became the Jackson Company. This company runs 22,000 spindles, and turns out 9,000,000 yards of cloth each year. The Vale Mills, at the Harbor, erected about 1845, have a capital of $500,000, and employ some 80 hands. About 1845, several manufacturing enterprises sprung up. Among them were the manufacture of shut- tles and bobbins ; that of locks and knobs ; also, Wil- liams's Iron Foundry, with Gage's Machine Shop. The Nashua Iron Companj' was incorporated in 1847. It now has a capital of $500,000. At a somewhat later period, the Underhill Edge-Tool Companj', Otterson's Iron Foundry, the Francestown Soapstone Works, Gregg's Door, Sash and Blind Factory, the Nashua Card and Glazed I'aper Companj', and other similar enter- prises, were started, and came into successful operation. Nashua ranks second among the cities of the State in respect to the value of its manufactures. The schools and school-houses of Nashua are highly creditable to the city. The high-school building is tho finest structure of the kind which the State affords. It NEW HAMPSHIRE. Ga- was completed in 1874, and cost $100,000. In location, architectural beaut}-, and in furniture and equipments, it it leaves nothing to be desired. Altogether, the city has 17 school-houses. The Nashua Literary Institution, incorporated in 1840, is under the charge of David Crosby, so long and favor- ably known as an educator. Nashua has an excellent public library, comprising more than 6,000 volumes, free to every citizen of the city. Two newspapers — the "Telegraph" and the zette" — are published in the city, each appear- ing in a daily as well as a weekl}- edition. There is no lack of banks and hotels in Nashua. The first church was organized Dec. 16, 1085, and the first pastor. Rev. Thomas "Weld, was ordained on the same day. It has had, during the interval of 193 years, 15 pastors, of whom Rev. Joseph Kidder held the pastorate 51 years. There are now 1 1 churches in the citj-. There are many public and private edifices which do credit to the intelligence and liberalitj- of the citizens of Nashua. The city hall is a fine struc- ture of brick. The Pennichuck Water Works were constructed in 1854, and furnish the city with an abundant supply of pure, soft water. The railroad facilities of Nashua, comprising six radiating lipes of road, are excellent. Among the first settlers of Nashua were the names of Weld, Blanchard, Waldo, C'uuimings and Lovewell. Nashua counts among her prominent citizens at the present time, Gen. Aaron F. Stevens, Hons. G. Y. and A. W. Sawyer, Hon. Samuel T. Worcester, Hon. George A. Ramsdell, Col. Gilman Scripture, Hon. B. E. P^merson, Hon. Charles Williams, Dr. Edward Spalding, Hon. Frank McKean and Hon. O. C. Moore. The several cemeteries are well laid out, and kept in good condition. MiLFORD is situated on the Souhegan River, about 1 1 miles north-west from Nashua. The location is pleasant. The citizens are enterprising and prosperous. Tlie town was incorporated in 1746, and took its present name in 1704. It has a population of 2, OOG. Manufacturing and trade are important branches of business. Still, manj- of the inhabitants are engaged in farming, and thrive b}' it. There are annually manufactured in this town 813,- 000 yards of cotton goods ; $260,000 worth of carpets, &c., and 153,000 pounds of knitting and tidy j-arn. valued at $107,000. Nearly all branches of business are carried on here. There are 13 schools in the town, 5 churches, 2 banks, and 1 newspaper, — -the " Milford Enterprise." The Congi-egational church was organized Nov. 19, 1788. Rev. H. Moore, D. D., was ordained and installed Oct. 13, 1802, and continued in office till 183G. Milford has a fine town hall, erected at an expense of $45,000. Among the earlj- settlers of Milford we find the names of Burns, Hopkins, Jones, Peabody, Hutchinson, Brad- MOLNT PLI ISVNT SCHOOL-HOLSE, NASHUA. ford, Town, Wallace, and Capt. Josiah Crosby, who was an officer in the Revolution. The citizens of Milford evinced their patriotism in the late war of the Rebellion ; no less than GO men, among them Col. O. W. Lull, having laid down their lives in the war, or in consequence of it. Those famous singers, the " Hutchinson Familj-," are lineal descendants of the Nathan Hutchinson mentioned in the earlj* records among the first settlers. Prominent citizens, at the present time, are Hon. Bainbridge Wadleigh ; Gilbert Wadleigh, Esq. ; Robert Wallace, Esq. ; C. S. Averill, Esq ; Hon. William Ramsdell, William Gibson, Esq., and others. Peterborough is a thriving and energetic town, situ- ated in the western part of the county, on the Contoo- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. cook River. The first permanent settlement was effected in 1749. All of the first settlers were of the Scotch- Irish nationalitj'. The town was incorporated Jan. 17, 1760, and took its name from Peter Prescott of Concord, Mass. The present population is 2,236. There are several villages in the town, each of which is more or less a centre of trade and manufacturing interests. The centre village is situated at the confluence of the Nubanusit and Contoocook rivers, and is a ver^- thriving and enterprising place. Peterborough is predominantly a mercantile and manufacturing town, although it com- prises some valuable and productive farms. The aggre- gate amount of money invested In manufactures is said to be $525,900 ; giving employ.nent to some 500 persons. The town has 14 schools, including a high school; a town library of some 4,000 volumes ; a newspaper, — the " Transcript," — and five chm-ch edifices. The first church was organized as Presbyterian, at or before the jear 1766. At a later period this church became Unitarian. Of prominent citizens in the past, Jeremiah Smith stands at the head. Col. James Miller, afterwards gen- eral and governor of Arkansas, who bore a conspicuous part in the battle of Lundy's Lane, and who, on being ordered by Gen. Brown to take a certain battery, made the ever-memorable reply, " I'll tiy, sir ! " was a native of Peterborough. In the words of another: "Peter- borough has furnished many eminent men, who have adorned the bench, the chair of State, the pulpit, the bar, tlie halls of legislature and of Congress." Weake is one of the most important and wealth}- fanning towns iu the county. Its population is 2,093. The town took its name from Hon. Meshech AVeare, an earlj' magistrate of New Hampshire, and was incorpo- rated in 1764. The inhabitants are mainlj- devoted to the cultivation of the soil, although there are some important manufac- tories in the town. The products of the soil are esti- mated at the annual amount of $192,399. There are 16 schools in the town, and 6 churches, besides 2 societies of Friends. Clinton Grove Seminar}-, C. II. Jones, principal, is located here. Wilton is located on the Souhegan River, some 15 miles west from Nashua, and on the Lowell, Nashua and Greenfield Railroad. The situation is beautiful and romantic, particularly so with reference to the East vil- lage. It was fii-st settled in 1738 by three families, two named Putnam and one named Dale, from Danvers, Slass. Hannah Putnam was the first white child born iu the town. The town was incorporated June 25, 1762, and derives its name from Wilton, a manufacturing district in En- gland. It has at present a population of 1,974. There are manufactures of various kinds in the town. It is said that but one other town in the State — Bed- ford — produces annuall}- a greater quantit}- of milk. The soil of Wilton is of a superior qualitj-, and jnelds rich returns to the industrious husbandman. The town has 13 schools, a public library of some 1,200 volumes, and 4 churches. The first Congregational church was organized Dec. 14, 1763, Rev. Jonathan Livermore, pastor. Under its third pastor. Rev. Mr. Bedee, it became distinctivel}- Unitarian in its faith and relations, and so continues. The second Congregational church was formed July 18, 1823, consisting of 17 seceders from the first church. Among the enterprising men still remaining in Wilton, are C. II. Bums, Hon. D. Whiting, and Dr. Josiah Freeman. GoFFSTOWN lies on the Piscataquog River, west from Manchester. The town was named from Goffe, one of the early settlers. It was incorporated June 16, 1761. Present population, 1,656. The common employment of the inhabitants is agri- culture. Over 200,000 quarts of milk are annuallj- sold. Considerable manufacturing of various kinds is carried on. The town has 14 schools and 4 churches. The first of these churches (Congregational) was organized Oct. 30, 1771. Rev. Joseph Currier was the first pastor. A Presbj-terian church was formed in the town soon after. On the settlement of Rev. D. L. Morrill in March, 1802, the two churches were united as a " Congregational- Presb3-terian church." Mr. Morrill, at a later period, was United States senator, and also governor of the State. Another pastor was Rev. Henry Wood, afterwards editor of the " Congregational Journal" ; also American consul at Beirut, Syria. In the southern part of the town are those two remark- able mountain protuberances known by the Indian name of the " Uncanoonucs." Among the prominent citizens of days gone b}' were Robert McGregor, who built the first bridge across the Merrimack at Amoskeag Falls ; Charles Frederic Gove, Esq., who filled several high olHccs in the State and county ; Jonathan Aiken, attorncy-at-law, and father of Rev. James Aiken, once settled in Ilollis. Hillsborough is situated in the north-western part of the county, and is watered by the Contoocook and Hills- borough rivers, which unite in the southern part of the town. The surface is hilly and uneven, and the soil NEW HAMPSHIRE. strong and productive. The first settlement was made in 1741, by Samuel Gibson, James McCalley, Robert McClurc, James L\-on, and otliers. Col. John Hill of Boston obtained a grant of the township from the Masonian proprietors, and hence the name. The first white children born in the town were John McCalley and Mary Gibson, who intermarried at a later period, and received as a gift a tract of land from the proprietors. The town was incorporated Nov. 14, 1772. Its present population is 1,595. The chief employment is agriculture, although there is also a consideraljle amount of manufacturing. More than $60,000 worth of leather is manufactured yearly ; also an equal amount of gentlemen's underclothing. The town has 17 schools, one newspaper, the " Hillsborough Bridge Messenger," two banks, and three churches. The First Congregational Church (at the Centre) was organized Oct. 12, 17G9. Rev. Jonathan Barnes was set- tled as pastor Nov. 25, 1772, and continued in office till 1803. The Congregational Church at the Bridge was organ- ized May 29, 1839. Its first preacher was Rev. Samuel G. Tenney. Col. Benjamin Pierce, a soldier of the Revolution, and afterwards governorof NewHampsliIre, was a prominent and influential citizen of this town and of the county. He came from Chelmsford, Mass., and settled in Hills- borough shortly after the Revolution, in which he had borne a gallant part.* Col. Pierce was the father of Franklin Pierce, after- wards President of the United States. Among professional and business men at the present time may be mentioned H. D. Pierce, Esq., F. H. Pierce, Esq., Dr. A. C. Burnham, and J. S. Butler, Esq. Amherst is situated on the Souhegan River, about ten miles north-west of Nashua. The village is located in a fine plain, some two miles north of the river, and is sur- rounded by beautiful and sublime scenery. Amherst was, for many years, the most important town of the county : latterlj', however, Manchester and Nashua have borne away the palm. It was granted by Massachusetts in 1733, and was early known as " Souhegan West." The first settlers were Samuel Walton and Samuel Lampson, who came to * When Col. Pierce was called to fill the office of sheriff of the county, he found three aged men lying in Amherst jail for debt : one had been incarcerated for four years. No crime but poverty had been alleged against them. The heroic colonel was moved with compassion, and the place in July, 1734. It was incorporated in 1760, and took its name from Gen. Amherst of the English armj-. The present number of inhabitants is 1,353. The people of Amherst arc priucipall}' engaged in farming. Over 90,000 gallons of milk are sold, and over 36,000 pounds of butter are annually made in the town. There is one large foundry, and several smaller manu- factories. One newspaper, established Nov. 10, 1802, entitled the " Farmer's Cabinet," is published. The town library- contains 1,000 volumes. There are eleven schools and three churches. The Congregational church was organized Sept. 22, 1741, " by six members, in the simplest form of Congregationalism, out of a pop- ulation of fourteen families." On the following daj-, Sept. 23, Rev. Daniel Wilkins was ordained pastor. He has been followed by an able succession of ministers, including such men as Pres. Nathan Lord, Rev. Dr. Silas Aiken, Rev. Dr. W. T. Savage, and the present able and efficient pastor. Rev. J. G. Davis, D. D. Among prominent natives or residents of the town, in former da3-s, or at the present time, we may mention Judge Samuel Dana, from whom descended Judge Samuel Dana Bell, Senator James Bell, Dr. Luther V. Bell, and Hon. Samuel N. Bell; William Gordon, who though dying at the age of 39, had filled the offices of senator, member of Congress, and attorney-general ; Col. Robert Means, member of the State senate, father of Rev. James Means, formerly of Concord, Mass. ; Hon. Jedediah K. Smith, who filled important State and national offices ; Hon. Clifton Claggett, who, for some years, was at- torne3'-gcneral of New Hampshire, and a member of the eighth, fifteenth and sixteenth congresses ; and Hon. Charles II. Atherton, who was for more than 40 j-ears register of probate for the county, and for more than 50 years a leading member of the Hillsborough bar. His son, Hon. Charles G. Atherton, who settled in Nashua, was representative to Congress, also senator for a term of years, and died while holding the senatorial office. Amherst, it appears, furnished more soldiers for the Revolutionary army than any other town in the State. New Ipswich is situated in the south-west corner of the count}', and is some 24 miles west from Nashua. The Souhegan River flows through the town, furnishing excellent water-power for mills and factories. actually paid out of his own pocket the debts of the three nnforttmate men, and restored them to their families and to liberty. This generous act gave him, as was fitting, unbounded popularity throughout the State. 640 HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. The principal tillage is at the centre of the town, in a i beautiful and fertile vallej-. The town was settled prior to 174!l. The first settlers were Eeuben Kiddor, Archibald White, Joseph and Ebenezcr Bullard, and others. These were soon re-enforced by the Adamses and Appletons from Ips- wich, Mass., the Farrars from Lincoln, and the Barretts from Concord, — names which have since been conspicuous in the historj- of the township. The town was incorpor- ated Sept. 9, 1762. Present population, 1,380. The people are generall}- engaged in agriculture, j-et their manufacturing enterprises are important. The " Columbian Manufacturing Company " owns a large cot- ton manufactory in the town. Appleton Academy, a famous institution, incorporated in 1789, is an honor to the town. There are thirteen public schools, one savings bank, a good public library, and three churches. TheFirst Church was organized in 1751. Rev. Stephen Farrar was ordained pastor in 1760. He continued in office for 49 years. Pres. Jesse Adams of Bowdoin College, was a native of New Ipsftich ; also Jonas Chickering of pianoforte fame ; aJso Prof. Ebenezer Adams of Dartmouth College ; like- wise Samuel Appleton, Esq., a distinguished merchant of Boston ; and John Preston, Esq., a prominent lawyer in the count}-. The people of the town have been somewhat marked by literary tastes and habits. Its college graduates, prior to 1853, numbered some 45. The first cotton-mill in the State was built in this town in 1803. New Boston is situated due west from Manchester, and some ten miles distant. Several streams of water flow through the town, the largest of which is the south branch of the Piscataquog River. The town is hill}', with a strong, productive soil. "Jo English Hill" is in the south part of this town. New Boston was settled in 1733, and incorporated Feb. 18, 1763. The first settlers were Cochrane, Wilson, Caldwell, McNeil, Person, and Smith. The present number of inhabitants is 1,241. Most of the people are emploj'ed in the cultivation of the soil. There are fifteen schools in the town. The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1768. Rev. Solomon Moore, the first pastor, was ordained in September of that year. The Baptist Church was organ- ized Dec. 6, 1787. This town has produced a large number of men of eminence in the learned professions and in business. The Cochrane, Crombie, Gregg, Dodge, Buxton and Clark families have been prominent in the State. Rev. Edward Buxton, Rev. W. R. Cochrane, and Rev Henry Marden of the Turkej- mission, belong to this town. Hon. Perley Dodge, Hon. Clark B. Cochrane, and Hon. Royal Parkinson also belong here. ! HoLLis was settled in 1731, and incorporated in 174G. It took its name from the Duke of Newcastle, whose famil}' name was HoUis. The first settler was Capt. Peter Powers. Eleazer Flagg came in 1722. The present population is said to be 1,080. The | business of the town is mainh' agricultural. This town ranks highest in the county in the products of the orchard. The annual production of milk amounts to more than 350,000 quarts. The coopering business has assumed considerable importance in the town. The town has 14 schools, and a social library of 1,600 volumes. The onl}- church, the Congregational, was organized at some time prior to the settlement of Rev. Daniel P^merson, which took place April 20, 1743. He retained the sole pastorate till Nov. 27, 1793. 1 The town of Hollis has hitherto held a very high rank in a literary and intellectual point of view. Many men 1 of distinguished business enterprise, and in the learned professions, have gone forth from this ancient town. From a catalogue now before the writer, it appears that, up to 1877, no less than 62 of the natives or resi- } dents of Hollis have been college graduates. Probabl}' no other town in the State can furnish a parallel to this case. Among the number we maj- mention Benjamin Mark Farley, an able and successful lawyer ; Rev. Samuel ' Worcester, D. D., pastor of the Tabernacle Church, ' Salem, Mass. ; Prof. Ralph Emerson of Andover Theo- I logical Seminary ; Joseph E. Worcester, LL.D., the dis- tinguished lexicographer; Hon. Samuel T. Worcester of' Nashua ; Rev. Joseph Emerson, pastor of the Third Congregational Church in Beverly, Mass., and afterwards principal of a female seminary ; also Rev. Noah Worces- ter, D. D., author of " Bible News." Bedford, the second town of the county in agricul- tural importance, was incorporated May 19, 1750. Its population is 1,221. C. W. Wallace, D. D., Silas Aiken, D. D., and Hon. Zachariah Chandler of Michigan, were born iu this town. Merrimack, a farming and manu.acturing town of 1,066 inhabitants, was incorporated in 1746. Rev. Jacob Burnap, D. D., was pastor in the town for a period of 49 years. Robert McGaw, a wealthy citizen, deceased some j-ears since, founded "McGaw Normal Institute," a thri\-ing school in the town. Hudson lies on the Merrimack River, opposite Nashua. NEW HAMPSHIRE. It was incorporated June 5, 1746, as "Nottingham AVest," and received its present name in 1830. Popula- tion, 1,066. Francestcwn, incorporated June 8, 1772, present population 932, is the site of Francestown Academj-, a flourishing institution. Farming is the principal occupa- tion of the people. A quarrj- of freestone here has been very extensively worked. From James 'Woodbury, one of the early settlers, a soldier in the old French war, and who stood beside Gen. Wolfe, when he fell at Quebec, have sprung Hon. Levi Woodburj', Rev. Marsh Wood- bur}-, and other eminent men. Antrim, named from a town in Ireland, mainly a farm- ing town, but manufacturing silk and twist, and also j seed-sowers, was incorporated March 22, 1777. The population is 1,056. Rev. John M. Whiton, D. D., was pastor of the Presbjiierian church in Antrim for 45 3'ears. Rev. John Nichols, missionar}^ to India, Rev. Seneca Cummings, missionary to China, Hon. D. M. Christie of Dover, and Judge G. W. Nesmith, were born here, this town. Pelham, a town of 861 inhabitants, was settled in 1721, and incorporated in 1746. Agriculture is the lead- ing industry. It has, however, some manufactures, and stone quarries. Greenville, population 975, has large cotton-mills, lumber-mills, a fui-niture manufactory and a flouring-mill, besides various smaller mills and shops. It was formerlj- a part of Mason, and was incorporated in June, 1872. Ltndeborougu, named from Benjamin Lj-nde, Esq., and situated in the central part of the county, was incor- porated April 23, 1764. It contains 820 inhabitants. Centre Mountain occupies a portion of this town. Rev. W. Boutwell, missionary to the Indians, was born here. Hancock, an agricultural town, was incorporated Nov. 5, 1779. Present population, 792. Mason was incorporated Aug. 26, 1768. Some of the finest graperies and peach-orchards in the State are to be found here. The celebrated soldiers' monument, erected in Salisbury in 1878, was quarried and wrought at the Glen quarry in this town. Population, 685. Other towns in the countj' are : — Brookline, incor- porated in March, 1769, under the name of Ruby, which name was changed to Brookline in 1 778 ; population, 741 ; the industries being agriculture and manufacturing : Greenfield, given town privileges June 15, 1791 ; a farming town of 560 inhabitants : Deering, named by Hon. John Wentworth in honor of his wife, whose maiden name was Deering ; incorjjorated Jan. 17, 1774 ; popula- tion, 722 ; the native place of Rev. Thomas A. Merrill, D. D. of Middlebury, Vt., and containing 11 schools and an academy : Mount Vernon, incorporated Dec. 15, 1803 ; population, 601 ; having a flourishing village on an eminence noted for its fine scenery : Litchfield, a small but prosperous town, situated on the Jlerrimack ; incorporated as a township by Massachusetts, July 5, 1734, and chartered by New Hampshire, June 5, 1749 ; containing 345 inhabitants, and for 12 3'earsthe residence of Hon. Wiseman Claggett, an able lawyer who came here from England, and purchased a farm : Temple, in- corporated Aug. 26, 1768, population, 421 ; having a small but pleasant village nestling among towering hills : Bennington, manufacturing cutlery, paper, lum- ber, &c., incorporated in 1842 ; population, 405 : Sharon, incorporated June 24, 1791 ; population, 182 ; and Windsor, having a deep and productive soil, ob- taining town privileges in 1798, and containing less than 100 inhabitants. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. MEREIMACIv COUNTY, BY ASA McFARLAND. The incorporation of Merrimack Countj- arose out of the necessities of people who dwelt in the western portion of the great and populous countj' of Rocking- ham, which extended from the shore of the Atlantic Ocean in a north-westerly direction, to the confluence of Merrimack and AVimiipiseogee rivers, and those who j inhabited the equall}' large countj' of Hillsborough, which embraced all the towns from the border of Massachusetts near Peppcrell and Tyngsborough, to the town of Wil- mot, a distance of about 50 miles. The towns severed from Rocldngham County to form Merrimack, were Allenstown, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, Concord, Ep- som, Loudon, Northficld, Pembroke and Pittsfield ; from Hillsborough were taken Andover, Boscawen, Bradford, Dunbarton, Henniker, Hooksett, Hopkinton, Newbury, New London, Salisbury, Sutton, Warner and Wilmot. Since the formation of Merrimack County the town of Franklin (in 1828) was constituted of portions of San- bornton, Salisburj' and Northfield, and the towns of Danbury and Hill were severed from Grafton County and annexed to Merrimack. The territory now within the county of Merrimack was first inhabited by white people about the year 1725. Tliese were the successors of an aboriginal race, bj' whom the early settlers were kept in peril many j'cars. The tribe of Indians known as the Pennacook, had their head- quarters iu what is now Concord ; but according to well authenticated history, that ti'ibe sustained friendly rela- tions with the white settlers. It was wandering Indians by whom the infant settlements were assailed, instigated to savage deeds by inhabitants of Canada. Within 100 years of this time, near the site of the dwelling in which this history was prepared, stood the log meeting- liouse in which the pastor and his little flock assembled every Sunday, with loaded muskets at their side, for tha public woi-ship of God. This house was built in 1727, was 40 by 25 feet, with holes at its sides and ends through which to point and discharge fire-arms, should the companj' be assailed by Indians. Several towns ad- jacent to Concord were frequently put in peril by the same dusky foe. Within a mile and a quarter of the State House, is a granite shaft, in the form of an obelisk, about eight feet in height, erected in memory of five men who were killed by Indians on the 11th of August, 1746. Sis miles north of the State House, on an island at the confluence of Contoocook and Merrimack rivers, is the spot where occuiTcd an event of such tragic character as to obtain a permanent place in the earlj' annals of New England. This small tract is known as Dustin's Island. Mrs. Dus- tin was taken from the dwelling she inhabited in Haver- hill, Mass., and conveyed up the Merrimack River, to the far-off and lonelj' island, where her captors laid down to sleep, and passed "from the slumber of midnight to the slumber of death." Mrs. Hannah Dustin was the wife of Thomas Dustin of Haverhill, Mass. , and when an attack was made upon that place by the Indians, March 15, 1G97, she was in bed, with an infant seven days old at her side. Hearing the war-whoop of savages as they approached, Mr. Dus- tin, at work in a field near his dwelling, ran to the rescue of his family, seven of whom appear to have reached such an age as to take to flight. Seizing his gun, and finding it impossible to remove the mother and infant, he mounted his horse and urged his children onward, de- fending them against their pursuers. He appears to have saved all his household who accompanied him in the flight, and all found temporary refuge in an unoccupied house. Mrs. Dustin had for nurse one Mary NeflT, several j-ears her senior, a woman, according to tradition, of kindly disposition and much fortitude. Mrs. Dustin and Mary were seized, the infant killed by being dashed against a tree, and the two women compelled, in an inclement sea- son of the year, to accompany their savage captors to the far-off island, 50 miles from the place of departure. The deadly plan, formed by Mrs. Dustin it is supposed, was conceived as soon as she reached the spot destined to be a resting-place between Massachusetts and Canada. The company consisted of Mrs. Dustin and Mary Neff, two Indian men, three women, seven children, and a lad named Lannardson. Mrs. Dustin learned that her des- tination was Canada, and had no doubt of barbarous treatment when there ; and ascertaining through the boy Lannardson the place on the head where blows would be NEW HAMPSHIRE. most fatal, and liow scalps are removed, at once formed the plan for her deliverance from such fearful bondage. The nurse and Lannardson were at once mjide aware of the puri^ose, and at the midnight hour, tomahawk in hand, Mrs. Dustin made an end of the dusky group. Ten were slain ; one woman supposed to have been killed arose and ran into a thicket, and a favorite Indian boy was spared. Mrs. Dustin followed up her sanguinary deed by re- moving the scalps of the ^-ictims, took such food is was in the camp, the gun and the tomahawk with which she killed her captors, scuttled all the canoes except one, and with that set out upon the homeward journey, and after great hardship, reached Hav- erhill in safety. These are the most material facts regarding a transaction which causes the little island in the Merrimack River to be of enduring in- terest, and which the distin- guished Mrs. Sarah J. Hale, late of Philadelphia, but a na- tive of Newijort, in this State, commemorated in a poem en- titled "The Father's Choice." A few years since a monu- ment, to perpetuate the mem- ory of Mrs. Dustin and the transaction with which her name is so closely connected, was erected on the island. The figure of a woman of heroic proportions, tomahawk in hand, rests upon a mas- sive pedestal, all of granite. South-west of the State house in Concord is the pre- viouslj' mentioned granite shaft, which was erected with imposing services, Aug. 22, 1837, to perpetuate the Indian massacre of 174G. It is about seven feet high, and has upon the side nearest the highwa}', this inscrip- tion : — "This monument is in memorj- of Samuel Brad- ley, Jonathan Bradley, Obadiah Peters, John Bean, and John Lufkiu, who were massacred by Indians, * The remark ascribed to a company of New Hampshire patriots on their way to Bunker Hill, indicates the mettle of her sturdy sons in those early days. " Stand aside and let us pass if you are not going to march," they cried to a party of militia who were undecided what course to pursue. Aug. 11, 174G. Erected 1837 by Richard Bradley, son of Hon. John Bradley, and grandson of Samuel Brad- lej-." This tragical occurrence created the utmost con- sternation and profound grief in the infant settlement. The little company were on their way from one portion of the town to another, and consisted, it is said, of seven men, all armed with muskets. Two were captured and taken to Canada, whence the Indians came who com- mitted the deed. The party of savages is supposed to ha-\e numbcied about 100. The conflict was se- vere before the terror-stricken little company were destroyed. Between the years 1744 and 1760, frequent incursions were made upon the frontier settle- ments of New Hampshire, by Indians of the St. Francis tribe. Some of the settlers were kiUed, some carried into captivity and their property destroyed. Such was the case in Canterbury, Epsom, Salis- burj', Boscawcn, Hopkinton, and Concord. To protect the settlers against these assaults, block-houses were constructed at suitable places, into which the inhabitants retired in times of danger; while parties of armed men ranged the forests in search of their hu-king foes. Among the leaders of the settlers we find Capt. Jeremiah C'lough at Canterbury, one of the first inhabitants there ; Peter Brown, also of Canter- bury ; Capt. Ebenezer East- man of Concord, and several Ebenezer "Webster, Nathaniel Some of the last were among the rangers who served under Rogers and Stark, and en- dured almost incredible suflferings in their campaigns.* The county of Jlerrimack is the most central of the ten into which the State is divided. Its surface is sufficiently diversified to be in hai-mony with the general topography of a mountainous State. Kearsarge Mountain t — the t This eminence, 2,943 feet above the sea-level, has recently acquired national celebrity, since a w.ir-vessel named for it performed gallant service during the Hebellion by destroying the " Alabama," which was sunk beneath the waters of the English Channel, after a liricf encounter with the " Kearsarge," Capt. Winslow, June 19, 18G4. Xl'MENT, CONCOKU. of his sons ; and later, Abbott and John Shute. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. highest land in central New Hampshii-e — is its most conspicuous object. From the summit of this mountain, a prospect of great extent, beaut}- and grandeur is obtained. In clear weather the eye takes in portions of every county in New Hampshire, from Monadnock in the south-west, near the border of Massachusetts, on to those sublime peaks in the counties of Carroll, Grafton and Coos, which have become magnets by which people from all portions of the Union are drawn within our borders dur- ing the summer months. Through this county several rivers of m.agiiitudc and importance make their way ; chief of these is the Merrimack, which is said to propel more ma- ehinerj' than anj' other stream of water in the world. The waters of the Winnipiseogee join the Merrimack at Frank- lin ; and the Contoocook — the sources of which are in the south-west, near Monadnock Moun- tain — forms a junction with the Merrimack at Fisherville, a busy set- tlement at the mouth of the Contoocook, com- posing AVard 1, Concord. The largest portion of the people of Merrimack Count}- are emplo3-ed in agricultui'e ; relatively, however, less than in several other counties of New Hampshire. The county is of somewhat compact form, and most of the towns are within 15 miles of the shire town. The wholesomeness of the climate of this county maj' be inferred from the remarkable longevity of manj' of • Concord is the birth-place of men who became conspicnons in Y.-irious positions, some of whose names are here given : Hon. Richard II. Aver, born Jan. 12, 1778; was the tirst sheriff of Jlerrimacli Connty. He died in Manchester Feb. 5, 1853. Rev. Ezra E. Adams, bom Aug. 29, 1813; was seamen's chaplain at Cronstadt and Havre, and pastor in Nashua and Philadelphia. He died Nov. 3, 1871. Nathaniel H. Carter, Esq., editor of the " New York Statesman," distinguished in literature, died Jan. 2, 1830, at Marseilles, France, aged 42. Abicl Chandler, bom Feb. 26, 1777 ; teacher and merchant, and founder of Chandler Scientific School ; died at Walpole March 21, 1851. George Kent, Esq., liora May 6, 1796; was a leading lawyer, and several years one of the proprietors and editor of the " New Hampshire Statesman." Hon. HOME OF FRANKLIN PIERCE, CONCOKl). its people — not less than 45 having celebrated their centennial within the past 75 years, while four reached the extremely advanced age of 105 jears. The total number of inhabitants, according to the census of 1870, was 42,151. Towns. Concord, * a city of about 15,000 inhabitants, the second in New Hampshire as to numbers and date of incorporation, obtained its charter as a city in 1853. When granted by the legislature of Massachusetts, in 1725, it was an inhospitable waste, on the frontiers of civilization, and there j-et remain within its borders sev- eral ancient buildings ^^- that were fortified b}- the early settlers against the savages, and be- neath the roofs of which men, women and chil- ren alike sought shelter u hon the shades of night _ ilhcred around them. .I.m. 17, 1725, a tract of land was granted bj- tlie legislature of Mas- ■- u husetts to 103 pro- I I u tors, and the name 111 Pennacook was be- -towcd upon it. Such of these proprietors as dwelt here in the first t^\ent3' 3-ears were sub- ject to great privations, and were often in dead- ly peril. They were in danger by night and by day. They labored in fields and sustained public worship in a log-house on Sundays with fire-arms at hand or within easy reach. On one occasion their worst appre- hensions were realized. Aug. 11, 1746, when a small company of men were on their way from one of the scat- tered settlements to another, distant about two miles, Edward Kent, bom Jan. 8, 1802, was governor of Maine from 1838 to 1841, and subsequently judge of the Supreme Court, and minister to Brazil. He died May 19, 1877. Asa McFarland, Esq., born May 19, 1804, spent most of the business portion of his life in the office of the " New Hamp- shire Statesman," as proprietor and editor. Chandler E. Potter, Esq., bom March 7, 1807, editor and historian, died in Flint, Mich., Aug. 3, 1868. Hon. Philip Carrigain, bom Feb. 20, 1772, was secretary of State, and author of a map of New Hampshire. He died March 15, 1842. The list of men who occupied conspicuous positions, but whose birth-place was elsewhere, is very considerable. The following may be mentioned : Rev. Israel Evans, chaplain in the army of the Revolution ; successor of Rev. Timothy Walker, as pastor of the only NEW HAMPSHIRE. thcj' Tvero assailed b^- Indians l3ing in ambusli, and five wore killed. Pennacook, the name of a tribe of fricnnlj- Indians, became Rumfurd a few jears after the grantees took possession of I he tract assigned them. It bore the latter name from 1733 to 1775. The first settlers were a religious, self-den3-ing and self-reliant people. Rum- .ford had its representatives in what was known as the Frcndi war — 1 744-45 — and men from this infant set- tlement were in the expedition against Louisburg. Com- ing up to the war for independence, everj- requisition made upon the men of Concord was promptlj' answered. Thej- were quick to realize the public danger and prom|'t in responding to the call to arms. The men of that day rendered effective service at Bunker Hill and Benning- ton, an entire companj- marcli- ing on short notice to the last- named battle-ground, and con- tributing to the discomfituie of Burgo3-ne, and to the iibiii, hopes inspired 113- that c^ent Bj- an act of the legislatui of Massachusetts, passeil M n 25, 17G5, Rumford became i town, and was given the n xmt of Concord. At that time thi population was loss than 1,000 The New Hampshire legi&l i ture had, from an early time 141 to the j'ear 1808, been a nn- ^= — ~ , , , .. . , STATE HOVS gratory body, its sessions ha\- ing been held in Exeter, Portsmouth, and Concord. From the year above given the sessions of what was known in the beginning as the " Great and General Court," have been held here. The present State house was commenced in 1816, and completed in 1819. More than ten years ago the build- ing — a structure composed of granite — underwent en- largement and improvement, at an expense of $150,000. Exclusive of the Capitol, edifices devoted to the pur- cluirch in town at that time, ordained in July, 1784. Rev. Asa Mc- Farland, D. D., third pastor; native of 'VVorcester, Mass.; died Feb. 18, 1827, aged 57 ; in office 27 years. Hon. Isaac Hill, founder of the " New Hampshire Patriot"; native of West Cambridge, Mass.; U. S. senator and governor of New Hampshire; died March 22, 1851, aged 62. Thomas W. Thompson, U. S. senator, died Oct. 1, 1821, aged 55. Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, bom in Norwalk, Conn. ; 42 years pastor of the First Congregational Church ; died June 6, 1878, aged 78. John Farmer, Esq., bom in Chelmsford, Mass. ; a distinguished antiquarian ami historian ; died Aug. 13, 1838, aged 49. Hon. Nathaniel G. Uphara, native of Rochester; justice of the Supremo Court; U. S. commis- sioner in London; died Dec. U, 1869, aged 68. Hon. Franklin Pierce, a native of Hillsborough, N. H. ; president of the United States ; died poses of t j-cars ago, buildi \irf' State are the pi-ison, built more than CO d the asylum for the insane, an extensive to which additions are still made, as occasion requires. Concord is also the shire of Merrimack County. The churches arc as good at least as the best domestic habitations, and the school-houses afford visi- ble and conclusive proof of the interest made manifest for popular education. The cliief or central portion of the city is upon the west or right bank of Merrimack River, and from rising ground a mile from that stream extensive views are obtained. From the dome of the State house the pros- pect is beautiful and extensive. Fertile meadows, through which the river passes, and the majestic sweep of that stream as it passes on to mingle its w-aters with the ocean ; the man}' and beau- tiful public buildings beneath the 630 ; and habitations of the people, together with gardens iiid lawns, compose a picture the remembrance of which long leinains in the memory. There are three considerable \ lUages outside the centre, not including Fishervillc, namely, List ai,d West Concord and Jlillville. Fisher\ille, upon the Contoocook River, is six miles from the State house, and has become a busy, enterprisins , CONCOKI) .< i o and piospcrous manufacturing village of about 2,500 inhabitants. Manufacturing is also conducted in West Concord, a village of several hundred inhabitants, about three miles from the Capitol. East Concord is tlu-ce miles away, and is reached by a massive iron bridge across Merrimack River. Millville, two miles from Main Street, is distinguished as the scat of St. Paul's School — the Eton and Rugb}- of New Eng- lanel ; an establishment for the education of boj's, of whom there are now about 200. Oct. 8, 1869, aged 64. Nathaniel P. Rogers, Esq., a native of Plymouth ; one of the earliest anti-slavery advocates, and first editor of the " Herald of Freedom "; died Oct. 16, 1846, aged 52. Hon. Ira Perley, born in Boxford, Mass. ; chief justice of the Supreme Court; died Feb. 26, 1874, aged 74. Hon. David L. Morrill, native of Epping; U. S. senator and governor -of New Hampshire; died Jan. 28, 1849, aged 76. Hon. Henry A. Bellows, a native of 'Walpole; chief justice of the Supreme Court; died March 11, 1873, aged 69. Gen. Joseph Lord, native of Amherst; first mayor of Concord; died Aug. 29, 1859, aged 69. Hon. Walter Harriman, bom in Warner; colonel of the eleventh regiment New Hampshire volunteers, governor, secretary of State, naval officer in Boston during the presidency of Gen. Grant. Hon. Onslow Steams, governor of the State. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. In its course through Concord, Merrimack River is crossed bj' two railwaj- and five highwa}- bridges. Con- toocook River forms a junction with the Merrimack at Fisherville, where are two bridges, one of iron, costing 817,000. There is an ancient house in Concord known as " The Count Rumford Place." It occupies an agi'ceable posi- tion near the west bank of Merrimack River, about one and a quarter miles south of the State house ; and, although it has become decaj'ed, wears, even in its decline, the air of an ancestral abode. Benjamin Thomp- son (Count Rumford) was a native of Woburn, Jlass., and came to Concord as a teacher of jouth. He here married the widow of Benjamin Rolfe, a daughter of Rev. Timoth}^ Walker, more than 50 j'cars pastor of the onlj' church existing in Concord through his entire min- istry-. Thompson was of imposing presence, engaging manners and enterprising spirit. He became acquainted with influential men in the Province, and attracted the attention of Gov. John Wcutworth, from whom, in 1774, he received a commission of major in the New Hamp- shire militia. He subsequently, however, went abroad, having contracted the dislike of those with whom he was acquainted because of his presumptive opposition to the cause of the Colonies against the mother countr}-. After visiting England and France he entered into the service of the Duke of Bavaria. Because of inventions and reforms by which the subjects of the Elector were mate- rially benefited, the title of Count was confen'cd upon Thompson, to which he appended Rumford, in token of his having spent the early portion of his life in Rumford, on the Merrimack. Sarah Thompson, a daughter, was born in Concord, and here spent the earlj' portion of her long life, but joined her father abroad, and there spent many years after his decease, residing much of the time in London. She, however, in 184:5, returned to the home of her j-outh, and here died, Dec. 2, 1852, aged 78. The pension of 81,000 a jear bestowed by the Elector of Bavaria upon her father was continued to her ; and so extremely- frugal were her tastes and iiarsimonious her habits, that she left an estate of more than 840,000, and by will set apart $15,000 with which to found an as3dum for orphan female children bom in Concord. AV^hen that bequest shall have become sufficient, this charitable institution will be put in operation on the Count Rumford Place here spoken of ; a site well adapted for the purpose. The business of Concord is of vcr}- mixed character ; textile fabrics, however, being manufactured only at Fisherville and West Concord. But it is a noticeable and gratifying fact that it has not felt reverses in busi- ness affairs to the same extent as some other p ipulous New England towns. Concord granite is becoming as famous as Carrara marble, and the supply is inexliaustible. This granite is of light color, easily wrought into forms of beauty, and is without those particles of iron which cause discolora- tion of walls by the action of the elements. Franklin, a populous and busy town, was incorpo-* rated in 1828, and formed of portions of Sanbornton, Northfield, Andover and Salisbury. From its incorpo- ration there has been no check to its growth. The con- fluence of the Winnipiseogee and Merrimack rivers is in Franklin, and the water-power is abundant all the year round. It is a town of moderate territorial extent, containing only about 9,000 acres. Paper-making, and other indus- tries requiring water-power, were conducted in this place more than 50 years ago, a significant, though feeble, prophecy of its present magnificent enterprises. The Franklin mills produce flannels ; the Franklin Woollen Companj-, broadcloths ; and there are machine-shops, saw and grist mills, door, sash and blind manufactories, &c. The manufactured products of Franklin are put down at not less than 82,000,000 annuall}-. The circumstance that Daniel Webster, the great American statesman, was born in that part of Salisburj- which now constitutes a portion of Franklin, invests the town with additional interest.* The Webster mansion is agreeably situated amongst elms on the western bank of Merrimack River, and not far distant is the cemetery to which, about 70 years ago, was committed the body of his father, a man of much distinction in his daj- and generation. The mansion of the son has been converted | into an asylum for orphans, and an ediQce of brick, for the uses of that institution, was erected a few 3-ears ago near the original structure. To this portion of FrankUn, as picturesque as it is fertile, Mr. Webster was in the habit, down to near the close of life, of going at least once a year. Webster Pond, upon which Mr. Webster often sailed, has now become famous amongst the picturesque sheets of water which abound in New Hampshire. Hon. George W. Nesmith, a native of Antrim, Hills- J borough County, a lawyer, now far advanced in j'ears, and until disqualified by the constitutional limit (70 years) , an associate justice of the Supreme Court, has resided in Franklin from early manhood, and constantly labored to shape the character and promote the growth of his adopted town. Population, 2,300. j • The track of the Northern Railroad passes through the Webster j farm. ' BIRTiirLACE OF DANIEL WEBSTER, FRANKLIN, N. H. HPLACE OF HORACE GREELEY, AMHERST, N. H. (See p^gc C31.) NEW HAMPSHIRE. Pembroke has had large increase of its inhabitants ■within a few years, in consequence of manufacturing operations in Suncook, a village on the south-west cor- ner of the town, and partlj- in Allenstowu. It is sep- arated from AUenstown by Suncook River, a stream by which a great amount of machinery is propelled. Sun- cook village was the site of manufacturing to some extent early in the present centurj', and there were two paper-mills in the village GO years ago. Of late it has become a populous business place, with two church edi- fices, and the usual equipments of a town. Pembroke was granted by the government of Massa- chusetts, in 1727, to Capt. John Lovcwell and his brave associates, in consideration of their services against the Indians, and was called Suncook, its Indian name. The first survey was in 1728, and settlement commenced soon after, but inhabitants came in slowlj-, because of fre- quent alarms caused by Indians. The number of grantees was 60, of whom 40 accompanied Capt. Love- well to Pequawkett. James Carr, an early inhabitant, was killed by Indians Maj' 1, 1748, two years after the massacre of the Bradleys and others in Concord. Pembroke is one of the most •agreeable towns in New Hampshire. The chief highway extends from Suncook River, — ihe boundar}' line between Pembroke and Con- cord, — through a highly cultivated region, to the south- ern lino of the tonn, a distance of several miles. It is one of the few towns in the State which have paid the last dollar of indebtedness caused by the civil war. Sixty years ago. Dr. Amos Blanchard, a youug physi- cian, died in Pembroke, and made a bequest by which he founded Pembroke Academy, which, going into oper- ation soon after the decease of its founder, has been well sifstained ever since. The soil is good in this town, especially its interval lands, on the Merrimack and Suncook rivers. Popula- tion, 2,:>18. Among the natives of Pembroke may be mentioned Hon. Asa Fowler, born Feb. 2.''>, 1811, justice of the Supreme Court. HoPKiXTON, until the formation of Merrimack County (182.3), was the half-shire of Ililsborough County. It is one of the'bcst towns in the State, and the chief vil- * A history of the town, by Cliarlcs Caiicton Coffin, Esq., a native, was recently issued ; a large and fully illustrated volume. t The town is renowned for natives who acquired distinction ; namely : Hon. William Pitt Fessenden, born Oct. 16, 180G ; lawyer at Bridgton and Portland, Me. ; United States senator and secretary of the treasury ; died Sept. 8, 18G9. Gen. John A. Dix, born July 24, 1798; officer in the United States army at the age of 15 ; lawyer at Cooperstown, N. Y. ; United States senator; minister to France; governor of New York; miijor-gencral in the United States army, and secretary of war, and lage the place of abode of an intelligent and cultivated people ; while, scattered over its hills, are educated, in- dustrious and prosperous tillers of the soil. On C'ontoo- cook River, three miles from the town-house, are falls where are several mill-sites, and a populous settlement of several hundred inhabitants. Hopkinton was granted b}- Massachusetts, Jan. IG, 1735, to inhabitants of Hop- kinton, of that State, and was for a time known as New Hopkinton. The earlj' settlers were so much molested by Indians during the French war, that they abandoned their farms, and returned only at the conclusion of that strife. There ai'e few if anj- places in the State that leave a more agreeable impression upon the traveller than Hop- kinton. There is an air of ancestral grandeur in many of the dwellings ; and rows of stately trees along the streets, in summer adding to the comfort of the present generation, and at all times affording gratifying proof of the forethought of those who went before, are a con- spicuous feature of this goodly town. The legislatui-c held several sessions in Hopkinton in the latter part of the last contur}' and early in this. Hon. Matthew Har- vey, when governor, resided in Hopkinton. Hon. John Harris, a justice of the Superior Court ; Hon. Horace Chase, judge of probate man}' years ; Hon. Joshua Dar- ling, a jiublic man widel}- known in his day ; Hon. Ba- ruch Chase, president of the Merrimack County Bank, were severally residents of Hopkinton. An Episcoi^al church was formed early in the present century. Popu- lation, 1,814. BoscAWEX,* supposed to be named for Admiral Bos- cawen of the British navy, was settled about the same time as Concord, and incorporated in 1760. Until sun- dered, and the western portion incorporated as AVebster, in compliment to Ezekiel Webster, a brother of Daniel, Boscawen was, territorially, one of the large towns of New Hampshire. In 1860 the number of inhabitants was 2,274, and, afterthc division, 1,637. From the first the town has sustained a highlj- reputable character. f Indeed, Scotland is no more renowned for the honesty, intelligence and sturdv character of its inhabitants, than Boscawen for its sons and daughters, who. whether in Western States, — to which some emigrated more than recently deceased. Nathaniel Greene, Esq., born May 20, 1797, printer, editor and postmaster of Boston, died Nov. 29, 1877. Charles Gordon Greene, bom July 1, 1804, printer, editor and naval officer in Boston. Charles C. Cofiin, w.ar correspondent of the Boston " Journal," and journalist, born July 26, 1823. Moses G. Farmer, Esq., born Feb. 9, 1820 ; said to " stand in the front rank of scientific men." Rev. Samuel Wood, D. D., ordained in Boscawen, and installed pastor of the Con- gregational church Oct. 17, 1781, sustaining the position until near the close of a long life. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. 50 years ago, — in various parts of New England, or upon the paternal acres, have well performed their part, whatever stations in life they occupied. It is an excel- lent farming town. A busy and populous manufacturing place, known as Fisherville, is partly in Boscawen. Merrimack River is the boundary between this town and Canterbury. PiTTSFiELD is a prosperous town of over 1,600 inhab- itants, 17 miles north-east of Concord. Suncook River passes though the place, and propels the wheels of a fac- tory which has been in operation manj- years. The sur- face of the town is uneven and rocky ; but some of the best farms and most skilful agriculturists in the county are found in Pittsfield. The town was incorporated .March 27, 1782, and was in early times a part of Chichester. Hon. Moses Norris, Jr., a native of this town, was United States senator, and died in Washington Jan. 11, 1855, aged 51 years. Andover, settled in 1746, incorporated June 25, 1779, is chiefl}' an agricultural town, though its manu- factured products are by no means inconsiderable. Being within the shadow of Kearsarge Mountain, and having an excellent hotel, the town has become the resort of summer travilleis. Population, 1,20G. Wakner is large in territory, and has a population of 1,667. Its chief village is upon a stream known as Warner River, and is one of those busv and agreeable set- tlements, of which there are many among the hills of New Hampshire, to which excursionists resort in the summer months. The famous Kearsarge Mountain is chiefly in \Varner, and a carriage-road thither was recentl}- built by a few inhabitants at great expense and patient toil, under an act of incorporation. Wurner was granted by the legislature of Massachu- setts in 1735 to inhabitants of Salisbury and Amesbury, Mass. , and was for several years known as New Ames- bury ; afterwards as Jenness Town. It was incorporated Sept. 4, 1774, by the name it has since borne. Among the natives or inhabitants of Warner who acquired distinction, may be named Levi Bartlett, widely known as a contributor to agricultural publications ; Walter Harriman (see Concord) ; Nehemiah G. Ordway, sergeant-at-arms in United States House of Representa- tives, and Aquila Davis, an officer in the war of 1812. Hexnikek, situated upon Contoocook River, has long sustained the reputation of an industrious, thriving and moral town. Many natives received a collegiate educa- tion. Tlie centre village is of attractive appearance. Some manufactures are carried on in the west village. Henniker was granted, July 16, 1752, to James and Robert Wallace and others of Londonderrv, but settle- ment did not begin till 1761. It was incorporated in 1768, and is supposed to have been named for John Hen- niker, a London merchant. Hon. Nathaniel Bradlej- Baker, governor of the State in 1855, tvas born in Hen- niker Sept. 29, 1819. He died in Iowa Sept. 12. 1876, aged 56. Hon. James W. Patterson of Hanover, repre- sentative in Congress, and senator one term, is a native of Henniker. Population, 1,288. HooKSETT was incorporated July 3, 1S22, and is com- posed of territory severed from Chester, Gotfstown and Dunbarton. The manufacture of cotton-cloth was com- menced at the falls on the Merrimack more than 50 3'ears ago, and is still continued. The manufacture of brick is the source of much income to those who are engaged in it. The house of Gen. Natt Head, governor of the State, constructed of brick made by the owner of the mansion, is an imposing, elegant and conspicuous object on the east side of the river. Hooksett is situated on the Merrimack, midway between Concord and Manchester. The population is 1,330. Loudon, formerly a part of Canterbury, was settled in 1760, and incoqiorated in 177.). The inhabitants are mostly agriculturists, artd jjossess many excellent farms. Loudon Ridge, a long swell of land, constitutes an agi-eeable feature in the landscape, whence an extensive view is obtained into adjacent and more distant towns. Population, 1,282. Salisbury,* justh' celebrated for the distinguished men who were born within its limits, was granted by Massachusetts, and known first as Bakerstown ; after- ward changed to Stevenstown. It was incorporated March 1, 1768, when it was named Salisburj-. Among its earlv inhabitants were Philip Call, Nathaniel Meloon, Benjamin Pettengill, and John and Ebenezer Webster. The earl}' occupants of the soil were much molested by the Indians. Nathaniel Meloon, his wife and their three children, were taken to Canada by the savages, and sold in Montreal. The wife of Philip Call was killed ; and on the same day in 1753, Samuel Scribner, Robert Bar- ber and Enoch Bishop — the latter of Boscawen — were captured, and Scril^ner and Barber sold to the French. Until the construction of railways, Salisbury was upon the great thoroughfare between Concord and Connecticut \ * Hon. Ichabod Bartlett, of this town, was a representative in Con- gress six years. He died Oct. 19, IS.53, aged 67. Rev. Samuel Colcord I Bartlett is president of Dartmouth College. Hon. Daniel Webster, bom Jan. 17, 1782, was a lawyer in Boscawen, Portsmouth and Boston; rep- resentative and senator in Congress, and secretary of state. He died at Marshfield, Mass., Oct. 24, 1852. Hon. Ezekiel Webster, Ixjrn April 11, 1780, a lawyer in Boscawen, was a senator in the State legislature. He died April 10, 1829, aged 49. Hon. William H. Bartlett, bom Aug. 20, 1827, an associate-justice of the Supreme Court, died Sept. 24, 1S67. NEW HAMPSHIRE. River, and all the travel, b}- stage-coach and other car- riages, and wagons with heavy merchandise, passed through it, and the place was correspondingly prosperous. Its location is in the highest degree picturesque, having the noble Ivearsarge Mountain on its western burdi r, and other hills in more distant positions ; the whole compos- ing a prospect with which the e^-e never becomes weary. Population, 897. DusBARTON, almost wholly an agricultural town, is about nine miles from Concord. In early times it was known as Stt^rkstown, but became Dunbarton for Dun- barton, Scotland. The first settlements were made about 1749 by people of Scotch descent. The town has from the first sustained a high rank, and been distinguished for the rectitude, intelligence and general thrift of its inhabitants. The soil is productive, and, from its rising ground, a perfect view is obtained over a large area of the State. Several natives of Dunbarton obtained distinction by no means confined to the place of their birth. Rev. Abraham Burnham, D. D., born Nov. 15, 177G, was pas- tor of the Congregational church in Pembroke 43 years ; died Sept. 21, 1852. Rev. Amos W. Burnham, his brother, born Aug. 1, 1791, was elergj-man iu Rindge 4C years; died Apr. 9, 1871. Prof. Charles G. Burnham, born in 1807, was a teacher and the author of an arith- metical work. Prof. Mark Bailej' was teacher of elocu- tion in Yale College. Amos Hadley, Esq., born May 14, 1825, was a teacher in Concord, and at one time asso- ciated in the management of the " State Capital Re- porter." Joseph G. Ho}!, LL. D., was teacher in Exeter Academy, and chancellor of Washington University, St. Louis, where he died Nov. 26, 1862, aged 47. Caleb Stark, Esq., born Dec. 3, 1759, son of Gen. John Stark of the Revolutionar}' war, served as aid to his father; was a merchant in Boston, manufacturer in Sun- cook Village in the early jxars of this centurj-, and farmer in Dunbarton, where his mansion is still to be seen. He died in Oxford, Ohio, in 1838. The first ordained clerg3'man in Dunbarton was Rev. Walter Harris, D. D., born in Lebanon, Conn., June 8, 1761, whose pastorate — his only one — commenced in 1789, and ceased not long before his death, Dec. 25, 1843. He exerted a wide and salutar}' influence, reach- ing far beyond the town. Population of Dunbarton, The remaining towns of this county are : Sutton, granted in 1749; settled in 1707; population, 1,155; containing a portion of Kearsarge Mountain, and the birth-place of Jonathan and Matthew Harvey, formerly representatives in Congress ; Gen. John Eaton, United States commissioner of education at Washington ; Hon. John S. Pillsbury, governor of Minnesota ; Hon. Bain- bridge Wadleigh, United States senator : Wilmot, incor- porated by the name of Kearsarge, June, 1827 ; popula- tion, 1,072; agriculture being the leading industry: Canterbury,* a farming town of 1,170 inhabitants; granted iu 1727, containing a settlement of Shakers: Bradford, incorporated in 1787; population, 1,080; the home of Mason W. Tappan, an eminent lawyer, representative in Congress six years, and at present attorney-general of the State: Epsom, granted May 18, 1727; an agricultural town; the native place of Dr. Noah Martin, governor of the State in 1852-3 : Allenstown, chartered July 2, 1831 ; settled about the year 1728; population, 804: New London, incorpo- rated June 25, 1779, by the name of Dantzic; the seat of Colby Academj', a beautifully located and flourishing institution ; the native town of Gen. Anthony Colby, governor of the State in 1846, and Hon. Jonathan E. Sargent, chief justice of the Supreme Court; population, 960: NoRTHFiELD, incoriwrated June 19, 1780 ; popula- tion, 833 ; mainly devoted to farming : Chichester, incorporated in 1727, but not settled until 1758 ; contain- ing a number of valuable farms ; population, 871 : Bow, a hill}' and rugged town; granted in 1727; population, 745 : Webster, incorporated July 3, 1860 ; population, 690 : Hill, formerly New Chester ; incorporated Nov. 20, 1778, and given its present name in 1836 for Hon. Isaac Hill, then governor of the State ; population, 620 : and Newbury, incorporated as Fishersfield in 1778 ; re- ceiving its present name in 1836 ; one of the hill towns of New Hampshire, Sunapee Mountain being a con- spicuous object in the landscape ; population, 600. • Since the year 1812, nine persons, each 100 years old or over, have died in this town. HISTORY OF KEAV ENGLAND. ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. BY PROF. LAROY F. GRIFFIN. Rockingham County originallj- contained all the ear- lier settlements of New Hampshire, and for a century its history is that of the State. Its later history, so far as it is material, is embraced in that of the several towns of which it is composed. This county comprises the southern portion of New Hampshire, including all its coast. It has but one har- bor, that at Portsmouth. The surface along the coast is generall}- level, with marshes of considerable extent, especially' in Hampton and Hampton Falls. Inland it is hilly, though there are no verj' high mountains. The Pis- cataqua, iu the eastern border, is the only river of con- siderable size. The Exeter River, fonnerly known as the Swampscot, is the next in size, and is navigable at high tide as far as the falls, at Exeter. But the soil is well watered, and between the ranges of hills small streams are found. Agriculture is the ])rincipal emploj-ment, the soil yielding good returns ; but there are some manufac- tories, especially at Exeter and New Market. The population constantly increased from the time of the first settlements until after 18G0 ; since that time, the tendency to congregate at villages and cities has caused a constant diminution, especially in the northern por- tion. In some of these towns raanj- farms, that a few years ago were highl}- productive, have been abandoned and allowed to grow up again to forests. Towns. Portsmouth,* the onlj- seaport in the State, is situ- ated on a peninsula, on the south side of the Piscataqua, * Several interesting Revolutionary incidents are connected with the history of this ancient town. Upon the enactment of the celebrated " Stamp Act," in 1765, George Meserve was appointed distributor for New Hampshire, but before landing at Boston, in consequence of the excited opposition of the people, he resigned. On liis arrival at Ports- mouth, he was compelled to make a second and more formal resigna- tion, before going to his house. When the stamps arrived they were deposited in the castle, as there was no one to receive them. The Stamp Act was to take effect November 1 . On the preceding day the " New Hampshire Gazette," a paper established at Portsmouth in 17-36, appeared with a mourning border. On November 1st a funeral ceremony was held over the Goddess of Liberty. On depositing her in the grave she showed signs of life, and was borne otf by a rejoicing multitude. There was a rumor that Meserve intended to distribute the stamps three miles from the ocean. The location is pleasant and healthy, the buildings principally of brick, and though somewhat antiquated, it contains many elegant mansions. In 1G23 the Plymouth Companj^ sent men to lay the foundations of the place. David Thompson, a Scotch- man, built a house at Odiorne's Point, the first house erected in town, and afterwards called Mason's Hall. About eight years after, Humphrc}' Chadborne built the " groat house," on the back of the river, at the corner of Court and "Water streets. May 28, 1653, the name, which by the accident of an abundance of strawberries had been Strawberry Bank, was allowed by the General Court at Boston to be changed to Portsmouth. There were then between 50 and 60 families. The harbor of Portsmouth is safe and capacious, one of the best in the whole country. At low tide the chan- nel contains 40 feet of water, and it is protected from storms by islands and headlands. The river is three- quarters of a mile wide, with a depth of 70 feet at low water, and a current of five miles per hour. The tide rises ten feet, so keeping the channel free from ice. The scenerj- around the citj- is charming. Every ele- vation presents a magnificent landscape, the drives aie delightful, and the climate favorable. The place has sufiered much from fires. In December, 1.S02, 102 buildings were burned; four 3-ears later, 14; and finally, in December, 1813, 15 acres were burned over, consuming 397 buildings, in spite of his resignation. The Sons of Liberty, alarmed, compelled him to swear that he would do nothing with his office, and took away his commission. The first cargo of tea that arrived at Portsmouth was stored in the custom-house, and soon after, at the request of the town, Mr. Parry, the consignee, sent it to Halifax. A second cargo, after causing some dis- turbance, found a similar destination. Near the close of the year 1774, an express from Boston brought the intelligence th.at the king had prohibited the importation of gunpowder into the Colonies. Armed vessels were also on their way with troops. A company of men, led by John SulUvan of Durham, and John L.mg- don and Thomas Pickering of Portsmouth, at once seized the fort, re- moved 100 barrels of powder and several small cannon, and distriliuted them among the to%vns. On the next day the armed frigate " Scar- borough " arrived, and took possession of the fort. NEW HAMPSHIRE. The first church was erected at least as early as 1G39, and was for the Episcopal service. It was upon what is now known as Church Street, north of the court-house. St. John's Church is the lineal de- scendant of this old first meeting- house. There are five churches be- side this one, the North Congrega- tional being or- ganized as early as 1671. There are also two mar- ket-houses and an almshouse. The Athenaeum is a prominent institu- tion, and contains a library of valuable works. The city is a part-shire town, and has a court-house and a jail. There are four light-houses in the district. Fort Con- stitution is on the north- t\ est pomt of Grcit Island The navy yard is on Na\3 Island and his e\er} facil it3' for building the largest vessels. It contains al out 05 acres, principally- en closed by quay walls of spht granite. The wharves hi\e water-depth enough for the largest men-of-war, and the tide has worn so deep a channel as to preclude the possibility of fonning bars A coips of marines, TMth their officers, are stationed at the j-ard. There is a balanced dry dock, capable of receiving and raising the largest men-of-war. The facilities for ship-builduig here are such that scveial of the largest and most ef- fective vessels have been launched. Among the num ber may be mentioned the "Portsmouth," the steamer "Saranac, ' ' Congress." Within the city are several banks and newspapers. The " New Hampshire Gazette " was the first newspaper established in the State. the frigate The Auburn Street Cemetery, or " Proprietoi-s' Bury- ing Ground," is situated on elevated ground, at the foot of Auburn Street, and comprises 13 acres. In the cen- tre is an artificial l)ond surrounded by a lawn. The grounds are hand- somely laid out, and contain some clcf^ant and taste- tul monuments. The manufac- tures of the city include cotton fa- biics, some iron, an 1 ship-building. 1 he steam factory Ins a capital of fe J 10,000. The spacious mill contains 27,000 spindles and 450 looms, and about three million yards of lawn are made j^early. The town was organized in 1G33, and included Kit- terj Me On May 28, 1G43, it was incorporated with its piesent limits. It was chartered as a city Julj' 6, 1849. The wealth of the city is considerable, and it has been very prosperous, though the transfer of the import trade so largely- to Boston has materially re- tarded its growth. In 1870 the population was 9,211. Among the earlj' settlers of Portsmouth were three brothers from Wales, John, Robert and Richard Cutt (afterwards Cutts). John was the first president of New Hampshire, appointed in 1C79. He and Richard were the largest landhold- ers in the town in 1660. Thomas Pickering, a son of John, and a grandson of the John who settled here in 1G55, was a marked man in the Revolutionaiy period. He planned the seizure of the powder in the castle, in 1774, and led the party who accomplished the feat. He was killed in March, 1779. The estate still remains in the hands of his descendants. No person in New Hampshire exerted a greater in- ri)os HOT-sr loiiThMon HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. fluence on the affairs of the Revohitionaiy period than John Langdon, born in 1740. After a mercantile educa- tion, he entered upon a sea-faring life, but was drawn from it hy the disturbances of the Revolution. After his part in the removal of the powder from the fort, he be- came a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1775. He was present at Burgoyne's surrender, in command of a company of cadets. He was speaker of the Pro\'incial Legislature in 1776, and also in 1777. -He subsequent!}- held important official positions, and in 1778 was delegate to the convention which framed the United States Constitution. In November of the same j-ear he was elected a member of the United States senate, j and was its first presiding officer. Dartmouth College \ conferred the degree of LL. D. upon him in 1805. He died ^_^ Sept. 18, 1819. Daniel Webster be- came a resident of Portsmouth in 1807, and married Grace Fletcher in June of the following 3'ear. He went there as a young lawyer, and his influence was at once felt at the bai, and in the commu- nity. After a shoit time, his State placed him in the council of the nation, and at the end of nine years he removed from Portsmouth and made Boston his place of residence. Exeter. — The second town in the count}', and the shire town, is Exeter. The village is situated around the falls of the river, known by the Indians as Swamp- scot, but now generally called Exeter River. Below the falls, the river spreads out to a considerable breadth, and the tide rises to the falls. The town is pleasantly situated on both banks of the stream, and contains many fine private residences. The people are largely en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, the soil being generally productive. Tlie prosperity of Exeter has been largely due to the enterprise and success of her mechanics. The largest and most important industrj- has been the Exeter Manu- facturing Company, incorpoi-ated in 1828. Its principal building is 175 feet long, 44 feet in width, and six stories high, and it has several smaller mills. It manufactures cotton cloth, producing upwards of a million and a half of yards annually. There are, besides, several carriage manufactories, the largest producing about 200 caiTiages per year. The Exeter Machine-shop is largel}' eraploj'cd in the man- ufacture of steam-engines, with boilers of a peculiar pattern, consisting of cast-iron tubes, called the safety boiler ; a paper-mill, a tannerj', and several small manu- factories are also located here. Exeter was settled in 1638 by Rev. John AVheelwright, his sister Anne Hutchinson, and others from Massachu- setts. A part of a house still standing is pointed out bj- tradition as Anne Hutchinson's residence. The}' pui'- chased the land directly from the Indians, and at once formed a church and ^^m a town. This church, "^ ""^°°^ organized 1638, was the first in the State. There are at present SIX churches in the town. The Baptist, erected in 1875, is one of the finest in the State. The town also has a very fine building containing a town hall, a court- loom, and a jail. Phillips Academy was founded in 1781 by the liberal dona- tion of Dr. John Phil- lips, a resident of the town. His endowment was sufficient to give the acad- emy a wholesome independence, and make it a power for furnishing boys a superior training in preparation for a college course. The first principal was Benjamin Abbot, LL. D., who commenced his labor in 1788, and continued in that position for fifty years. He was succeeded in 1838 by Gideon L. Soule, LL. D., who had already been his as- sociate nearly eighteen years, and who still lives, princi- pal emeritus. He retired from active duty in 1873. A marked feature of the institution has always been the liberal aid furnished to indigent pupils, some twenty of whom receive assistance from funds given for that pur- pose. The present principal, Mr. Albert C. Perkins, is assisted by a corps of five teachers. The present beautiful building was erected in 1872 to take the place of one previously destroyed by fire ; and there are two boarding-houses also belonging to the in- VINVHY, r-VETER NEW HAMPSHIRE. etitution. The value of the buildings is about $95,000, and the endowment funds amount to $140,000. The Eobinson Female Seminaiy was designed b}' its founders to do for girls what Phillips Academy does for bojs. It is free to pupils residing in town. A fund of about $150,000 was given b^- the will of the late William Robinson. The institution was chartered in 18G7, and organized the same j'ear. The school-building, valued at $80,000, is ver^' beautifull}- located. Exeter has alwajs had among its citizens men of marked ability' and influence in the State. Hon. Samuel Tenney was noted for his scientific attainments ; Gen. Nathaniel Folsom, and Gen. Nathaniel Peabody were members of the Continental Congress ; Hon. Nicholas Gilnian was a member of the old Congress, president of tlic State senate, and a United States senator from 1805 to his death in 1814 ; lion. John Taylor Gilman was an active patriot of the Revolution, and governor of the State from 1794 to 1816. Lewis Cass, too, was a native of this town, but went to Ohio at the age of seventeen. He was distinguished both in the historj^ of his adopted State and in the annals of the nation, having been a } member of Gen. Jackson's cabinet, a minister to France, and several times in the U. S. senate. Exeter can claim j several members of the bar, too, at the present day, who have gained a national reputation. Among these may be mentioned Hon. Amos Tuck and Hon. Charles H. Bell. Hon. Gilman Marston was colonel of one of the earlier New Hampshire regiments in the war of the Rebellion, and afterwards rose to the rank of a brigadier-general. The population of Exeter is 3,437. New Mauket is the third town in the county, and has a population of 1 ,987. It was originally a part of Exeter, and was detached and Incorporated as a separate town, Doc. 15, 1727. Great Bay, a body of water four miles wide, after passing through Little Bay, forms the current which becomes the Piscataqua. It is formed by the united waters of the Swampscot, Winnico, and Lamprey- rivers. The Piscassick River flows through the northern portion of the town into Durham ; the Lamprey through the north-east part, and the Swampscot through the south- east. These rivers furnish good water-power, and the larger part of the prosperity of the town is due to mechanical pursuits. The soil is, however, good, and many are engaged in agriculture. The New Market Manufacturing Company for the manufacttire of cotton sheetings, was incorporated in 1823. The Congregational Church was organized in 1730. Mrs. Fanny Shute, who died in 1819, was noted for her youthful adventures. When 13 months old, she was taken by a party of Indians, carried to Canada, and sold to the French. She was educated in a nunnery, but was redeemed and restored to her friends after thirteen years of captivity. Derry. — This town was originallj- a part of London- derry, from which it was taken and incoqjorated as a separate town July 2, 1827. It has a population of 1,809. The town possesses a productive soil, is well culti- vated and well adapted to grazing. The people are | remarkable for industry, wealth and length of life. Beaver Pond is one mile in length by IGO rods wide, nearly surrounded by gently sloping hills. There are three religious societies in town : one Presbj'terian, one Methodist and one Congregational. The Pinkerton Academy, with a fund of $1G,000, accommodates both sexes, giving special attention to fitting students for college. The Adams Female Acad- emy has a fund of $4,000. Miss Taylor, for many years principal, has won an excellent reputation for her ability and her many sterling qualities. She was appointed in 1860, and continues the principal. Miss Marj" Lyon, the founder of Mt. Holyoke Seminary, was once a teacher here ; and also Miss Grant, noted throughout New England. Deerfield * is, superficially, one of the largest towns in the county, containing 25,815 acres. It is, however, rather sparsely settled in many parts, and only contains 1,7G8 inhabitants. Originally a part of Nottingham, it became a distinct town Jan. 8, 1766. It possesses some of the finest natural scenery in the State, and some of the elevations command an extensive prospect. Pleas- ant Pond lies partly in this town and partly' in North- wood. Moulton's Pond, a small basin in the west part of the town, has no visible inlet, but two streams flow from opposite sides of it, and sounding has never dis- covered the bottom. One of the streams flows east to the Lamprey River, and the other west to the Suncook in Epsom. The surface is very uneven, furnishing large swells and deep valleys. The soil renders good returns to the husbandman, though difficult of cultivation. Pine, maple and hemlock timber grows extensively hereabouts, while considerable maple sugar is annually made. The Pawtuekawaj' Mountains are on the line between this town and Nottingham, and the highest elevations are in the latter town. The}' consist of three distinct elevations, the Upper, Middle and Lower mountains, and are based on mica-slate, which, decomposing rapidly, • So called because a Mr. Bacheldcr killed a deer and presented it to Gov. Wentworth just at the time of incorporation. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. furnishes a fertile soil at their base. The highest is 892 feet above the sea. Saddleback Mountain, between the town and Northwood, consists of mica-slate, and is 1,072 feet above sea level. From its top, the ocean, 30 miles distant, can be seen with the naked eye. Notting- ham Mountain is on the line between this town and Epsom. On its south side is a shelving ridge of rocks, three-fourths of a mile long, known as "Indian Camp." A natural flight of stone steps, on the east of the ledge, leads to the top. There is a bed of iron-ore in the east part of the town, and various compounds of iron are everywhere distributed among the rocks. In the east part of the town, near the Pawtuckaway Mountains, for about 20 j-ears subsequent to 1840, sub- terranean reports or explosions were heard, of a volcanic nature. Thej' reseml)led the blasting of rocks, or the reports of cannon, and were accompanied bj- movements of the earth, sometimes sufficient to overthrow stone walls. They have now entirely ceased. The town was settled in 1756 and '58, by John Rob- ertson, Jacob Smith, Isaac Shepard, Benjamin Bachel- der and others. Theophilus and Eliphalet Griffin pur- chased a tract of land here in 1749, and settled upon the farm which still remains in possession of their descend- ants. The names of 18 persons are recorded as killed during the Revolution. The Congregational church was gathered in December, 1772, and Rev. Timothy Upham ordained, who remained its pastor until his death, Feb. 21, 1811. Many quaint reminiscences of his ministry are still preserved in the town. Hon. Richard Jenness, respected as a magistrate, rep- resentative, senator and judge, died July 4, 1819. Joseph Mills was an officer in Col. Cilley's regiment in the Revolution. Seabrook is one of the coast towns. Its southern portion was formerly a part of Massachusetts, and the old line from the " Bound Rocks," at the mouth of the river, on which is the inscription, "A. D. 1G57, H. B.," can still be traced to a rock near the "Brick School House," marked " B. T.," thence inland. The west part of the town is undulating, and the soil is light but productive, while along the coast there are extensive marshes. A portion of the inhabitants are engaged in farming ; boat-building is carried on exten- sivel}^ and many are engaged in manufacturing shoes. Several men belonging in town command vessels, and fishing is quite an industrj-. The early settlers of the town were from Massachu- setts, and came as early as 1G38. At that earl^- daj- ihey suffered much from the depredations of hostile Indians.* Among the early settlers may be named Christopher Hussey, Joseph Dow and Thomas Philbrick. The land cleared by the latter still remains in the hands of his descendants. The are five churches in the town. The Old South Meeting-house, near the centre, was erected in 1763, and was occupied by the Presbj-terian and Congregational societies alternatel3'. The Friends' meeting-house is in the north part of the town, and was built in 1765. Dearborn Academy, founded in 1851, is a substantial brick building, 54 bj- 40 feet. The late Dr. Edward Dearborn, an eminent ph3'sician and distinguished citi- zen, secured to it an endowment of $15,000. Meshech Weare, usually mentioned as a resident of Hampton Falls, resided within the limits of the town. He was distinguished for his influence in the Revolution, and he became the first governor of the State. A hand- some monument to his honor stands in the village of Hampton Falls. Seabrook was granted June 3, 1768, to Jonathan Weare and others. Its present population is 1,G09. Salem, in the south-western part of the count}', was chartered May 11, 1750, and now contains 1,603 inhab- itants. The surface is uneven, but the soil is fertile. The Spiggot River flows through the centre of the place, and furnishes good mill-privileges. The town contains a woollen-mill and several factories and ma- chine-shops. The Congregational church was formed Jan. 30, 1740, and Rev. Abner Bagley ordained. There are two other churches. Hon. Silas Betton, a graduate of Dartmouth, was elected to Congress in 1802. Candia, a town of 1,456 inhabitants, is on the highest land between the Merrimack and the ocean, so com- manding an extensive view, and rendering the town exceptionall}' healthy. The White Mountains, AVachu- sett, Plum Island and the ocean can be seen from the village. Farming is the principal occupation ; the soil is good, and fruit and vegetables find a ready market at Manchester, with which city the town is connected by the Portsmouth and Concord Railroad. Shoe manufacturing is also carried on. The town was settled in 1748 by William Turner ; and, in 1755, John Sargent and others joined him, and it was incorporated Dec. 17, 1762, being taken from Chester. The town was very active in promoting the Revolution, and 69 names of soldiers are found in its records. A Congregational church was gathered in 1771, with Rev. David Jewett as pastor ; and there are two other churches. *A widow Hussej', of high repute amons the Friends, was liillcd; iilso Thomas Lancaster, while on his way to mill, a Mr. Jonathan Green, Nicholas Bond and a young child. NEW HAMPSHIRE. NoRTHWOOD, population 1,430, was originally a part of Nottingham, and was made a separate town Feb. 6, 1773. It was settled March 25, 1763, by Moses God- frcj-, John Batchelder and Increase Batchelder, from North Hampton. Solomon Bickford and famil}- of Dur- ham followed in December, and his son Solomon was the first white child born in town. The Baptist church was organized Nov. 17, 1779, and Rev. Edmund Pillsbury ordained. The Congregational church was erected in 1781. There is also a Freewill Baptist church. There are six ponds in the town, Suncook, the largest, being 750 rods long, and 100 wide. The north branch of the Lamprey River has its source near Saddleback Mountain, where there is a single farm from which the water flows in four directions. On the side of the ridge cr3-stalline spar is found. Plumbago also exists in small quantities. Northwood Academy, founded in 1866, is a flourishing institution, under the management of Rev. Mr. Cogs- well, who has been principal since its organization. It is located at the part of the town called " the Narrows." Northwood Seminary, also founded in 1866, is located at the east part of the town. Londonderry, population 1,405, covered, originally, 64,000 acres ; but several towns have been taken from it. The soil is so fertile that it is reported to be the best town for agriculture in New England, and there are no waste lands. Beaver's Pond is a beautiful circular sheet of water, about 300 rods in diameter, and is the source of Beaver's River. The town contains three churches, the oldest being the Presbyterian, which society dates from 1719. This town was settled in 1719 by a colony of 16 families from Londonderry, Ireland. Its original name was Nutfield. The land of the town was included in Rev. John Wheelwright's purchase from the Indians, and the settlers bought it from Col. John Wheelwright. Their first pastor was Rev. James McGregore, and his son David was the second. The town was incorporated June 1, 1722. The original settlers gave their attention to farming ; and, though none of them became wealth}-, they were industrious and forehanded. They introduced the culti- vation of the potato, and the manufacture of linen cloth, with the use of the small wheel driven by the foot. The}' were never molested bj' the Indians. A company of 70 men, commanded by Capt. George Reid, took part in the battle of Bunker Hill, and about the same numlter were at the battle of Bennington. Capt. David MeClary, a brave officer, was killed. Maj.- Gen. John Stark, who was prominent in the early part of the Revolution, especially during the siege of Boston, was a native of this town. These so-called Scotch-Irish have produced many noted men, and their dcscendiints can now be found in promi- nent positions in all parts of the land. Among these maj- be mentioned, as natives of the town, Joseph M. Keene, D. D., first president of Bowdoin College ; Arthur Livermore, Jonathan Steele and Samuel Bell, judges of the Superior or Supreme Court ; Samuel Bell, afterwards chief justice of the Supreme Court, as was also Hon. Jeremiah Smith. Matthew Thornton was a member of the Continental Congress in 1770; and Gens. Miller and McNeil were distinguished officers in the war of 1812. Epping was originally a part of Exeter, but was made a separate town Feb. 12, 1741. Lamprey River is here joined bj' the Pawtuckawaj', and furnishes water-power for several small woollen-mills. The town has three churches, and a population of 1 ,270. The Congregational church was the first organized, and Rev. Robert Cutler was the first minister, ordained in 1747. He was succeeded March 8, 1758, by Rev. Josiah Stearns, who died July 23, 1788. His son was a deacon of the same church, and his grandson is the present pastor. When the town contained only this church, taxes were laid upon all to support preaching ; and, in 1769, Jonathan Norris, a Quaker, was imprisoned for refusing to paj^ his tax. Hon. William Plumer was a native of the town, and one of her most distinguished citizens. He held high positions in the State, being governor for four years, and at one time was United States senator. Henrj' Dearborn was an officer during the whole of the Revolution ; rep- resentative in Congress ; secretary of war ; major-general in the war of 1812, and United States minister to Portu- gal. John Chandler, a native of the town, was a mem- ber of Congress ; brigadier-general in the war of 1812 ; president of the Maine senate, and United States senator. Hon. B. F. Prescott, an ex-governor of the State, is a citizen of the town. Hampton, population 1,177, has a fertile soil, well adapted to tillage and mowing. All the lower part of the town near the ocean is dehghtful. The beach is one of the most noted smnmer resorts. Boar's Head, an abrupt eminence extending into the sea, divides the two beaches. There are several hotels near the beach, and a large number of private cottages. The Indian name of the town was Winnicumet. The first house was erected in 1636, and the place was settled two years later by emigrants from Norfolk, Eng. It was incorporated the same year, and included North Hamp- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. ton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, and part of Seabrook. A Congregational church, the second in the State, ivas formed in the same jear, and Rev. Stephen Bachelor ordained. This church now possesses a fund of §12,000 for the support of the ministrj-. A Baptist societj- was organized in 1817. Hampton Proprietarj- School was incorporated in 1810. It has a large and convenient building, and has gained considerable reputation as the Hampton Academj-. Chester, a town of 1,153 inhabitants, and situated on a branch of the Exeter River, has a fertile soil, and contains several large and valuable meadows. Good graphite is found in considerable quantities, and sulphur imbedded in tremolite. Massabesic Pond, Ij'ing partlj- in the town, is the largest bod^' of water in the county, and contains about 1,500 acres. The Indians had a settlement upon its banks. There are also two caves, somewhat noted, one on the east side of the pond, and the other on Rattlesnake Hill. In October, 1710, about 80 persons from Hampton and Portsmouth associated to obtain a grant in the " chestnut country-," and stationed three men to hold possession. After some difficulty- thej- obtained a grant of 10 miles square, thus including a part of Derry, the whole of Auburn and Raymond, and part of Hooksett. A settlement was immediately commenced bj- several persons from Rajmond and Hampden, the most promi- nent of whom were Samuel Ingalls, Jonathan Goodhue, Ebenezer Dearborn, Robert Smith, B. and E. Colby, and John and S. Robie. For a time Love well's war with the Indians retarded the growth of the place. They, however, committed no depredations, save that they seized and bound Thomas Smith and John Carr, and carried them thirty miles ; but thc3' escaped while the Indians slept. May 8, 1782, the town was chartered with its present name. A meeting-house was erected in 1720, and Rev. Moses Hale was settled the next year. The same year the first comers settled Rev. John AVilson, a Presb^'terian, and erected a meeting-house in 1738. Thej' now resisted all attempts to install a Congregational minister, and after one was finally settled, Ihcy refused to pay taxes for his support, and James Campbell and John Tolford were lodged in Exeter jail for the refusal. After a long law- suit a decision was given in their favor. The place con- tains two other churches and an academy. NoTTiXGHAM, in the northern part of the county, has a popuLation of 1.130. The centre of the town is an eminence, rising 450 feet above sea level, and a few years sinr-e it was the centre of all the business of the town, ^.ow the stores, liotels, and all business are to bo found at the foot of the hill, about one mile north of the square. A large part of the town is rock3- and uneven, but well adapted to pasturage. The Pawtuckaway Moun- tains, on the line between the town and Decrficld, con- sist of three distinct elevations, rising abruptly from near Round Pond, known as the Upper, Jliddle and Lower mountains. A dike of greenstone trap crosses the latter, and divides it into two nearly- equal parts. This dike is columnar, and inclines at an angle of about 45 degrees, while on the east it forms a flight of stone steps, each about nine inches high, called " The Stairs." Near the centre of the town is a large ledge of white granular quartz. Nottingham was incorporated Ma}- 10, 1722, and set- tled in 1727, by Capt. Joseph Cilley and others. A Congregational church was formed in 1742. Gen. Joseph Cillej' commanded the first New Hampshire regiment in the Revolution, and was distinguished for his bravery and patriotism. Hon. Thomas Bartlett was one of the Committee of Safetj' ; lieutenant-colonel under Stark at the capture of Burgoyne ; and commanded a regiment when Arnold betrayed "West Point in 1 780. Gen. Henry But- ler was an officer of the Revolution, and major-general of the State militia. Raymond, south of Nottingham, has a population of 1,121. In the north part of the town is a cave, in a ledge, near the summit of a hill about 100 feet high, called from its appearance, " The Oven." Raymond was originally a part of Chester, and called Charming Faro, but was made a town May 9, 17G5. A Congregational church was organized about 1800, and there are two other churches. Hon. John Dudley, who died Maj- 21, 1805, was a distinguished Revolutionary patriot, a member of the Committee of Safety, speaker of the House, and judge of the Superior Court. Kingston, in the southern jiart of the countj', has a population of 1,054. Lieut. Gov. Usher granted the charter of this town Aug. 6, 1G04, to James Prescott, Ebenezer Webster and others, from Hampton, and it included East Kingston, Danville and Sandown. The proprietors at once erected garrisons and began to cultivate the lands, but were very much anno3ed by Indians. In 1707 Stephen and Joseph Oilman were seized near Exeter, but escaped. In 1702 Ebenezer Stevens was wounded, and Stephen Gilman killed; and in September, 1724, Jabez Colman and son were killed while at work in the fiehl, and four children captured. One of them escaped at the time, and the rest were afterwards redeemed. The Congregational society was formed about 1725, and Rev. Ward Clark was the first minister. The town NEW HAMPSHIRE. now contains two churches, several carriage factories, and a tannery. Kingston Academj- is a flourishing school, with a fine edifice. Hon. Josiah Bartlett was a plij-sician who distinguished himself during the ravages of the throat distemper ; he was also prominent in the Revolution, first president of the State, and first gov- ernor under its free constitution. Rye, extending along the seacoast for six miles, has a population of 993. There is a small harbor near Goss's mill. Fishing is carried on to some extent. About a quarter of a mile from the meeting-house is a granite quarry. There are three beaches, which have become famous for summer resort, Wallis's, Sandy and Jenncss's. There are five hotels open to visitors during the summer months. The town was settled in 1635, and incorporated in 1719, and the Congregational church was organized July 20, 1726. There are two other religious societies in the place. When first settled the inhabitants suffered much from Indians. Breakfast Hill, in the west part of the town, takes its name because during the Indian invasion of 1696, the savages, after fishing at the shore, stopped here for their morning meal, and were sui-prised and cap- tured by a part}^ of rangers. Two years before, John Locke was killed while reaping grain. At Sandy Beach, in the same year, 21 persons were killed or captured. During the French war 14 persons lost their lives, and 38 persons during the Revolution. The remaining towns of the county are: — Hamp- STEAD, granted by Gov. Benning Wentworth, in 1749, population 935 : Brentwood, incorporated in 1742, pop- ulation 895, a manufacturing town of considerable impor- tance : Plaistow (1749, 847), whore considerable quan- tities of brick are manufactured : Newton, settled in 1720, population 856, where was organized the first Baptist church in the State : Auburn, incorporated in 1845, population 815, with its famous cavern called the "Devil's Den": South Newmarket (1849, 808), hav- ing an iron-foundrj' and machine works : Stuatham (1716, 769), a famous fruit-growing place: Windham (1739, 753), with its woollen-mill and mattress factorj- : North Hampton (1742, 723), the birth-place of Maj. Gen. Henry Dearborn: Greenland (1703, 695), with its productive gardens and orchards : Hampton Falls (1712, 697), formerly a part of Hampton : New Castle (1C93, 667), a rocky island in Portsmouth harbor, the site of Fort Constitution, and the native town of Hon. Theodore Atkinson, for many j-ears chief justice of the Province: Kensington (1737, 642), originall}- belonging to the town of Hampton: East Kingston (1738, 553) : Danville, incorporated under the name of Roake, in 1760, and receiving its present name in 1836, population 496 : Fremont, incorporated in 1764, and called Poplin until 1854, population 587: Sandown (1756, 496), con- taining Phillips' Pond, the source of Exeter River : At- kinson (1767, 488), named in honor of Theodore Atkin- son, for many years secretaiy of State, the site of one of the oldest academies in New Hampshire : South Hampton (1742, 448), with its Barnard free school: Newington (1764, 414), connected with Goat Island by Piscataqua Bridge, erected in 1793, at a cost of $65,461 : and GospoRT, on one of the Isles of Shoals, formerly a famous fishing town, and now a favorite resort for sum- mer recreation. STRAFFORD COUNTY. BY WILLIAM E. GRAVES, ESQ. Like the Swiss cantons, nearly all the counties in the " Switzerland " of America are noted for irregularity of shape. Strafford, with its strange outline, is certainly- no exception tc the rule. If not the oldest county in the State, no other can claim seniority of age, — its act of incorporation bearing date March 19, 1771, when the first five counties formed in New Hampshire were created by a colonial legislature. By common consent John Wentworth — then the pop- ular provincial governor of the State — was accorded the privilege of naming these counties. Prompted, per- haps, by feelings similar to those which led him later to name a new town in honor of his wife, whose maiden name was Frances Deering, the royal governor, it is said, "called the counties after his friends," — Augus- tus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Grafton; the Eari of Hills- borough, of the privy council of George III. ; Charles Watson Wentworth, Marquis of Rockingham, and Wil- HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. liam Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, being thus specialty honored. To this large count}' of Strafford, reaching the vicinity of the White Mountains, Conway was annexed in 1778. From the summit of its loftiest elevation could be seen broad masses of luxuriant vegetation, suiTounding large lakes and wide-spreading ponds ; hills, valleys and moun- tain streams, with dense forests hanging around the base and creeping up the sides of lofty mountains, or stretch- ing miles awaj- as far the eye could reach. The oak, maple and walnut ; the beech, fir and hemlock, and the tall, stately pine,* flourished on their native hills, while in the plains and the valleys grew the graceful elm ; the ash, birch and cherry ; the poplar and the locust, or the gay sumach, with its red-clustered berries covered with a crimson down. Few lands surpassed Strafford in the wild beautj' of its scenery. Rich in botanical specimens, almost every indigenous plant grew here in wild profusion. The red man knew their various virtues, as did the Winnecowetts and Newichawannocks, who had their homes in Strafford Count}' before the white man trod the soil. The Great Spirit, it was said, had taught these things to the Indians, whose moccasined feet crushed the wild blue sage of the wilderness, or softly pressed the vervain growing in grassy fields. There were the green flowers of the sweet fern ; the golden-colored tansj' ; the white-flower- ing boneset, and the mountain cranberry, with its creep- ing, shrubby, evergreen leaves, growing in thick beds on dry sandy ridges sloping gracefullj- away to the valleys. There were acres of grassy plains dotted with daisies, and valleys through which many a sparkling brook ran murmuring over the rocks and pebbles resting on its gravelly bed ; mountain rivulets, whose clear waters were pleasant to the taste ; and ponds, upon whose reedy shores grew the gaud}' yellow tiger-lily and the delicate fleur-de-lis ; island-studded lakes, lovely as a poet's dream ; beautiful bays and inlets, where low lands, bear- ing tlie solitary flower of the wake-robin and the purple queen-of-the-meadow, were flanked b}' dark-green moun- tain forests ; and, beyond all, were ridges of a bolder aspect and a loftier height ; picturesque rocks, looking in the distance like cathedral towers, behind which rose the lofty summit of the " Crystal Hills," whose shining tops glittered in the- sunlight, or were lost in the clouds. • Mention is made of a white pine gi-owing here to tlie height of 200 feet. The " broad arrow " which niarlied them for the English navy, was, not infrequently, found on trees of the largest size in early colonial times, not only in New Hampshire, but in the neighboring forests of Maine. But this beautiful wilderness was the red man's home. To his wild fancy, fleecj' clouds floating in the calm blue sky seemed like heavenly realms. The bright stars and the silver moon ; the summer sunshine and the solemn silence of the woods ; the moaning winds and the driving storm, were his teachers ; and the smile of the Great Spirit was in the glassy lake over whose still bosom the unlettered Indian softlj' paddled his bircli canoe. Yet all this was to pass away. It was enough that his lands were wanted by a stronger race of people, whose love of fame and the profits of discover}' led them to plant a col- ony in "the land of their dreams," where the valleys were veined with silver, and the sands sparkled with gold. It was as early as the j'ear 1598 that European vessels visited the shores of New Hampshire. No important discoveries, however, were made of the bays and rivers until the spring of 1G03, when Capt. Martin Pring sailed for three or four leagues up a river which he called Pis- cataqua {pi'scatus, fish, aqiut, water), from the abundance offish found. The first settlement made b}' the English in any part of the State occurred at or near Dover, in 1623, — only three years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plj'mouth. In the west of England, during the summer of 1622, several merchants and men of wealth, two at least of whom had been governors, and one a captain in the royal nav}', formed a partnership which they called " The Company of Laconia." These men, having heard the romantic tales told by a few ignorant natives from the "New World," had conceived extravagant ideas of immediate wealth, waiting only for development in a wild, mountainous region of the western continent called La- conia, believed to be full of precious metals concealed in mines. By colonizing the country they could work these mines, grant lands subject to quit-rents and feudal ten- ures, establish a fanciful system of lordships, and live like princes of the realm. The scheme throughout was impracticable. No schools were instituted, no form of government adopted, and agriculture was entirety neglected. Of the original pro- prietors, many of whom embarked their whole property in the purchase of these American possessions, one afterwards became president, and the other secretary of the famous English " Council of Ptymouth," — a body of men, who, during the 15 j'ears of their official existence, seem to have done all in their power to perplex the Col- onies of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and many worthy persons in the mother country, by continually conferring on various people interfering parcels of land. Neither of these two wealthy English proprietors lived to NEW HAMPSHIRE. see success ; but the}- transmitted to their heirs a succes- sion of lawsuits, crushed hopes and mortifications. Early in the 3-ear following, they set to work to people the vast region they had bought in "New" Hampshire, as one of them called it from his old Harapshire home in England. They had hard work to hire any to reside iu the eountrj- thej' claimed, and to face and endure the dis- tresses of an American wilderness three thousand miles from home. However, money, tools and provisions were supplied in abundance ; and, thus equipped, tliej' sent out a small company of London fishmongers, among whom were the brothers, Edward and William Hilton, to plant a colon}', which, b}' establishing fisheries, might be self-supporting. On a neck of land which the Indians called Winnichahannat, they landed, and laid the founda- tion of one of the most beautiful cities in the State. The settlement was at first called Northam ; finally, Dover. Eor man}' years it was familiarly known as Hilton Head, or Hilton's Point. Not unlike many of the first settlers of New England, they purchased the soil of its rightful owners — the Indians — as far north as Little John's Creek, giving in pa}ment a barrel of rum ! The simple natives, it is said, received with friendship those whom it would have been easy to exterminate ; and the party of emigrants hastily erected salt-works and one rude house. Five years later, in 1628, we are told, the colonists were surprised to meet Indians in the woods of Dover, I hunting with firearms. The sale of these had been for- j bidden, and such a violation of the law had not even been suspected. The colonists soon learned, however, that the Indians had purchased their guns and ammunition of a trader at Weymouth, in the Massachusetts Colony. The oflTender was at once seized and sent a prisoner to iMigland. But the Indians had already learned with fatal skill the use of firearms. Charmed with an instrument of destruction so potent, when compared with the bow and arrow, the colonists rued to the latest day the dire conse- quences of the traffic at Weymouth. I In 1631 Capt. Thomas Wiggen was sent over by I "the company of Laconia," to look after their interests around Dover, and with him came a few emigrants to recruit the Colony, which was in need both of men and money. Two }ears later, a number of families came from the west of England to join the people of Dover, and brought with them the Rev. William Leveridge, who is mentioned as " a pious Puritan," and " the first min- ister who preached the gospel in New Hampshire." This second company of emigrants included some "men of property," and others " rehgiously inclined." Their principal object, however, was trade, and they commenced to build a town by tlividing the land on Dover Neck into small lots, and building a meeting-house. It was, prob- ably, but a year or two from the time of this minister's arrival, that the first church was built. They selected a beautiful eminence commanding a view of the rivers on its borders stretching their arms in ever}' direction, and of the placid Piscataqua on its way to the sea, — where one could stand and watch the busy settlers down by the beach, or catch a gUmpse of some staid matron, pail in hand, on her way to the spring.* Here they built their first house of worship, and surrounded it with " entrench- ments and bastions. "t With no efficient government, either civil or ecclesiasti- cal, it is not surprising that the people of Dover experi- enced a variety of troubles. Finally, for want of sup- port, Mr. Leveridge was obliged to leave the place. He retired south into Massachusetts, and found a home in Plymouth Colony. Years passed on. Around the colonists was a repul- sive wilderness, in which they had scarcely gained a foot- hold. Instead of subduing forests and cultivating the soil, they had searched for mines, contenting themselves with the uncertain and meagre profits of Indian trade, the fisheries and salt-making. Before them was priva- tion, and the prospect of struggling forever with pov- ert}', sickness and the undying hostility of the Indians. "The same cold wilderness still stretched before their eyes. The river, broad and deep, rolled on, reflecting only the wildwoods that had intermingled their branches, and cast the shadow of ages over the waters. The same soil, rugged, but strong and productive, yet waited for the hand of industry, and refused to yield to anything but to patient toil. It could not give what it did not possess. It furnished wood and iron in abundance. But silver nor gold would it reveal." J; After ten years the English proprietors began to feel the Colony a burden, and most of them abandoned it to its fate. These scenes, so intimately connected witn the early history of the State, took place in territory now known as Straflferd County. The town of Dover, in those days, included, in addition to its present limits, Madbury, Durham, Lee, Somcrsworth, Rollinsford, and a part of Newington. Excepting the Society of Friends, whom the magistrates, by cruel penalties, drove from Dover as "vagabond Quakers," in 16G2, the Congregationalists seem to have been the oldest rehgious organization in the place. The church with which it was united in the sup- • Hall's Spring, where the lirst settlers obtaliicJ their water, is pointed out at the present day. t Remains of the intrenchnients and bastions still mark the place where the old meeting-house stood on Dover Neck. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. port of public worship, was organized in 1638, about 15 3-ears after the first settlement of the town. According to the usage of many churches at that time, it elected as officers a pastor, ruling ciders and deacons. No record is found of ruling elders in the church here later than 1 6G2. At that time there were three, — Elders Nutter, Starbuck and Wentworth. Elder Wentworth preached occasionallj-, and was ancestor to the several New Hamp- shire governors of that name.* In 1C41 Dover was taken under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, whose General Court, to settle long- existing church troubles in the former place, appointed Daniel Maud, its minister, in 1642. Soon after his death, — at the close of a successful ministerial service, continuing 13 jears, — the Rev. John Raj-ner, who came from England, where he had served 18 j-ears as pastor of a church at Pl3-mouth, became his successor. He con- tinued at Dover to the last, dying in 1669. His son. Rev. John Rayner, Jr., a Harvard graduate, succeeded him, and was ordained in 1671. • The next pastor of the church was Rev. John Pike,t who died in 1710. The following year witnessed the settlement of Rev. Nicholas Sever, who withdrew in 1715, on account of an impedi- ment in his speech. He died in 1764. The Rev. Jona- than Gushing became pastor in 1717, and for a period of 47 j-ears continued to discharge the duties of his minis- terial office. He retired in 1764, and died in 1769. The Rev. Jeremy Belknap, D. D., the celebrated his- torian of New Plampshire, was ordained colleague with Mr. Gushing in February, 1767. After a ministry of 19 I years he removed to Boston, where he was settled in the I following 3-ear. He died in that city June 20, 1798, at the age of 54. Rev. Robert Gray succeeded Dr. Bel- knap at Dover, and removed from the town in 1805. Two I years later. Rev. Galeb H. Sherman was ordained, remaining until 1812, when Rev. Joseph W. Clary assumed pastoral relations with the church. The Metho- dist society in Dover was incorporated in 1819 ; and, at one time, the Societj' of Friends, established here at an early period, comprised about one-third of the population. Perhaps the most prominent of the early settlers of Dover was Maj. Waldron, who, in 1640, built a saw-mill, and, soon after, a grist-mill at Cocheco Lower Falls. For years Waldron's was the frontier house and trading- • It may possibly be a matter of some little local pride, that the teni- tory now known as Strafford County furnished for the State three gov- ernors bearing the name of Wentivorth, — father, son and nephew,— all of whom were bom within its l)orders. To the last of these Strafford County is indebted for its name. He was the ablest of the Wentworths. Notwithstanding his English proclivities, he was widely esteemed for his affable manners, his love of agriculture, and his administrative ability. Favoring the cause of the mother county at the breaking out of post for the people, whose principal occupations were cut- ting and exi^orting masts, planks, boards and staves, in addition to the fishing. At Dover Neck the descendants of Job Clements still retain the sword worn by him as one of the councillors of Edward Cranfield, the English- appointed lieutenant-governor and commander-in-chief of New Hampshire in 1682. Very few settlements suffered more from Indian depre- dations than Dover. During the summer and winter of 1675, the people were obliged to abandon the pursuit of business, and take the gun in defence of their families and their homes. Sentries were stationed on roofs, and the principal houses were intrenched. It was in 1676 that Maj. Waldron committed a deed that, 13 years after, cost him his life. In pursuit of savages, after the death of Philip, two companies of soldiers from the south, under command of Gapts. Syll and Hawthorne, came to Cocheco, where the^' met about 400 Indians of different tribes assembled at the house of Maj. "Waldron, with whom they had just formed a treaty- of peace. Syll and his colleague were determined to attack them, but were prevented by Waldron, who proposed to take them by stratagem. The plan succeeded. Two hundred of the most friendly Indians were released ; seven or eight, who were known to have murdered white people, were hanged, and the remainder were t.iken to Boston, from whence, it is said, they were "sold into slaver}-." A peace was declared in 1677. For twelve years the people of Dover had livt'd in comparative peace with the Indians, who, true to their natural temperament, rarel}- forgive a wrong. Though troubles of a lesser form beset the communitj', it increased in population and power. Even the poorer people were prospering, and the frugal and industrious were growing wealth}'. The Indians came and went at i)Ieasure, — ■ trading with the whites, or seeking food and shelter. But the seizure of the 400, thirteen years before, still rankled in their breasts. Those who had been released remembered the breach of hospitality, while many of those who were sold into slaver}- had found the way back to their native wigwams, only to stir up a spirit of vengeance against the whites. In the forenoon of June 27, 1689, the Indians were observed to be gathering in unusual numbers. Many an un- the Revolution, he was obliged to retire, and embarked for Nova Scotia, where he was governor for several years. He was honored with the degree of LL. D. from the Universities of Oxford and Aberdeen, and from Dartmouth College. He was made a baronet before he left New Hampshu-e. He died at Halifax April 8, 1820, aged 84. t Rev. John Pike was the father of Nicholas Pike, who graduated at Harvard College in 1766, and was afterward author of a popular school- book known as " Pike's Arithmetic." NEW HAMPSHIRE. known face was seen among them, and as the afternoon wore apace, the number seemed to multipl3'. Some of the people were suspicious, and suggested to Waldron that the Indians meditated mischief. In a laughing man- ner he replied, "Go, plant your pumpkins, and I will tell j-ou when the Indians will break out ! " A young man told him during the evening that the town was full of Indians. He answered, "I know the Indians well enough, and there is no danger." Some squaws had thrown out dark hints a short time previous, but they were not heeded. Mesandowit, while supping at the Waldron house, said: "Brother Waldi'on, what would you do if the strange Indians should come? " " I could assemble a hundred men b}- lifting m3' finger," the major carelessly replied. There were five garrisoned houses about Cocheco ; viz., Waldron's. which stood near the present corner of Second and Franklin streets ; Heard's and Otis's, on the north side of the river; Peter ColHn's house, and another belonging to his son, on the south side. In the course of the evening, two squaws called at each of the five houses, begging permission to spend the night by the fire, as was fi equentlj' the custom, and they were admitted to all except the j'ounger Coffin's. Near the midnight hour, when everything was still, save the hoot of the owl, or the roar of the falls, the squaws carefully opened the doors of the diflferent houses, and gave one prolonged whistle. Ere its last echoes had died away, the Indians sprang from their hiding-places, and began the attack. After placing a guard at the door of the Waldron house, thej^ pushed their way to the major's apartment. Although 78 years of age, he seized his sword and vigorously defended himself until stunned by a blow from behind. They dragged him to the hall, placed him in a chair, and dancing around him, cried, "Who shall juilge Indians now?" After compelling his familj- to spread the table with eatab'es, each of the savages successively cut him across the breast, exclaiming, " I cross out m^' account ! " and then cut off his nose and ears, placed them in his mouth, and at last despatched him with his own sword. Otis was killed, and his family captured, — as was also the Waldron family. Both houses were burned. Heard's garrison was saved by the barking of a dog, and the presence of mind of Elder Wentworth of RoUinsford, who happened, that night, to be on a visit at the house. Coffin's house was entered ; but, bearing him no malice, they only searched the rooms for valuables. The younger Coffin refused to surrender ; but they brought his parents, and threatened to kill them before his face, when parental affection conquered, and he opened the door. Both of the Coffin families were taken prisoners, but escaped before morning. Mrs. Heard, her three sons, and a daughter, with others, were returning from Portsmouth at the time of the attack. Hearing the noise, the3' all escaped but Mrs. Heard, who, weak from fright, crawled to the nearest bush, where she remained until morning. Towards daj-light, an Indian came and looked at her several times, and after gazing at her, retired. At last she recognized in him an Indian whom she had con- cealed thirteen years before, when the 400 were captured. At that time he declared that he would never harm her, nor her family, in an}' future war. Twentj'-three people were slain, and 29 taken prison- ers. Both of the mills and six houses were destroj'ed. News of the intended attack had reached Boston some- time before, and a messenger had been despatched to in- form the people of Cocheco of the impending danger. Unfortunately he was detained at Newbury, and arrived 24 hours too late. A long and wearisome Indian war followed, in which Dover was a continual sulTerer. On Sunday, July 26, 1693, the people living about Cocheco were attacked while returning from church at the Neck. Three were killed, three wounded, and three taken prisoners. Peace was declared in 1699. Two meeting-houses had been built on the Neck, — the first in 1638, the other in 1653. In 1665, it was " ordered that mr. Petter Coffin should be Impowered bj' this meiLting to A Gree with some workmen to Build ■ a Terrett upon this meitting house for to hang the Bell wich wee have bought of Capt. Walldren." Business for a number of }"ears having centred about Cocheco, a vote was taken to build a meeting-house on Pine Hill. Nicholas Sever was pastor at that time, and the inhabi- tants of this frontier town enjoyed a season of peace. Another contest with the savages commenced in 1723, when Joseph Ham was killed, and three of his children were captured. Not long after the Indians kille 1 , Tristram Heard. Nor did they spare the Quakers, who • were quite numerous in Dover. One of these, John Hanson, who lived in Knox Marsh, — half a mile west of the present Fair grounds, — was away with his eldest daughter, attending a weekly meeting. The Indians at- tacked his house, killed and scalped two small children, i captured his wife with her infant fourteen days old, her nurse, two daughters, and a son, and carried them to j Canada. The following summer Hanson redeemed his wife, three younger children, the nurse, and Ebenezer Downs, — another Quaker taken about the same time. The eldest daughter, seventeen years of age, had married John Siberoix, a Frenchman, and refused to return. Several months afterward, the same Indians that had HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. borne awaj- the Hanson family returned, intending to capture them again. Being discovered, their plan was frustrated. From the close of the Indian wars to the Revolution, nothing peculiar marlvs tlie historv of Dover. Durham (including Lee) was taken from the town, receiving its act of incorporation in 1732. The inhabitants of Dur- ham had petitioned to be set off as a separate town in 1669. About twelve j-ears after the Hiltons' settlement at Dover Point, a number of families found their way up a branch of the Piscataqua, and settled on what is now called Durham Point, at the mouth of Oyster River (so called from the excellent oysters found in its waters) . The place was included in the limits of Dover, and called Oj-ster River settlement. The names of Mathews, (or Mathes) , Williams, Goddard, and Smart, are mentioned as among the first settlers.* In 1649, Valentine Smith, a merchant from Boston, and Thomas Beard, obtained a grant of the falls on Oyster River (now the site of Durham Village), and erected a saw-mill. In a few years, the Falls had mono- polized the business of the vicinitj". Durham, being a frontier settlement, also suffered much from the incur- sions of the Indians, but was not molested to any con- I siderable extent until 1C94, during the "French and Indian War," when the settlement at the Falls was sur- prised by about 200 Indians from the Norridgewock tribe of Maine, and the Pennacooks of Amoskeag Falls and vicinity. Twelve garrison-houses defended the settle- ment ; but for many j-ears the people had grown care- less, passing the nights in their unprotected dwellings, I while those in the garrison-houses had but little ammu- nition. I The day was just beginning to dawn on the morning of July 18, 1694, when an Indian discharged his musket in the air. At the signal a host of savages rushed from their hiding-places, and commenced a general attack on the place. Of the twelve garrison-houses, those be- , longing to Adams, Drew, Edgerly, Meeder and Beard I were destroj-ed. Fourteen persons were killed in the house of Adams. Drew surrendered on the promise of j » There arc in Durham several farms that have remained in the same family, without change of name, since their first occupation by white people, for six or seven generations, during a period of more than two hundred years. Such is the Woodman place, owned by Prof. Wood- man of Dartmouth College. The lands of Bumham, Bunker, Mathews, and others, have come down in smiilar succession ; also the Smith place, owned by Joseph Smith, who bears in full the name of the original t It was customary in those days for persons living back in the settle- ment, to collect on the Sabbalh, and, fur protection, proceed in a body to church. Thomas Chesley, a young man living in Durham, was be- trothed to a Miss Randall living in what is now Lee. As people were his life, but was afterwards killed. The remaining three houses were abandoned, their occupants escaping to the woods. Other garrisons were preserved by the vigorous efforts of the inmates. Bickford's house being situated near the river, he sent his family off in a boat before it was attacked. Retiring to his house he defended it by keeping up a continual fire upon the enem^', changing some portion of his garments every time, and giving orders in a loud voice, as if a number of men were there. The defenceless houses were all set on fire, some of their occupants escaping to the woods, while others were shot in the attempt. The wife and child of John Drew were taken two miles up the river, and left in the care of an Indian. Feeling suddenly sick, he asked Mrs. Drew what was good for him. She replied, ^'■Occapee" (rum). Not disliking the remedy, he drew forth a bottle which he had stolen, took about half its contents at a dose, and soon fell asleep. Mrs. Drew and her child, of course, escaped. Thomas Drew and his wife, a recently wedded couple, were taken prisoners. He was carried to Can- ada ; she to an Indian village at Norridgewock, in Maine. Four 3'ears after, the}- returned and lived together until she was 89 and he 90 j-ears of age. After her captivity she was tlie mother of 14 children ! The good people of Oj-ster River settlement, after a long struggle with those of Dover, obtained a meeting- house of their own in 1651, agreeing to pay a minister an annual salary of $250. Previously, through mud and snow, over hill and stream, — unless prevented bj' sick- ness, — they had been obliged to attend meeting at Dover Neck. Men, women, and children, would gather on the Sabbath, and through the crooked, intricate paths, find their way to the little meeting-house on the hill, t The first minister that preached in Durham, Rev. Mr. Fletcher, left in 1656, after remaining in the town a j-ear ; and a Rev. Mr. Hall officiated there in 1662-63, con- tinuing but a siiort time. Dissensions in ecclesiastical affairs continued till 1675, about which time John Buss, a physician, — never ordained as a preacher, — com- menced to minister to the parish as its pastor, and held the position more than 30 j-ears. His valuable librar}- returning from meeting, one Sabbath, — the old folks on horseback and the younger ones afoot, — Cheslcy and the young lady, lover-like, loit- ered behind. As they were talking of their future prospects in life, an arrow from the bow of some lurking Indian pierced the neck of the girl, who fell back a corpse into the arms of her lover. A shout from Cheslcy brought back the people, who bore the dead girl to the nearest house. As they entered, some blood fell to the door-stone, and to this day the stone is pointed out, with the blood-marks of two hundred years ago still visible ! From that time young Cheslcy swore vengeance against the Indians, and ended his da3-s fighting them. It is asserted that, at one time, meeting twelve of the savages skinning a heifer, he killed eleven of them ! NEW HAMPSHIRE. was burned hy the. Indians in 1G94. He died in 1736, at the age of 108. In 1718, a Congregational Church was organized, with Eev. Hugh Adams as its pastor, who continued 21 years. He was succeeded, in 1741, bj- Rev. Nicholas Oilman, of Exeter, who died after seven years of ministerial service. Rev. John Adams, — a nephew of the first Congregational minister, — was the third settled pastor. His ministry continued nearly 30 3'ears, and ended in 1778. Rev. Curtis Coe, called to occupy his place, was ordained in 1780. His term of office occupied a period of 26 years. He was the last minister of Durham supported by a town tax. The next pastor, after an interval of eleven years, was Rev. Federal Burt, ordained in 1817. He died in 1828, at the close of a successful ministry of nearly eleven years. Rev. Robert Page occupied the pastorate from 1828 to 1831, succeeded by Rev. Alvan Tobey, ordained in 1833. The Christian Baptists, now called the " Church of the Disciples," a successful religious organization in Durham, have flourished here for 60 or 70 years. From 1703 to 1724, the town suffered more or less from Indian atrocities. A portion of Durham was incorporated as the town of Lee in 1766. Joseph Sias signed the warrant calling the first town meeting. Miles Randall was chosen mod- erator, and afterwards town clerk. Robert Thompson, Ely Clark and Nicholas Dudy, comprised the first board of selectmen. At a meeting held in December, the same year, it was " voted, that Zaccheus Clough inspect into the affairs of Eev. Mr. Samuel Hutchins." Mr. H. was preaching in the parish when the town was incorporated. He continued as pastor of the church until about the year 1800, when he was succeeded by the Rev. John Osborne, who, after thirty or more years of service, was followed by the Rev. Israel Chesley. The ministry of the three filled a century ! Something of historic interest to the people of Lee attaches to Wheelwright's Pond, — named from the Rev. John Wheelwright (founder of Exeter), who was a brother-in-law of the famous Anne Hutchinson. Some time in May, 1690, a party of Indians burned several houses in the vicinity of the pond, killing many persons, and carrying others into captivity. A number of whites, — including two companies of scouts raised in Exeter, and other places, — a few weeks later, surprised the sav- ages near this beautiful pond, where a severe engagement followed. Three officers and twelve men were killed, besides a very large number of Indians. Two years after the incorporation of Lee, a wedge- shaped tract of land called Madbury, — taken from Dover and Durham, — was incorporated as a town. This oc- curred in 1768, after an existence of thirteen years as a separate parish. The famihes of Demeritt, Drew, Em- erson and Davis were among its earlier settlers, — the warrant for the first parish meeting being signed bj' Solomon Emerson, who was afterwards chosen moderator, Ebenezer Demeritt being appointed town clerk, and John Wingate, Paul Gcrrish, and James Davis, selectmen. John Demeritt was selected to represent his parish in the General Assemblj- at Exeter, in December, 1776. The Rev. Samuel Hyde was the first minister settled in Mad- bury, where he continued as pastor for many years. A meeting-house erected soon after he came into tlie parish, has long since been used as a town-house. Although we find no record of a regular church organization, the Rev. Eliphaz Chapman officiated as minister from 1771 until 1773, when the Rev. William Hooper, a Baptist preacher, formerly of Berwick, became his successor, and continued preaching for several years. Many of the people attend public worship, as formerly, in Dover and adjacent towns ; and there are a number of Friends in Madbur}- that belong to the church in Dover. Mahorrimet's Hill (now Hick's Hill) , named from an old Indian chieftain, who made the spot his home, recalls to mind the original occupants of the place which, — not unlike the neigh- boring towns, — suffered severely during the Indian wars ; and when the Revolution broke out, it gave its mite to the country towards gaining independence. The same patriotic spirit manifested by the people of Madburj' was shown by the men of Harrington, who, in town meeting assembled, Feb. 7, 1774, passed resolu- tions affirming the right of her citizens to liberty, pledg- ing themselves to oppose ' ' the introduction and use of tea, and all other taxed articles among the people." The territorj' comprising Barrington and Strafford was granted to the town of Portsmouth, and incorporated as Barrington bj- proclamation of Samuel Shute, governor of the Province of New Hampshire, dated May 10, 1772. It was divided among the tax-payers of Portsmouth, in proportion to the amount of taxes paid by them as individuals, on condition that a house of worship and 40 dwelling-houses be built within seven j-ears, — the dwelling-houses to be surrounded by at least three acres of cleared land, to be occupied b}' families of actual settlers. Among the earliest of these were the Gate family, who built the garrison-house taken down several 3'ears ago, and James Swain, whose dwelling-house is now standing, — said to be the first frame-house built in town. Many of his descendants are now living. The first annual meeting of the proprietors was held in Portsmouth two or three weeks after the act of incor- poration was signed by the governor. Robert Wibert HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. •was moderator, and Clement Hughes, clerk. The first annual meeting held in Barrington was at the house of Capt. William Gate in 1759. Arthur Danielson was moderator, and Clement Hughes, clerk. The first settled minister was Rev. Joseph Prince, ordained in 1754. His ministerial labors closed in 1768. His successor, the Rev. David Tenne}-, settled in 1771, asked and re- ceived a dismission in 1778. The Rev. Benjamin Balch, whose pastorate commenced in 1784, continued till his death in 1815. Prominent among the active men at the beginning of the present centur}- were Thomas AV. and Samuel Hale, John and David AValdron, and Job Otis. In 1820, the town of Barrington being inconveniently- large, and dissatisfaction arising from other causes, the northerlj- part was set off and incorporated as the town of Strafford. Its earliest settlers were the families of Berrj', Foss, Winkly and Perkins, — the names of Berrj' and Foss being now borne bj- about one-fourth of its voters. Elder Micajah Otis was ordained as pastor of the Freewill Baptist Church in 1799. The society has flourished, and the pulpits of its four churches are sup- plied by four settled pastors. The first minister ordained in Strafford, after its separation from Barrington, was the Rev. William Sanders, installed in 1822. The same hand that approved the act creating Bar- rington, also signed the charter incorporating Rochester, on the same day. May 10, 1722. One of the oldest towns in the State, the main road to Dover, now as then, passes over Rochester Hill, where the early settlers made their homes. The name given to the town is sup- posed to be in honor of the Earl of Rochester, Lord Treasurer of England. Fragments of the original charter bearing the Provincial seal and the signature of the British governor, Samuel Shute, are still preserved in the town clerk's ofHce. The early settlement of Rochester was delayed by the Indian wars. Capt. Timothy Roberts, to whom the honor of being the first permanent settlei' has usually been given, moved his family within the limits of the new township, and settled near the line of Dover. He was soon followed by Eleazer Ham, and others, mostly from Dover. In 1737, there were 60 fami- lies in the town, and in 1744 nearly one hundred and fifty. • This edifice is the present house of worship of the Congregational society, which received its act of incorporation in 1823. It has h.ad 12 settled pastors, one of whom. Rev. Joseph Haven, was their minister for nearly 50 years. Three of the pastors died and were buried in Rochester. t The three villages in the town arc Rochester village, Gonic and East Rochester. Rochester village is situated upon an extensive plain, and was formerly called " Norway Plains," from the fact that Norway pines once covered that whole region. A hundred years ago, the village In 1746, Joseph Richards, John Wentworth, .Joseph Head, and Gershom Downs were surprised on Rochester Hill, by Indians in ambush, and killed, others being taken prisoners. At this time there were serious thoughts of abandoning the settlement. The cultivation of their little farms was carried on at the hazard of their lives. Neighbors assisted each other by working together in companies, with armed sentinels continually on the watch. The number of settlers was constantlj- being reduced by those who were killed, or captured and carried to Canada. In 1747, Samuel Drown was wounded in the hip bj' the bullet of an Indian sharpshooter. In 1748, the wife of Jonathan Hodgdon was killed by the Indians for refusing to go with other captives to Canada. The first meeting-house was built on Rochester Hill, by the proprietors of the township, in 1731. It was ' ' forty feet long, thirty feet wide and eighteen feet stud." By an act of the General Court, in 1737, the inhabitants of the town (no longer the proprietors), were authorized to raise by taxation money to support the ministry. Rev. Amos Jlain, a graduate of Harvard College, was the first settled minister, — a church being organized the same year. Joseph Walker, Elizabeth Ham and Mary McFee were the first persons admitted to the church, and Stephen Berry and Joseph Walker were the first deacons. Rev. Mr. Main^the pastor, died in 1760, and the town — as usual in those days — paid the funeral expenses. One item in the bill was $56.25 for rum ! In 1780 the town was divided into parishes, corre- sponding nearly to the present towns of Rochester, Farm- ington and Milton. The first parish (Rochester) built a new meeting-house that year, on what is now the com- mon. In 1842 this house was removed to a more central location, where it was enlarged and improved.* In 1781 the Society of Friends built a meeting-house in Rochester on the Dover road, near Judge Dame's. This building was afterwards taken down, and its materials were used in building a new meeting-house near Gonic t, from which place it has since been removed to its pres- ent location. A Friends' meeting-house was also built at Meaderborough, \ some time previous to 1805. In 1823 there were 20 families belonging to one meeting, and consisted of only 18 or 20 dwellings. " Gonic " is a contraction of the word " Squamagonic," the Indian name of the falls near that place. The word is supposed to mean " water from the clay place hill." X Meaderborough road, extending along a ridge of land toward Farm- ington, is thickly settled by prosperous and intelligent farmers, many of whom belong to the Society of Friends. The first settler in that portion of the to^vn was Benjamin Meadcr, who was soon followed by four brothers. From them and their descendants is derived the name Meader- borough. NEW HAMPSHIRE. 1 5 to the other. In 1 838 a collection of books for a ! Friends' library was commenced. ! The first Methodist preaching in town occurred in j 1807, at the school-house, on the Rochester Hill road. Warren Bannister and Ebcnezer Blake, of the Tufton- borough circuit, preached once in four weeks, on week days. In 1825 a meeting-house was built, the corner- stone being laid with imposing Masonic ceremonies. In 1826 the society was incorporated. In 1867-G8 the present beautiful church-edifice was erected at a cost of $20,000. The society is regarded as one of the most flourishing in the conference. In 17G7 there were in Rochester four slaves: two male and two female. The last slave died in 1783. In 1752 Master John Forst kept the first school in town, and, as the records say, "boarded 'round." Prob- ablj- he taught only the indispensable branches, reading and writing, with a very little of arithmetic. Paper was scarce in those days, and most of his " scholars" used white-birch bark as a substitute. The school continued 16 weeks and the town paid him $75 for his services, in depreciated currencj- ! The schools were very irregular for some jears after this. During the Revolution the town bore its part, sending a full company to join the army at Cambridge immedi- ately after the Concord figlit. The men were recruited at Stephen Wentworth's tavern ; the town paying boun- ties and supplying lead and blankets. Capt. David Place commanded a companj' of minute-men at Ports- mouth and at Cambridge ; afterwards, with Capt. John Brewster, commanding companies in the second Conti- nental regiment, which served in the northern armj' under Gen. Sullivan, in 1777. Capt. John McDuffie, also, commanded a compan}- in the same armj-, taking part in the battles at Saratoga and Stillwater and at Ticondcroga. The first magistrate in the town was John Plumer, * ai)pointed judge of the court by Gov. Wentworth when tlie count}- was organized. Josiah Main, son of the first settled minister, served 33 years as town clerk, having accepted the office in 1771, — the year in which Strafford County was incorporated. Wild animals were abundant in the early history of the town. Six bears were killed in 1751. The first mention of a pauper was made in 1749. After a lawsuit, the town of Somers- worth was held liable for his support. That part of Strafford County that now bears the name of Somersworth. was settled some time after • Jiiilfrc Plumer continued in office tlirough .and after tlic Revolution, the latter part of the time as cUief justice. He lived to be 95 years old, and died in 1815. Waldron began the settlement at Cocheco Lower Falls, probably about 1670, at or near Humphrey's (now Hus- scy's) Pond. The people gradually pushed farther and farther into the wilderness. The Heard family- had com- menced a clearing and built a garrison north-west of Varney's (now Garrison) Hill. Others found their way still farther into the north of Dover, seldom going beyond two or three miles from a garrison-house, to which they could fly in time of peril. About 1675 a family settled two miles north of Salmon Falls, on the Indigo Hill road, and tradition sa3's they built a garrison. During the earlier Indian wars, Somersworth experi- enced very little of the desolating effects that befell other more populous neighbors. The Indians roamed the country in small bands, and on their way to some large community, often attacked the lonely farm-houses l^'ing in their track. Many names might be mentioned among those who fell victims to the prowling savages lying in ambush in the marsh between Varney's and Otis's Hill.t Created a parish in 1729, Somersworth was incorpo- rated as a town in 1754. Before this, it was a part of Dover. Its earliest settlers were William Wentworth, John Hall and William Stiles, who came here between 1650 and 1700. The first meeting-house, built in 1729, was taken down in 1773, a more commodious edifice having been erected the previous year. The steeple of this building was struck by lightning, in a violent thiui- der-storm at mid-day, Maj- 4, 1779, and in about an hour the house was in ashes. The bell was melted, and fell in a state of fusion. The third meeting-house was erected in 1780. The first minister of Somersworth, Rev. James Pike, a Harvard graduate, was ordained in 1730, and died in 1792. Rev. Pearson Thurston, a graduate of Dartmouth College, installed in 1792, re- moved in 1812, and died at Leominster, Mass., in 1819. The house in which Mr. Thurston lived was consumed by fire in 1812, together with the church records, communion vessels and a valuable librarj'. Col. Paul Wentworth by his will bequeathed to the parish in this town the sum of $2,500, the interest of which was to be expended for pious and charitable uses. He also gave a silver tankard and cup for the use of the church. He died on St. John's day, June 24, 1748. It was about 1750, that Andrew Home came from Dover and purchased land where Great Falls is now located. He erected a house near the present site of the Boston and Maine Railro.ad depot; and, shortly after- )■ From the summit of Otis's Hill, the highest in Somersworth, may be seen the White Mountains, the steeples of the meeting-houses in Ports- mouth, and the masts of the shipping in the harbor. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. ward, a grist-mill at tlie falls. Tliose wlio had explored this region, years before, had returned with glowing accounts of the beautiful scenery in that A-icinity, and of the magnificence of a fall, where the water dashed from ledge to ledge down a distance of a hundred feet or more. It being the largest on the Salmon Falls River, they termed it the "Great Falls." Hence the name of one of the most beautiful \'iUages in New England. From the close of the French and Indian wars to the opening of the Revolution, the history- of Somersworth is one of uninteresting progression. From a few scat- tered farms in a wilderness, it had sprang up into a populous town. The first breath of wind that bore the news of the tyrannical acts of the mother country to the hills of New Hampshire stirred the blood of this hitherto quiet people. In their little meeting-house,* nearlj- the whole male population of the town gathered oh the 21st of April, 1775, and "voted that twent}' men immedi- ately- march from the town to meet the enemy." From their rendezvous on the "training lot," they marched over the winding roads, — through Dover, through Dur- ham, New Market and Exeter, — one and another in the various towns grasping the musket and joining the ranks, until they had swelled to a thousand, and disap- peared in the smoke of the battle. The town furnished more than 60 men during the war. Before business began to centre at Great Falls, the people of Somersworth attended .church at RoUinsford Junction. In 1825 the pioneer preacher of Great Falls, Rev. Eleazer Steele, a Methodist divine stationed at Dover, preached to a small audience the first sermon ever delivered in the place. The territory included in the present limits of Rollins- ford was settled as early as 1630, in the vicinity of Sal- mon Falls, by persons sent over from England bj' the " Company of Laconia" ; and, in 1634, were built at the ' falls saw and grist mills, which were burned several jears after. About the year 1700, a party of men commenced a rival settlement near RoUinsford Station, and began to clear land and build houses. For manj- years the set- tlers in these parts travelled the rough, circuitous road to Dover Neck, on the Sabbath, until 1713, when a place of worship was erected at Cocheco Falls, where the law compelled attendance, — a law which was repeat- I edlj- enforced ! There the people from the remotest part of RoUinsford gathered until 1729, when a church was established, a meeting-house built, and this town, includ- ing Somersworth, was set off as a separate parish by the name of Somersworth. Three houses of worship were * Near the present location of RoUinsford Junction. successively built near the old bui-ying-gronnd, the village in its vicinity being, at that time, the centre of business. Among the earlier settlers we find the names of Wentworth, Rollins, Pike, Carr and Wallingford. The town derives its name from the families of Rollins and Wallingford. The Indians made savage raids upon the people of this section in 1675, and at inter\-als, during the years that followed. In 1690 they destroyed the whole village, and burned the barns, with the horses and cattle in them. Cocheco and other neighboring settlements immediatel3' raised a large company of men who started in pursuit of the enemj-. One Thomas Toogood, it is said, joined this party, and during the fight was taken prisoner bj- an Indian. After inquiring his name, the Indian pro- ceeded to prepare strings to secure him. While thus engaged, Toogood snatched his gun, and retreated gradually, keeping his weapon pointed toward the Indian, and threatening to fire if he made any noise that would alarm the Indians on the other side of the stream. The Indian could do nothing but stand and shout after him, ^'■No-good! No-good!" Toogood safely escaped. Elder Wentworth, a resident of this town, was at Dover the night Maj. Waldron was killed. He was spending the time at the Heard garrison, wliile MrS^ Heard and a portion of her family- were gone to Ports- mouth. Wentworth, aroused b}' the bark of a dog, closed the door, and, falling on his back, placed his feet against it. The Indians fired several shots at the door, but failed to hit him. Thus the occupants of the house were saved. From Dec. 19, 1754, to July 3, 1849, RoUinsford was a part of Somersworth. The founder of the sect of Freewill Baptists,t so numerous in this county, was Elder Benjamin Ran- daU, who commenced his labors in New Durham in 1780. This town was incorporated in 1762, the tract embracing it having been granted to Ebenezer Smith and others, 13 years before that date, on condition that 40 famiUes should permanently settle in it within five years from the declaration of peace. Another article in the agreement required the erection of a meeting-house, a grain and a saw mill, within two j-ears ; also, the support of a preacher. Maj. Thomas Tash \ made earl}' exer- tions in founding the settlement of this town, and built the two mills at his own expense. With the assistance of Paul March and others, the required number of set- t This denomination was recognized as a distinct sect by an act of the legislatnie, Dec. 7, 1804. t He served as captain and major dnrinjitbe French and Indian wars, and as colonel during the war of the Revolution. NEW HAMPSHIRE. tiers was obtained lij- a bounty of 50 acres of land to each settler. Rev. Nathaniel Porter, a Congregationalist, was or- dained in New Durham in 1775. He removed from the town about three years before the arrival of Elder Ran- dall,* who, in the house of Elder Joseph Boodey, organ- ized the first Freewill Baptist church in America. The house is still standing. Elder Nathaniel Berry, who died in 1865 at the age of 77, had charge of the Free- will Baptist church in this town nearly 40 years. Among the distinguished men of the past ma}' be mentioned Hon. Henry Wilson, who was born on a farm about two miles south of Farmington village. This town, former!}' a part of Rochester, was incorporated Dec. 1, 1798. At the time of its formation, it had a population of 1,000. Tiie population in 1868 was 3, .300. Benjamin, Samuel and Richard Furber were ampng the first who settled in this section, together with Samuel Jones, Benjamin Chesley and Paul Demeritt. The}' selected a spot near Merrill's Corners, where " Furber's Store " is known as the oldest in town. The first meet- ing-house was built on Roberts' Hill, about two miles south of Farmington village. The first school-house was built at Merrill's Corners, in the south part of the town, about 1791. From its superior adaptation to Ihrming pursuits, the town is supposed to have derived its name. Another section of Rochester was taken from it and incorporated as the town of Milton, in 1S02. The town was first settled in 1775. The first meeting-house was built in 1803. It was really the town bouse, and was open to all denominations. Its first minister was Rev. James Walker, a Congregationalist. TJie plan of the niecting-house is on record at the town clerk's office, together with the names of early pew-owners, among which may be found those of Plumer, Jones, Bury and Lord, many of whose descendants ^are now living in Milton. The pews sold at prices ranging from thirty to a hundred dollars, the highest-priced pew being bought liy Joseph Plumer, an old and esteemed citizen of those times. His descendants still live in the old homestead on Plumer's Ridge, where was built the first school-house on a site now occupied for the same purpose, in District No. 1. The first saw and grist mill was built by a Mr. Knox, in 1805, on a site now utilized by the felt works. Between Milton and New Durham, in the extreme northern part of the county, is the small town of Mid- dleton, whose first settlers came here a hundred years ago, mostly from Lee, Somersworth and Rochester. * Elder Randall continued preaching, and travelled more or less until at last lie died of consumption, in 1808, aged 60 years. A plain marljle The town was incorporated March 4, 1778 ; and in 1794 the town of Brookfield was severed from it. For many years these two towns united in sending a representative to the legislature. In 1826 David Davis, Esq., who repre- sented these towns in the General Assembly, caused a special act to be passed allowing each town a member, — neither of which had the constitutional number of voters. Milton's increase in population has been notably small : numbering 476 persons in 1859, the census of 1870 re- turned only 482. Its first minister was the Rev. Nehe- miah Ordway, who graduated at Harvard College in 1764, and settled here in 1778. His successor. Elder John Buzzell, established a Freewill Baptist church, which has since been the prevailing religious sentiment. Although the soil of Milton yields scanty returns, and, like most northern towns in the county, is better adapted to grazing, yet many of its people arc in pros- perous circumstances. All the lands in Strafford County are somewhat hard of cultivation, but the patient laborer finds an ample reward for his toil. The county possesses a large hydraulic power, and manufacturing establish- ments are constantly increasing on its streams. Losing a large share of its territory in 1840, by the formation of Belknap and Carroll counties, — the former taking 18 towns, the latter 14, — it is now smaller than any county in the State, but still retains its former independence and power. Bounded east by the State of Maine, with llie coun- ties of Carroll and Brlknap on the north — Merrimack and Rockingham counties lying on the south and west — the Lamprey, Bellamy, Cocheco, Isinglass and Salmon Falls are its principal rivers. The Salmon Falls is navi- gable for sloops to South Berwick, and the Cocheco to Dover. Prior to 1841 these two rivers furnished the principal mode of travel and transportation to and from the county. The Boston and Maine Railroad, which extends through the south-eastern part of the county, was com- pleted in 1843. The Dover and Winnipiseogee (for- merly Cocheco) Railroad, from Dover to Alton Bay, — a distance of 28^ miles, — was incorporated in 1847. It was commenced in 1848, and finished in 1850. The Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroad was in- corporated in 1844. This road, commenced in 1847, was finished to Rochester in 1849, and to Union Village, in Wakefield, in 1850. Thence its line extended to the White Mountains. The Portland and Rochester Rail- road, from Portland, Jle., to Rochester, N. H., was completed in 1871. shaft marks his resting-place in the family burying-ground, on New Durham Ridge. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Of the eight national banks in Strafford CoiTnty, Dover has three ; while Farmington, Gouic, Great Falls, Roch- ester and Somcrsworth have one each. The only State bank in New Hampshire is at Rollinsford, ha\ing a cap- ital of $50,000. Of the eight savings banks in the county, Farmington has one ; Somersworth one ; Rochester and Dover, three each. According to the U. S. census of 1870, the population of Strafford County is 30,199. Before Carroll and Belknap counties were taken from it, in 1840, its popu- lation was 61,095. Strafford County belongs to the first judicial district of the Supreme Court, a law terra of which is held annu- ally at Dover. The trial terms of the court are held at the same place, on the third Tuesday of March, and fourth Tuesday of October ; and the term of the Court of Common Pleas on the third Tuesdaj"^ of January, and the third Tuesday in August, of each j"ear. Towns. Dover, one of the most interesting and important cities in New Hampshire, owes much to the Bellamy and Cocheco rivers, which flow through it in a south-easterly direction, adding greatly- to its beauty, as the county seat of Strafford. From the close of the Revolution to the introduction of cotton manufactures, the town grew slowly. There had been saw-mills, grist-mills, fuUing- radls, oil-mills, a nail-factorj-, and ship-yards, in con- tinuous succession, extending through a period of 180 years, ending in 1821, when the Dover Factory Companj- was incoiporated. This was afterward merged into the Cocheco Manufacturing Company, which was incorpo- rated in 1836. In addition to the Print Works, which manufacture the well-known Cocheco prints, the com- pany has in operation in its mills 60.000 spindles and 1,200 looms, manufacturing 11,000,000 yards of cloth annually. Here, also, are mills for the manufacture of all kinds of machinery, and factories for making glue and sand- paper, oil-cloth and can-iages ; a planing-mill, soapstone works, the Dover Gas-light Company, &o., &c. The manufacture of boots and shoes is also an important industry. Besides the jail, court-house and county offices, the cit}' has man}' handsome business blocks, neat-looking • In enforcing the Jaw requiring eacli town to " provide a schoolmas- ter," tlie court made a special exception of Dover, in 1693, the town being at that time " too much impoverished, by the freqii of Indian enemies, to Bustam any considerable burden for other poses than its own defence." dwellings and costly private residences, with a few old- time mansions, upon whose generous, well-kept grounds and tasteful surroundings, increasing population and the growth of trade will sooner or later make sad inroads. As an enterprising city, Dover possesses all the re- quisites of a rapidly-growing manufacturing metropolis, two of the school-houses* near its central part being rarely surpassed for their convenience and beauty. It has four national banks ; several institutions for savings ; 10 churches, each having a commodious edifice; com- fortable hotels ; societies for agricultural and literary improvement ; a library and post-office f ; one high and 12 district schools ; the Franklin Academy, chartered in 1818; with pther social and business advantages pro- portionate to its wealth. Dover received its city charter Sept. 1, 1855. The Hon. Andrew Peirce was its first maj'or. The little flags, waving in the breeze at Pine Hill Cemetery, tell the story of Dover's patriotism during the war of the Rebellion. Population, 1870, 9,874; State, 1878, 10,360.+ SoMERswoETH, joining Dover, of which it was formerly a part, is situated on the Salmon Falls River, — the old Indian Newichawannock, — where it occupies one of the most beautiful and romantic sites in all Strafford Count}-. It has but one village, called Great Falls, where most of its inhabitants reside, and where all of its manufactur- ing interests are centered. On the same spot, in 1820, there was only one house, a grist-mill and a saw-mill. Three years later was incorporated the Great Falls Manu- facturing Compan}-, which at one time owned the largest broadcloth and carpet mill in America. The woollen business was abandoned in 1834. The companj* has a capital stock of $1,500,000; five mills, with 92,500 spindles and 2,155 looms. Annuallj-, 4,924,374 pounds of cotton are consumed, manufacturing 16,000,000 j-ards of sheetings, shirtings, drilling and cotton fiannels. Fifty looms for weaving bags were introduced in 1868, turning out 2,000 bags daily. The average number of operatives employed (three-fourths being females) is 1 ,800. The monthly pay-roll aggregates $36,000. A bleachery, belonging to the company, employs about 35 hands. The Great Falls Woollen Companj-, owning a substan- tial, fine-lookmg mill, 100 by 64 feet, five stories high, with dj'e-house, store-house and counting-room building, t The post-office at Dover (one of the first ten created in the conn- try) was cstabhshcd in 1791. It required three weeks, at that time, for a letter from Philadelphia to reach the post office at Dover. X The word " State " has reference to the returns made by the selectmen in 1878. In some towns the selectmen failed lo make reliable returns. NEW HAMPSHIRE. was incorporated in 18G3, with a capital of $100,000. It cmplojs 120 hands, with eight sets of machiiieiv, on fanc}' cassimeres, tweeds and flannels, consuming 9,000 pounds of clear wool daily, and paying out $3,000 monthlj- for labor. The Somersworth Machine Companj-, incorporated^ in 1848, with a capital of $.30,000, consumes annually 700 tons of coal, and 7,000,000 pounds of iron. The weekly compensation to emplo3L'S is $1,800. The compan3- have three foundries, one at Dover, one at Salmon Falls, and one at Great Falls. That at Salmon Falls manufactures mostly stoves, of which 4,000 are made per year. At Great Falls, mill-machiner3', gas and water pipes, and all kinds of heavj' and light castings ai-e made. Here, also, are large jewelry, watch-making and dry-goods establishments. The town has six churches ; 14 graded public schools, including a high school ; a library of 4,000 volumes ; two banks, a post-office, and an institution for savings. But the glorj- and pride of Somersworth are its manu- factories. Population, 1870, 4,504 ; State, 1878, 5,857. Rochester, the birth-place and home of manj' distin- guished men, has also manj' enterprising manufacturers, who, by industry and perseverance, have surmounted poverty and amassed wealth. Its first manufactmiug corporation, the Mechanics' Company, which commenced the manufacture of blan- kets at " Norway Plaino " in 1834, failed in 1841, f.il- lowed by the Gonic Company, which met a similar fate. Wetmore and Sturtevant took the remains, dividing the mills and privileges between them. Wetmore eventu- allj' failed, or abandoned the business. Sturtevant, by skiU and business abilitj', succeeded. In 1846 other persons were admitted, and a company was incorporated as the " Norway Plains Company." The capital has been from time to time increased, — in a great measure from the profits of the business, — until, from $00,000 in 1847, it now amounts to $250,000. The mills have 25 sets of machinery, and make 95,000 pairs of blankets and C20,000 3-ards of flannel annually. At Rochester Village, E. G. & F. Wallace have estab- lished what is believed to be the largest shoe-factory in tlie State. With it is connected a large tanning and currying establishment — so that raw hides, taken in, are sent to market in the form of shoes of many descriptions. Three hundred thousand pairs are manufactured annu- ally. The Wallaces commenced with nothing. By pa- tient industrj' they have built up a large business, and made themselves wealthy. At tlie Aallage of Gonic, and at East Rocl)ester, there are also successful manufactories of plain and twilled flannels. Two railroads enliven tlic appearance of Rochester, which has two lines of telegraph, three churches, three banks, three postal villages, and 19 graded school dis- tricts. Of its 205 soldiers, enlisted during the Rebellion, 63 were lost in the service. In addition to its eminent men, elsewhere mentioned, the history' of Rochester would be incomplete without some brief notice of prominent persons who, by birth or adoption, ma}'; justly claim a place on the list of her dis- tinguished sons. Lieut. Col. John McDuffle, born in 1724, was at the capture of Louisburg in 1758, and commanded a detach- ment of men under Gen. Wolfe at the siege of Quebec. He served in the Revolution, from the battle of Bunker Hill until 1778, and was afterward representative and State senator. He died in 1817, aged 93. Hon. Nathaniel Upham, a successful merchant and public-spirited citizen, and a resident in Jloehester from 1802 to 1829, was a member of Congress from 1817 to 1823. Hon. David Barker, Jr., born in Rochester, and a lawyer of fine talents, was a member of Congress from 1827 to 1829. Hon. James Farrington, a physician of some celeljrity, resided here from 1818 till his death in 1859, and was a member of Congress from 1837 to 1839. Hon. Jacob II. Ela, born here, has been U. S. marshal for New Hampshire, a member of Congress, and has filled various political offices of distinction. Rev. Thomas C. Upham, D. D., has been for more than 30 years a professor at Bowdoin College. Jonathan P. Cushing, who graduated at Dartmouth, paid his expenses through college by working at his trade as a saddler, and afterwards became president of Hampden Sydnej- College, Va. He died in 1835. Hon. Nathaniel G. Upham, formerly judge of the Superior Court of Judicature, was U. S. commissioner to Great Britain, in President Pierce's administration. Francis W. Upham, LL. D., a native of Rochester, and formerly law-partner with Hon. Robert Rantoul, afterwards became I'rofessor of Mental Philosophy at Rutgers College, New York. Hon. Noah Tebbetts, a native of Rochester, and a graduate of Bowdoin College, served as representative in the Legislature, and afterwards as judge of the Court of Common Pleas, till his death in 1844. Hon. Charles W. Woodman, born in Rochester, and a practising lawyer in Dover, was a judge of the Court of Common Pleas from 1854 to 1855. Hon. Theodore C. Woodman, a native of Rochester, HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. and a lawyer in Bucksport, He., has been Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives. Richard Dame, a representative and State senator, served as executive councillor in 1809-10, and as judge of the Court of Common Pleas,* from 1816 to 1820. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and died much esteemed in 1828, aged 72. Isaac and Seth Adams, f poor in early life, by abiUt}- and perseverance attained great wealth. The former invented the famous Adams printing-press. The latter was for a long time engaged in the sugar-refining busi- ness at South Boston. Hon. James II. Edgerly was appointed judge of pro- bate for Strafford County in 1866. Charles Main, a descendant of the first minister of Rochester, is known as one of the most wealthy and suc- cessful merchants of San Francisco. Hon. John P. Hale, formerly a distinguished lawyer of Rochester, is said to have held a lieutenant's commis- sion in the army, received from the hands of Gen. Wash- ington. He died in 1819. He was father to the late U. S. senator and minister to Spain, Hon. John P. Hale, who entered Bowdoin College in 1823, with ex-President Pierce and Nathaniel Hawthorne as his classmates. Population, 1870,-5,137; State, 1878,-5,137. RoLLiKSFORD, whosc manufacturing interests centre in its one village of Salmon Falls, — pleasant in the orderly' arrangement of its buildings, and its manj' ornamental shade trees, — has two substantial mills, one being erect- ed on the spot wkere its predecessor, built in 1821 and burned ia 1830, was afterwards rebuilt, and, with its companion mill, merged into the fiourishing cotton- fac- tories of the Salmon Falls Manufactunng Companj', run- ning 32,000 spindles and 980 looms, — using 10,000 bales of cotton per year. For a small town RoUinsford takes high rank in agri- culture, and is one of the best fruit-growing towns in the State. Chief Justice Charles Doc of the Supreme Court, is a resident of RoUinsford. Population 1870,-1,500; State, 1878,-1,596. Fakmington, a very good "farming town," as its name implies, has one notably enterprising village, with 18 stores and 17 shoe-factories, turning out, in 1868, 1,015,- 000 pairs of shoes, valued at more than a million and a quarter of dollars. • Before the division of Strafford County in 1840, Rochester was one of the three towns where terms of court were regularly held. The town furnished a court-house fur the use of the county, and at one time efforts were made, which proved unsuccessful, to have the jail located here. Daniel Webster and Jonathan Mason used to visit Rochester in the practice of their profession. In connection with its fame as the birth-place of Henrj- Wilson, it appears that Jeremiah Jones was the first man born in this town that was sent to the Legislature. He was elected six successive terms, and nominated for the seventh, but refused to run. His majority at the first election was One ; at the last, 158. Two former members of Congress — both old resi- dents — were the Hon. Nehemiah Eastman, an able law- j-er and State senator, who died in 1856 ; and Dr. Joseph Hammond, for many j-ears Farmington's only phj-sieian, who died in 1836. Population, 1870,— 2,300; State, 1878,-2,776. Barrington, with its many ponds and admirable mill- sites ; with its woollen-mill, and its wooden-ware indus- tries, has also its "Dexil's Den," a cave of some noto- riety, extending 100 feet into the solid rock. i Stone-house Pond, nearly cii-cular, and shaded by for- est trees, is a favorite place of resort for pleasure-seek- ers. On its north-western shore rises a perpendicular ledge, 150 feet in height. A fissure in the base, capable of sheltering several persons, gives the name to the pond. Prof. S. Waterhouse, of Washington University, St. Louis ; Col. J. W. Kingman, justice U. S. Court, Wj-oming Territorj' ; and Hon. Frank Jones, formerly mayor of Portsmouth, and member of Congress, were born in this town. Population, 1870,-1,583; State, 1878,-1,468. Durham, in the extreme south, where ship-building was in former times extensively carried on, exports an- nually 1 ,000 tons of hay. Of the many distinguished men who have had their homes in this town, perhaps none will be held in more grateful remembrance than Maj. Gen. Sullivan, of Rev- olutionary fame. Population, 1870,-1,260; State, 1878,-981. Lee, with its lovelj* scenerj' and healthful atmosphere, so inviting to extreme old age that few physicians have ever made it their home ; with its valuable mill sites, and inexhaustible body of excellent cla}' for bricks, is one of the few towns which earlj' took an extraordinary in- terest iu securing efficient and successful schools. It is a patriotic little place, having always cheerfully furnished its quota iu all our national struggles. Population, 1870,— 776; State, 1878,-694. Milton, mainlj- an agricultural and stock-raising town, manufactures about $100,000 worth of woollen and cotton t By the will of Seth Adams, who was bom in Rochester in 1806, and ; died in 1873, the income of a perpetual fund of $600,000 was appropriated j for founding, building and supporting the " Adams Nervine Asylum," where persons not insane may find rest and protection, without having the stigma of insanity branded upon them. This institution in Boston (W. Roxbury district), will be opened for patients about Jan. 1, 1880. ' NEW HAMPSHIRE. goods, and half a million dollars' worth of boots and shoes. Population, 1870,-1,598. Madbukt, a small, triangular-shaped town, contains mosll}' a farming population ; while Middleton, a better grazing town, is nearl}' half woodland and swamps. Population, Madbury, 1870,-408 ; State, 1878,-419. Middleton, 1870,-540; State, 1878,-350. New Durham, in whose principal %'illage are the Eureka gunpowder works, is a town of saw-mills, grist- mills, and shingle-mills, — with wood and lumber as the chief articles of trade. Population, 1870,-974; State, 1878,-864. Straffokd is the youngest and last-incorporatea town in the county, which it honored in adopting its name. Formerly the agricultural part of Barrington, it joins Farmington, and shares with it some of the best farming lands in the State. Lumbering is carried on to some ex- tent, and stock-raising receives a large share of attention. From the tops of its "Blue Hills," to the east, a fine view of the south-west part of the State of Maine is pre- sented ; while, to the south-east, the ocean with its snowy sails is distinctly seen. To the south, the highlands of Massachusetts, and Unconnunucs Mountains in Goffs- town, rise full to view. To the west, the Sunapee and Kearsarge mountains rear their bald summits to the clouds ; while to the north that "Switzerland of America," the White Mountain region, towering above the rest of New England, meets the astonished vision of the lover of the beautiful and sublime. Population, State, 1878,— 1,GG8. SULLIVAIf COUKTY. BY \VILLI.\M E. GRAVES. Near the centre of New Hampshire's western border, washed liy the majestic Long River,* lies, or rather rises — sceminglj' from all points of the compass — a naturallj' picturesque and wildly romantic region, cover- ing nearly GOO square miles of land, swollen, as it were, to a lofty height between the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers, and called the County of Sullivan, from that grand old patriot. Gen. John Sullivan, of Revolutionary fame. Remarkabl}' rich in its scenery and in its history, the county has the same general aspect that it wore, within the writer's remembrance, 50 years ago. The same un- dulating hills and quiet valleys ; the same romantic and |)astoral glens ; the same lakes and ponds, streams and water-courses, — all of surpassing loveliness ; the same rocks piled on rocks ; and the same varieties of forest trees, — the rock f and white maple ; the black ash ; the black, j-ellow and white birch ; the beech, elm and bass ; the red oak ; the pine, spruce and hemlock ; the fir and the cedar, — arc still here in all their glory. The same lightning-scarred, tall old pines, wearing the wealher- slains of centuries, and sharing the solitude with an * The Indian word spelled " Connecticut," eignifles, in English, the " Long River." t The hard, or rock maple, is the sugar maple of this region. occasional, but inevitable crow, wheeling aloft or perched on some splintered stem, still stand stark and stiff like ghosts or spectres, at twilight or in the moonlight, — clinging to lofty mountain-sides as in days of yore. The Grand Monadnock, the Haystack, and old Kear- sarge, in neighboring counties, look from within its limits, just the same ; and for more than 250 years, the phj-sical features of the county have undergone little or no change. Long ago were found, here and there, relics of the Indians, who probably never made this elevated land a place of permanent abode. Through these valleys, now teeming with culture, no doubt they tracked, with fleet and silent foot, the wary game. But the woods and fields echo no longer to the thrill of the Indian bow- string, and the wild ieasts who shared the forests with the red men have long since disappeared. Were it in our power to transport the reader to the top of Croydon or Grantham Mountain, to the summit of the Sunapee, or to the granite apes of the cone-shaped Lovewell's Mountain, — all hing in this county, — there would be no need for wearisome detail, while he feasted his eye on some of the finest scenery in Western New Hampshire. Alas that her mountains — not excelled in grandeur by the loftier pinnacles of Europe — maj- not HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. jet lajr claim to the enchanting associations of the Paj-s de Vaud, in Switzerland, or of the famous Pass of St. Bernard ! The streams that course the western slopes of this romantic highland region dash from ledge to rock, and go rippling and murmuring on through fertile meadows I to the blue Connecticut, whose shores of scenic beautj' are lovelier far than the bolder lands Ijiug on the banks of the " beautiful blue Danube." Not generally uneven, here and there lofty mountain-peaks and ridges lift their rounded but rocky summits almost to the clouds. Near one of these vast elevations lies, in its broad expanse, — nine miles in length, — Lake Sunapee, known to the In- dians as " the beautiful lake of the high land." Here, too, well stored with pickerel and trout, are other placid lakes, embosoming green islands ; and bej-ond, pleasant valleys and cultivated farms. From these lofty moun- tain-heights, the eye sun-eys one of the wildest and most enchanting scenes. Here, also, on its eastern slope, spring the sources of that mighty river, the Merrimack, having more than half a million inhabitants within the reach of its waters ; and, with its countless tributaries, plaj-ing down from the mountains of New Hampshire, turning hundreds and thousands of spindles, set in mo- tion by a strong and sturdy- tide of water that "does more work in a month than anj^ other river in the world." The people who inhabit these hills and valleys include men of all avocations, trades and professions, but mostlj- liardy and honest, independent farmers, cultivating their own farms. Besides the Connecticut on its western boundary, the Ashuelot and other smaller streams run through the county in different directions, supplying abundant water-power, enabling the loom, the spindle and the forge to elaborate their products of utility and beautj-. The soil along the valleys of the numerous streams is pailicularly fertile, and is easily tilled ; but where the lands are stony, or moist and strong, the laborer wrings from the earth's reluctant lap the bread of toil. The early settlers came mostly from Massachu- setts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Some of their number were present at Stillwater, Saratoga, Monmouth and at Bennington. They followed Stark, and Sullivan, and Cilley, Henry Dearborn and James Reed ; and were actively engaged on every battle-field, from Bunker Hill down to the surrender of Cornwallis in 1781. With Cheshire on the south, Hillsborough on the east, Grafton on the north, and Vermont just across the Con- necticut River on its western boundary, Sullivan, bj- no means the youngest, is comparatively a new county, — Cheshire being despoiled of about one-half of its original lands to give Sullivan an existence, at the time of its incorporation, July .'), 1827. It belongs to the third judicial district of the Supreme Court, a law term of which is held at Newport on the third Tuesday in De- cember. The trial terra of this court is held in the same town on the fourth Tuesday of January and the first Tuesdaj- of September ; and the terms of the court of Common Pleas on the same days of each 3"ear. Gen- erally, the people of SuUivan have no especial fondness for " going to law." Nevertheless, they are in the habit of claiming what lielongs to them ; and, as the State took an early part in the struggles of the Revolution, her sons in Sullivan County seem to have brought with them that indomitable will, and that love of theii" rights, which have clung to them to this day. The commencement of the troubles which led to the Revolution greatly retarded settlements in this county, notablj' that of the town of Acworth, incorporated in 1766, and first settled in 1768.* A town government was organized in 1771, when there were less than four- teen houses in the place. Acworth's first minister was Rev. Thomas Archibald, of Londonderry, N. H., a grad- uate of Dartmouth, settled in 1789 over a Congregational church formed by eight members in 1773. From Feb. 28 to May 13, 1812, of 58 deaths in the town, 53 were caused by spotted fever. The town is famous for large crystals of beryl, of a brilliant aqua-marine color. One of these beautiful precious stones, eight inches in diam- eter, was sold in New York for a large sum, and is now in the imperial cabinet at Vienna. In all the wars in which the countrj' has been engaged, the military history of Acworth has been not merely creditable, but brilliant. In 1812, the town was com[ielled to make a draft to de- termine who should stay at home, rather than who should go to the defence of New Hampshire's seacoast. Twenty-nine Acworth soldiers lost their lives during the war of the Rebellion. One of the healthiest towns in this corset-shaped coun- ty, boasts of Lovewell's Mountain, where snow is found in its northern gullies almost anj^ year as late as the 4th of July. The township was originally granted by Masonian proprietors to Reuben Kidder of New Ipswich, by whom its settlement was commenced in 1768. It was then called "Monadnock No. 8" ; afterwards, from the date of its settlement, "Camden," which name it re- tained till Dec. 13, 1776, when the town, in honor of the country's greatest Revolutionarj' general, was incorpo- rated under its present name of Washington. The set- tlers were encouraged to come to the place by the offer to each of 150 acres of land. A grist-mill and a saw- • The centennial anniversary of the settlement of Acworth was cele- brated, Sept. 16, 1868. NEW HAMPSHIRE. mill were erected the j-ear after the settlement, most of the earl}- inhabitants coming from Massachusetts. The records show that they not only practised great self- denial and economy, but were men of industrious habits, and accustomed to toil and hardships that would be deemed intolerable by the present generation. The first settlements were on the elevation of land near the sum- mit of Lovewell's Mountain, — so named' from Capt. John Lovewell, the famous Indian fighter, who slew seven of the savages in single combat, near the spot where the First Congregational meeting-house was afterwards built in 1780, at which time the Rev. George Leslie,* its first minister, was Installed. Washington Village — or the " middle of the town," as it is usually called — was a place of great business activit}' in old "stageingand turnpike daj'S," but the railroad has ruined it, leaving the place — like many other New Hampshire hill-towns — high and dry above the level of the locomotive. Wind- ing around, and for a distance of sis miles gradually creeping down the side of Lovewell's Mountain, the road reaches a sunnj- vaUey l3'ing at its base, forming the site of East Washington, first settled by Dea. William Graves, a native of Sudbury, Mass. He was then a 3'oung man, fresh from the battle-field of Bunker Hill, for which service he received a pension from government during the declining j'ears of his life. To this day, nearly all the residents of that place — now the most, thriving portion of the town — are more or less directlj- related to his family of one son and eleven daughters, who on many a cold winter's midnight were aroused to help drive away the bears that came down from the mountain, and hung around their humble habitation. AVest of Washington lies Lempster, high on the west- erlj'-sloping boundary of the " height of Fand" between the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers. The town was incorporated in 1761, and settled about the j'ear 1770 by emigrants from Connecticut. The first church, formed with seven male members in 1781, was of the Congrega- tional denomination, and the Rev. Elias Fisher was its pastor from 1787 till his death in 1831, a period of about 44 years. In the extreme south-western comer of the county, about six miles from Bellows Falls, is Langdon, incorpo- rated in 1787, and named from Gov. John Langdon, of Revolutionary fame. Seth Walker rommenccd a settle- ment here in 1773, and was followed the year after by Nathaniel Rice and Jonathan Willard. The first church • Mr. Leslie was nine days on the road travelling from Ipswich, Mass., to Washington, N. H. Such were the facilities for travel in those days. t Rev. Grant Powers, in his " History of the Coos County," states that the only family in Plainfield in 1765, was that of Francis Smith, of the Congregational order, was founded in 1792. Among the names of the early preachers were those of Lazell, Hartwell, Spaulding and Taft, the latter of whom did most of the preaching from 1795 to 1803, when he turned politician, and was chosen representative to the General Court. After this all real interest in religious matters calmed down to the chilling coolness of Cold River, a considerable branch of which passes through Langdon, uniting with a main branch near the south line. As, in the nature of things, an unalloyed low tempera- ture never lasts long, this frigidity of feeling in spiritual matters was followed by a warm conflict between the peo- ple, who were partly Universalists and in part Congre- gationalists. In 1804, Abner Kneeland — afterwards widely known as a noted preacher in New England — was invited to settle as pastor in opposition to a strong re- monstrance bj' a minority of the church. In 1810 he was chosen representative, and in 1811 left to settle over the First Universalist Church in Charlestown, Mass. The church clerk moved to the West, and carried off all the records, with which also the visible organization of the church for many j-ears disappeared. This lapse of religious fervor — common to all coun- ties — found no counterpart in the zeal with which its educational needs have been so fully supplied by numer- ous high schools and academies, justly the pride of Sul- livan County. One of the best endowed and most pop- ular in the State is "Kimball Union Academy," a flour- ishing institution, incorporated in 1813, and pleasantly situated on a beautiful plain in Meriden, the principal ■village of Plainfield, whose forests of pine trees border the banks of the Connecticut River, opposite Hartland, Vt. Plainfield was incorporated in 1761, receiving its name from a place in Connecticut where the proprietors of the town held their first meeting. Its earliest known settlers — bearing the names of Nash and Russell — came in 1764.t In 1765, or about that date, the Congrega- tionalists organized the first church, over which Rev. Abraham Carpenter was settled, it is said, " without any action on the part of the town," — Mr. Smith Carpenter receiving in 1779 the grant of land allotted to the first settled minister. The old church in East Plainfield is occasionally occupied. About one-half of Grantham was annexed to Plainfield in 1856. The town of Grantham, about 12 miles distant from Dartmouth College, was incorporated in 1767. Here, as in Croydon, are the highest mountains in Sullivan whose wife was " terribly " homesick, and declared she "would not stay therein the woods." Those, therefore, who are represented as being settlers in 1764, must have become discouraged and left, or the date must be wrong. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. County.* Tomahawks and other Indian implements have been found in Croydon, but no indications of anj- per- manent settlement by the savages. It was incorporated in 17G3, and settled three j-ears later by families from Grafton and Sutton, Mass. The first minister. Rev. Jacob Haven, was ordained in 1778. Man^- of its earlj- inhabitants continued in the Revolutionarj- armj- till the surrender of Burgoyn In 17G9, the sufferings of the settlers from the failure of the crops was great. In Goshen, — a township in- corporated in 1791, — the inhabitants were compelled to go to Walpole for supplies On one of these journeys, Capt. Benjamin Rand was detained b}- a severe snow- storm, preventing all progress for six days, his wife and cliildren, in the meantime, being left entirelj- destitute of provisions. One of his children, 5 3ears of age, was kept alive by the mother with milk from her breast, her infant having died a short time previous. One of tlie 1 G towns that seceded from New Hamp- shire and joined Vermont in 1788, is Cornish, incorpo- rated in 17G3. The familj- of Moses Chase of Sutton, Mass., is believed to have been the first to settle in the town in 1765.t Its first minister was Rev. James Wellman, settled in 1768. About 100 miles from Boston is Claremont, named from the country residence of Lord Clive, an English nobleman, and incorporated in 17G4. The first settlers were Moses Spafford and David Lj-nde, in 17G2. The first minister. Rev. George A^Tieaton, a Congregational- ist, ordained in 1772, died the following year at the age of 22, and was succeeded bj- the Rev. Augustine Hub- bard, settled in 1774. Manj- years ago, the idea of uniting the Connecticut and Merrimack by a canal through Lake Sunapee, was a favorite project in this county, and Massachusetts and New Hampshire were to share the expense. In 181G, the result of a survey- demonstrated that the fall from the lake to cither of these rivers exceeded, each way, aliout 820 feet, and the enterprise was abandoned as im- practicable. The town of Sunapee, on the western bor- der of the lake, was settled in 1772 b}- emigrants from Rhode Island, and was incorporated in 1781 under the name of Wendell, from John Wendell, one of its prin- cipal proprietors. The change to the present name was made in 1850. The town of Unity received its name from the happy termination of a dispute which had long subsisted be- tween certain inhabitants of Kingston and Hampstead claiming the same tract of land under two different • The Cro.vdon, or Oiantham Mountains. t When tbcy arrived they found a camp, for many years kno«-n as grants. It was^ incorporated in 1764, the first settlement being made in 17GD. Charles Huntoon, one of the first settlers, died here in 1818, at the age of 93. A branch of the Sugar River has its source in Spring- field, first granted in 17G9 as the township of " Protect- worth," which name was changed to Springfield when incorporated in 1794. Israel Clifford was the first set- tler in 1772. Heath's Gore was annexed to the town in 1817, and a small Congregational church was organized about the j-ear 1820. Latterly, the town has greatly fallen off in population. The lively town of Newport was a famous place sixty years ago, when the old Masonic Corinthian Lodge was in all its glory, and when the mail-stage ran regularly three times a week over the old Cro^^don and Cornish turnpikes, from Boston to Windsor, Vt. Incorporated in 17G1, Newport's first settlers came mostly from North Killingworth, Conn., in the fall of 17G3. Upon the first Sabbath they assembled for public worship under a tree ; afterwards they met in a private log-house, where the}- continued their services for seven 3-ears. Thej- had no preaching, but listened to one of their number who read passages from Scripture, and from published sermons. Both the Baptists and Congregationalists organized soci- eties in 1779, the latter church being one of the earliest, in 1831, to make total abstinence from the use of ardent spirits a condition of membership. Of all towns in the county, Charlestown — fonnerly known on the frontier as " Number 4," and distant 40 miles from anj- settlement — suffered the most from hos- tile attacks by the Indians. The old fort built in 1 743 was assailed in 1746 by the savages, who killed Seth Putnam, one of its defenders, carrying several captives to Canada. For 15 years, the carlj- settlers suffered almost cver3-thing from savage cruelties, abandoning the town in 1747, when Gov. Shirley ordered Capt. Phineas Stevens, a native of Sudbur}-, Mass., one of the first settlers, to defend the frontier. His unquestioned brav- ely, in holding the fort three days, with only 00 men, against the continued assaults of a combined force of 400 French and Indians, who repeatedly- set the fort on fire witli combustibles, at length disheartened the enemy, who abandoned the attack and returned to Canada. For his gallantrj- on this occasion, a costly sword was presented to him by Commodore Sir Charles Knowles, and from this circumstance the town, when incorporated in 1753, took the name of Charlestown (Charles' town). The first minister was Rev. John Dennis, who, on ac- count of the French and Indian war, was ordained at the " Mast Camp," erected for the accommodation of a company em- ployed in procuring masts for the royal navy. NEW HAMPSHIRE. Northfield, Mass. (40 miles distant), Dec. 4, 1754. During tlie Revolution, Charlestown * nobly bore her part. Towns. Claremont, whose snioothl3--sloping hills are crowned with rounded summits, and whose handsome buildings indicate the wealth and prosperit}- of the town, ma,y well boast of its delightful meadows lying on the banks of the Connecticut, which waters its western border. But the larger share of its prosperilj' is due to the Sugar River, which runs through its principal village, aftbrding immense water-power, — the fall in three-quarters of a mile being 150 feet. Each 20 feet furnishes sufficient water-power to carry 20,000 spindles, the entire fall in the town being 250 feet. Here are the Sunapee and the Monadnock cotton-mills, and the Claremont Machine Works, manufacturing engine-lathes and planers for j which the highest premiums were awarded at the Crj'stal ! Palace. Here also are the Home Mills ; a cassimere fiictory ; and the Claremont Manufacturing Company-, incorporated in 1852, with an authorized capital of 8500,000. The company has three mills and nine en- gines, manufacturing 250 tons of paper per j'ear, and blank-books to the amount of $50,000. Two weekly newspapers, four hotels, and fifty stores, enliven the town and its village of West Claremont. Number of inhabitants, 4,053 ; valuation, over $2,000,000. Newport is an attractive place, the fact of its being i shire town of the county, and its central situation, • About the year 1760, Charlestown was a principal stopping-place, during the French war, for soldiers and officers passing to and from 'lieonderoga and Crown Point, across the Green Mountains. As a small company of soldiers, with a young lieuten.ant (afterwards Col. William Henshaw, of Leicester, Mass.), near the close of the war, were returning home through a dense forest over these mountains, by marked trees, they found a soldier by the wayside, apparently dying, left by his companions five or six days before. It was late in the fall, when the nights were cold. The little stock of food and fuel, which his compan- ions had kindly provided, and supposed would last longer than his life, was nearly consumed. On offering him assistance the sick man begged them to let him alone, to die in peace. But the young lieutenant, be- lieving his life might be saved, determined to act the part of the Good I Samaritan. Contrary to the sick soldier's entreaties, the lieutenant ordered his foul garments to be carefully removed ; the soldier himself to be thoroughly washed and cleansed ; to be clothed in comfortable rai- ment, with which the company were fortunately provided ; and directed his attendants to speak words of encouragement and kindness ; to stay i l)y him, supplying his wants, till able to walk, and then help him to I reach the first settlement. It was all he needed. In thixo days he ar- rived at the public house in Charlestown, wIrtc, u itii t. mi - t •( jny, he ! grasped the hand of his kind deliverer, and, with lV<_liiij;s «lii. li thuked ! his utterance, told him that no words could express his gratitude to j the man who had saved his life against his own remonstrance. I Capt. Phineas Stevens, who figures so prominently in the early his- ' tory of Charlestown, was in many respects a remarkable man. Although 1 a native of Sudbury, his father removed from tljat town, witli his fam- rendering it a place of considerable business. Including North^ille, its other village, the number of inhabitants is 2,163. Its principal village is almost walled in by hills, surrounded by lofty elevations, and mountains towering in the distance. The scenery in summer is romantic and beautiful, while in winter it is wild and sublime. A broad street, a mile long, bordered with neat and tasteful dwellings, surroimded by well-kept gardens ; with meeting-houses, stores and hotels, runs through the ^dllage. The count}' buildings are substantial and coii- venientlj' located. Rare opportunities for hunting and trout-fishing render the town a place of consideral>le resort. It contains four church-edifices, three woollen- mills, two tanneries and a scythe-factory, an academy, incorporated in 1818, and the Sugar River Bank, with a capital of $50,000. Charlestowu, one of the shire towns of the county in 1771, is pleasantly situated in a delightful and fertile valley on the banks of the Connecticut River, over which is a substantial bridge, connecting the town with Springfield, Vt. Here are few mill-privileges, but its three villages have each a post-offlce and a railroad station, and the main avenue in the principal village is a long, pleasant street, shaded on either side with beautiful trees. The town numbers 1,742 inhabitants, and is a considerable mart for wool, bought up in the surrounding country, and sent from here to various markets. Col. William Hej-wood, 42 years town clerk ; Col. ily, at an early period, to Rutland. Here, at the age of 16, young Phin- eas, with his three little brothers, followed his father one morning to the meadow, where they watched his movements while engaged in making hay. Suddenly, without the slightest warning, several Indians sprang from an ambush, and with savage yells made a fierce onslaught upon the unoffending family, capturing them all, save two of his little broth- ers, who were instantly killed. To relieve themselves of a burden the cruel savages were about to slay the youngest brother, a child four years old, when young Phineas, by signs to the Indians, made them under- stand that if they would spare the child's life, he would carry his little brother on his back all the way to Canada— which, with their permis- sion, he actually did! The captives were conveyed there by way of Lake Champlain; and, after reaching their place of destination, were sold to the French, — as usual in such eases, — but were afterwards re- deemed. As a general thing, the Indians who visited Charlestown seemed to prefer prisoners to scalps, killing only those who were too weak or too young to accompany them on the march ; or those who attempted to escape, or who appeared too formidable to he successfully encountered. Capt. Stevens's only surviving son, Sanmel Stevens, af- terwards became the fir.-t npix'smtariw of Cliark'srown to the General Court, in 1768, the year it. uhi.i, ilir lii>t miLtiiiL'-hou.st. was built in that to%vn. [Charlestown wa^ oiiuinally MippoM.! to lie in MassacliU- setts, but when the boundary linr wa. e^tabn^hca in 1741, the town was located in New Hamp^liirc] Lain- in lite, this same son served as reg- ister of prob.ite for Clii-.-liin County, rontinuing to hold that office till nearly 90 years of .igi'. His latlirr, Capt. Phineas Stevens, continued in the service of his coimtry, and died in November, 1756. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Samuel Hunt, 20 j-ears sheriff of the county ; Hon. Sim- eon Olcott, chief justice Supreme Court, and M. C. from 1801 to 1805; Hon. Benjamin West, a distinguished lawyer; Hon. Caleb Ellis, M. C. in 1804; Gov. Henry Hubbard ; Chief Justice John J. Gilchrist; and the late Hon. Ralph Metcalf, governor of the State of New Hampshire from 1855 to 1857, were distinguished resi- dents of this town. Plainfield, with its 1,589 inhabitants, has also at Meriden the "Kimball Union Academy," intended mainlj- for the instruction of pious j'oung men for the ministry. To the late Hon. Daniel Kimball belongs the honor of having established so meritorious an institution. Cornish has a bridge crossing the Connecticut, con- necting this town with Windsor, Vt. Good mill-priv- ileges are on Briant's and on what is called Blow-me- down brooks. Its only village is Cornish Flats. The town contains 1,3.34 inhabitants, a tannery, and two carriage manufactories. The Hon. Salmon P. Chase, late chief justice of the U. S. Supreme Court, and the Rev. Carlton Chase, bishop of the Episcopal Church in New Hampshire, were born in Cornish. AcwoRTH, containing 1,050 inhabitants, has a few mill-privileges on Cold River, its only important stream. The remaining towns in the county are : Washington (839), most of whose vitality seems centred in the pros- perous village of East Washington, with its churches j mirrored in the mill-pond reflecting Lovewell's Moun- j tain; Unity (839), justly celebrated for its excellent breeds of cattle and sheep; Sunapee (808), always romantic, and of late a favorite summer resort ; Spring- j FIELD (781), priding itself on its fine cattle and sheep ; Lempster (678), a well- watered stock-raising town, having a high school, a tannery and a boot and shoe manufactory ; Crotdon (652) , a farming and cattle- raising town; Grantham (608), with its medicinal spring and its bed of j-ellow ochre; Goshen (507), famous for its fine sheep; and Langdon (411), a quiet town, largely devoted to stock-raising, whose dairy products have given it a wide reputation throughout Sullivan County. VERMONT BY REV. 11. II. HOWARD, A.M. " 'Tis a rough Kind of rock and stone and tree, WTiere breathes no castled lord or cabined slave, But thoughts, and hands, and tongues are fica." — Anon. It is Stephen A. Douglas, we believe, a native of the State, to whom is attributed the well-known saj-ing, that Vermont is an excellent place to emigrate from. Vermonters generallj', however, are of the opinion that a far more appropriate motto for their rock-ribbed, j-et plucky and enterprising State, is: "We build school- houses and raise men." Lj-ing betweeri 42° 44' north latitude and the Canada line, and comprehending the territorj- between the Con- necticut River and Lake Champlain, a territory formerl3' known by the name of the New Hampshire Grants, Ver- mont constitutes the north-western part of that section of the United States known as New England. The length of the State from north to south is 157^ miles. The average width is about 57 miles, and the whole surface of the State about 9,000 square miles. The face of the country is generally uneven, and the central parts mountainous. The Green Jlountains, which give name to the State, and which extend quite through the State from south to north, keeping nearly a middle course between Connecticut River and Lake Champlain, are found to rise, in several places, to a height not less than 4,000 feet. The loftiest of these, — Mansfield, Camel's Hump, Shrewsbury and Killington peaks, — lifting up their blue heads among the clouds, and clad with the perpetual verdure of their hardy ever- greens even to their towering summits, command the attention, and, bj' their sublimity, inspire and impress the observer throughout almost the whole extent of the State. The principal streams of Vermont, rising among these mountains, and, following the several declivities, finding their waj' into the Connecticut River on the east, or into Lake Champlain on the west, are West River, Black, • The late Hon. David Read of Burlington, in his slictch of the town of Colchester in the "Vermont Historical Magazine" (p. 754), says that the Isle La Motte, in the county of Grand Isle, has the honor of being the lirst point within the limits of Vermont where a civilized estab- Ottaquechee, White, Wells and Passumpsic ; and Otter Creek, Winooski or Onion, Lamoille and Jlissisquo. Black, Barton and Clyde rivers run northerly into Lake Memphremagog. All these arc quite considerable streams, are well stored with fish, and abound in falls and rapids capable of affording water-power for propelling machinery to almost anj- extent. The earl}' historj- of this State is altogether unlike that of any other in the Union. Vermont was never organized as a Province under the crown of England ; was never recognized bj- the crown as a separate jurisdiction. She constantly refused, moreover, to submit to any provincial government, — never once recognized the authority either of the Province she was nominally placed under, or of an}- other external power. The inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants, therefore, under the circum- stances, found themselves, from the first, without a gov- ernment, — a community bound together onlj- b}- their common interests and their social affections. " The his- torj- of Vermont is hence," says Mr. Thompson, " that of a people assuming the powers of government, and ad- vancing bj- successive steps from a state of nature to the establishment of a civil compact, and to a reguLir and efficient organization." Eakly Settlkment. It was not, according to Prof. Zadock Thompson, until after the final conquest of Canada by the English, in 17G0, that any considerable settlements were effected in the territory now known as Vermont.* Hitherto, and especiallj' during the colonial and Indian wars, this ten'i- tor}' had sensed only as a thoroughfare and battle-ground for the two great contending parties Situated nearlj- at an equal distance from the French on the one hand, and the English on the other, it was constantly exposed to the depredations of both, and became the favorite Imking- place of their respective and ever-dreaded Indian alUes. lishment and occupancy were commenced; and that Colchester Point was occupied by the French (as a military post) about the same time, — 1664,— nearly I-O years earlier than the date of the estiiblishment on the Connecticut River. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Indeed, it was principalh- on this account that tlie set- tlement of this section of the countiy had so long — for a wliole eentuiy after Massachusetts and Connecticut had become prosperous and populous Colonies — been regarded as dangerous and impracticable. " The first civilized establishment within the present limits of Vermont," saj's Prof. Thompson, " was made in 1 724, b^- the erection of Fort Dummer in the south-east- ern corner of the township of Brattleborough. Hitherto, the whole of this tract of countrj- had, from time immemo- rial, been in possession of the native Indians, though it does not appear that, subsequent to the discover}- of this countr\- bj- Champlain in 1609, the natives had ever resided here in verj' considerable numbers. The western parts, including Lake Champlain, were claimed bj- the Indians ; the noith-eastern parts, including Lake Mem- phremagog, by the St. Francis and other Canadian tribes ; while the south-eastern parts on the Connecticut River were regarded as belonging to the natives in the neighbor- hood of Massachusetts Baj'. Certain establishments were, at times, made upon the shores of these waters by several tribes ; but there is reason to believe that this territorj' was rather regarded bj- them as a hunting-ground than a permanent residence." As earl}- as the year 1752, an attempt was made to laj- out a township where the town of Newbury now stands ; Ijut before the survej- was completed, a partj- of St. Francis Indians, perceiving the design of the English, forbade their proceeding ; and to that extent, at this earl}' period, was the resentment of the Indians dreaded, that the undertaking was immediatelj- abandoned. Soon after the erection of Fort Dummer, several block- houses were built for the protection of settlers in what is now called Vernon ; and before the year 1754, settle- ments had been commenced in Vermont as far up the Connecticut as Westminster and Rockingham. This advance, however, was checked b}- the breaking-out of w-hat is called the French war, terminating onl}' with the linal conquest of Canada in 1 7G0. During this war, these feeble settlements were continually harassed and annoyed by the French and Indians, — the inhabitants being hardly able to cultivate their fields without being ever}' moment • The early settlers of Vermont were principally from the Colonies named above. Thomas Chittenden and the Aliens were all from Con- necticut. t In 1765 the government of New Yorlc, having acquired authority from the British crown to exercise jurisdiction over the New Hampshue giants as far eastward as the Connecticut River, caused a division of the territory to be made inio counties. The south-western parts about Ben- nington were annexed to the county of Albany ; the north-western, towards Lalie Champlain, were erected into the county of Charlotte ; and, on the east side of the niount.iin, Cumberland County was formed of the south-eastern portion, and Gloucester County of the north- exposed to serious molestation, if not to the deadly fire of a lurking foe. " Their block-houses were frequently [ surprised and taken, and the inhabitants either massacred or carried into hopeless captivity." Previous to the conquest of Canada b}- the English, a few scattered settlers, probably not amounting, in the whole, to more than two or three hundred, had located along the banks of the Connecticut River in the present county of Windham. But, meanwhile, in their expeditions to and fro against the French, the English colonists, prin- cipally from Massachusetts and Connecticut,* had made themselves acquainted with the fertility and value of the lands lying between the Connecticut River — more par- ticularly, between the Green Mountains — and Lake Champlain ; and the conquest of Canada having now finally removed all the difficulty and danger connected with settling them, swarms of adventurers commenced directly to emigrate thither ; so that, from the year 17G0, the population of Vermont began rapidl}- to increase. In 1764 settlements had been begun in most of the townships on Connecticut River as far north as Newbury, and in several townships also on the west side of the Green Mountains. Prev-ious to the year 1770, scarcely any settlements had been made on the west of the moun- tains to the northward of the present county of Benning- ton. But during the next j-ear, 1771, settlements were begun in several townships in Rutland County. This j-ear was memorable as that in which was taken the first census of the inhabitants on the grants on the east side of the mountains. By this enumeration it appears that, in 1771, the two eastern counties f contained 4,669 inhabitants. The whole number of inhabitants in the territory at this time is roughly estimated as about 7,000. No complete census of the State was taken till the j-ear 1791. As the settlements, however, were rapidly extending during the five j-ears succeeding the j-ear 1 771, it is thought that we may safely conclude, that, at the commencement of the Revolutionar}- war, the whole population of Ver- mont w-as not less than 20,000. And, though, upon the advance of Burgoyne along the lake, the settlers retired toward the south, verj' few of them remaining upon their farms to the northward of Bennington County,! yet, at eastern. This was the first division of Vermont into counties, and the only division of the kind previous to the Revolution. Subsequently, as the population increased, these counties were divided and subdivided, until they assumed their present and fixed proportions. I That these settlers were true to the American cause we are assured by the testimony of Burgoyne himself. In his private letter to Lord Germain, dated Saratoga, Aug. 20, 1777, he says : " The Hampshire gi-ants in particular, a country unpeopled and almost unknown in the last war, now abounds in the most active and rebellious race on the conti- nent, and hangs like a gathering storm on my \e{l." — Thompson's ITis- toiy of Vermont, \ VERMONT. the close of the Tvar, ■we nevertheless find the population incidentally estimated, says Prof. Thompson, by Dr. Williams, as not less than 30,000 souls. At the close of the Revolution, the tide of emigration to Vei-mont again set in in greater volume than ever before. Invited by the mildness of the government, the comparative exemption of the State from taxation, and the fertility and cheapness of the laud, settlers now came flocking in from all the older States, so that, from this time, not onh* were large additions annually made to the population, but vrithal to the various resources of the State. Early Struggles and Controversies. Vermont was born in the midst of tumults and of strife. No other State, we may safely afllrm, save Kansas, ever suffered such persecution, or came up out of such tribulation. The king of Great Britain having repeatedly recom- mended to the assembly of New Hampshire to make provision for the support of Fort Dummer, that post was generally supposed to have follen within the jurisdiction of that Province. As this fort was situated on the west side of the Connecticut, it was assumed that New Hamp- shire extended as far westward as Massachusetts. Jan. 3, 17-19, Gov. Benning Wentworth made a grant of a township of land, six miles square, situated, as he conceived, on the western border of New Hampshire, and, in allusion to his own name, called it Bennington. Other like grants were also made, until in 175-1 the}' had amounted to 16 townships. After the declaration of peace between England and France, the governor of New Hampshire, bj- advice of his council, ordered a survej' to be made of the Connecticut River for CO miles, and three tiers of townships to be laid out on either side. So numerous meanwhile did the applications for lands now become, that, during the j-ear 1701, no less than 60 town- ships, six miles square, were granted on the west side of the Connecticut, while the whole number of grants, in one or two j-cars more, had amounted to 138. Gov. Went- worth was manifestly on the highroad to wealth ; for by the fees and other emoluments received in return for these grants, and b}' reseiTing 500 acres in each town- ship for himself, it could not be otherwise than that he was rapidly accumulating a fortune. But this fortunate governor was not always thus to pursue this pros- perous career unmolested. The government of New York, coveting the profits of these lands for itself, sud- denly affected to be gi'eatly alarmed at tliese assump- tions and high-handed proceedings on the part of the governor of New Hampshire, aid forthwith took vigorous measures to checlc them. To this end a proclamation was issued, Dec. 28, 1703, arrogating to itself sole juris- diction over this territory, and founding its claim upon the grant made bj- Charles II. to the Duke of York in 1064 and in 1074, which embraced, among other parts, "all the lands from the west side of the Connecticut to the east side of Delaware Bay." To annul the effects of this proclamation, and to inspire confidence in the validitj' of the New Hampshire Grants, the governor of New Hamp- shire (March 13, 1764), put forth a counter-proclama- tion, declaring that the grant made to the Duke of York was obsolete, and exhorting the settlers to be diligent and industrious in cultivating their lands, and not be intimidated by the threatenings of New York. New York now made application to the crown for a confirma- tion of its claims, falsel}' and fraudulently averring mean- while that this was in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants on the territory. The claims of New York were confirmed July 20, 1764. Though verj- greatly surprised at this royal decree, the settlers on the New Hampshire Grants yet regarded it as an occasion for no serious alarm on their part. They considered it as simply effecting a change of jurisdiction. It was immaterial to them, other things being equal, to which jurisdiction they submitted. It had never once occurred to them that this change could in any way affect their title to lands on which they had settled — lands which they had dulj' purchased and paid for, and for which they had obtained deeds under grants from the crown. Meantime, had the government of New York been sufficiently far-sighted to have given the royal decision the benefit of an interpretation in harmonj' with the above-mentioned and certainly verj' reasonable ex- pectations, clearlj' there would have been no trouble, no controversy-, no bitterness, — none of those implacable, rancorous animosities which led to that protracted and most painfully exciting border warfare. Unfortunately that government did not give the royal decision such an in- terpretation ; but, contending that it had a retrospective as well as prospective application, or operation, it insisted that the order deciilod not only what should there- after be, but what had always been, the eastern limit of New York ; and that, hence, all the grants made bj' New Hampshire were, of necessity, illegal and void. Imagine, now, the consternation that seized on the minds of the unsuspecting settlers ; and especiallj' so as the government of New York proceeded at once to en- force its interpretation of the royal decree by demanding of the settlers the immediate surrender of their charters, — by attempting to compel them either to re-purchase their lands, or otherwise, incontinently to abandon them. As might have been anticipated, while a few complied HISTORY OF SEW ENGLAND. with this order, the great majoritj- of the settlers per- emptorilj- refused. Such refusal, not unnaturall}-, was followed bj- actions of ejectment in the courts at Albany, and these, in turn, of course, bj' judgments against the protesting settlers, or original proprietors. The original settlers of the New Hampshire gi'ants were doubtless a somewhat rude, uncultivated race of men ; but, for all that, thej- had manhood and common- sense. The_y knew little, it is likely, of the etiquette of refined society, or of the elegancies of " starred and spangled courts ; " but they had manliness enough to know when they were trodden on, and to spurn indig- nantlj' the heel that crushed them. The}- boasted little skill in the rules of logic, but natui-e had endowed them with powers of reasoning sufficiently strong to see that, having purchased their lands in good faith of one royal governor, to be required to re-purchase them at an ex- orbitant price of another, was an outrage, — was the sheerest tyranny, and that tamely' to submit to it, on their part, were cowardl}- and unworth}'. Indignation meetings were called, associations were formed, and resolutions adopted, declaring that, having reason to regard the views and proceedings of the York- ers as those of speculating ai.d unprincipled land-jobbers, and satisfied, in view of what had already transpired, that they had nothing whatever to hope from the cus- tomary forms of law, therefore thej' felt authorized, at least until his majesty's pleasure should be more fully known, to advise the most determined resistance against the unjust and arbitrarj- decisions of the court ; felt fully justified in requiring that, when the executive officers of New York came to eject the inhabitants from their right- ful possessions, they be met bj' avowed opposition, and • It appears that, at an early day, committees were appointed in tlie several towns on tlie west siJe of the mountains, and that these com- mittees, having met in convention, or general asscmlily, to concert measures for the common defence, decreed tliat no person should take grants under tlie government of New York ; should take, accept or hold any office of honor or profit under the Colony of New York ; that all civil or military officers who shall act under the authority of the gover- nor or legiskiture of New York will do so at their peril. These decrees had all the force of law, and the infraction of them was always punished with exemplary severity. The punishment most fre- quently inflicted was the application of the "beech seal" to the naked back, and b.inishmcnt from the grants. This mode of punishment de- rived its name from allusion to the great seal of the Province of New Hampshue, which was affi.xed to the charters of the to\vnships granted by the governor of that Province, of which the beech rod well laid upon the naked backs of the " Yorkers " and then- adherents was humorously considered a confirmation. That the reader may have a just idea of the summary manner in which the convention committees proceeded against tht)se who violated their decrees, we will lay before them the following sentence of one Benjamin Hough as a sample. Having been arrested and brought he. fore the committee of safety at Sunderland to answer to the charge in no case be allowed to proceed in the execution of their business. This decidedly pronounced position, it needs hardly be said, at once occasioned a spirited and determined resist- ance, on the part of the inhabitants of the grants, to the civil officers sent out, from time to time, by the State of New York, to apprehend the "riotous" Yermonters, " several of these," says a quaint writer of that period, " having been seized bj- the people, and severely chastised with tioigs of the ivilderness." * In the mean time, for the sake of rendering their re- sistance still more effectual, a convention of representa- tives from the several towns on the west side of the mountains was called. This convention, after mature deliberation, appointed Samuel Robinson of Bennington an agent to represent to the court of Great Britain the grievances of the settlers, and to obtain, if possible, a confirmation of the New Hampshire grants. Though only partially- successful in his mission, yet, in conse- quence of the representations thus made at the British court, his majestj- issued a special order prohibiting the governor of New York, upon pain of his majesty's high- est displeasure, from making anj' further grants whatso- ever of the lands in question, till his majestj-'s further pleasure should be made known concerning the same. In spite, however, of this explicit prohibition, the gov- ernor of New York continued to make grants ; and writs of ejectment continued to be issued, — the General Assem- bly of thatPiovince going so far, indeed, as to charac- terize tlic recusant Yermonters as "rioters," "a mob," "outlaws," a "lawless banditti," and, accordingly, to denounce against them the pains and penalties of trea- son and rebellion, to be inevitablj' visited on them, uu- of having accepted the office of justice of the peace under the authority of New York, and of having officiated in that eapacitj-, he pleaded the jurisdiction and authority of New York, but was answered by the decree of the convention to the contraiy. The committee, therefore, in the presence of a large concourse of people, pronounced upon him the following sentence: "That the prisoner be taken from the bar of this committee of safety ^ and be tied to a tree, and there, on his naked back, receive 100 stripes, and be banished from the district, and to svjfer death in case of his return." Other punishments were sometimes resorted to, some of which were puerile and trifling. A gentleman of Arlington, an active partisan of New York, having spoken reproachfully of the proceedings of the con- vention, and of the Green Mountain Boys, and having been requested in vain to desist, was arrested, and, having been carried to the Green Mountain Tavern in Bennington, was tried ; when the committee, after hearing his defence, ordered him to be tied to an arm-chair, and hoisted to the sign (a catamount's skin stuffed, setting upon the sign-post twenty-five feet from the ground, with large teeth grinning towards New York), and there to hang two hours in the sight of the people, as a punishment merited by his enmity to the rights and liberties of the inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants. The sentence was executed to the no small merriment of a large concourse of people. — Thompson. VERMONT. less they speedil\- gave over their resistance, and peace- fully and unconditionaUj' submitted to the lawfully con- stituted authorities. Regarding these threatenings as originating solely in j the avarice of an unprincipled set of speculators, who coveted their lands, with their valuable improvements, and as designed mainl}*, hence, to terrif3' them into sub- mission ; and quite confident, moreover, that popular sentiment was largely in their favor — that the great body [ of the people of New York even felt no interest in en- forcing the claims of that Province to the lands in ques- tion — the settlers on the New Hampshire Grants were bj' no means intimidated by these ominous outgivings. I . o o Hitherto the opposition to tlie claims of New York 1 had been confined principally to the inhabitants on the west side of the mountains. The settlers on the grants in the vicinity of Connecticut River had, many of j Ihem, surrendered their original charters, and taken out new ones under the authority of New York. In several of the towns, having thus submitted quietl}' to the juris- diction of that Colony, and not having hence been driven to desperation by the executive officers of New York, tlie people here stood in a measure unconcerned, though by no means altogether indiflTerent, spectators of the con- troversy in which the settlers of the more westerly grants were so deeply involved. But now an incident occurred which had the effect of arousing the spirit of opposition to New York throughout the grants on the east side of the mountains as well, and constraining the people of that section to make common cause with their brethren on the other side. The meeting of the delegates from the several Ameri- can Provinces at Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1775, to consult upon measures for the common safety, was followed bj' an almost universal suspension of the royal authoritj' in all the Provinces, — the courts of justice being either shut op, or adjourned without doing any business. New York, however, refused its assent to the patriotic meas- ures recommended b^' that body. Meantime the stated session of the court for the county of Cumberland, on the New Hampshire Grants, was to have been holden at "Westminster, March 13, 1775. Muc'.i dissatisfaction pre- vailing in the county because New York had refused to adopt the resolves of the Continental Congress, exertions were made to dissuade the judges from holding the court, but in vain. Whereupon certain of the inhabitants of Westminster and the adjacent towns took possession of the court-house at an earl}' hour, to prevent the officers of the court from entering. The court party appeared before the court-house armed with swords, guns and pis- tols, and commanded the people to disperse. This the people refused to do. At a later hour some of the court party, being still refused admittance into the court-house, fired into the building, killing one man and wounding several others. The wounded men, together with several who did not succeed in eflfecting their escape, were seized and dragged to prison. The news of this massacre at once fired the hearts of the j-eomen on the eastern slope of the mountains with irrepressible bitterness and rage against the authorities of New York. A meeting of committees from the several townships was at once held (April 11, 1775) at Westminster, at which spirited and patriotic resolutions relative to this unhappy transaction were enthusiastically adopted, it being then and there voted, among other things, "that it is the manifest duty of the inhabitants, on the eternal and immutable prin- ciples of self-preservation, wholly to renounce and resist the administration of the State of New York, until such times as the lives and proijerty of the inhabitants can be secured thereby." * Meanwhile to such a pitch was the indignation of the settlers raised by these proceedings throughout all the New Hampshire Grants, that, probably, but for the open- ing of the American war at Lexington, on the 19th of April, the two communiiies would have actually become embroiled in open hostilities. So nearlj', and that on the very eve of the American Revolution, were the settlers of these two sections brought to the direful and remedi- less disaster of civil war. As all lesser lights, however, pale in the superior splen- dor of the sun, so, upon the opening at Lexington of the first scene of the great drama of the Revolution, all minor or local controversies among the colonists natural!}' were for a while absorbed in the more momentous con- troversj' with the mother country. And yet, though thus for a season overshadowed by the novelty, grandeur and importance of the contest now opening between Great Britain and her American Colonics, the claim of New York to jurisdiction over the territory of Vermont was by no means forgotten. So far fiom this, New York im- proved the very earliest opportunity to make apijlication to Congress for a confirmation or a recognition of her title to the territorj- in question. At this crisis, mean- while, another claimant, an earlier one, for these rich lands, appears. Encouraged bj' the strife prevailing be- tween Vermont and New York, also by certain divisions * It 6 an interestins reflection that this little fracas at Westminster may have detennined the issue of the American Revolution, and so the destiny of tlic whole American continent. Unifying Vermont as it did, the latter was enabled to throw ber nndividcd strength against the Biit- ish at Bennington, securing a victory which so broke the back of Bur- goyne as to render possible the American victory at Saratoga, which was doubtless the crisis of the Revolutionary war. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. rife in the Connecticut Valle}-,* and b}- the unsettled state of affairs in the countr\' gonerallj-, New Hampshire, who, since the roj-al decision of the controversy between New Hampshire and New York in favor of tlie latter in 17G4, had made no attempt to continue her jurisdiction over the disputed territory, returns to the conflict, and laying claim to the ^hole State of Vermont, as grants originally made by that Province, made due api)lication, in turn, to Congress for a confirmation of her claim. In- deed, at one time, the prospect was that, the other States taking naturally but little interest in these local contro- versies, and the adjustment of them being obviously' a matter of extreme perplexity and embarrassment to Con- gress, New Hampshire and New York would be left to cut and can'e and di^^de up this territory between them- selves, just about as they could themselves mutually agree — New Y'ork probably accepting for her share the western and New Hampshire the eastern slope of the State. Just at this juncture, also, strange to saj', Massa- chusetts, as if this stripling Vermont had not already enough to contend with, appears upon the scene, and either to disappoint parties which seemed to be thus re- solved upon the annihilation of Vermont, or for some other cause, intcriwsed her claim for at least a portion of this disputed territorj' as clearl}' within her jurisdiction. And thus, at the same time that with one hand she was doing brave battle against the common enemy, an enemy hanging constantl}' upon her borders, and every moment threatening invasion, Vermont, though yet in her infancy, was called with the other to combat this triangular or tri-headed foe, — was left, year after j^ear, to maintain her independence against the plots and policy of these three beleaguering, veteran and powerful States. In this emergency', and while civil war between these factions was daily becoming more and more imminent, — four parties claiming the same tract of country, of whom throe appeal to Congress to settle the controversy, while the fourth appeals to that bodj* simplj' for recognition as a State, and for even-handed justice, — Congress could not well avoid taking up the matter. And, preliminarj- to some future adjustment of difficulties, Congress recom- mended on the one hand that those inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants who did not acknowledge the jurisdiction of either of the aforementioned States, re- frain from exercising any power over such of the inhab- itants as did acknowledge such jurisdiction ; and that, on the other hand, said States refrain in the meantime from executing their laws over such inhabitants as did not acknowledge their respective jurisdictions. • At about this time, a few of the Vermont towns in tlie Connecti- cut valley agitated the project of uniting with cenain New Hampshire These tentative advices seem to have quieted all par- ties but Vermont. New Hampshire and New Y'ork especially promptly complied with the aforesaid recom- 1 mendations, and authorized Congress to settle the whole diificulty. Not so the stanch and sturdj- Green Moun- tain State. She had already duly declared herself free and independent ; had assumed the powers of govern- ' ment and had exercised them in all parts of her territory' ; and she should now commit herself to no policj* that might involve the possible surrender of her sovereignty at the behests of partisan members of a body in which she was not rejiresented. Readj' she was, and always had been, to bear her full proportion of the burden and expense of the war with Great Britain ; but she was not so lost to all sense and honor, that after 3-ear3 of war with Britain, in which she had expended so much blood and treasure, she should now give up ever^-thing worth fighting for — -the right of making her own laws, and of choosing her own form of government — to the arbitra- ment and determination of any body of men under heaven. June 2, 1780, Congress showed its teeth a little by re- solving "that the proceedings of the inhabitants on the New Hampshire Grants were highly unwarrantable, and subversive of the peace and welfare of the United States : and that thej' be strictlj' required to abstain in the future from all acts of authority, civil or military-, over those inhabitants who profess allegiance to other States," Undaunted, however, by this grim reprimand, Vermont, through her governor and council, at once responded to, these instructions by declaring that she considered the same altogether impertinent and subversive of her own natural, inalienable rights to liberty and independence ; as well as clearly incompatible at once with the principles on which Congress grounded its own independence, and that provision of the Federal Constitution by which Con- gress was expressly forbidden to intermeddle with the internal policy and government of unrepresented territo- ries. She further intimated that, if Congress and the neighboring States persisted in the course thej' were at present pursuing, she could, in the end, have no motive to continue hostilities with Great Britain, and maintain an important frontier for the benefit of a country that meantime insisted on treating them as slaves ; and con- cludes b3' obsen-ing that if the present poUcy be stead- fastl3' pursued by Congress, it will simply remain for her finally to appeal to God, and to an impartial world, to saj' who, under the circumstances, must be accountable for the awful consequences which must ensue. After to\vns along the other li.ink of the river, and forming a new and inde- pendent jurisdiction. It amounted to nothing. mature deliberation, the scttlomcnt of the controversy, on the part of Congress, was voted indefinitely post- poned. Such was still the posture of affairs in Vermont at the close of the Revolutionary war. Meanwhile, unsettled and embarrassing as was the state of her relations to Congress and to the neighboring States, the internal tranquillity of Vermont had yet been for some time but little disturbed. Iler political institu- tions had been graduall}' maturing, and the organization of her government had assumed a regularity and effi- ciency which commanded, to sa3' the least, the obedience and respect of the great body of the citizens. New York, to be sure, had not relinquished her claim to jurisdiction over the territorj- ; but she had of late made no serious effort to exercise it, contenting herself with opposing the admission of Vermont into the Union, and encourag- ing, as she had opportunity, the few disaffected citizens of the latter State to resist its authoritj', and to stir up disturbance and strife.* Meantime, before the ciose of the war of 1784, all disturbances whatsoever had been completely' quieted throughout the State. The Yorkers on the territory, finding themselves very harshlj' handled by the civil and militarj' authority' of Vermont, concluding finall3', mani- festly, that discretion was the better part of valor, either submitted and took the oath of allegiance, or otherwise abandoned the country. This effectual dispersion of her partisans practicallj' terminated the attempts of New York to maintain her authority in Vermont. Though continuing nominally to assert her claim to the State, until persuaded in 1790 to acknowledge her indepen- dence, she probably from this period relinquished all hope of overthrowing her government, or of preventing the final acknowledgment of her independence by Con- gress. Vermont in the Revolution. The career of Vermont in the Revolution, though not conspicuous, was jet active and honorable. She did what she could. Beset upon everj- hand by States seek- ing in every way to embarrass and overturn her govern- ment, and steadfastly, and even haughtilj', denied the privilege of admission to the Union, and hence the com- forting assurance, that in the event of the final success of the Colonies, she should share the fruits of the victory, • During the year 1783, there was more or less disturbance in Wind- liam County on the part of certain partisans of New Yorlj, who, bein^ naturally opposed to the independence of Vermont, embraced every opportunity to eniban-ass the newly organized government, and at sev- eral times had actually resisted its authority liy force. In this state of things. Gen. Ethan Allen was directed to call ont the militia for enfore- Vermont j-et promptly responded to the call of patriotic duty, cast in her lot with the Colonies, and cheerfully bore her share of the burden connected with that great contest for liberty-, union and American independence. It earlj' became obvious to the Americans, that if they were effectually to withstand invasion and subjugation at the hands of Great Britain, they must obtain possession of the military posts on Lake Champlain. The first active measures for accomplishing an undertaking so desirable as the reduction of these posts, appear to have been taken by several enterprising gentlemen of Con- necticut. Hastening forward to Bennington, with a view to engaging Ethan Allen in this business, thej- proceeded to Castleton, where, at an early day, they were joined by Allen and his recruits. Earlj' in the history of the controversy with New York, a militarj' association had been formed, of which Ethan Allen — ardent, unyielding and bold, a man eminentlj- fitted bj' nature and experience for the circumstances and exigencies of the times — was appointed colonel command- ant, and Seth Warner, the cool, calm, cautious, yet intrepid mountaineer, was appointed second in command. This organization, under the direction of men thus so peculiarly qualified, by virtue of an unwonted vigor of both bodj' and mind, for the responsibilities devolving upon them, subsequentlj- became renowned in our earlier and Revolutionary annals as the "Green Mountain Boj's," — a band of hardj' and brave men long a terror at once to Yorkers and red-coats. Allen readily undertook to conduct the enterprise look- ing towards the reduction of the militarj- posts on Lake Champlain. Ticonderoga was to be the first point of attack. In the evening of the 9lh of May, 1775, Allen, with his men, reached Orwell, opposite to Ticonderoga, without the garrison having obtained any intimation of his proceedings, or having had their suspicions awakened of any contemplated hostile visit. Though his whole force consisted of 270 men, 200 of whom were Green Mountain Boys, j-et, in consequence of unavoidable delaj-s, but 83 men had been landed on the New York side of the lake, when, a little after daybreak on the morning of the 10th of Maj-, 1775, Allen was obliged to begin his march toward the fortress. With so great expedition and silence, meantime, was this march elTected, and with so little difficulty was his entrance into the fort attended, that it was not until awakened from their ing the laws of Vermont, and for suppressing disturbances and insur- rection in the county of Windham. Allen proceeded from Bennington at the head of 100 Green Mountain Boys, and, on arrival at the scene of disturbance, issued the following proclamation : " I, Ethan Allen, declare that unless the people of Guilford peaceably submit to the authority of Vermont, the town shall be made as desolate as Sodom and Gomorrah." HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. slumbers by the huzzas of the Green Mountain Bojs, already in possession of, and drawn up on, the parade- ground within the fort, that the garrison and its com- mander, Capt. De Laplace, were aware of what had occurred. How this doughty commander, without wait- ing to dress, hastened to the door of the barrack, and how Allen sternly commanded him to surrender, and how, when the British officer inquired by what authority the surrender was demanded, he was informed that it was by the authority of the Great Jehovah and the Con- tinental Congress ; and how that, under the circum- stances, he surrendered at discretion ; and how that, on account of this exploit, Ethan Allen has always been known as the hero of Ticonderoga, — are not these facts familiar to every American school-boy ? Elated by this success, the Yermonters pressed on until they obtained full possession of Lake Champlain. Un- happily, in consequence of the failure on the part of Maj. Brown to co-operate with him in the contemplated assault upon Montreal, Allen, though fighting with desperate courage, yet, being greatly outnumbered, was fluall3- taken prisoner by the British on the 25th of September, with 38 of his men. He was immediately loaded with irons and sent to England, continuing in captivity there until finally exchanged. Shortly after this, the British general (Carleton) who had captured Allen was in turn himself severely pun- ished by Col. Seth Warner. Attemjjting to cross, with his troops, from Montreal to Longueil, they were sur- prised, just before reaching the south shore, b^-an attack on the part of Warner, who, having been watching them ever since their embarkation, opened upon them such a well-directed and incessant fire of musketry' and grape, that the enemy was thrown into the greatest confusion, and soon retreated with precipitation and disorder. Only two battles were fought on the soil of Vermont during the Rovolutionar}- war, — the battles of Hubbard- ton and of Bennington. Gen. Burg03"ne was driving everj'thing before him down the Champlain Valley. The Americans, retreating from Ticonderoga, were pursued bj' Gen. Eraser, who, on the morning of the 7th of July, 1777, overtook and attacked them at Hubbardton, under Seth Warner. The conflict was fierce and bloody. With only seven or eight hundred men, Warner disputed the progress of the enemj' with the utmost bravery and resolution. The gallant Col. Francis fell fighting at the head of his troops. Warner, well supported by his officers and men, charged the enemy with such impetuositj' that they were thrown into disorder, and at first gave way. Re-enforced, how- ever, at this critical moment, the latter recovered, formed anew, and again advanced upon the Americans. The fortunes of the day were soon decided. Overpowered by numbers, and exhausted by fatigue, the Americans fled from the field in every direction. The loss of the latter in killed, wounded and prisoners, was 324. The British having supposed that a large portion of the inhabitants on the New Hampshire Grants were opposed to the Revolution, and that it was necessarj' only to march an enem}' into their country, and furnish them with arms, to bring them all round the royal standard, Bur- gojTie had issued a proclamation addressed to the inhabi- tant* of the country, assuring them of his protection on condition of submission to the king. To their honor, however, be it said, notwithstanding the darkness and gloom which at this time enveloped American afl'airs, verj- few were found disposed to abandon the cause of their countrj'. So far from this, on the 15th of July, the com- mittee of safety of Vermont, asseral)led at Manchester, not only agreed to raise all the men they could to oppose the enemy, but at the same time wrote in the most urgent terms to New Hampshire and Massachusetts to send on a body of troops to their assistance. In response to this call, the legislature of New Hampshire immediatel3- ral- lied their militia, and hurried them forward, under Gen. John Stark, an officer of some reputation in the French war, and who had also distinguished himself at the battle of Bunker Hill. Agreeabl3' to his orders. Stark, with about 800 men, made haste to join the Vermont troops, who, to the number of about 600, were collected at Man- chester under the command of Col. Seth Warner. Not long, meantime, were these patriots to wait for an oppor- tunit3' to displa3' their courage, and to win unfading laurels. Having learned that a large quantit3' of provisions were collected at Bennington, designed for the American arm3', and still laboring under the delusion that a majority of the people in that quarter were friendl3- to the royal cause, Burg03Tie detached a select bodv of about 500 regular troops, under the command of Col. Baum, to sur- prise the place and secure these stores, of which he was in perishing need, for his own arm3-. Gen. Stark, who was now at Bennington, receiving intelligence of this con- templated attack, proceeded, on the 16th of August, to intercept and to make a general attack upon the enemy. After about two hours' hard fighting, the enem3» were overpowered and utterl3- routed, — their commander, mortall3' wounded, falling into the hands of the victorious Americans, as also nearl3' all his men. The enemy's loss was 207 killed. That of the Americans was trifling in comparison. Though the battle of Bennington was of no great magni- tude, — a mere ontl3ing skirmish, — jot, in consideration of its influence upon the fortunes of the war, it was, after all, important and decisive. Since the fall of the gallant Montgomerj-, an uninterrupted series of reverses and defeats had attended the American arms in the northern department ; in consequence of which many of the most ardent friends of the cause of freedom had begun to despond. But this splendid victory of Stark, achieved principally, too, bj- undisciplined militia over veteran regular, troops, proved naturally as encouraging to the patriots as it was disheartening to the British, and volun- teers from every quarter now flocked to the American standard. Meanwhile, as brilliant and signal as had been their feats with the sword, even more brillant and signal, if possible, during this Revolutionary era, were the feats of these Vermonters in diplomacy. Indeed, the history of the American Revolution is, perhaps, marked bj^ a no more singular and notable episode than that to which reference is now about to be made ; while one cannot but be impressed by the spectacle of a handful of men accom- plishing by policy what thej could have never done by power, — baffling, and for two or three years holding at bay, an armj- 10,000 strong, and thus averting, notwith- standing an utterly exposed and unprotected frontier, ruinous invasion and devastation. The Revolutionary war was still wearing on. The claims to independence, on the part of Vermont, were still unacknowledged bj' Congress, and New York was still importunate and vexatious. Under these circumstances the British generals in America entertained hopes of turning these disputes to their own account by detaching Vermont from the American cause, and making it a British Province. The first intimation of their views -and wishes in this regard was communicated in a letter, from Col. Beverly Robinson, dated New York, March 30, 1 780, to Ethan Allen. The British agents gave assurance that if Vermont would return to her allegiance she should become a royal Colonj', with privileges equal to those enjoyed hj any other Coionj- ; while those who assisted in accomplishing this object would be suitably honored and rewarded. Allen immediately communicated the contents of this letter to Gov. Chittenden, and, not long after, inclosed the communication itself in a letter to Congress. Subsequently the governor appointed Ira Allen one of a commission, on the part of Vermont, to negotiate an exchange of prisoners with British officials in Canada. A cessation of hostilities with Vermont was one of the conditions of this exchange. During this interview the British agents availed themselves of the opportunity to explain their views, and to make formal proposals for the establishment of Vermont under the roj'al authority. The Vermont commissioners received these proposals with some attention, and, though they avoided expressing any definite opinions, they jet inti- mated that they would hold these proposals under advise- ment. They separated pleasantlj^ and with the under- standing that the armistice, which had already been agreed upon, should be continued while these negotia- tions were pending, the British officials meantime flatter- ing themselves that they were in a fair way to effect their purposes. In April, 1781, Ira Allen was appointed to settle a cartel with the British for another exchange of prisoners. The cartel being soon agreed to, the subject of the armistice, and the establishment of the royal authoritj' in Vermont, of course, came once more under discussion. Allen acknowledged that the people of Ver- mont were growing remiss in the prosecution of the war, and fears were beginning to be entertained by some lest its termination in favor of America might subject them to the government of New York, — a government by them esteemed to be the most detestable in the known world. He did not hesitate to state, that to any such an event they would vastly prefer to become a separate Colony under the crown, and that the United States should be again brought under the dominion of Great Britain. In September, 1781, Col. Allen and Maj. Faj' had another interview with the British agents, on which occasion the latter went so far as to suggest a plan of government for the Colonj- of Vermont ; all of which was duly discussed and finally agreed upon by the parties. But the British agents were now growing somewhat impatient, and weie beginning to insist that Vermont should at once declare herself a British Province. The Vermont commissioners, however, urged that such a proposition would then be premature, — that the inhabi- tants in some parts of the territory were not j'et suffi- ciently brought over to British interests to warrant so pronounced and decisive a step. The British agents yielded this point with reluctance. They thought the present an eminently favorable oppor- tunity for bringing their negotiations to a decision, and accordinglj' used every art to persuade the Vermont com- missioners to advise their State, without delay, to declare herself a British Province. At length the British agents suggested one further proposition, — their ultimatum, — one which must be complied with, or the armistice would positively be ended ; and that was, that a proclamation should be issued by the British general in October, during the session of th6 Vermont legislature, declaring Vermont a Colony under the crown, and confirming the plan of government alreadj' agreed on ; and that the legislature HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. of Vermont must accept the same, and take suitable measures for carrying it into effect. After some further discussion, the Vermont commis- sioners judged it better, on the whole, to accede to this proposition, unpalatable as it was, than, in the present defenceless state of the frontier, to incur the risk of a discontinuance of the armistice. The legislature met at Charlestown early in October, and about the same time a powerful British army was landed at Ticonderoga. The aforesaid negotiations, meantime, were known to not more than a dozen men in Vermont. The crisis is approaching. A communication from Col Allen to the British agents announces that mat- ters are going on favorably for their designs ; but, in view of certain unfavorable news just received from the seat of war, suggests that it would hardl}' be expedient to publish the proposed proclamation just yet. A brief delay would, doubtless, render it far more timely aud effective. In less than an hour after this communication reached Ticonderoga, an express arrived there from the south with the news of the capture of Cornwallis and his whole army. Before night the British had embarked all their troops and stores, and, with all haste, had returned to Canada. Thus were the negotiators in Vermont, at the last moment, relieved from their embarrassment and dangei ; and thus was finall}' terminated an enterprise in which a few sagacious and daring individuals, by their negotiations and management, secured the extensive frontiei of Vermont, exposed, though it was, to an army of 10,000 of the enemy. The Civil Polity of Vermont. The New Hampshire Grants, having never been recog- nized by the king as a separate jurisdiction, and having ever refused submission to the authority of New York, were, at the commencement of the Revolution, nearly in a state of nature, so to speak ; that is, they were with- out an}' internal organization under which the inhabi- tants could act with system and effect, — their onl)'rall}-- ing point, or bond of union, being their common inter- est in resisting the claims and authority of New York. Yet, while the same interests which tluis drove them to resistance gave quite all the effect of law to the recom- mendations of their committees, and invested with su- preme authority the dictum of the few bold and daring spirits whose sagacity and energy served to give impulse, system and direction to their operations, the partial relief, on the other hand, now experienced from the oppressions of New York, served clearly t > discover to the inha\)itants of the grants the frailty of their bond of union, and to convince them of the necessity of a better organization, both to enable them to maintain the gi'ounds which they had assumed in relation to New York, and to render efficient aid to their countrymen in the contest now opening with Great Britain. With a view to moving wisely in this important mat- ter, counsel was first sought of Congress. A convention of delegates fiom the several towns assembled at Dorset on the IGth of January, 1776, forwarded a petition and an address to that bodj', in which, after giving a brief sketch of the controversy with New York, they avowed their unwavering attachment to the cause in which the Colonies had unsheathed the sword, and expressed their willingness to bear their full proportion of the burden of prosecuting the war ; but were careful to declare their unwillingness to be considered in any manner sulyect to the authority or jurisdiction of New York ; or to be called upon, whenever their services should be required, as inhabitants of that Province. To this first petition of the inhabitants of the grants to Congress, it was answered, by the committee to whom it was referred, that the petitioners had, for the present, better submit to the government of New York, and assist their countr3-men in the contest with Great Britain, with the understanding, however, that such submission should not prejudice their right to any lands in contro- versy, or be construed to affirm, or admit, the jurisdic- tion of New York over the country, when the present troubles should be ended. Considering this report of the committee unfavorable to the grants, the agent, ]\Ir. Heman Allen, by whom this petition had been forwarded, asked leave to withdraw it, and thus Congress was pre- vented from coming to any decision upon the subject. Meanwhile, the Declaration of American Independence having now been bj' Congress published to the world, in order to ascertain the state of public opinion as to what course it were best, under the circumstances, to pursue, it was determined that a general convention should be called for that purpose. Delegates accordingly from 3o towns assembled at Dorset, July 24, 1776. At this ses- sion it was agreed: (1) To enter into an association among themselves for the defence of the liberties of their country ; (2) That thej' would not associate with, or submit to, the provincial government of New York, while all such inhabitants of the grants as should thus associate, or submit, should be regarded as enemies to the common cause ; (3) That suitable measures be taken, as soon as may be, "to declare the New Hampshire Grants a free and separate district."* On the 1.5th of .Tanuarv, 1777, the convention met again at Westminster. The sentiments of their constituents having, in the mean- time, been well ascertained, and being fully convinced that there was now no other way of safety left, the dele- gates, on the 16th of that month, published the follow- ing declaration : " This convention, whose members are dul^' chosen, by the free voice of their constituents, in the several towns on the New Hampshire Grants, in pub- lie meeting assembled, in our own names, and in behalf of our constituents, do herebj- proclaim and declare that the district of territory comprehending, and known by the name and description of, the New Hampshire Grants, of right ought to be, and is hereby declared forever here- after to be, a free and independent jurisdiction, or State, to be forever hereafter called, known and distinguished by the name of Vermont." This declaration was unanimousl}' adopted b}' the con- vention, after which resolutions were adopted noticing Congress of the steps thej* had taken, renewing their expressions of lo^altj' and attachment to the eonnnon cause, and praying that their declaration might be acknowledged, and that delegates from Vermont might be admitted to seats in that bodj'. "Happy was it," sa3S another, "for the new State that these measures, so wise and so judicious in them- selves, were adopted and supported with that firmness and temperance which were alone adequate to secure a happj' result." Fully persuaded that their independence must now be supported with the same firmness and spirit with which it had been declared, Vermont at once addressed herself to the task of forming a constitution. Meeting b}- adjourn- ment at Windsor, on the first Wednesday of June, the same convention which had declared the independence of Vermont appointed a committee to make a draft of a constitution for the State. They also adopted a resolu- tion recommending that the several towns appoint dele- gates to meet in conA-ention at Windsor, on the 2d day of July following, for the purpose of discussing and adopting said constitution. In compliance with this resolution, the convention assembled at Windsor, on the 2d of July, and a draft of a constitution was read, and, after due deliberation, adopted. f Having appointed a committee of safety to act during tlieir recess, and having ordered that the first election under the constitu- tion should take place in December, 1777, and that the • Third resolution adopted at an adjourned session, Sept. 25. t " While the convention was deliberating; npon, and adopting the several articles of this important instrument, they received the news of the evacuation of Ticondcroga by the American troops on the 6th of July, — an event which left the whole western border of Vermont ex- posed io the enemy, and spread alarm and consternation through this and the neighboring States. ' In this awful crisis,' siiys Allen, in his history of Vermont, 'the convention was for leaving Windsor; but a severe thunder-storm came on and gave them time to reflect ; while some members, lees alarmed at the news, called the attention of the con- delegates then elected should meet at Bennington in Jan- uar}' following, the convention adjourned. Public atten- tion, however, having been so much engrossed b}- the advance of Burgoyne as to prevent the election taking place at the time appointed, the convention was again called together at Windsor by the council of safety, on the 25th of December, when they revised the constitu- tion, and postponed the day of election to the first Tues- d.ty of March, 1778, and the meeting of the Assembly to the second Thursday of the same month.]: The Legislature of Vermont met for the first time on the 12th of March, 1778, at W^indsor, and the same day a petition was presented from IG towns on the east side of Connecticut Kiver, praying to be admitted to a union with Vermont. Hitherto the New Hampshire Grants had embraced simply what at present constitutes the temtorj' of Ver- mont, nor had the young State the least ambition to ex- tend its domain. These petitioners, meantime, repre- sented that their territory had hitherto been held in sub- jection to New Hampshire solel}' hy force of the royal commissions ; that hence, when in consequence of the Declaration of Independence the royal authority ceased in the Colonies, their allegiance to New Hampshire ceased, and thej' were left to form a separate government, or to unite with such neighboring government as would consent to the union. The Legislature was seriously embarrassed by this application. Man}' regarded the contemplated union a dangerous measure, as likelj' to embroil the State in difficulties with New Hampshire. The Legislature was disposed to reject the application ; but after considerable deliberation it was finally voted, March 18, 1778, to refer the decision of the question to the people. Upon the re-assembling of the adjourned Legislature on the 4th of June, at Bennington, it ap- peared that a majority of the towns were in favor of the union with the 16 towns from New Hampshire, and June 1 1 , it was voted that the union take place. Meantime, as was b}' many anticipated. New Hampshire, justly in- censed at these proceedings, uttered loud complaints, and appealed to Congress to interfere on her behalf ; while a remonstrance was also addressed to Gov. Chit- tenden, urging him to exert his influence with the Legis- vcntion to finish the constitution, which was then reading, paragraph by paragraph, for the last time. This was done.' " — Thompson. X Since about the time of the admission of the State into the Union, the Legislature has met annually in the beginning of October. For sev- eral years its sessions were held in different to^vns, — Bennington, Wind- sor, Burlington, Middlebury, &c. At the session held at Danville, in 180.5, an act was passed fixing upon Montpelicr as the permanent scat of the government of the State, from and after the year 1808. The Legislature assembled, accordingly, for the first time, at Montpelicr, the established capital of the State, in October, 1S08. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. lature of Vermont to dissolve a connection which would probabl}- endanger their peace, if not, indeed, also their political existence. Fully sensible, upon reflection, of the impolicy as well as injustice of aiding in the dismemberment of New Hampshire, and quickened somewhat in the discbarge of duty b^' the earnest and positive remonstrance of Con- gress, as well as of their sister State, the people of "\'er- mont were wise enough to embrace the first opportunity to retrace their steps in this regard, and dissolve a con- nection that tluis threatened their ruin. Notwithstanding this dissolution of the union between Vermont and the 16 towns of New Hampshire, most of the inhabitants in the western part of the latter State were still anxious to be annexed to Vermont. At a con- Tcntiou called for the purpose of discussing the matter (Jan. 16, 1781), and of which a large majority was found to be opposed to the jurisdiction of New Hamp- shire, and in favor of a union with Vermont, a committee was appointed to confer with the latter State on the sub- ject of union. This committee, on February 10, informed the Assembl}' of Vermont, then sitting at Windsor, that "the convention of the New Hampsliire towns was desirous of being united with Vermont in one separate independent government, upon such principles as should be mutuallj' equitable and beneficial." Vermont resolved that, "in order to quiet the present disturbances on the two sides of the river, and the better to enable the inhab- itants to defend their frontier, the Legislature of this State do la.y a, jurisdictional claim to all the towns cast of the Connecticut represented by this convention." The convention of the New Hampshire towns was at the same time sitting at Cornish, on the opposite side of the river ; and, after repeated communications between the commit- tee of this convention and the committee of the Legis- lature of Vermont, the articles of union were finally agreed upon. By these articles it was stipulated that the constitution of Vermont should be adopted bj' the New Hampshire towns, and that, if the towns in Vermont and also the New Hampshire towns should finally favor the measure, the union should then be dul^- consummated. The Assembly of Vermont met again at Windsor, agreeable to adjournment, April 4. And the convention of the New Hampshire towns also re-assembled at Cor- nish. On the 5th of April a committee of the conven- tion informed the Assembly that not less than 35 towns on the east side of the Connecticut River had consented to the union. On examining the returns from the towns in Vermont, it was found that 36 were in favor of, and seven opposed to, the union. Whereupon a committee was appointed to inform the convention of the facts, and that the Assembly was ready to receive the members re- turned from the New Hampshire towns on the morrow, at 9 o'clock in the morning. Accordingly on the next daj- 35 representatives from towns on the east side of the Connecticut River took their seats in the General Assemblj' of Vermont. Meantime, on account of the unjustifiable measures of New York already referred to, and in consequence of repeated solicitations, from several towns in New York which bordered on Vermont, to be taken into union with that State, the Legislature of Vermont had already, Feb. 14, 1781, laid jurisdictional claim to all the lands west of her present territorj' and east of the Hudson. Hav- ing now completed her eastern union, she turns once more to attend to the one on the west. On the 15th of Maj- a committee, appointed bj- the General Assembly for the purpose, attended, at Cambridge, New York, a convention of delegates from the towns in New York which desired a union with Vermont, with a view to mak- ing the necessary arrangements for effecting the same. Articles of union having been duly agreed to, and, on the IGth of June following, these having been confirmed by the Legislature, representatives from these districts were likewise admitted to seats in the General Assembh- of Vermont. By the unions thus formed, not onlj- had Vermont doubled the extent of territory within her jurisdiction, and added greatlj- to her numbers and resources, — quieted the disaflfection of her people at home, and restored con- fidence to her friends abroad ; placed her territory in a condition to invite emigration from the neighboring States, and laid the foundation for a large and powerful communit}', — but she had taught her hostile neighbors that this claiming jurisdiction over territory which did not strictly belong to them was a game that two or more might play at, — drawing from them thus concessions for which justice alone had sought in vain, and averting that dismemberment of her territory which would otherwise have almost surel}- taken place. True, when the objects contemplated by these some- what audacious measures had been fully accomplished, both these unions, so auspiciously entered into, were dis- solved,* and Vermont consented, for reasons entirely satisfactory- to herself, to assert her jurisdiction onl3- over her original and proper territory. But, for the time being, driven bj- stern, inexorable necessity to defend her own rights, she determined, and wisel}', so to man- age her own affairs as best to secure, at all events, at once her safety- and her independence, — against the arms • Though not without the earnest protests, in each case, of the inhab- itants most immediately interested. VERMONT. of the British on the north, on the one hand, and against the wiles and wicliedness of her enemies nearer home, on the other. IIer Admission into the Union. Vermont had a long struggle in effecting her admission into the Union. Eveiy advance in that direction was for years met either bj' evasion or flat refusal. The reason for this course is apparent. Saj's Prof. Thomp- son : " Tiie contest wiih the mother country was 3-et undecided and its issue doubtful ; and the grounds which the several parties in this dispute had assumed were such that Congress could not hope to malce a decision which would satisfj'them all ; and to irritate either of the States concerned to such a degree as to drive them to an aban- donment of the common cause, might paralyze the efforts of Congress, and prevent the attainment of that liberty and independence for which they were struggling." Hence the strangely' partial, evasive and vacillating policj' of that bodj' relative to the affairs of Vermont. " In April, 1777, Thomas Young, a distinguished citi- zen of Philadelphia, addressed a communication to the inhabitants of Vermont, in which he represented it as the opinion of several of the leading members of Con- gress, that Vermont should proceed in her organization, form a constitution, and appoint delegates to Congress ; and he declared it to be his own individual opinion that Congi-ess would not hesitate to sanction their proceedings, or to admit their delegates to a seat in that honorable body. This communication was prefixed to a resolution which Congress had passed on the 15th of May, 177G, which recommended to the assemblies and conventions of the united Colonies where no government, sufficient for the exigencies of their affairs, had already been es- tablished, to adopt such government as, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, should best conduce to the happiness and safetj' of their constituents. This resolution was regarded, by the author of the communica- tion, as a full license from Congress to assume the powers of government, and he recommended that no time be lost in avaihng themselves of the present oppor- tunity to establish a separate dominion." Now, while New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Con- necticut were ready (that is, at the outset) to admit Vermont as a new member of the Federal Union, and applauded the spirit and boldness with which she asserted and maintained her rights, New York, on the other hand, regarded all transactions of the kind advised above as open acts of treason and rebellion against the lawful authority of that State, and hence earnestly remonstrated, in a letter addressed to the president of Congress, May 28, against the proceedings of Mr. Young, and of those members of Congress who had given him counte- nance. With a view to bringing Congress to a decision on the subject of this controversy, on the 23d of June, one of the New York delegates laid before that bod}- the aforementioned letter of Thomas Young to the in- habitants of Vermont. Congress now, for the first time, took up the matter ; and the petitions and communica- tions from New York and the New Hampshire Grants were referred to a committee of the whole. This com- mittee, on the 30th of June, among other things, re- solved : (1) "That Congress would not recommend or countenance anj'thing injurious to the rights and juris- diction of the several communities herein represented ; (2) That the inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants cannot be justified, in their declaration of independence, hy the example of the united Colonies, nor b^' ixny act or resolution of Congress ; (3) That the petition of Vermont to be recognized as an independent State, and to have her delegates adtnitted to seats in Congress, be dismissed." Still later, in June, 1781, Vermont, having completed her eastern and western unions, as elsewhere related, appointed Jonas Fay, Ira Allen, and B. Woodward del- egates to the American Congress to negotiate her admission into the Federal Union. Full powers were given them to complete the arrangement ; and, if the}' effected their object, they were authorized to take their seats in Con- gress as representatives of Vermont. These delegates arrived in Philadelphia about the beginning of August. On the 7th of this month, 1781, Congress took up the subject of their mission, and appointed a committee of five persons to confer with the delegates from Vermont and agree with them upon the terms of admission, pro- vided Congress should see fit to recognize Vermont as an independent State. On the 18th of August a con- ference took place between this committee and the dele- gates from Vermont. On the 20th the committee made their report to Congress, whereupon that bodj- (Aug. 20, 1781) adopted the following resolution : — "■Resolved, That it be an indispensable preliminar}' to the recognition of the independence of the people inhab- iting the territory called Vermont, and their admission into the Federal Union, that they explicitly relinquish all demands of lands, or jurisdiction on the east side of the Connecticut, or the west side of its original State line." " Vermont and New York both," says Mr. Thompson, "were dissatisfied with this resolution, — Vermont be- cause it required, as a condition of her admission into the Union, that she should di-ssolve the agreeable connections she had just formed, and alienate one-half of her present territory, resources and importance ; New York because HISTORY OF SEW ENGLAND. it recognized the claim against which slie had so long and so earnestly' contended — actually allowing Vermont to have something left which she could call her own." The foregoing resolutions, it is true, held out a faint prospect of an admission into the Federal Union with her original territory : yet, having lost much of her con- j fidence in the assurances of Congress, and having now consolidated lier unions at home very much to her own satisfaction, Vermont felt herself in a condition to de- mand something better than the relinquishment of one- half of her territory and population to secure the inde- pendence of the other half. Hence, after deliberating and debating on the subject for several days, the Assem- bly, on the 19th of October, voted that they could not compl}- with the foregoing resolution of Congress. In the meantime, in consequence of the mutually bel- ligerent attitude of Vermont and New York, and the nnhappil3' increasing l)itterness obtaining between these two communities, affairs seemed rapidly to be reaching an alarming crisis ; and all parties were beginning to tremble at the prospect of a civil, in the midst of their Revolution arj' -war, — a calamity that must have proved fatal to the cause of American liberty and independence. Fortunateh", just at this juncture. Gov. Cliittenden re- ceived a letter from Gen. W^ashington, dictated by his paternal solicitude for the good of his country, and for a happy termination of the troubles in relation to Vermont, kindlj' counselling the State of Vermont to withdraw her jurisdiction to the confines of her own limits, and then seek and obtain, as lie was morally certain she then would, a recognition of her independence and sovereignty at the hands of Congress.* Such a communication from Gen. Washington might be reasonably expected to exert a powerful influence upon the minds of the leading men of Vermont ; and the event showed that it did. At tlie next meeting of the legislature, which was held at Bennington, this letter was laid before that body. Knowing that it came from a man who had the interests of the whole country at heart, and from one, moreover, whose assurances must be based upon a wide and statesmanlike comprehension of facts, his advice was received with the greatest deference, and, after mature deliberation upon the subject, the Assembly, Feb. 22, 1782, resolved to compl3- with the preliminary required bj' the resolution of Congress of August 20, aud relinquish all claims to jurisdiction bej-ond tlie bounds therein mentioned. • Vermonters may well cherish for the memory of Washington the profoundest and most tender rcg-ard. Indeed, it is but just to say that the two men whose names are here associated were endeared to the people of Vermont by their long, able and disinterested public services, as were none others. In their abilities and virtues they reposed the Having thus complied with the requirements of Con- gress, Vermont now confidently expected an immediate recognition of her independence, and an admission into the Federal Union, and with it a termination of the dis- agreeable controvers3' with New York. Accordingly the legislature proceeded to choose four agents, Jonas Fay, Moses Robinson, Paul Spooner and Isaac Tichenor, to arrange the terms of admission, and then take their seats in Congress as representatives of Vermont. On the 31st of March, 1782, these proceedings of the State of Ver- mont, by which that State had fully complied with the requirement of the resolution of tiie 20th of August, were officially laid before Congress. Congress now again took up the subject, and referred it to a committee of five, who, on the 17th of April, reported " That, in tlie opinion of the committee, Vermont had fully complied with the resolution of the 20th of August as preliminary to the recognition of her sovereignty and independence, and admission into the Federal Union ; and that the con- ditional promise of such recognition and admission by Congress is therebj' become absolute and necessary to be performed." It was then moved that the district or territorj- known as Vermont, thus defined and limited, be, and hereby is, recognized and acknowledged by the name of the State of Vermont, as free, sovereign and independent ; and that a committee be appointed to treat and confer with the delegates from said State, upon the terms and mode of the admission of said State into the Federal Union. By the treatment, however, accorded to this recom- mendation of the committee, it became evident, to the surprise and utter astonisliment of the Vermont delegates, that Congress did not intend even yet to come to any decision in regard to the affairs of Vermont. After having addressed a dignified but spirited com- munication to the president of Congress, in which they reminded that body that, having, in the most ample manner, complied with their requirements, and having officially communicated said compliance to them, they cannot but regard the failure of Congress to execute their part in the premises a violation of their plighted faith, as also an act of injustice to themselves, exposing them, as it did, to the main force of the enemy in Can- ada, witli no aid whatever from the United States in whose cause they had so freely fought and suffered, the agents immediately withdrew from Philadelphia and re- paired to their homes. ■oiiliiillv contributed, in after years, — after that HI. iii!ii r i)f the confederacy, and the government 1.1 l.u. 11 iilaccd upon the fouhdiition of its present \v upon tliese two eminent public servants the highest positions in the gift of the people. fullest confide Vermont had of the United When these proceedings of Congress came to be knonii in Vermont, universal and intense dissatisfaction was the result. Having taken the step she had in per- fectly good faith, and in accordance with the advice of gentlemen of tlie first cliaracter in America, the people of Vermont were now tempted to the opinion that the resolution of the 20th of August had been designed prin- cipally to dupe the Assembly to a compliance for the purpose of so wealcening the State as to render it less dangerous to contravene her designs and wishes. Not- withstanding the pain and mortification of their disap- pointment, and though their faith in the virtue and integrity of this Congress was so sadl}' sliaken that the3- determined never more to urge upon it their right to a co-federation with the United States, yet, that it might appear to the world that Vermont was not in fault, at their next ensuing assemblj', in October, the}- again ap- pointed agents with full powers to complete arrange- ments for her admission into the Union, while they them- selves resolved, in the future as in the past, to rel^' on their own strength, resources and management for de- fence and safety, — to '• Bow to no patron's insolence ; rely Ou no frail hopes ; in freedom live and die." Years elapse. Hostilities between Great Britain and America had ceased, and now, on the one hand. Con- gress was freed from its embarrassments with regard to Vermont ; while Vermont, on the other, on account of tlie withdrawal from her northern frontiers of the British forces whose efforts had been so long palsied by the art- ful policy of a few individuals, was released from all her fears. On the 20th of January, 1783, the preliminary' articles of peace were signed, which formall}- terminated I the Revolutionary war, and established the independence | of the united Colonies. Meantime the people of Ver- mont, having now no external foes to dread, ceased to [ be speciallj- solicitous for an immediate organic union : with the confederated States. The adoption of the new Federal Constitution, how- . ever, in 1787, awakened fresh interest in this matter. This Constitution was ratified by the States, and the first Congress assembled under it March 3, 1789. The policy, proceedings and measures of this new Congress seemed to be marked b}- so much wisdom, pru- dence and equity, that the confidence of the people of Vermont in the Federal Government, so effectually weak- ened by the evasive and vacillating policy of the former Congress, was now in a fair way to be restored. But the ancient difficult}' with New York still remained unsettled. One serious difficulty only, however, now stood in the way of such a settlement. A new political generation had come upon the stage, — a generation whicli, so far from inheriting the feuds of the former, could not but perceive that Vermont was now to remain a free and in- dependent State, and probably felt but little, if any, anxiety that it should be otherwise. " But the former governors of New York had made grants of large tracts of land in Vermont, the validity of which the govern- ment of Vermont had refused to admit ; and the grantees hence were constantly complaining to the government of New York of the injuries done them in not being per- mitted to take possession of their propert}-. Now, though New York felt under no verj- strong obligation to refund what had been extorted for these grants bj- that cupidity of the royal governors of the Province before the war, still she was disposed, if practicable, to com- promise the matter, and have the difficulties adjusted on amicable terms." The new New York, meantime, had come to be more than willing that these difficulties should be adjusted, and actually to desire Vermont's confederation with the United States. Bj' the exclusion of Vermont from the Union, it was perceived that the Eastern States were deprived of their just representation in Congress ; while, on the other hand, it was obvious to New York, tliat, once their old difficulties composed, the interests and in- fluence of Vermont would, in almost everj' instance, coincide witli her own. The result was, public opinion called at once for a reconciliation. In accordance witli these conciliatory views the Legis- lature of New York, July 1'), 1789, passed an act ap- pointing commissioners with full powers to acknowledge the sovereignty of Vermont, and adjust all matters of controversy with that State. On the 23d of October following, the Legislature of Vermont app- followed b}' others, and by 1788 inhabitants were found in all the towns which now constitute the county, except Goshen, Lincoln and Ripton. The site at the falls where the vil- lage of Middlebur3' stands, was originally a dense hem- lock forest, and did not attract settlers, who came for farms. The beginnings of a settlement were made there in 1774 or 1775, by Abijah Washburn of Salisburj-, Conn., who took possession of the water-power on the east side of the falls, and built a saw-mill. He did not bring his family, and after erecting the mill returned to Connecticut, and did not come back till after the war. The mill was destroyed by the Indians during his ab- sence. In 1783 John Hobson Johnson built a cabin at the head of the rapids, on the west side of the river, a little below the present site of the railroad bridge, being the first resident in that vicinity after the war. He kept a ferry and a place of refreshment for travellers. In 1784, Daniel Foot gained possession of 100 acres, includ- ing the whole of the falls, on the west side of the river, and erected a large building for a saw and grist mill. Until a short time before the completion of this grist- mill, the inhabitants went to Pittsford for their grinding, taking their grain up the river in boats or on rafts. I On the west side of the river, Stillman Foot, who built {the first bridge, erected in 1786 a dwelling-house, the oldest in the village remaining until a recent date. It was the house owned and occupied by Daniel Henshaw for many jears, and subsequently was the residence of J. S. Bushnell. In the late extensive fire at the west end of the bridge, this house was burned. It had been the hope of Daniel Foot that the centre of the town, or \nllage, would be on Foot Street, where he had a large amount of land ; and for many jears town meetings and religious meetings were held there. It was a handsome tract ; but the laws of business and of the growth of population were against it. and not any lack of enterprise on the part of Mr. Foot. These laws Gamaliel Painter was one of the first to pereei\e, and in 1787 he removed his family from the soutli part of the town to a house built on gi-ound near the south line of the front-yard of Mrs. R. Wainwright's residence. To his sagacity and enterprise Middlebury Village is largely indebted for its early growth. The public buildings and business came here ; and in 1 792 the courts were trans- ferred from Addison, and the callage soon became the largest in the county. Notwithstanding the privations and sufferings of these early times, most of the towns were rapidly settled, and by the year 1800 the total population of the countj- was 14,745. In some of the best farming towns, such as Addison, Bridport, Waltham and AVeybridge, the popu- lation of that year was almost the same as in 1870, while in three of tliem, Cornwall, Orwell and Shoreham, it was larger than in 1870 b3'an average of more than 200 each. The machinery of justice was put in operation in this county soon after the war. The limits of the counts- were defined Oct. 18, 1785, and Addison was made a shire. The situation of Addison on the lake, and its earlj- settlement, gave it a leading position at first, which enabled it to give its name to the county, and caused it to be for seven years the shire town. John Strong of Addison was appointed first chief Judge, Gamaliel Pain- ter of Middlebury and Ira Allen of Colchester assistant judges, and Noah Chittenden sheriff. The first term of the county court was held at Addison on the first Tues- day of March, 1786. The first court-house in Middiebury was begun jn 1796, and occupied by the court in 1798. Previous to this time, the courts were held in private dwellings, and | at the public house of John Deming in Middlebury. It stood on land conveyed to the county by Gamaliel Painter, five or six rods north of the house now occu- pied by Mrs. R. Wainwright. A jail had been pre^-i- ously built on the same lot. I The court-house \^'a,s built wiih reference to accommo- dating the legislature, which was then accustomed to remove its annual sessions from one principal town to another. The sessions of the General Assembly in 1800 and 1806 were held in this house, the interior of which was one high room, arched overhead. The County of Addison is one of the most fertile and productive in the State. In the early years of its his- tory the chief product of the soil was winter wheat, and the jicld was from 25 to 40 bushels per acre. From 1820 to 1830 the agriculture of the county was in a transition state. The rearing of cattle and sheep was increasing, and the production of wheat growing less and less. About 1827 or 1828, an enemy appeared which no skill could baffle. This was the wheat midge ; and the ravages of this insect put an end to the raising of winter wheat altogether about the jear 18o7. The pro- cess of transition had by this time been completed, and the farmers were found raising cattle or sheep as their main business. The greater part turned their attention to wool-growing, and in 1840 more sheep and a larger product of wool, in proportion to population and extent of territory, were raised in this county tlian in any other in the United States. The tariff of 1828 encouraged the growth of wool, and prices varied for years from 50 cents'to $1 a pound. Of late years, the farmers have not found the wool of so much account, but have raised many sheep to supply the western market ; and this has led to much care and ex- pense in introducing superior breeds. Spanish merino sheep were introduced into the county as early as 1816, and for years the large flocks were a mixture of these with the native sheep. But more and more has attention been given to breeding the pure merinos, and for them large prices have been and still are obtained. The me- rino sheep raised in this county have now for some j-ears been regarded by the most eminent breeders as the best in the world. The continued low price of wool has quite generally diverted the attention of the farmers to the raising of cattle for the dairy and for beef. The soil of the c junty is generally admirable for grass, and the beef raised here and fatted on grass alone is the best found in the Boston market, and the butter and cheese are no- where excelled. Much attention has been given of late 3-ears to the introduction of Short-horn, Jersej-, and Ayrshire breeds. The reputation of the county for breeding superior horses has hardly been less than for the rearing of sheep. The breed most valued is the Morgan, a variety of which called the Black Hawk, from a celebrated Morgan horse of that name owned by the late David Hill of Bridport, has been a favorite not onlj- in the countj- and State, but throughout all New England. About one-fourth part of Addison County is moun- tainous, and the eastern part extends over the first or western range of the Green Mountains. It is good grazing land, but generally too steep and stony for till- age, except the alluvial lands on AVhite River and its 1 tributaries and some other streams. In the towns west of the mountains the surface is level or rolling, interrupted by two eminences of some magni- tude, one called Snake Mountain, 1,310 feet high, lying in the western part, on the borders of Addison, Brid- port and Weybridge ; and the other called Buck Moun- tain, which extends north and south centrally through Waltham. On the borders of Lake Champlain, espe- cially in Addison, Panton and Ferrisburgh, are extensive flat lands composed of clay and vegetable mould, which are remarkably productive of grass. In nearly all the western towns, clay mixed with vegetable substances abounds, and is the best land for grass, but too stiff for eas}^ tilling, and liable to suffer in wet or diy seasons. In the clay districts are some elevations, which are gen- erally loam, and afford easy tillage and fine crops. On these lands, and clay lands covered with vegetable mould, if well drained, large crops of winter wheat can be pro- duced. There are extensive flats on Otter Creek, in Leicester, AVhiting, Salisburj', Cornwall and Middlcbury, having a covering of vegetable mould, which extends to the depth, in some places, of ten feet. Originally this tract was a swamp, and some of it still is. Similar swamps are found in New Haven and Shoreham. When cleared and drained, these lands are unsurpassed for grass, being greatly enriched by the annual overflow. ] The forests have been largely cleared off, and, unfor- [ tunateiy, from much rough and rocky land, once covered with heavy timber, which now bears almost nothing. i Ottpr Creek, the largest river in the county, and the ! longest in the State, rises in Dorset, and, flowing north i through Rutland Count}-, enters this county in Leicester, 1 and, passing through centralh', empties into the lake in Ferrisburgh. It ha^ a great number of fine mill-sites, as have most of its tributaries. There are many small j lakes or ponds, especial!}' in Orwell and Bristol, but the only body of still water of much magnitude within the county is Lake Dunmore, which lies in Salisbury and Leicester, and is about four miles long and three-fourths [ of a mile wide. Its outlet is Leicester River. At its northern extremity, in Salisbur}', is a fine hotel, which is much frequented by visitors in the summer. There is much good marble in the county, but blocks suflftciently large for statuary, and free from defects, have HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. not j-et been quarried. In the north part of Middlebur^- is a quarrj" from which some marble is taken at the pres- ent time. Limestone, excellent for building-stone, is found in Cornwall, Middleburj', and Wejbridge, and, for the manufacture of lirao, abounds in other towns. Lime has for a long time been made at Leicester Junction by the '-Brandon Lime and Marble Companj-." The " Leicester Marlile-Lime Companj-," recentlj' formed, manufactures lime from an inexhaustible quarrj- of pure marble-Ume rock, closelj' resembUng Italian dove-mar- ble, and susceptible of the highest polish. In Leicester, at the foot of the mountain, in the east- ern part of the town, is an extensive deposit of ochre, kaoline, manganese and iron. This deposit is a continu- ation of the well-known lignite beds of Brandon. In 18GG-C8, a companj- was formed, under the name of the " Leicester Mineral Paint Companj-," for manufacturing paint from the ochre. Steam-mills were erected for washing, grinding and packing the various shades of paint*!. The mills have been in nearly constant opera- tion since the formation of the company. Towns. MiDDLEBURY, tho slurc towu of the county, was char- tered Nov. 2, 171. 1. The town was organized March 29, 1786. The village is in the northeast part of the town, on both sides of the river, called Otter Creek. Its business interests are in a thriving condition. The water-power is great at the Falls, and is only used in part. There are two good newspapers ]iublished in the village, — the '- Middleburj- Register" and the "Addison Countj- Journal." The Congregational Church was organized Sept. 6, 1790. There are also Methodist, Episcopal and Roman Catholic societies here. The eastern part of the township lies upon the Green Mountains, but the remainder is level or rolling, and the land is arable and fertile, producing good crops of grain and grass. The village, through its industries, institutions and public men, has long held a high position in the countj- and State. It early became an educational centre ; and the College, the Addison Countj' Grammar School and the Female Seminarj- were all valuable institu- tions. The two last mentioned have now been super- seded bj- an excellent graded school. The school-build- ing was erected in 1868-9, at a cost of more than $50,000. Middlebury College was chartered Nov. 1, 1840. At the first commencement in 1802 there was one gi-aduate. The whole number of graduates up to 1878 is 1.243. The buildings, grounds, apparatus, cabinet and hlirarj- are estimated to be worth 812;'), 000. The college campus comprises 30 acres. The buildings are of limestone, quaiTied in Middlebury, Cornwall and Weybridge. The lilirarj- contains about 13,000 volumes. The grounds have been plentifullv supplied with shrubbery, comprising about 60 varieties of trees, most of them indigenous to our own soil, but manj- of them of European origin. Rev. Calvin B. Ilulbert, D.D., is president of the college. Samuel Miller, born in Springfield, Mass., April 2, 1764, was the first lawyer who settled in the town. He came to Middleburj- in 1789, and soon entered upon an extensive practice in this and other counties. He was especiallj- devoted to the prosperitj- of the village and of the college. He died April 17, 1810. Hon. Daniel Chipman, LL. D., born in Salisburj-, Conn., Oct. 22, 1765, and a graduate of Dartmouth Col- lege, came to Middleburj- in 1794, and three years later was appointed State's attornej-, and held the office seven years. In 1814 he was elected representative to Con- gress. In 1846 he pubUshed the life of his brother, Hon. Nathaniel Chipman, LL. D., formerly member of the United States Senate and chief justice of Vermont. He subsequently published memoirs of Col. Seth Warner and of Thomas Chittenden, first governor of the State. His death ocdurred April 23, 1850. He was especially well acquainted with the early history of the State and devoted to its interests. Quick in perception, powerful in argument, and conversant with constitutional law, he was eminent both as a lawj-er and as a statesman. Among other of the past residents of Middleburj- maj- be mentioned Hon. Horatio Sej-mour, LL. D.,born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1778, removing to Middlebury in 1799, an able lawj-er and United States senator for two terms, died Nov. 21, 1857; Hon. Samuel Swift, a native of Amenia, N. Y., author of a historj- of Middle- bury and Addison Countj-, who died Jan. 7, 1875, at the age of nearlj- 93 years ; Hon. William Slade, a native of Cornwall, a member of Congress from 1831 to 1843, and subsequently governor of Vermont, whose death occurred in January, 1859 ; Hon. Gamaliel Painter, born in New- Haven, Conn., in 1742, to whom the village of Middle- buiy was largely indebted for its grow-th and early ascendancj- in the countj-, and who, on his death in 1818, left to the college his propertj-, amounting to about §13,000 ; Hon. Samuel S. Phelps, a native of Litchfield, Conn., but removing to Middlebury in 1812, judge of the Supreme Court of ^'ermont and United States senator, died in 1855 ; Hon. Edward J. Phelps, son of the pre- ceding, born in Middlebury in 1822, an eminent lawyer, and at one time solicitor of the United States treasury. at present residing in Burlington ; and Kev. Truman M. Post, D.D., born in Middlebur}' in 1810, a distinguished pulpit orator, now of St. Louis. Among the present distinguished citizens are Philip Battell, Esq., 'who maj' truly be called the father of the Middlebury Historical Society and of the Pilgrim An- niversary, commonlj^ called " Forefathers' Day," and to whose sesthctic ideas and sagacious forethought the vil- lage is chicflj' indebted for the condition of its Central Park and other attractions ; and Hon. John W. Stewart, a successful lawj-er, and quite recently' governor of the State. New Havek was chartered Nov. 2 , 1 761 , and organized in 1785. The religious societies of the town are three in number. Among the pastors of the Congregational Church was Rev. James Meacham, afterwards a professor in Middleburj' College, and subsequently for manj' years a representative to Congress. Beman Academj'' is a thriving literary' institution. This is one of the most prosperous towns in the county. The town has furnished a large number of students to Middleburj- College, among whom maj^ be named Otto S. Ho^'t, an able clerg3'man ; Milo P. Squier, D. D., appointed in 1850 professor in Beloit College, Wis. ; Rev. O. P. Hoyt ; Rev. Milo J. Hickock ; and Matthew Phelps, an officer in the war of 1812. Or"well was organized Dec. 12, 1787, when 33 elec- tors were present. Among them, together with settlers who came in a year or two afterwards, were the ances- tors of a large part of the present residents of the town. The Congregational Church was organized in 1789, and Rev. Sylvauus Chapin, the first pastor, was settled March 30, 1791. In the uorlh-west part of the town is Mount Independence.* Orwell furnished some soldiers to the war of 1812 ; but its patriotic ardor was especially displayed when the news of the invasion at Plattsburgh arrived. The news came bj' an express agent about sunset on the 9th day of September, 1814. During the night measures were taken to give notice of the danger ; and on the morning of the 10th, about 150 citizens were under arms, and on their way to repel the invasion. Orwell is a thriving town, and among the foremost in the wealth and intelli- gence of its people. • It derived its name as follows : — In 1776, while a large body of Con- necticut troops weie stationed on this mountain, news of the Declara- tion of Independence reached the garrison on the IStli of July. This caused much rejoicing among the troops, and tlicy named the eminence Mount Independence. The eleviition of this mountain, which is a little south-east of Fort Ticonderoga, is 160 feet. It was originally heavily timbered, but the trees were all cut down by the soldiers. Across it the American troops retreated, on the evacuation of Fort Ticonderoga Prominent among its citizens in the past was Hon. Apollos Austin. Born in Suffield, Conn., about 17G0, he entered the army in the Revolutionary- war when he was 17 years old, and served to the end of the war. Engaging in the business of general merchandise in Or- well, he amassed a property of about half a million of dollars, and, after giving large sums to his children in his lifetime, left an estate of $400,000. Other citizens have been Hon. Thomas D. Hammond, lion. Eoswcll Bottum, Hon. Joseph Chittenden, and Hon. "VViUiam R. Sanford. There have been 23 college graduates in this town. Among these were Oliver Hulburd, an eminent preacher ; Carlos Wilcox, Congregational minister, and a dis- tinguished poet, born Oct. 22, 1794, died May 29, 1827 ; Enoch Cobb Wines, an eminent writer on prison dis- ' cipline ; WilUam F. Bascom, teacher and lawyer ; and Francis Wheeler, an able and eloquent Congregational preacher, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Cornwall was organized March 2, 1784. The Con- gregational Church was organized July 15, 1785. The third pastor was Rev. Jedediah Bushnell, who was dis- missed after a pastorate of 33 j-ears. The Lane Library Association, named after Gilbert C. Lane, a resident of the town, has a valuable library of about 2,000 volumes. ' Several mineral springs are found, which have medi- cinal properties. Cornwall, though not populous, has been distinguished for the number of its educated and I eminent men. Fifty natives of the town have had a collegiate education. Eighty have entered the several professions. Rev. Joel II. Linslcy, D. D., born July 15, 1790, and a graduate of Middleburj' College, was pastor of the South Congregational Church in Hartford, Conn., eight years, and subsequently president of Marietta College, Ohio. Rev. J. R. Andrus, born April 3, 1791, graduated at Middlebury- College in 1812, and devoted himself to the work of African colonization, as the first agent of the Colonization Society. He died in Africa in Januar}-, 1821, widely lamented. Rev. Reuben Post, D. D., son of Roswell Post, was born Jan. 17, 1792, and graduated at Middlebury Col- lege in 1814. Studying theology at Princeton, N. J., he by St. Clair, in the early morning of July G, 1777. The military road, on which they marched for Hubbardton and Castlcton, passed on the south side of East Creek to a point about a mile and a half south-west of the village, thence southerly, crossing the creek near the south Une of the town. The old crossway, always understood to have been the work of the soldiers, was, as late as 1855, distinguishable where it crossed the creek on the farm of the late Joseph Stacy. There are said to be other indications of the road on the farm of the late Eli Root. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. was installed in 1818 pastor of the First Presbj'terian Church in Washington, D. C, and in 183G removed to Charleston, S. C, -(vhcre he became pastor of an inde- pendent Congregational Church, with which he remained until his death in 1859. While in Washington he was part of the time chaplain to Congress. The late Presi- de::!, John Quincy Adams, was a regular attendant on his ministrj-. Rev. Lyman B. Peet, born Marcli 1, 1809, graduated at Middlebury College in 183G, and, pursuing theological study at Andover, entered the ministry' and became a missionary first at Bankok, Siam, and suljsequently at Fu Chau, China. Rev. Henr}' N. Hudson, .graduated at Middlebury Col- lege in 1840. He earlj' distinguislied himself as a lec- turer on Shakespeare, and has published the " Life, Art, j and Characters of Shakespeare." i Rev. Hiram Mead, S. T. D., born May 10, 1827, and a graduate of Middleburj- College, is now pastor of a church in Oberlin, Ohio, and professor in the theological department of Oberlin College. Rev. Charles M. Mead, brother of Hiram, born Jan. 28, 1837, graduated at Middlebury College in 1856. He studied theologj- at Andover Theological Seminarj-, and soon after graduating was appointed a professor in that institution, which position he now holds. Shoreham was organized in 178G. It is one of the best farming towns in the county. The surface is gen- erally level, and the soil is claj- and loam, and produces fine crops of grain and grass. The attention of the farmers is chiefly given to dairj'ing. There are four religious organizations in the town. The Congregational Church was formed, March 25, 1794. On the Common, south of the Congi-egational Church, is a plain marble shaft, resting on a granite base, erected at a cost of $2,000 by the town of Shoreham, to commemorate her dead, fallen in the late civil war. This town has fur- nished one governor to the State five j-ears, and about 50 college graduates. One of them. Rev. Byron Sunder- land, D. D., graduated at Middlebury College in 1838, and is the weU-known eloquent and able pastor of a Presb3-terian Church in Washington, D. C. Hon. Silas 11. Jenison, born in Shoreham Maj' 17, 1791, was as- sistant judge of the County Court six j-ears, lieutenant- governor two years, governor five 3-ears (from 1836 to 1841), and judge of probate from 1842 to 1847. He died in September, 1849. Hon. Charles Rich of Shore- ham was born in AYarwick, Mass., Sept. 13, 1771, and came to Shoreham in August, 1787. For seven j-ears he was assistant judge of the County Court, was twelve times representative of the town in the General Assembly, and ten jcars a representative in Congress, dying before the expiration of his last term, Oct. 16, 1824. j Bristol was chartered June 26, 1762, by the name of i Pocock, and was organized IMarch 2, 1789, and its name | changed to Bristol Oct. 21 of that j^ear. | The four religious societies all have church edifices. | About one-third of the town lies west of the Green Mountains, and is verj' level and productive. The remain- der is broken, and much of it is incapable of cultivation. A mountain, extending through the tqwn from north to south, is cut through by a deep and wide ravine known as " The Notch." The part south of the Notch is called \ South Mountain, and the part north. Hog's Back. This latter mountain is a fine feature in the landscape ; and it is to be regretted that it bears so infelicitous a name. New Haven River, coming down from the Lincoln Moun- tains, passes through the village, bends around to the south, and flows through New Haven into Otter Creek. A more delightful place of resort for summer A-isitors is j not easily found. The Bristol Scientific and Literary Institution, popularly- called Bristol Academy, fronts the Central Park. Hon. W. C. Danton, late judge of probate in Rutland County, and now one of the justices of the Suprciiu' Court, is a native of Bristol, and graduated at Middle- bury College in 1857. Vergennes was formed from the adjacent corners of Ferrisburgh, New Haven and Panton, and was incor- porated as a city bj- act of the legislature, Oct. 23, 1788. The town was organized March 12, 1789. The organ- ization, under the cit}' charter, was eflfected Julj' 1, 1794. i It lies at the head of na^ngation on Otter Creek, eight j miles from its mouth. As the river passes through the i city it falls man^- feet, and is divided b3- two small j islands into three channels, forming three distinct falls. | Below the city to the lake, the shore of the river is bold, i and ships of 300 tons burthen can discharge their lo.ads 1 at almost any point. The facilities for ship-building are { great, and the flotilla commanded by McDonough at i Plattsburgh was fitted out here. Vergennes is sur- - rounded bj' a fertile country', and has an extensive trade. There is here a fine public library, founded by Susan B. Stevens, containing 1,400 volumes. The "Vergennes Vermonter," a valuable weekly newspaper, is conducted bj' H. C. Johnson, Esq. The city contains four churches, a graded school, and the State Reform School. Hon. George W. Grandey has been for 18 years mayor of the city, four-and-a-half years State's attorney for the county, and has several times been elected a member and speaker of the State House of Representatives, and a member of the Senate. Hon. F. E. Woodbridge, besides filling important State offices, was for six successive j^ears elected a member of Congress. Vergennes is the residence of the Hon. John Pierpont, for many 3eai-s one of the judges of the Supreme Court, and now chief justice. Addison lies on the western border of the county, its southern line being a little southeast of the old fort at Crown Point. It was chartered Oct. 14, 1761. It is generally level except on the eastern border, where Snake Mountain lies. There are now onlj' two religious societies which sustain preaching, the Methodist in the western part of the town, and the Baptist in the eastern- The edifice of the Congregational Church still stands in a dilapidated condition, but the societj-, organized Nov. 24, 1803, has not sustained preaching for about 25 years. The first pastor was Rev. Job Swift, who graduated at Yale College in 17G5. The oldest living member of this church is Mrs. Marina Wright, now in the 9Cth year of her age, who united ynth the church Jan. 6, 1805, and still resides in Addison, retaining good health and men- tal faculties in a sound condition. Visible traces of some of the old French cellars remain on the shores of the lake, at Chimney Point, but all traces of the fort and chimneys have disappeared. The remaining towns of this county, interested chiefly in agriculture, each well supplied with schools, an "stripes with twigs of the wilderness, well laid on." One offender was sentenced to be drawn up in a chair to the sign of the Catamount Tavern in Bennington, there to remain two hours subject to the taunts and derisions of the multitude. The sign of this tavern was a huge catamount's skin stuffed, raised on a pole 20 feet high, with teeth grinning towards New York. This tavern was a famous resort in those days, and in it the Council would be useless. It was hardly possible that the children could then be alive, and many of them had pressing duties at home. At this June- ! tiire Ethan Allen, wlio had been consulting with the parents, mounted a | stump and commanded attention. AVith tears streaming down his weather-beaten chcelvs, he asked the men before him to make one more effort, to make the case of these heart-broken parents their own, and not to give up as long as there was a remote possibility of success. The appeal was irresistible; every man at once prepared for another effort, and before darkness again shut do^vn upon the mountains, the children were restored to their overjoyed parents. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. of Safety used frequently' to meet, and here thc3- -n-cro in session during tlie battle of Bennington, in 1777. The old tavern was standing as late as 18G0, but fras burned down in that j-ear bj- the torch of the incendiar}-. The breaking out of the war for independence swal- lowed up all minor contests. While New York was rather slow to adopt the patriot cause, and manj" of her people remained Lojalists, the Green Mountain Bojs were eager to join the ranlcs against the common foe. Thej- had an efflcieuL militia organization, readj- for ser- vice at a moment's warning, and it is not strange that the first aggressive movement against the mother coun- try-, VIZ., the capture of the strong fortresses of Crown Pomt and Ticonderoga, should have originated among the Green Mountains. That the plan of talcing these forts originated in the grants is proved b}- a letter from John Brown of I'itts- field, to Dr. V/arrcn and Samuel Adams of Boston, dated at Montreal, March 29, 1775. Mr. Brown had been sent to Canada b}- the Massachusetts Committee of Safety, to ascertain the temper of the people of that Province. The following is an extract from Brown's letter :— "One thing I must mention, to be kept a profound secret. The fort at Ticonderoga must be seized as soon as possible, should hostilities be commenced bv the king's troops. The people on the New Hampshire Grants have engaged to do this business, and in my opinion they are the most proper persons for the job. This will effectually curb this Pro\dnce, and all the troops that ma}' bo sent here." Brown had passed through Bennington on his way to Canada, and it seems the people had communicated to him their plans, which must have been made in 1774. or Tery early in 1775. The plan was not carried into im- mediate execution, for Allen, in his narrative of it, 8333 : "While these matters were deliberating, a commitree from the Council of Connecticut arrived at Bennington with advice and directions to carrj' into execution the surprise of these garrisons, and, if possible, to gain con- trol of the lake, which was done without loss of time." The committee from Connecticut raised 39 men in Berk- shire Countv, Mass., on their waj-, and relied on the grants to furnish the balance of the men and the leader. The leader was ready, and the men had only to be sum- moned.* Within three daj-s Allen had gathered his little force, and was on the shore of Lake Champlain, 60 miles from his starting point. Earl3-inl776 the British sent large reinforcements to Canada, which enabled them to take the offensive, and of this movement see page BS3. soon the Americans lost all they had gained in that coun- tr}', and were compelled to take refuge in the forts on Lake Champlain. The Green Mountain Bo3-s, under Warner, formed the rear-guard in tlie disastrous retreat, and saved our arm}- from total destruction. Warner's regiment was mostl3- from Bennington County. In the spring of 1777, Gen. Burg03Tie took command of a large and finel3' equipped bod3' of veteran soldiers for the purpose of gaining control of the lake, and open- ing up communication with Gen. Howe on the Hudson, and thus cutting the American Colonies in twain. The strong fortress of Ticonderoga, which should have proved a bar to their progress, was rendered untenable through failure of Gen. St. Clair to fortif3- Mount Defiance, which commanded the fort, and the American arm3- was com- pelled to fall bade. Their retreat was covered, and the arm3- saved from total rout, bv the rear-guard under Cols. Warner and Francis, who engaged the enemy in a desper- ate fight at Hubbardton. The check to the British was but temporary ; the Americans, being greatly outnum- bered, retreated to Manchester, while the enemy kept on the west side of the Taconic Mountains towards the Hud- son. Burgoyne issued a pompous proclamation calling upon the inhabitants of the grants to submit to the authority of the king, in which case he would afford them protection ; but if the3- would not submit, he threat- ened to let loose upon them his Indian allies, of which he had a large number. The onl3- effect this proclama- tion had on the settlers was to cause the flight of all north of Manchester, very few, if any, asking the pro- tection of the British. A little later (Aug. 20th) Bur- g03'ne wrote to a friend : " The New Hampshire Grants, in particular, a countr3' unpeopled and almost unknown 1 during the last war, now abounds in the most active and most rebellious race on the continent, and hangs like a gathering cloud on my left." In the meantime the people of the grants, in conven- tion assembled, had declared themselves independent, not onl}' from the jurisdiction of New York, but also from that of New Hampshire and all other states or nations. The government was left in the hands of a Council of Safety, composed of a few of the leading men in the State, which council first assembled at Manches- ter, and afterwards adjourned to Bennington. The first question to be met by the council was a very difficult one, — the defenc3 of the State from the victorious army of Burgoyne. Their onl3' protection was the depleted regiment of rangers under Col. Warner, and the scat- tered and poorly-armed militia. To put this militia in the field it was necessary to raise quite a sum of money, an article which the settlers did not possess to any great extent. After due deliberation, the council adopted the bold measure of confiscating the property of all Tories, which plan proved successful, and was subsequent!}' adopted b}' the other colonies. Between August, 1777, and October, 1786, the council and State confiscated Torj' property to the amount of £190,433. This served the twofold purpose of furnishing supplies to the patriots and deterring the wavering from joining the British. An urgent appeal was also sent to New Hampshire for aid, and Gen. Stark was soon on the way with 700 New Hampshire militia. By the last of July, Burgoyne had succeeded in reach- ing Fort Edward, on the Hudson, but his communication with his base of supplies on the lake was over a rough and difficult road, and his army soon began to suffer for want of pro^^sions and horses. To remedy this diffi- culty, and also to punish the people of the rebellious grants, he sent a strong force to Bennington to capture a quantit}' of stores which had been gathered there. His instructions to Baum, who commanded the expedi- tion, were : "Obtain horses, for j-our dragoons ; send me 1 ,300 horses ; seize Bennington ; cross the mountains to Rockingham and Brattleborough ; try the affections of the country ; take hostages ; meet me a fortnight hence at Albany." Baum's force consisted of 1,500 men, a large proportion being veteran troops, with two field- pieces, accompanied by a large foice of Tories and In- dians. Stark had under his command the New Hamp- shire miUtia, a small body of Berkshire County (Mass.) militia, under the command of Col. Simonds, and the Vermont militia. The number of the latter will never be known, as very many of them went into the battle "on their own hook," armed with muskets, fowling- pieces, and even with scji/hes and axes, for want of bet- ter weapotis. His whole effective force, however, did not exceed that of the enemy. Baum set out on his expedition August 13th, and met with little opposition until he reached the vicinitj' of Bennington, on the afternoon of the 14th. Here the evidences of serious opposition became so strong that he determined to fortify himself in a strong position, and send back for reinforcements. He spent the night of the 14th and all day the 15th in erecting breastworks and strengthening his position, which was well chosen on the brow of a steep hill, which was protected in front and on the right flank by the Waloomsac River, while exten- sive forests were on the left and in the rear. Stark, with the main body of his troops, encamped on the night of the 13th about two miles from Baum, on the road towards Bennington. It was his intention to have attacked the enemj' on the morning of the loth, but a heavy rain set in which lasted all day and precluded all offensive operations except slight skirmishing. The morning of the 16th dawned without a cloud in the skj', and Stark was early on the move. An-iving at the top of the hill on the opposite side of the river from the British, who were now in plain sight, he halted his men, and pointing to the redoubt, said: "There are the red- coats, bo3-s, and they are oin-s, or to-night Mollj' Stark sleeps a widow." Stark was smarting under the injustice of Congress, which, during his absence from the army on a recruiting expedition, had advanced several officers of inferior rank to be his superiors, causing his retirement. No doubt his peculiar situation made him desperate, and he was fully determined to win the battle or die in the at- tempt. His plan of b.attle was to engage the enemy on all sides at once, and was carried out to the letter, the thick forests enabling him to make the proper disposition of his troops. Col. Nichols, with 200 men, made a wide detour to get in the rear of the enemy by the left flank, and Col. Herrick, with 300 men, made the same move- ment on the right. Meanwhile Stark, with the main body, kept up a show of advancing in front, to divert the attention of the enemy and allow the flanking parties to get in position. It was three o'clock when the two detachments met in the rear of the British, and the pre- concerted signal of attack was given, and the advance made from all sides. The outlj-ing bodies of Tories and Indians were soon driven oflf or captured, and the struggle for the redoubt began. It was a desperate fight, between raw militia on the one hand and disciplined troops, pro- tected by breastworks defended by cannon, on the other. The final assault was a hand-to-hand encounter, for the British would not give up until overcome b}' brute force. Stark, who had been at Bunker Hill, Trenton, Princeton, and in several engagements in the French war, said in his report, that it lasted two hours, and was the hottest engagement he ever saw. Nothing could withstand the valor of the patriots. Stark wrote: "Had each man been an Alexander or a Charles of Sweden, he could not have behaved more gallantly." The victory was complete. Nearly all the British were kiUed or captured ; seven hundred prisoners were sent under guard to Bennington ; the wounded were being cared for, and the spoils of victory gathered. Some of the militia who lived in the vicinity, had started for home ; others, hungry and tired out, were preparing a hastj- meal or lying down to rest, when the noise of heavy firing was heard in front. Breyman was on the way, with 1,000 fresh troops and with cannon for the relief of Baum. It was a critical moment, but the tired HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. patriots gathered for another struggle. The}- waited for no orders, but hastened to oppose the progress of Broj-- man. Here a desperate struggle was going on. Tlie cannon of the Briiisli were taken and retaken, and the militia were finall}- driven back step by step. Defeat seemed inevitable. At this moment word passed along the line that Warner had come. His regiment of ran- gers, which had been reduced to 120 men at Hubbardton, had been stationed at Mancliester. Learning that there was likely to be an engagement at Bennington, they hastened to the field, and arrived not a moment too soon. The brave men who had borne the burden of the fight fell back and gave them room. Their well-directed vol- ley carried consternation into the ranks of the enem}-, who were soon on their way Iiack to the Hudson. Their retreat became a rout, and but for the darkness most if not all of them would have been captured. It was, indeed, a glorious daj' for Stark, for Vermont, and for the cause of in- dependence. Bur- goyne lost nearly one -fourth of his men, and the rest became dispirited. His Indian allies forsook him. the Tories ceased to flock to his standard, and his subse- quent surrender was only a question of time. The American cause, which had been en^• eloped in gloom from disasters on everj- hand, from this day grew brighter to the perfect da}-. As the line has been since run, this battle occurred on the soil of New York, though there were very few, if an}-, New York men engaged in it, unless they were loy- alists who joined the British. All the settled towns in Bennington County were well represented in the battle, but the exact number will never be known, as the militia had no thorough organization. Bennington, however, had two enrolled companies in the engagement. Capt. Samuel Robinson's muster-roll, at the time of the battle, contained 76 names ; the roll of Capt. Elijah Dewey's company, which was also present, has not been pre- served. Thus, for a time, the territory was relieved from the danger of invasion by the enemy. Subsequent attempts -i^ii^jii. y FIRST CHUl were warded off by stratagem. Vermont was refused representation in the Continental Congress. She would not acknowledge the jurisdiction of either New York or New Hampshire, but was really independent of all the world. Taking advantage of this anomalous condition of affairs, the British sought to form an alliance with the leaders in the new State, either for the puriMJse of join- ing the British cause, or at least to keep neutral. This idea was encouraged on the part of Allen, Warner, and some of the other leaders, but was kept a profound secret from the people at large. In this way, for three years, the country was protected from a second invasion from Canada, though their action in the matter has been severely condemned 1)}- some persons, who think they see treason in such conduct. The general verdict of history, however, ^ is that there were no stanchcr pa- triots in the Eng- '■-li colonies than . .Id leaders in mont, of whom iiington Coun- iirnished much ...I larger portion. The first church in Vermont was organized in Ben- nington in 1762, but was formed by " separatists" from the Congregational t-luuvlK's 111 Hardwick. Sinulerlaud and Westfield, Mass. Many of the dissentere migrated to the new colony, and the First Congregational Church of Bennington, with Rev. Jedediah Dewey of the Westfield Church as pas- tor, was the result. The church grew strong and pros- perous under the ministrations of Mr. Dewey, who re- mained its pastor until his decease in 1778. In 1765 a remarkable revival occurred, and similar ones at sub- sequent periods. The first "meeting-house," 50 feet by 40, with a porch 20 feet square, was built in 1765 by a tax on the inhabitants aided by individual sub- scriptions. In this primitive church occurred many in- teresting meetings and events connected with the carly history of the church. This church was in old Benning- ton, now called Bennington Centre. The first Baptist Church in the State was organized in Shaftsbury in 1768. Subsequently three other Baptist chm-ches were organized in this town, all more or less flourishing, but the number is now reduced to one. Members of the Episcopal Church held meetings in Arlington as early as 1764, though no church was erected until 1786, and that was not completed until 1803. Churches of this denomination were also organized at Manchester and Sandgate at an early day, and later at Bennington. Rev. Abraham Brownson was pastor of the church at Arlington for 23 years. Methodist churches have been formed at a comparatively recent date in Ben- nington and several other towns. Common schools were established in the several towns in the county immediately after their settlement. Clio Hall, tlie first academy in the State, was incorporated at Bennington in 1780. It flourished for several years, and afterwards gave place to Union Academy, which was incorporated in 1817. Dorset Grammar School was incorporated in 1804, and Dorset Academy in 1807. ^^^ ^ -S^- -^^H Arlington Academy was in- ^ corporated in 1817. Mount ^ Anthony Seminary was estali- lished at Bennington at a late i date, and is still doing a good work, though the others men- tioned have all ceased to exist. In 1829 Burr Seminar}^ wa^^ incorporated at Manchestci receiving its name from Josejih Burr, a wealthy citizen, who left $10,000 for its endow- ment, provided the citizens of the town would contribute a like amount for the erection of a building. This amount was secured, and a substantial stone building erected. In 1849 Josiah Burton left $10,000 for the endowment of a female department. The school at the outset was designed for preparing young men for the ministry, and attracted a large number of students. Rev. Dr. Lj'man Coleman, who is still living, was the first principal. The school has generall}' been very prosperous, and has exerted a wide influence for good, its graduates being scattered all over the country, many of whom have be- come distinguished in the various wallcs in life. The people of this countj' have been generallj' law- abiding, and there have been but two cases of capital punishment in its historj'. The first person executed was David Redding, a notorious Tor}', who carried on his operations in aid of the British, until thej- could not be overlooked bj' the sturdj' patriots. There was no law for the punishment of crimes, but they were a law unto themselves. All power was lodged in the local com- mittees of safety, and before one of these Redding was BURR AND BURTON SEM brought. A jury of six men was empanelled and the evidence heard. His guilt was proved beyond a doubt, and, the verdict being against him, he was sentenced by the committee to be hung, and the da}' of his execu- tion fixed. A large crowd from the surrounding countiy assembled to see the sentence carried out, and the feeling against him was very bitter. After the gallows had been erected and he was brought out, John Burn- ham, a J'oung lawyer from Connecticut, arrived, and, learning the manner of his trial and conviction, protested against his execution, on the ground that he had been tried by a jury of only six men, while ever}' principle of law required the jury should be composed of twelve men. The people did not relish such fine distinctions of law, and demanded that he should be hung at once. Ethan ^ Allen, who had just returned SSSsss:^ fiom his captivity in England, mounted a stump and demand- ed attention. He advised the people to return peaceably to their homes, and to assemble agiin on a certain day and tht > should witness an execu- 1 11 111, for if Redding was not g at that time he would be himself. A jury of twelve men WIS summoned, and Redding again tried and found guilty, and hung June 11, 1778. Archibald Bates of Shafts- bun was hung at Bennington in 1839 for shooting his sister-in-law without provoca- tion. FifLeen thousand people witnessed his execution. Towns. Bennisgtox. — Among the first settlers of Bennington are included the names of many who were prominent in the early history of the State. Capt. Samuel Robinson, Peter and Eleazer Harwood, Samuel and Timothy Pratt, Leonard and Samuel Robinson, John Fassett, Joseph Saff'ord, John Smith, John Burnham, Benj. Rudd, Elisha Field, Samuel Montague, James Breakenridge, Ebenezer Wood, Samuel and Oliver Scott, and Joseph Wickwire were among the immigrants of 1701. The first child born was Bcuj. Harwood, Jan. 12, 1702, who lived in town until his death, Jan. 22, 1851. Among later arrivals were Stci)h(Mi ami Jonas Fay, also Joseph and David Fay, Gen. Ebenezer Walbridgc, Nathan Clark, Col. Seth Warner, Gen. Ethan Allen, Gov. Isaac Tich- enor. Col. Samuel Herrick and Nathaniel Fillmore. The latter was grandfather of the late President Fillmore. HISTORY Of new ENGLAND. Anthony Haswell was an early settler and established the old '•Vermont Gazette" in 1783, which was pub- lished by him and his son John C. Haswell until 1849. Moses Eobinson was governor of the State in 1789, having previous]}- been chief justice of the Supreme Court. He was also elected senator in Congress on the admission of the State to the Union in 1791. Jonathan Robinson was chief judge of the Supremo Court from 1801 to 1807, when he was elected United States senator. Isaac Tichenor was chief justice in 1791, United States senator in 179G, governor of the State from 1797 for ten successive years, and again in 1808, and senator in Congress from 1814 to 1821, besides filling several other offices. He was a man of great personal popularity, and held the office of governor when all the other State offices belonged to the opposite political part}'. Nathan Clark was an early settler of great influence. He was often chairman of the committee of safety, and was speaker of the first State legislature. John S. Robinson was governor of the State in 1853, and at a later period Hiland Hall served as governor and also as representa- tive in Congress. He is still living at an advanced age. The principal village in town, for the first 50 years of its histor}', was Bennington Centre, and here was situ ated the court-house, jail, first church,* &c. The fine water-power one mile east of this village, however, began to attract settlers, and soon the cast village, called Algiers, outgrew its more pretentious neighbor on the hill. For the past 30 years nearly all the business • This church was used as barracks for Hessian prisoners after the b.ittle of Bennington. t One of the most remarltablc murder trials on record was held in JIancbcstcr in 1819. Stephen and Jesse Boorn were tried for the murder of their brother-in-law, Kusscll Colvin, and were found guilty and sen- tenced to be bung. The supposed murder occmTcd seven years bcforci and the evidence against tliem at the outset was entirely circumstantial and of the most vague and meagre character. Colvin was a man of weak intellect, and at times partially deranged. On these occasions he would wander away from home and be gone sometimes for months. He was not on good terms with the Booms, and quarrels were frequent. After one of these quaiTels he disappeared, but, as this was nothing imusual, little was said about it. Several years passed away and he did not return. People began to talk about the matter, and some suspicious circumstances were related. These stories were enlarged upon, and an uncle of Colvin's wife dreamed that Colvin came to him and told him that he had been murdered by the Booms and his body buried in a cer- tain locality. The place was searched, and some bones found. An old hat and pocket-knife belonging to Colvin were also found. This was enough to cause the wildest excitement. The two Booms were an-ested for murder and held for trial. While in jail they were visited by sev- eral influential people, who told them that their conviction was certain, and that they might as well confess, and an cflbrt would be made for a commutation of their sentence. Under this pressure they confessed, and told all the details of the murder, making them coincide with the suspicious circumstances brought up against them. It was principally on account of this confession that they were found guilty, as the other has been done at tlie new village, which has become one of the most flourishing and enterprising villages in the State. A large amount of manufacturing is carried on, principally in woollen and knit goods. The \illage of North Bennington has two or three cotton factories, and is al-o a place of considerable business importance. In 1852 a terrible freshet occurred at the latter village by the breaking awa}- of a pond or reservoir near the upper part of the village. Twelve or fifteen buildings were swept awaj', and one life was lost. The damage was estimated at $50,000. In 1877 the centennial celebration of the battle of Bennington was held. The President of the United States and several members of his cabinet were present, and also the governors of several States. The legislature of Massachusetts attended in a body. The most noted military organizations and bands of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut were present, together with a regiment of Vermont militia and some companies from New York, making a very fine military display. The principal address was delivered by Dr. BartKtt. president of Dartmouth College. The number of guests present is variously estimated at from sixty to one hun- dred thousand, quite severely taxing the hospitalit}- oi' the historic town; but like their heroic ancestors 100 jears before, with a little help from their neighbors, they proved equal to the occasion. Bennington has a popula- tion of 5,760. Manchester,! unlike most of the other towns in this evidence proved entirely worthless. They were both sentenced to be hung, and everybody believed them guilty. The sentence of one of them was commuted to imprisonment for life by the State Legislature, and the other remanded to jail to aw,ait his execation. As the time drew near ho asked his counsel, Gov. Skinner and Leonard Sargent, afterwards lieutenant-governor of the State, and who is still living, if nothing more could be done for him. They replied that there was no hope. He stoutly affirmed his innocence, notwithstanding his previous confession, and said that Colvin was still alive for anything that he knew. The counsel evidently did not place much confidence in his statement, but promised to do what they could to find Colvin ; and a notice of inquiry was sent to the " Rutland Herald," a paper at that time of very limited circulation. This notice was copied into the " New York Evening Post," and by chance fell into the hands of a man living in New Jersey who had seen a man who lived with one of his neighbors who answered to the description given. On returning home he went to sec the man, and from careful questipning became convinced that he was Colvin, although he denied his identity. Word was sent to Man- chester of the discovery, but Manchester people would not be con- vinced. A former resident of Manchester, who lived in New York, went to New Jersey, recognized Colvin, and finally induced him to re- turn with him to Manchester, where he arrived just in time to save the life of an innocent man, and where he was recognized by his old neigh- bors, though there were people who would not believe their own eyes, they had been so thoroughly possessed with the idea that the murder was a reality. Colvin related so many incidents that had previously occurrejl that there was no doubt whatever of his identity. VERMONT. State, was first settled b}- people from New York. The}' purchased their titles, however, from the original pro- ! prietors, who obtained the grant of the township from Gov. Wentworth of New Hampshire. It seems that a j party of explorers from Amenia, N. Y., came up with the intention of settling In Salem in the same State, but, ascending Equinox Mountain to get a better view of the countr}-, they were struck with the beautj-of the valley to the east, which valle}' they subsequentlj' purchased and settled. The first settlement was made in the south part of the town in 1764. Among the first comers were Samuel Rose, Gideon Ormsby, Jeremiah French, Elia- kim Weller, Stephen, James and Ezra Mead, Benjamin j Puidy, Samuel and Thomas Soper. Martin Powell and William Marsh soon after joined them and became prominent in town affairs. These settlers had the same trouble with New York claimants of their lands as the people of the other towns, and were just as determined in their resistance. Manchester also furnished her quota of men in the Revolutionary war. Nathan Smith was an officer in Warner's first regiment of rangers ; and a portion of the regiment was recruited in this town. A i good number also participated in the battle of Benning- ton. Among them were John Roberts and his four sons. Capt. Nathan Smith was one of the very first men over the English breastworks. In 1 780 Manches- ter had three companies, comprising 150 men, all of her fighting population, either in the field or ready for service at a moment's warning. Among the later settlers who gained prominence were Joel Pratt, Robert Pierpoint, Dr. Ezra Isham, Joseph Burr, Nathan Bur- ton, and Richard Skinner. The latter was elected a judge of the Supreme Court and also governor of the State. In the war of 1812, 34 citizens of this town volunteered, two of whom were killed. For the past 20 years Manchester has been justly celebrated as a summer resort, and has been well patron- ized. The scenery is fine and the air cool and delightful. The village is kept remarkabl}- neat, there being plenty of shade and three miles of marble sidewalk. Aside from the summer business, the chief occupation of the people of this town is farming. The population is about 1,900. I Dorset was settled in 1768 by Felix Powell, Isaac Lace}-, Benjamin Baldwin, Abraham Underbill, John Manley and George Page, the last four being from New York. Dea. Cephas Kent kept a tavern during the early I days, which was a noted resort for the patriots. At his j house in 177G was held a convention of delegates from the several towns in the State, at which it was resolved i ih:it this State be free and independent of all the world. There were 51 delegates present, representing 35 towns. Dea. Kent had six sons, four of whom were in the battle of Bennington, and one of them lived till 1849, lacking only a few days of being 100 years old. Isaac Farwell, one of the first children born in town, is still living, his one hundredth birthday being celebrated July 14, 1879. The early settlers of this town were distinguished for their good qualities of head and heart. Rev. Dr. Wm. Jackson was pastor of the Congregational Church from 1793 till 1842, and was a man of much more than or- dinary ability, exerting a deep and lasting influence upon the community. The chief industry of Doi-set, aside from agricultural pur- suits, is quarrying and sawing marble, of which there is an inexhaustible supply of almost every quality, that of the Vermont Italian quarries being the most favorably known. This is a light marble, striped with blue veins, and is very durable for out-door work. Pure white marble is also found in great abundance. The Dorset marble is well and fivvorably known throughout the Union, and a large quantity is sold every year. The population of the town is 2,200. Shaftsbury was settled in 1763, the following names appearing upon the roll of the first settlers : Spencer, Cole, Willoughby, Clark, Doolittle, Waldo, Burlingamc, Andrus, Bearsley, Downer, and Mattison. Thomas Mattison was first town clerk, and held the office formoro than 40 years. He was followed by Jacob Galusha, and he by Hiram Barton, the present incumbent, making but three in 116 years. Among the first settlers was Maj. Gideon Olin, a man of prominence in the State, chitf justice for four years, and representative in Congress in I 1806 and 1807. Abram B. Olin, who was appointed judge of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia by President Lincoln, and who died very recentl}', was a 1 native of Shaftsbury. Jonas Galusha was one of the i older settlers, a captain in the militia, and was present i at the Bennington battle. Besides filling many import- | ant positions in the county and State, he was governor j for nine years. Jeremiah Clark was chief justice, and member of the State Council. lie pronounced the death sentence on David Redding, the first man executed in the State. George Nilcs, one of the early settlers, lived to the age of 105 years. When 100 years old he would show the i "boys" how to mow, and retained his strength to a won- i derful degree. David Millington was the inventor of the system of wax grafting. The early settlers were full of patriotism, and dealt in a summary manner with the few Tories in their midst. John Munro, who livid near the west line of the town, accepted a commission under the HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. New York authorities as justice of the peace, but he was never allowed to act in his official capacitj', and was finally compelled to leave town. A companj' of 31 men was raised in this towii for service in the Revolutionar}' war. Shaftsburv has 2,027 inhabitants. PowT^AX, a town of 1,705 inhabitants, was first settled by a few Dutch squatters in 1724, who, however, re- mained after the town was chartered in 1760, and most of them were successful in resisting all attempts to dis- possess them of their lands. The real settlement under the charter began in 1762. Charles Wright and his three sons, Samuel, Josiah and Solomon, were among the first settlers. George Gardner, who came from Hancock, Mass., lived to be 114 j-ears of age. He planted an orchard when he was 85, and enjoyed the fruit many j'ears. Gen. Josiah Wright became a prominent man in town. He was judge of probate for 13 j-ears, and chief judge of the county court eight years, and member of the State council, ten j-ears. His brother Solomon was also judge of the county court, and held other offices. They belonged to opposite political parties, each being an acknowledged leader, and the strife between them often waxed wann, sometimes causing hard feelings. Generally, however, the political warfare was waged with [lersonal good feeling, but it lasted for many j-ears. A company of soldiers was raised in this town for service during the war of 1812, commanded by Capt. Dan- forth. Arlington was first settled in 1762. The prominent men among the first settlers were Capt. Jehiel Hawlej-, Remember Baker, Lemuel Buck, David Buck, Nathan Canfield, Israel Canfield, James Hard, Zadock Hard, David Crofut, Eliakim Stoddard, Daniel Burritt, and Andrew Burritt. Jehiel Ilawley was a lo3-alist, and se\-- eral others were inclined in the same direction, which caused a great deal of trouble during the Revolution, most of them being driven from their homes and their property confiscated. Thomas Chittenden, Matthew Lyon, John Fassett, Jr., and afterwards Ethan Allen, moved into town and took possession of confiscated prop- erty. Chittenden was the first governor of the State, and held the office 19 years. Matthew Lj-on was after- wards a member of Congress. None of the last named remained in town for a great length of time. After the war was over, some of the Tory exiles returned to town, and settled down into good citizens, while others settled elsewhere or died in foreign lauds. Capt. Ilawle}' died on Lake Champlain, on his way to Canada. Nathan Canfield rather inclined towards the loj-alists, but he did not leave the town and was never seriousl3- molested. He had a very large family of children, and his descend- ants still live in town. Abel Benedict was killed at the battle of Bennington, fighting on the side of the king. Five or six who joined Burgoyne were taken prisoners I with him at Saratoga. Notwithstanding some of the prominent men in town were Tories, there were also man}' patriots who risked their lives for their countrj-'s in- dependence. Abel Hawley kept a tavern here at the time, which was, as it seems, a rendezvous for both parties. Samuel Adams, who lived in the west part of the town, recruited a company of Tories for the purpose of joining Burgoyne's army, and had his head-quarters here, secretly of course. After the battle of Hubbardton, when the | patriots were quartered at Manchester, Col. Lyon, with a [ small force, proceeded to collect cattle from the Tories [ for their subsistence. Adams collected some of his men and hid in the bushes where Lyon and his party were to pass, and fired upon them from his ambuscade. One man was mortally wounded, and the others fled, leaving the cattle to return to their owners. Adams never appeared in town again, and died in Canada, where his descendants still live. I Arlington has a population of 1,636. RuPEKT. — The early settlement of this town is some- ; what in obscurity, from the fact that the proprietors' clerk, Joseph Cass, was a noted Tory, and ran away with the records, and the}' were never recovered. It is, however, known that Isaac Blood, Barnabas Baruum, Amos Curtis and Jonathan Eastman settled in the east part of the town about 1765. Aaron Rising and Oliver Scott settled in the west part of the town in 1773. In 1771 a settlement was made in White Creek by persons claiming the land under New York authoiity. The New Hampshire grantees drove them off and burned their cabins. The sheriff of Albany County soon appeared with an armed ])osse to arrest the rioters, as they were i termed. The settlers, having an intimation of the ! sheriff's purpose, all turned out, and, under the lead of one Harmon, drove them off with clubs and guns. Upon the advance of Burgoyne in 1777, the settlers all fled, and their homes were destroyed by the Tories and Indians. In 1780 most of them returned, and in that year David Sheldon settled here, coming from Suffield, Conn. He was a man of great influence in the town, representing it 13 times in the State legislature. He was also judge of the county court for many years. ' Grove Moore and Josiah Rising were also prominent men. Israel Smith was one of the early settlers, thungh | he subsequently removed to Rutland. He was chief] judge of the Supreme Court in 1797, and was elected to Congress in 1803, which office he resigned on being VERMONT. elected governor in 1807. Dr. Josiali Graves, the first phj-sician in town, was also a count}' judge. Nathan Burton moved into town at a later date. He was chief judge of the country court for several jears. In June, 1785, Reuben Harmon, Jr., petitioned the State legisla- ture for the exclusive right of issuing copper coin for the term of two j-ears, which was granted ; and the time was subsequentlj' extended eight j-ears. Quite a large amount was coined bj' him, and pieces of this coinage arc now sometimes met with. This was the first, and so far as we know, the onl}' authorized coinage of monej' in the State. Rev. Ichabod Spencer, D. D., long a noted divine of Brooklj-n, N. Y., was a native of this town. Rupert has a population of 1,017. Sunderland, a town of 553 inhabitants, was settled in 17G4, the names on the first record being Gen. Gideon Brownson and Col. Timothy Brownson, Joseph Bradley, Amos Chipman, Abner and Charles Evarts, Abner Hill, and Reuben Webb, nearl}' all being from Connecticut. Ethan and Ira Allen also lived in this town, the latter for several years, when he held the ofBce of State treas- urer. The little building which he used for an office is still standing. He was also secretarj' for the Council of Safety, and an influential member of that body. Timo- thy Brownson was elected judge of the county court in 1779. Jeremiah Evarts, for a long time secretar}' of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and well known as a Christian philanthropist, was a native of this town, where his boyhood was spent. He was the father of Hon. William M. Evarts, the present Secretary of State. The people of this town did their full share in the Revolutionary war, several of them being in the battle of Bennington. Other towns of Bennington Countj' are : — Winhall, settled about 1780, containing a population of 842: READSBOROUGn, a town of 828 inhabitants, settled as early as 1779: Sandgate, settled in 1771 ; population, 706 : Stamford, the first settlement being made by a man named Raymond, about the year 1777 ; population, 633 : Peru, settled in 1773, chartered under the name of Bromle}', but in 1803 given its present name ; popula- tion, 500 : Landgrove, settled in 1709 byCapt. William Utley ; population, 302 : and Woodford, settled about the j-car 1779; population, 400. There are iron-mines in this latter town, and a furnace for making bar-iron was erected as early as the j'ear 1800. During Jeffer- son's administration a furnace was erected for the manu- facture of anchors for war vessels. Still another fur- nace was afterward erected for the manufacture of bar- iron, but none of them are now in operation. Sears- burg and Glastenbury have a respective population of 235 and 119, CALEDONIA COUNTY, BY HON. HENRY CLARK.. The county of Caledonia, lying in the north-eastern division of the State, is one of the best farming sections, and rich in its manufacturing enterprise. It is bounded on the north by Orleans County, on the east by Essex County, on the south-east b}' the Connecticut River, on the south by Orange County, and on the west by Wash- ington and Lamoille counties. It contains about 700 square miles, with a population of 21,708. The territory embraced in this county, in the earlj' history of the State, formed a part of the countj' of Gloucester. In 1781 the eastern part of the State was divided into three counties, Windham, Windsor and Orange. Nov. 5, 1792, Caledonia County was incor- porated from Orange County, including all that part of the State north of that county, and extending so far west as to include Montpelier and adjoining towns. The county was organized Nov. 8, 179G, and Danville made the county- seat, and so remained until 185G, when St. Johnsbury became the shire town. In 1811 a re-division of counties was made. Orleans and Essex counties were taken from Caledonia County, and six towns incorpo- rated with Washington. The county now consists of 16 towns. It is not certainlj' known when this part of Vermont was discovered. The Indians probably owned and oc- cupied it because of the rare facilities offered for fishing and hunting. The St. Francis tribe roamed over this section, as far down at least as White River Falls, although their principal settlement was in Canada. They had an encampment at Newbury, and cultivated "the HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Meadows" on the Great Ox Bow. Some of llie St. Francis tribe lived and died in Newbury. Capt. Jolin, a noted cliief of tliis tribe, was a firm friend of the American cause, and during the Revolutionarj* war re- ceived a captain's commission. The French war and the fear of the Indians retarded the settlements on the Connecticut River. In 1760 no settlements were made and no towns chartered on that river north of Charlestown, N. H. In 17G1, the towns north of AYells River were surveyed. The towns first chartered bj- Benning Wentworth, governor of New Ilampsliire, were, Ryegate, Sept. 8, 17C3 ; Barnet, Sept. IG, 17G3 ; and Peacham, Dec. 31, 17G3. Barnet was the first town in the county tliat was settled, Jon.athan Fowler, Jacob, Elijah and Daniel Hall being the earliest settlers (March 4, 1770). The first house built in the county was erected by the Hall brothers, near Stevens River. Sarah, daughter of Elijah Hall, was the first child born, and Barnet Fowler, son of Jonathan Fowler, was probabl}- the first male child born in the county. In October, 1773, there were 15 families in town, and in 1775 it began to be rapidlj- settled bj- emigrants from Scotland, who soon composed the great niajoritj- of the inhabitants. Soon after the Revolution- ary war they succeeded in establishing* churches, ac- cording to the Presbyterian form, and emigi-ants from Scotland came and preached in Barnet and Ryegate. Rev. Peter Powers, pastor in Newburj- from 1775 to 1784, was probabl}- the first minister settled in the countj'. Rev. John Witherspoon, D. D., visited Barnet and Ryegate two or three times, and preached and bap- tized. On one of these occasions he rode the saddle on which his son sat at the battle of Germantown, and which bore the mark of the ball which killed him. In 1773, emigrants from Scotland, having purchased the south half of the town of Ryegate, began to make settlements therein. The first inhabitants of the town were Aaron Hosmer and his family, who had camped on the Connecticut River, two miles above "Wells River, but most of the early settlers were Scotch. Jonathan Elkins selected a lot in Peacham in 1774, and settled thereon in the spring of the following jear. Danville was chartered Oct. 27, 1784, and a few years afterwards Dr. Jonathan Arnold procured the charters of St. Johnsbury, Lj'ndon, Burke and Billj-mead (now Sutton), and named them for his four sons, John, Lyn- don, Burke and William. John was dead, and his father called the town named for him, St. Johnsburj-. Rye- gate, Barnet and Peacham, the towns first chartered, were settled before the Revolutlonar3- war. The re- maining towns were chartered between 1780 and 1790. In the winWr of 1773, Davi.l Allen and James White- law sailed from Greenock, Scotland, reaching Phila- delphia M.aj- 24. Thej- finally bargained with Rev. John Withcrspoon, D. D., then president of New Jersey College, for land in a section now known as Rj'egate, and in November following, together with James Hen- derson of New York, a carpenter and one of their ship- mates, eflfectcd a settlement in that place. Thej- found there a countrj-man, John Ilyndman, who with his family had moved into town a few months be- fore and was engaged in building a house, and thcj' helped to complete it. Their houses, built of logs and covered with bark, were finished about Jan. 1, 1774. The remainder of the winter was spent in making an opening in the wilderness. In May a large accession to the colonj- arrived from Scotland. These were men of sterling worth, and some of their descendants are among the most prominent at the present time. In 1774 the town received another accession from Scotland. The next year the war of the Revolution commenced, and in consequence there were few addi- tions for a number of years. After peace was declared the town received man}' valuable additions from Scot- land. In common with the other carl}- settlements the people were subjected to gi'cat hardships and privations. The town of Barnet from the first took an active part in the declaration of the independence of the State of Vermont, and the formation of tlie constitution and gov- ernment. Alexander Harvey represented the town in three conventions in 1777, which declared the State independent, and formed a constitution and organized a government. There is a tradition in the Stevens family that the town was called Barnet from the circumstance that the great-grandfather of Enos Stevens, one of the first set- tlers, who emigrated to Mass.achusetts in 1G88, came from Barnet, Eng. The ecclesiastical history' of Barnet is perhaps the most peculiar fact in its earlj- historj-. The company of Perth and Sterling, whose agent was Col. Alexander Harvey, agi'ecd to bu)' a tract of land in America in order to settle together, and have a settled minister among them. Harvey's tract in Barnet was purchased for them in 1774 and settled early in 1775; but the Revolutionary war checked the emigration. Scotch families from Ryegate moved in toward the close of the war, after which it was rapidly settled in different parts liy emigrants from Scotland. Among the first move- ments of the people after securing their homes, was to find a minister, and John Gray of Ryegate travelled on foot 140 miles to secure the ser^nces of Rev. Thomas VERMONT. Clark, a Scotch clergyman belonging to the Associate Presln-terian Church, and settled in Salem, N. Y. He came and preached some time in Barnet and Rj-egate, the latter part of the summer of 1775. He revisited these towns two or three times during the Revolutionary war. Rev. John "VVitherspoon, D. D., president of Princeton College, New Jersey-, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a member and chaplain of Congress, who owned lands in Rvegate, Newbmy, and Walden, and whose son was settled in the north part of Ryegate, visited that section in 1775. In 1782 he preached in Ryegate and Barnet. He visited that section again in 1786. Rev. Hugh White, a Scotch clerg3-man, preached in Rj-egate in 1775. Rev. Peter Powers of Newbur3' was the first settled pastor in the county, and remained from 17C5 to 1784. In 1784 Ryegate voted unanimously to choose the Presbyterian form of religious worship. So on to this day have the descendants of this Scotch ancestry continued to worship according to the ordi- nances of religion established by the fathers. The few churches of this peculiar form are the only distinctive Presbyterian churches in Vermont. The town now known as Danville, was originally granted by New York, and called Hillsborough ; a name significant of this peculiarly elevated and hilly region. In issuing the Vermont charter the old name of Hillsborough was set aside. During the early struggle of the then New Hampshire Grants for a separate State existence, the eflTorts of Ethan Allen and his associates were encouraged and assisted bj' the French consul, then at Boston, Hector St. John Crevecoeur. Allen and his associates, wishing to show their appreciation of these timely- services, named several townships in honor of dis- tinguished Frenchmen. Danville was named in honor of the celebrated French admiral, D'Anville. In March, 1784, Capt. Charles Sias, with his family, made the first actual settlement in Danville. His wife was the first white woman who dared to breast the long and dreary winter of the unbroken wilderness. Mr. Sias came from Peacham, drawing his effects and familj- on a hand-sled. He brought with him ten children, seven sons and three daughters. The snow was verj- deep and the waj' was trackless. The family began their labors in the wilderness b^- tapping the maples, which stood thick around them in the groves, affording them sugar in abundance, and supplying in a great degree the lack of other food. In the spring of 1786 some 50 emigrants from New Hampshire and Essex County, Mass., had settled in Danville as " Squatters." The township was chartered October 31st of the same year. In the winter of 1787 40 additional families came, and, from this time, settlers came in rapidlj'. March 20, 1787, the town was organ- ized. The first child born in town was in the summer of 1787, and was named Danville Howard. In 1789, so rapidlj' had emigration poured in, it was estimated there were no less than 200 families in town, where, six years before, a solitary man sat himself down among the wooded hiUs. The sufferings of that time were very severe, because of the scarcity of provision consequent upon a so rapid increase of population. Maple sugar formed the chief article of food. Large quantities of corn and other provisions were brought from Essex County, Mass., a distance of nearlj' 200 miles. Soon after the township was granted, difficulties be- gan to arise among the settlers and the several grantees, respecting the quantity' of land to which they were en- titled. The General Assembly, to whom the matter was finally referred, issued a new or " quieting" charter to the proprietors, Nov. 12, 1802. This is a peculiar fea- ture in the organization of the town of Danville, an act which has never been extended to anj' other town. Hard- wick was first chartered in 1780. Soon after Peter Pago of Swanzej', N. H., came, accompanied bj^ a man named SaflTord, and commenced a clearing near the centre of the town. After clearing two acres, both men left discour- aged. In 1792, Mark Norris made the following record in a certain "cyphering book " : "I dro-\'e the first sleigh through the woods from Deweysburgh to Greensborough that was ever drove through bj' man, to my knowing, which was on the 4th of January, 1792. I moved into Hardwick, the first that ever moved in to settle the town, on the 13lh day of March, 1792." His cousin, Nathaniel Norris, soon followed, and Peter Page, befoi'e alluded to, returned. "When he had moved his family as near as he could to his shanty, by the road, he put on his snow-shoes, placed his wife and three children (the young- est of whom was put in a bread-trough) on a hand-sled, drew them to their new home, and then returned for his goods. They hved a year in their rude hovel without floor or chimney, building their fires at one side, and ha^-ing a hole in the roof for the smoke to escape. He brought all the provision on his back, either from Peacham, 20 miles distant, or from Cabot, 8 miles. Water gruel was sometimes their onlj- sustenance. John Page, the babe that rode into Hardwick in a bread- trough, afterwards removed to Westmore. Ho died at Montpelier in 1835, while representing his town in the Vermont legislature. Peter Page the father and pioneer, died in December, 1852, aged 83. In 1793 three more families moved into Hardwick, among them an old man named James Sinclair, who emi- HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. grated from Scotland, settled in New Market, N. H., and fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. He died soon after his arrival, and was the first person buried in the town. A log was dug out for his coffin, and a slab split from another log was nailed or pinned on for the cover. The town of Lj-ndon was located in the summer of 1780, by Hon. Jonathan Arnold, Daniel C'ahoon, and Daniel Owen of Providence, R. I., an exploring com- mittee of an association of about 50 of the most enter- prising citizens of that citj- and its vicinitj-, to select ungranted territory for a township in which to settle a colon}- in the new State of Vermont. Before its charter the ten-itory selected was called Bestbury. The town- ship appears to have been the hunting and fishing ground of the Indians, and many arrow-points of flint, and other implements of stone were found bj' the early settlers. The town was granted by the General Assembly of Vermont, Nov. 2, 1780, to Jonathan Arnold and his associates, — in all 53, inclusive of the governors of Ver- mont and Rhode Island, and the Rev. James Manning, D. D., of Providence, and others. The name of Lyn- don was given it in honor of the oldest son of the first grantee, Josias Lyndon Arnold, who was a native of Pro-\ndence, liberally educated, professionally a lawyer, and also a poet. He settled at St. Johnsburj' at an earl}' day, but it is said his social and educational tastes did not perfectly harmonize with backwoods life. He was probably the first lawyer settled in the present limits of the county. He died in 1792, and left a widow and daughters. The widow * afterwards married Hon. Charles Marsh of Woodstock, and was the mother of George P. Marsh, the distinguished scholar and foreign minister. The grant of the township being to citizens of Rhode Island, most of its early settlers came from that State and its vicinity, Seekonk and Rehoboth, Mass. Others came from the interior of Massachusetts and the valley of the Connecticut River in Massacluisetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire ; and some from the interior of New Hampshire — Sandwich, and its neighborhood. The first settlement was begun by Daniel Cahoon, Jr. He, with a few chosen men, made a clearing on a right al- lotted to his father, as original proprietor, in April, 1788. The town was organized July 4, 1791. There were at that time 59 inhabitants. In May, 1793, Daniel Cahoon, Sr., moved his family into town, occupying a portion of the log-house erected by his son in 1788. He was the only one of the original proprietors who settled in Lyn- don. He died Sept. 13, 1811, aged 74 years, having • SUe was also the grandmother of Susan Lyman, the accomplished wife of Vermont's distinguished statesman and senator, Hon. George F. Edmunds. been gored by a bull when passing through a liarnyard. The concourse at his funeral numbered nearly 900. In 1812, Rev. Phineas Peck, a Methodist minister, was permanently settled as the first minister, and a third of the ministers' lot conveyed to him. This is the fii'st instance in the history of Vermont where a preacher of the Methodist denomination was the first settled town minister, and accorded the charter grant of land. The Caledonia County grammar school at Lyndon, was in- corporated, and the building erected, in 1831. Lyndon has furnished more resident members of Congress than any town in the State, having had five gentlemen in the National Legislature ; viz., AVilliam Cahoon, Benjamin F. Deming, Isaac Fletcher and Thomas Bartlett, Jr., besides Charles W. AVillard of Montpelier, a native of Lyndon, who was in Congress for six years. There is very little peculiar in the organization and settlement of Peacham, whose even plane of history has given it the reputation of a staid and substantial New England town. Its devotion to education has been one of its marked characteristics, which has honored her and blessed the world. Peacham received its corporate ex- istence from Benning Wentworth, governor of New Hampshire, Dec. 31, 1793. The first meeting of the proprietors was held in Iladley, Mass., Jan. 18, 1764. At this time, the machinery of the town was put in working order, but the power to propel it was in London, while the chief overseer had his residence in Portsmouth, N. H. For nearly 20 years after this, the town re- mained in almost unbroken silence. The disturbed con- dition of the country, arising from the contested claims of New Hampshire and New York, and the American Revolution, retarded its growth. A few inhabitants endeavored to make homes for themselves in 1775, but lived in constant peril. Early in that year, Dea. Jona- than Elkins, of Hampton, N. H., came with a few others, and began cutting down the woods ; but from fear of the enemy, soon after returned to Newbury. The solitude was broken in 1776 by the marching of several companies of soldiers along a line made by blazed trees from New- bury to Champlain. It was in early spring, and they marched on snow- shoes ; but upon hearing of an invasion from Canada, they soon returned. The few settlers fled with them. Mr. Elkins, with John Skeels and A. McLaughlin, re- turned in the fall, and spent the winter together in Peacham. Harvey Elkins, the first white male child in Peacham, was born in October, 1777. In 1780, a block- house was built for security from the enemy. The sea- sons of alarm were not unfrequent, though it is not known that any one was killed in the limits of the town. A few were taken prisoners, among whom were Cols. Elkins of Peacham, and Johnson from Newburj' in 1781, and two by the name of Bailej- in 1782. Col. Elkins was carried to Quebec, thence to England, and was there exchanged for one of equal rank. Col. Johnson returned on parole. After the close of the war population rapidly increased. It was a point of considerable commercial importance in Indian trade, and as the military' road, survej'ed b}' Gen. Hazen in 1779, from Peacham to Champlain, became famous as a medium of transit across the country, the land came rapidly under cultivation. In 1784, the town was full3- organized. In 1795, the attention of the peo- ple was turned to the question of building an academy, and of using the same building both for a school and public worship, and the question prevailed, and Caledonia County Grammar School,* located in Peacham, received its charter, bearing date, Oct. 27, 1795. The school was opened, Dec. 1, 1797, and Ezra Carter, Esq., was the first principal. It has prospered since, with an annual aggregate of 200 pupils. Among the various principals have been Jeremiah Evarts, S. C. Bartlett, Noah Worces- ter and John Lord. Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, Chief Justice Isaac F. Redfield, William M. Evarts, and Rev. Wilbur Fisk, D. D., rank among its pupils. The Congregational Church was organized with 12 members, April 14, 1794. The last survivor of this number was Marj- Bailey, 2d, who died in Glover, in 1844, aged 92 years. Rev. Leonard Worcester was ordained pastor of the church, Oct. 30, 1799, and labored faithfully in the work of the ministrj- among this people for forty j-ears, and was buried in their midst, June 1, 184G. The first meeting-house was built on Academy Hill in 1806. The present pastor of the church is the fourth from its beginning. This church has always taken a great interest in the cause of humanity, temperance and missions. Fifty years ago, there were 30 distilleries in Peacham in operation. It has been the banner town of the State in temperance and attendance upon public worship on the Sabbath day. From 1800, the progress of Peacham has been steadily onward. Several interesting incidents are connected with the settlement of St. Johnsbury, the most important town in the county, and among the more influential in the State. Sixteen years before its settlement, a tract of land on the Passumpsic River — including the whole of .St. Johns- bury, together with a portion of Concord and Waterford — was granted bj' King George III. to certain of his " loving subjects of the Province of New York." It was formally chartered to John Woods and William Swan • Said to have been the first free school i and their associates, by Cadwalader Colden, who in 1770 was governor-general of New Yurk. The charter was dated. New York, Aug. 8, 1770, and, in honor of the Earl of Dunmore, the township received the name of Dunmore. This document is still preserved in the state- house at Albany. The New Hampshire grants difficulties arising soon after, prevented tlio settlement and tillage of the lands under the Dunmore charter. In the adjustment of the conflicting titles under the New York and Vermont char- ters, a board of commissioners was appointed to settle the claims of the New York grantees. They had the choice of paying ten cents an acre on their lands and retaining them, or giving up their title and locating grants in Western New York. In 1787, one Moses Liitle presented a petition to the legi.slature as one of the proprietors of Dunmore, setting forth that he had purchased 10,000 acres of the land at a high price, ap- plying for redress, which was refused. Oct. 27, 178G, Thomas Chittenden, then governor of Vermont, granted a charter to Dr. Jonathan Arnold and his associates of a tract of land in what was tlien Orange County, to be known as the " Township of St. Johnsbury." Some few settlements had been made the year previous to the granting of this charter. The name St. Johnsbury was suggested to Ethan Allen by St. John de Crevecoeur, the French consul at New York, in a letter under date of Maj'31, A. D. 1785, and, on Allen's recommendation, was adopted. The names of Danville and Vergennes were also adopted at the request of Mr. St. John. The charter provided reservations of land for the State col- lege, a county grammar school, for support of an Eng- lish school in said township, and for tlie settlement of a minister. In the latter part of 1786, the first permanent settle- ment of the town was made by James Adams, Martin Adams, James C. Adams and Jonathan Adams, on the meadows near St. Johnsbury plain. The families were scattered who braved out the first winter, going to Bar- net grist-mills for their flour, and to the stores of that town for their rum and sugar, travelling by rough-cut sled-paths. In the spring of 1787, Dr. Arnold came with 16 others. He was a most efficient and enterprising man among the settlers. He had been several years a member of Congress from Rhode Island, and was the largest land proprietor of St. Johnsbury. Thus com- menced what is now one of the most populous and enter- prising towns in the State. The settlement was rapid after this date by immigra- tion from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The first town meeting was lield in 1 790. Dr. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Joseph Lord opened the first tavern, and astonished his neighbors by importing from IMontreal the first cooking- stove brought into town, antl said to have been made in Scotland. The first clock in St. Johusbur^- was pur- chased before 1800, by Nathaniel Edson, for $75, and is at the present date in running order. Dr. Arnold, the early pioneer, died three years after the organization of the town, and thus passed away one of the most ener- getic, gifted and cultivated of Vermont's early pioneers. In 1797, St. Johnsburj' was set off from Orange Count}', and, with 18 others, united to form the new county of Caledonia. The town of "Wheelock has in its charter a peculiarit}' which is probably not found in anj- similar document in the United States at least. The town, by its charter, is exempt from taxation by the State, and it occurred in this wise. In 1 785 the legislature of Vermont, in recognition of its claims upon the State for the education of a lai^c number of her children, gave bj' charter this town to Dart- month College and Moor's Indian Charity School, located at Ilanovcr, N. II. , one moiety to the college and the other moiety to the school. In the same instrument the town was incorporated and named after Rev. John "Wheeloclj:, D. D. , the first president of the college. In the charter it is provided that so long as and while the said college and school actuall}' applj' the rents and profits of this land to the purposes of the college and school, the land and tene- ments in town shall be exempt from public taxes, so that the town has never been called upon to pay State taxes. The town enjoys all the rights and privileges of other towns in the State, and pays none of the expense of maintaining the State government. There is little of historic or especi.-il interest in the carl}' settlement of the remaining towns in Caledonia not thus far noted in this sketch; viz., Burke, Groton, Shef- field, Sutton, Walden, and Goshen Gore. The first mills erected in the count}' were a saw and grist mill built by Col. Ilurd of Haverhill, N. II., in 1791, at the falls on Stevens River in Barnet. Barnet, Ryegate and Peacham, being New Hampshire Grants, were involved in the controversy with New York, and took an active part in declaring Vermont independ- ent, and establishing its government. In 1777 a general call was made for soldiers, and Caledonia County sent armed men to Saratoga, who witnessed the surrender of Burgoyne and his army. Militia were afterwards enlisted to guard the frontier, soldiers sent to the American army, and provisions fur- nished according to their ability. The county was called "Caledonia," the ancient name of Scotland, because of the large number of emigrants from that country who had purchased largo tracts of land in the county, and had made flourishing settlements. The nearest post-office in the county for many years was at Newbury, Orange County. Mail facilities were probably extended to Ryegate, Peacham and Danville about 1799. In 1808 the mail route was extended to Barnet and St. Johnsbury. i The early settlers of the county were not forgetful of the education of tlieir children, and not onh' established I the common school but the academy. Caledonia County Grammar School was chartered and endowed by the legislature, Oct. 27, 1795. Successful academies also exist at St. Johnsbury, Danville, London and Barnet, with large and elegant edifices. I The legislature of Vermont held its session at Danville, the county seat, in October, 1805. 1 The "Green Mountain Patriot," published atPeaeh.am by Amos Farley and Samuel Goss, commenced in Febru- ary, 1798, and continued till March, 1807, when it was removed to lilontpelier, and is now published at that place under the title of " The Argus and I'atriot." "The North Star," published at Danville, commenced the first week in January, 1807, and is still published by George E. Eaton, the grandson of the first proprietor. The papers now published in the county, besides the foregoing, arc "The Vermont Union" at Lyndon, and " Caled(5- nian" at St. Johnsbury. The Connecticnt and Passumpsic Rivers Railroad was constructed from White River through the eastern part of the county. In 187G the Portland and Ogdensburgh Railroad was completed, running from Porlland through St. Johnsburj' and the towns of Danville and AYalden westward to the town of Swanton on Lake Champlain. i The Caledonia County Agricultural Society is one of the most successful associations in the State. The agri- cultural products of the county are gi'eater than those of any other county in the United States of equal popula- tion. It is especially famous for its cattle, sheep, and horses. The Scotch were early noted for making excel- lent butter, and no better is made than in the valley of the Passumpsic. Vast quantities are exported from the county every year to Boston, where it always brings the highest price, and has frequently gained tlie highest pre- mium. Caledonia has been rich in hor men as well as in her natural resources, furnishing governors, judges, senators and members of Congress equal to any other county in the State, as will be seen by the following enumeration : Four governors, two lieutenant-governors, six judges of the Supreme Court, two senators, eight members of Congress, and one United States district attorney. VERMONT. Towns. St. Johnsbdry is the most populous and flourishing town in tlie countj'. Ljing niiou the Passumpsic River, it contains some of the best lands in the State, and is a good farming township ; but its chief interests lie in manufactures. Moose River, a considerable stream, comes in from the north-east, and Sleeper's River, a smaller tributary, from the north-west. The amount of available water-power furnished by these streams within The scale manufactory of E. & T. P'airbanks & Co., located on Sleeper's River, is possibly the most exten- sive in the world. The ostalilishment employs on an average 300 men, and the annual product of scales amounts to about a half million of dollars. A few j-ears since ex-Gov. Horace Fairbanks, having the intellectual welfare of the people of the town of his birth and residence in view, erected an elegant brick edifice, constructed upoa the most approved plans of ST JOHNSBIUT St. Johnsbury exceeds that of anj' other town in north- eastern Vermont. The centre village lies upon the Pas- sumpsic River, in the northerly part of the town. It contains a grist-mill, saw-mill, tannery, straw-board manufactory, and two churches. East St. Johnsbury, a thriving village located upon Moose River, contains a church and several industrial establishments. The vil- lage of St. Johnsbur}', called the Plain, has seven churches, an academj', a grammar school, three banks, and several establishments of mechanical industry. The manufacturing interests of St. Johnsbury are varied and extensive, embracing almost every variety of wooden and metallic wares, machinery, agiicultural and household im[)lements. modern architecture, costing $40,000, and placed therein books and paintings at a cost of $100,000, and gave it the name of the " St. Johnsbury Athenfeum Free Li- brary'," which is open to the public every week-day. Ex-Gov. Fairbanks bears the expense of its mainte- nance. The St. Johnsbury Academy is one of the most flourish- ing in the State. The edifice is built of brick, and stands at the lower end of the Plain. It was liberally endowed by the late Joseph P. Fairbanks, a gentleman who was actively indcntified with the interests of religion, educa- tion, and social progress in the community. Its high standing and well-earned reputation give it that favor and influence in the community to which its antecedents HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. so justly entitle it. Mt. Pleasant Cemetery was laid out and dedicated in 1852, and is probablj' unsurpassed in natural Ijeauty and location bj- an}' other in the State. The Caledonia Count}- court-house, a fine structure, and once the best in Vermont, stands on the brow of the hill at the junction of two of the main streets. On its grounds has been erected a handsome marble monument in honor of St. Johnsbury's " soldier dead." The ample Caledo- nia Count}- Fair Grounds are located south of the Plain. The Plain, as St. Johnsbury is familiarly called, is a handsome village. The main street is bordered with ample blocks, stores, shops, and pleasant residences. AVithin the last two decades the town has made its most rapid growth and internal development. The opening of the railroads, the removal of the county buildings from Danville, mailing it the shire town, and the extensive manufacturing and railroad interests, have all tended to increase the importance of the place as a business centre. Population in 1S70, 4,GG.5. Dr. Jonathan Arnold, the first principal inhabitant and proprietor of St. Johnsbury, was born in Providence, R. I., Dec. 14, 1 741. As a member of the Rhode Island Assembly he was author of the act of May, 1776, repeal- ing the laws providing for the oath of allegiance to the mother country. He was a member of the old Congress from that State in 1782, '83 and '84, and was a surgeon in the Revolutionary ai-my. He came to St. Johnsbury in 1787. He was town clerli, judge of the Orange County Court, and a member of the Governor's Council. On a marble slab, in the cemetery overlooking the valley of the Passumpsic and the beautiful village he founded, we read the simple inscription, " Hon. Jonathan Arnold, died Feb. 1, 1703. Aged .52." Josias Lyndon Arnold, son of the preceding, was an accomplished and cultured man, and a poet of consider- able attainments. He died in 1 79G at the early age of 28. His brother, Lemuel Hastings Arnold, a native of St. Johnsbury, was at one time governor of Rhode Island, and member of Congress for several terms. Dr. Luther Jewett, who came to St. Johnsbury from Canterbury, Conii., in 1800, contributed largely, for half a century, to the character of the town. He was a member of Congress from 1815 to 1817. He died in 1800, aged 87 years. His son,* Milo Parker Jewett, LL.D., born in St. Johnsbury in 1808, is at present president of Vassar Female College. Hon. Ephraiui Paddock, a native of Massachusetts, but long a resident of St. Johnsbury, was judge of the Supreme Court from 1828 to 1831, and one of the origi- nators and warmest supporters of the St. Johnsbury Female Seminary. He died July 27, 1859, aged 79. Eleazer Sanger, who died in 1851, aged 70 years, was the first settler at St. Johnsbury Centre. He raised a family of 12 children. Erastus Fairbanks, born in Brimfield, Mass., Oct. 28, 1792, taught school in St. Johnsbury for a time, and was subsequently engaged in manufacturing there. In 1825 he formed a partnership with his younger brother for the manufacture of platform scales. The enterprise proved very successful, and the scales have attained a world- wide reputation. Air. Fairbanks was elected governor of Vermont in 1852 and 18G0. The people will ever appre- ciate the great labors, especially as war governor, of Erastus Fairbanks. Nor will they less honor his noble benefactions and deeds as a Christian philanthropist. He died Nov. 20, 1874, aged 72. He left two sons, ex- Gov. Horace Fairbanks, and Col. Franklin Fairbanks, and two daughters. Hon. Luke P. Poland, a native of AVestford, Vt., is a resident of St. Johnsbury. He has been chief justice of the Supreme Court of Vermont, a representative and senator in Congress. Lysdon, the second town in population and Imsiness in the county, is in the central part. It was surveyed before any of the towns around it, and was laid out exactly square. Its soil is a rich loam, free from stone, easy to cultivate, and very proiluctive. Several sites of excellent water-power for mills and machinery are located in the town. The most noted of these are the "Great Falls" and the "Little Falls," both being on the main branch of the Passumpsic River. There are three populous villages in the town, Lyndon Comer, L}-ndon Centre, and Lyndonville. Lyndon Cor- ner is quite a brisk business place. It contains two churches, an academy, a national bank, two extensive carnage manufactories, and several smaller industries. Lyndon Centre contains two church edifices, and the Lyndon Literary Institute, which is under the care of the Freewill Baptists. It also has several small manu- facturing establisliments. On elevated ground in the village cemetery, stands a tall Italian obelisk, upon marble pedestals and granite base, inscribed to the mem- ory of about 20 Revolutionary oflScers and soldiers who have died in town. Lyndonville is a prosperous village, where are located the workshops and general offices of the Passumpsic Railroad. The removal of those works" from St. Johns- bury to Lyndon has resulted in founding a large and prosperous village. The population of the town is about 2,200. Rev. Wilbur Fisk, D. D., an eloquent divine, son of Isaiah Fisic of Lyndon, was born at Brattleborough, Vt., Aug. 31, 1792, but spent his earlier j-ears in tliis town, lie graduated at Brown University- in 1818, becoming a Jlethodist preacher. He was principal of the academj' at Wilbraham, Mass., for several jears. In 1830 he was elected the first president of Wesle3-an University at Middletown, Conn., over which he presided until his death, Feb. 22, 1839. He was twice elected a bishop of the Methodist Church, which position he declined. He published " Notes of Travel in Europe." Among other eminent residents of Lyndon may be mentioned Dr. William Calioon, connected with the College of Physicians and Surgeons under Dr. Valentine Mott, as assistant phj-sician, who died in 1848 at the early age of 23 ; Hon. Isaac Fletcher, a native of New Hampshire, an a])lc lawj-er, and member of Congress, died in 1842 ; Hon. Nicholas Baylies, born in Uxbridge, Mass., in 1794, judge of the Supreme Court in 1833 and 1834, removing to Lyndon in 1835, where he died Aug. 17, 1847 ; Hon. Isaiah Fisk, father of the distinguished Wilbur Fisk, chief justice of the Countj' Court eight j-ears ; Hon. Thomas Bartlett, a native of Burke, State attorney from 1839 to 1841, and subsequently member of Congress ; Gen. E. B. Chase, president of the Ver- mont Agricultural Society for three years, and prominent in political and business life ; Hon. Henry Chase, an able lawyer ; Hon. Charles W. Willard, for six j-ears a member of Congress ; and the late Hon. George C. Cahoon, the historian of Lyndon. Danville is among the most prominent towns in the county in historic interest and population, and was the shire town from 1795 to 1855. It is located in a high region, lying along the base of a still more elevated and broken range of country to the westward, and which extends far into the northern portion of the State. It is well watered and well timbered. There are three medi- cinal springs strongij' impregnated with hj'drogen gas and iron. Danville has five villages. The oldest and largest, Danville Green, is pleasantly located on elevated land near the centre of the town and in the midst of a fine farming country. It commands a beautiful view of the White Mountains and Franconia Notch. Each village is well supplied with churches, schools, and industries. Danville in its early history had a marked influence in the State. Many of its citizens were recipients of the I highest honors in the gift of the people. The legislature met at this place in 1805. The Congregational Church was organized Aug. 7, 1792. Rev. John Fitch, first pastor, was installed Oct. 30, 1792, his pastorate extending 23 j-ears. The acad- emy, incorporated in 1840, was called Phillips Academy, in honor of Paul D. Phillips, who gave $4,000 as an endowment. Various causes have combined to lessen the influence and popularit3' of this place of late, and it has settled down into a staid, quiet, and substantial New England town. Population, 2,21 G. Among the prominent citizens of Danville have been Eli Bickford ; Hon. Israel Putnam Dana, whose mother, Hannah, was the eldest daughter of Gen. Israel Putnam ; Ebenczer Eaton, founder of the "North Star"; Hon. Benjamin F. Denning ; and Hon. William A. Palmer. Barnet, one of the principal towns in the countj-, lies on the Connecticut River. The soil is productive, es- pecially that of the extensive intervals along the river ; the other parts of the town are uneven and elevated. The territory' it covers is well watered and eminently adapted to farming purposes. There are four large ponds, and few towns in the State have so many streams. There are four villages and seven churches in the town. Barnet Village is situated at the Falls on Ste- vens River, and is quite thickly settled. It contains woollen mills, and other smaller manufactories. The remaining villages are Mclndoe's Falls on the Con- necticut River, and so called from an early settler who owned lands at that point. Passumpsic Village, sit- uated on the ri\cr of the same name at Kendall's Falls, at which are mills of various kinds ; and West Barnet, situated, at the north end of Harvey's Lake, on Stevens River. The Scotch settlers were generally very robust and retained their strength to an advanced age. Many of them lived until 90, and some of them until 95 j-ears of age. The wife of Robert Twaddell, one of the early inhabitants, lived to the age of 99, and Claude Stewart to 100 years and 4 months. Heur}' Stevens, son of Enos Stevens, born in Barnet, Dec. 13, 1792, was one of the originators of the Vermont Historical Societj', and was its president for 10 j'ears. His own private historical collection, at his death, con- sisted of 3,485 bound volumes, 6,500 pamphlets, 400 volumes of newspapers, and nearl3- 20,000 letters, bear- ing date from 1726 to 1860. He died at Burlington in 1862. Henr}- Stevens, Jr., a graduate of Yale College, spent several years in London as an agent for the purchase of rare and valuable books. He is still engaged in the exchange of books between the institutions of England and America. Among the most prominent families in Barnet are those of the descendants of Col. Alexander Harvey, one HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. of the earliest settlers, and to whom was horn 1 6 chil- dren. Eight sons and five daughters were married. Hon. Walter Harvey and Hon. Robert Harvey have occupied various and highly honorable official positions. Peter Hanxy of Boston, another son, was the friend, associate and biographer of Daniel AYebster. Alexander Harvey married a grand-daughter of Gen. John Stark. Nine persons connected with the Associate Presbj-- terian Congregation of Barnet have become clergymen. Rev. David Goodwillie was born in Scotland, and wag a graduate of the University of Edinburgh. He emigrated to America in 1788, and settled in Barnet in 1790. He ministered to the same congi-egation for 40 years. The population of Barnet is 1 ,D45. Hakdwick,* the most westerly town in the county-, was chartered Aug. 9, 1781. There are four villages: Hardwick Street, the oldest, situated on high land, near the north line of tlie township, settled in 1793, and for- merly a place of considerable l)usiuess ; East Hardwick, on the Lamoille River, near the centre of the town ; South Hardwick, also on the Lamoille ; and JIaekville, on a branch of this river, named after a family of Macks, who first settled it in 1834. The town has tluee chiu'clies and several manufac- tories. One of the most refined and best educated families iri Hardwick was tluit of Joel Whipple. Three noble sons, Francis, Horatio and Charles, were liberall}' educated, I with the ministry in view, but died jouug and very much i lamented. Rev. J. B. Hardwick Xorris, son of Nathaniel Non-is, the second man who came to settle in the town, was the first child born in the settlement in 1792, and named Hardwick in honor thereof. He was, for more than 40 years, a faithful itinerant minister of the Methodist Church. The population of Hardwick is al)out 1,500. BuKKE, an excellent farming town in the north-eastern part of the county, was organized Dec. 5, 1796. It con- tains three villages, Burke, East Burke and West Burke. East Burke was once nearly destroyed bj- a freshet. Mr. • In 1837 there arose a tiew featare in the religious history of Hard- wiclt composed of a company of people who called themselves "New Lights." A man who had been previously a Universalist became sud- denly infatuated that he was inspired from God and succeeded in enlisting followers. The motto of this Ijand was " Liberty of Con- science," which was inscribed upon the building in which their meetings were held. Large crowds assembled to listen to their performances, which consisted of jumping, swinging the arms, rolling on the floor, frightful yelling, Ijarking in imitation of dogs, foxes, &e. After sitting in silence for a while, some text of Scripture was uttered in a loud scream, and the exhortations consisted chiefly of texts of Scripture, and generally concluded with denunciations of ministers and churches. Hall, however, with energy and enterprise, rebuilt the place, so that now there are here two churclies, stores, a hotel, starch-factorj-, umbrella-stock factory, and the mills of the Lyndon Lumber Compan3-. In 184G an avalanche occurred near the village, which can-ied away the roof of a house occupied liy a Mr. and Mrs. Newell, people aged about 70 years. The house was filled with earth to the depth of five feet, burj-ing its occupants. They were found lifeless ; and, with fitting funeral ceremonies, were laid in one grave. Thomas Bartlett, one of the early settlers, and lib- erally educated, was long an honored and veiy influential citizen in the town. He was the father of Hon. Thomas Bartlett of Lyndon, the distinguished lawyer and mem- ber of Congress. He died June 19, 1857. The three sons of Burke who gained the widest fame were Hon. Thomas Bartlett, Jr., of Lyndon, Rev. Charles W. Cushing, and Dr. Selim Newell, of St. Johnsbur}'. The popuhition of the town is nearly 1,200. Peaciiam is in the second range of townships westerly from the Connecticut River, and its principal business point is seven miles from the railroad at Barnet. It has many excellent farms. Beautiful scenery is at hanersed, although its effects had long a deleterious influence upon the religious interests of the community. VERMONT. Pcnn., and engaged in teaching. He subsequent!}' prac- : tised law for several jears at Gettysburg, and in 1828 entered politics. In 1848 he was elected to Congress, where he ©imposed the " Missouri Compromise," the " Fu- gitive-slave Law," and the " Kansas-Nebraska Bill." He was again elected to Congress in 1859, and became a recognized leader in that bodj-. His subsequent career demonstrated his intense hatred of slavery, and his un- swerving patriotism. He died in Washington, Dec. 11, 18C8. Hon. John Mattocks, governor of Vermont, but a native of Hartford, Conn., practised law in I'eacham 50 years. I His last days were embittered bj' the shocking death of his youngest son. At his grave, he said to the assem- bled multitude, " With the mangled bod}' of my son, I burj' m}' ambition and love of the world, and God grant that they ma}- never revive." He soon after joined the Congregational Church, of which he continued a member till death. He left an ample fortune,— $80,000. He ! died Aug. 14, 1847, aged 70 j'cars. He was one of the eminent men of the State, — a celebrated lawyer, and a popular man, having been elected to cverj- office for which he was a candidate. j Oliver Johnson, a distinguished living journalist, was born in Peacham in 1809. He was associated with Gar- rison in " The Liberator" three 3-ears, an associate editor of " The New York Tribune " four years, and was at one time editor of " The Anti-Slaverj' Standard," New York. Other prominent natives of Peacham have been Hon. John C. Blanchard, born in 1787, several times a mem- ber of Congress, who died in 1849 ; Mellen Chamber- lain, born in 1795, a lawj-er, who was drowned on the Danube Eiver while making a tour of Europe ; William Cliamberlain, born in 1797, professor of languages at Daxlmouth College, died in 1830 ; Rev. Horace Herrick, i a leading Congregational clergyman ; Eev. John Mat- ! tocks, D. D., also an able clergyman ; and Oliver P. Chandler, a lawyer and financier. Hon. William Chamberlain, a native of Ilopkinton, Mass., came to Peacham in 1780. He was a member of Congress for four terras, and died in 1828. j Rev. Leonard Worcester, born in HoUis, N. H., Jan. 1, 17C7, was pastor of the Congregational Church in Peacham 40 j'cars. He had 14 children, and four of his sons entered the ministry. His death occurred, Rlay 28, 1840. The population of Peacham is 1,140. Walden, chartered Aug. 18, 1781, contains the most elevated improved land in Vermont. Tiic snow covers the land nearly seven months of the year. Gen. Hazcn, in 1779, while building the militarj' road from the Connecticut to Ticonderoga, constructed a block-house, and left a small garrison of men in charge of an officer named Walden, and at his request the town took his name. This block-house was occupied for sev- eral 3-cars by the first settlers, and in it was the first school, first sermon, and first birth ; and at one time a man named Sabin occupied it with his wife and 26 chil- dren. The first settlers were mainly from Now Hamp- shire. Nathaniel Perkins and his familj' were the first settlers, in 1789. There is no village in the town, and it has never had a common centre. Hon. James Bell, a distinguished lawyer, was the most prominent citizen Walden ever had. Hedied April 17, 1852. Gen. George P. Foster, a brave officer in the late civil war, and late U. S. marslial of Vermont, was a native of this town. He died March 19, 1879, at the age of 43 years. The population of Walden is aljout 1 ,000. The towns of Caledonia County not previously de- scribed are, Ryegate, a town of 935 inhabitants, noted for its granite quarries and its picturesque scenery, and the birth-place of several distinguished clergymen ; Sut- Tox, population, 921, chartered under the name of Billy- mead in 1782, and organized July 4, 1794, celebrated for its manufacture of mai)lc sugar, and the native place of John and Charles Weslej', twin sons of Rev. L. T. Harris, noted for their similarity of appearance, those best acquainted with them not being able to distinguish one from the other ; Watekfohd, situated on the Con- necticut River, organized in 1793, having 878 inhabit- ants, and the native town of Col. R. C. Benton, Hon. Jacob Benton, member of Congress, and Jonathan Ross, judge of the Supreme Court ; Wiieelock, on Miller's River, organized March 29, 1792, containing grist and saw mills, a tannery, a starch-factory, &c., population, 822 ; Sheffield, organized March 25, 179C, having six lumlicr-milLs, and a |)opuhition of 811 ; Groton, organ- ized March 29, 1797, containing an academy and several manufactories, population, 811 ; Newaek, first settled in 1797, a farming town of about 600 inhabitants; KiKBY, organized Aug. 8, 1807, a town well adapted to agricultural pursuits, and having a population of 417 ; and Stannard, population, 228, organized in 1805, and named in honor of Gen. George I. Stannard, one of the most distinguished of Vermont officers in the war of the Rebellion. The first permanent settler of this town was Elihu Sabin, a native of Dudley, Mass., and one of a family of 26 children. He was distinguished for great muscular strength. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. CHITTENDEI^ COUNTY.* BY REV. R. H. HOWARD, A.M. The count}- of Chittenden was incorporated Oct. 22, 1787. Bounded on the north bj- the counties of Grand Isle, Franklin, and Lamoille, south by the county of Addison, east bj' Lamoille and Washington, and west bj' the west line of the State, it has quite an irregular out- line, and contains a land area of about 520 square miles. The aboriginal occupants of this section were Abena- quis Indians. Indeed, long after the French and Eng- lish had taken possession and commenced the settlement of the countrj- to the north and south of them, a rem- nant of this tribe still lingered upon their rightful soil at the mouth of the Lamoille Eiver ; nor, it is said, have the}' even j'et altogether relinquished their claims upon this territorj-. They have left it, it is true, and have united themselves with the St. Francis tribe in Canada, but they still claim an interest In this soil, and have repeated!}-, and within a comparativel}' recent date, sent their delegates to the legislature of Vermont to seek some compensation for their lands. It would appear that the French, before the conquest of Canada, were the first civilized occupants of the count}' of Chittenden ; they and their Indian allies, dur- ing the period of the French wars, making this section one of the chief rendezvous of their hostile excursions against the English settlements in the valley of the Connecticut. It was through this section they generally led their captives and carried their plunder on their way to Canada. The first English people who were known to settle in this locality were Ira Allen, and his uncle, Remember Baker. Exploring the country along the Winooski in the fall of 1772, they came into the county the spring fol- lowing and settled at the lower falls on the Winooski River, where, as a matter of security against both the Yorkers and Indians, whom at that time they held in nearly equal enmity, they constructed a block-house, or fort, which they christened Fort Frederick, and in which they lived. • For the materials embraced in the following sketch of Chittenden Comity the writer acknowledges his indebtedness to that voluminous and incomparable work, " The Vermont Historical Gazetteer," by Miss Abby M. Hemeuway. At the commencement of the Revolution about 40 families had settled upon the lake shore and along the Winooski River. On the defeat and fall of Gen. Mont- gomery, however, at Quebec, and the retreat of the American forces under Gen. Sullivan from Canada in the spring of 177G, nearly all these fled south among their friends for security. On the declaration of peace in 17S3, Stephen Lawrence was the first to return with his family ; and dui-ing the same year most of the for- mer occupants returned to their farms, and brought with them many new settlers ; the very great fertility of the soil inviting a rapid and effectual settlement of the country. f The most of these immigrants and early settlers were from Connecticut and western Massachu- | setts. j The general surface of the county, not unlike the main | portion of western Vermont, is uneven and hilly. The first range of townships, bordering on the lake, is pleas- antly diversified with lidges and valleys, having but few elevations e cf lie ccrirD^irr^^ Ther* ttetc two IdOO. BeiisUte has Icept; an ereit pace »id» ma^ixse- rs in Toim sx szi esrlj iir. «r^i tie nanisL&r -w^as i^ tonms ra fapabakm ami inpivTcaKats. is ssji. -0 cs:c-".sT-ig-r- tie rrsia he neciHTed j Mostigoxest was dmteaed. Oct. ?, 1789. Capt. *»• preaehing :"Dr V^'^Vcj. -h-"-' -;-. he iii-^-i to treat tbose Joshoa Qapp, a BeinlatMiHunr officer, wbo leoMn^il his «te cafied on kirn Sandar noons. A fara vas oace J CbobIj fiom Worester Comity. Has., in Ae ^vinar of bo^ht in flns tovn and paU for in vM^eit. Amn^ 1 1793, «as ak fxst settler. ^ far ten^Kiance in Tennant wne I afiersaids gne place to of Eao^Mo^; §anmi tbem aflnns Ae late hoaoped £x-Gor. Hocaoe Eaten, is sSB. sb^b^. Tte tosn vas oiganiicd, Ai^. U. . In October, 19M, Ber. JobSnifi, D. D., 6 men to the United States service, 47 bej-ond her quota. Montpelier is emphatically 1 business place, and its in- , h ibitants are characterized 1 3 the energy usual to a suc- n ssful mercantile community. Among its important busi- ness interests are the Ver- mont Mutual Fire Insurance ' -111 Company (incorporated in Historical Society (incorporated 183S), besides Rcvolu- I 1S27), 1 iimeis'Mutud I iie Insurance Company (incor- tionary relics and a cabinet ot \ vtui d Hist i\ < poi lU 1 ii 1^1)) t ic A ition 1 Life Insurance Company 1 I I '-I I'll 11), the Line Manufacturing Com- tionary Immediately preceding and dm party politics ran extremely high in Montpelier, the Federilists sharing the sentunent of the ir I party that the war was an un | necessary and unjustifiable one At a meeting called in Febru ii j , 1812, the Eev. Chester AVii^ht refused to appear and offei up pra3'er, and Ziba Woodworth, an old Revolutionary soldier, w is called to act as chaplain, which he did in a manner worth}' of a .:z—j^'^^<^^ member of the church militant. \, Resolutions were passed sustain- ing the administration. A number of mm fiom ilile degree pan \ ( iaw-mill machineiy , iron I ml luicks), Montpelier Manu- 1 tilling Company (children's (.Hinges, &c.), and the flour- iiu mill of E. AV. Bailey. 1 he village being compact, ' stieets are lighted and walks \ d in a manner not common- \ I und outside of great cities. The Winooski River and its noith branch passing through the heart of the village, afford it a n itural drainage which ren- ders th B place healthful to a re- The buildings of the village are much place entered the United States service, but specific s.ip^i. or to the average in places of its size, and they HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. add much to the attractiveness of its site. The business portions especiallj' have been much improved in conse- quence of two fires in the earlj' part of 187.5, which destroyed upwards of $100,000 worth of property. Some of the public buildings are of a very superior order. Among these are the building of the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Company ; the Pavilion Hotel, built by Theron O. Bailey in 1876 at a cost of $100,000 ; Bethany Church, a noble structure of Burlington stone, erected in 1868 at an expense of $60,000 ; Christ Church, built the same j'ear of Barre granite at an expense of $30,000 ; and the building of Vermont Conference Semi- nary and Female College, a Methodist institution of high character. Green Mountain Cemetery, which lies about one mile below the centre of the village, is a singularly beautiful resting-place for the dead. This cemetery owes its origin to the bequest of Calvin J. Keith, who died in 1853, leaving $1,000 for this puipose, besides other public bequests. The town appro- priated $5,000 in 1855 to carry out the design, and on the 15th of Sep- tember of the same j'ear, the ceme- ter}' was dedicated with impressive and appropriate ceremonies. Montpelier has been fortunate in _=^^^ having had among its citizens a num ber of men of distinguished ability ^^ and high character. '"'"^ Hon. David Wing, Jr., who re- ^^.^^^ ""^ moved here in 1790, and was secre- bethaky chukch tary of State from 1802 to 1806, was one of the most useful public men of his da^-. Gen. Ezekiel V. Walton, who came here in 1807 at the age of 18, from 1810 till his death in 1855 wielded a wide influence through the " Vermont Watchman," to which, in connection with its related business, he gave the strength of his life. Col. Jonathan P. Miller, who was born in Randolph, Vt., and who served with much distinction among the Phil- hellenists in Greece from 1824-1827, removed to Mont- pelier in 1827, and lived here till his death in 1847. He distinguished himself by introducing an anti-slavery reso- lution into the legislature in 1833, and was one of the two delegates of Vermont to the world's anti-slavery conven- tion in London in 1840. Hon. William Upham, who removed to this place in 1792 at the age of ten, was, during his long professional life, an advocate of almost unrivalled power jury. He served in the United States Senate from 1841 to his death in 1853. Hon. Samuel Prentiss, who came to Montpelier in 1803 at the age of 21, acquired a reputation as a jurist and a statesman which was national in its extent. He became chief justice of Vermont in 1829, was elected to the United States Senate in 1830, and again in 1836, and in 1842 was appointed United States district judge in this State, and held that office till his death in 1857. Chancellor Kent ranked him as a jurist even above Judge Story. Hon. Isaac F. Redfleld, a judge of the Supreme Court of the State from 1835 to 1852, and from 1852 to 1860 chief justice, the author of a standard work on Railway Law, and his brother Hon. Timothy- P. Redfield, since 1870 a judge of the Supreme Court, have pi'eserved for Montpelier the legal honors first won for it bj- the distinguished Judge Prentiss. D. P. Thompson, who died in 1868, attained considerable celebritj- as a novelist, his most popular works ^^ being " The Green Mountain Boys " and "Locke Amsden." Rev. William H. Lord, D. D., pas- tor of Bethany Church (Cong.) from 1847 to his death in 1877, was widely known as a man of letters as well as a preacher of rare power. A selec- tion from his sermons, of which he left 1,500, would be a valuable ad- dition to English religious literature. Hon. EUakim Persons Walton, president of the Vermont Historical Society, was from his boyhood up to 1868 actively engaged in journalism, wielding a wide influence through the " Watchman and State Journal," of which he was sole proprietor from 1853 to 1868. He served his State with great credit in the United States House of Representatives during the critical period from 1857 to 1863. Hon. John A. Page, who has been State treasurer continuously from 1866 to the present time, has ad- ministered the finances of the State with distinguished ability. Hon. C. W. Willard, who has passed his mature life here as a student and practitioner of law, and for a num- ber of j-ears also was editor of the " Green Mountain Freeman," was a prominent member of the United States House of Representatives from 1869 to 1875. NoRTHFiELD was chartered to Major Joel Matthews and 64 others Aug. 10, 1781. It was first settled in VERMONT. Maj-, 1785, b}' Amos and Ezekiel Robinson and Staun- ton Richardson, from Westminster. B}- 1791 the popula- tion had increased to 40. The town was organized March 25, 1794. In 1822, and in 1826, tracts were set off to it from Waitsfield. The population in 1870 was 3,410. Dog River, which flows into the Winoosld at Mont- pelier, runs through the town and affords valuable mill- privileges. A vein of argillaceous slate, passing through the town from north to south, permits unlimited quarr3-- ing. One of the quarries emploj's from 30 to 40 men. The town has four small villages, the Deoot Village being the most important. The earl}^ settlers were principally Universalists. Rev. Timothj' Bigelow, a minister of this denomination, com- menced preaching statedly in the town about 1809. In 1820 a union meeting-house was built in the Centre Vil- lage in which the Universalists had the largest right. After other churches were built this edifice was sold to the Catholics, and was struck by lightning and burned in 1876. Besides the Uuiversalist there are at present four societies in this town. Northfield is more than ordinarily favored with educa- tional privileges. Its public schools culminate in the Xorthfield Graded and High School, which succeeds the old Northfield Academy built in 1801. In 1870, by ar- rangement with the trustees of the Academy (whose name had been changed to Northfield Institution in 1854) , the Academy' building was opened as a graded and high school, free to all pupils of the village. This building was destroyed by fire in 187G, and in the same j-ear the present building was erected upon the same site at a cost dy of a " murdered trav- eller," — a peddler, — in the woods on the borders of this pond, has invested the locality with a tragic interest, supplied an only too literal veriucation of Bryant's matchless poem on that subject, and afforded material for one of D P. Thompson's most graphic and blood-curdling narratives. Cai,ais was chartered in 1781 to Jacob Davis, Stephen Fay and associates, and was settled in 1787 by Francis West, of Pl3mouth County, Mass., who was followed, the same j-ear, bj^ Abijah, Asa and Peter Wheelock, of C'liarlestown, MaSs., and in the following j-ear by Moses Stone. The town was organized March 23, 1795. The population in 1870 was 1,309. The town con- tains several beautiful ponds. Rev. C. S. Goodell,D.D., a popular and exceptionally eloquent Congregational cleigj-man, is a native of Calais. Cabot was chartered Aug. 17, 1871. In April, 1785, James Bruce, Edmund Chapman, Jonathan Heath and Benjamin Webster, with their families, settled on what is now known as Cabot Plain. The town was organized March 29, 1788. Its population in 1870 was 1,279. Zerah Colburn, the mathematical prodig}-, was born here in 1804. After attracting some attention abroad, and being successively teacher and Methodist preacher, he was made professor of Norwich (Vt.) University in 1835, and died in 1840. His faculty of computation left him when he reached manhood. MoRETOwN was chartered June 7, 1763. It was settled about 1790 by Paul Knap, Beuben, Eliakim and Ira Hawks, all from Massachusetts. Among other early set- tlers were Joseph and Ebenczer Haseltine, Seth Munson and Daniel Parker. The town was organized March 22, 1792. In 1870 the population was 1,263. Middlesex was chartered June 8, 1763. Thomas Mead, who came here in 1781 or 1782, was the first settler in the county. Other early settlers were Jonah Harrington, Seth, Levi and Jacob Putnam. The town was organized about 1788. In 1870 the population was 1,171. East Montpeliee having been set off from Montpelier Nov. 9, 1848, was organized Jan. 1, 1849. It has two villages. North and East Montpelier. In 1870 the popu- lation was 1,130 — 200 less than it was 20 years before. It has good mill-facilities, which are improved for manu- facturing purposes, there being a woollen-mill of consid- erable size at North MontpeUer. * Gen. Benjamin "Wait, the patriarch of the town, was bom in Sudbury, Mass., in 1737 ; served under Gen. Amherst, when but 18 years old ; ivas captured by the French in 175G, taken first to Quebec, and after- wards to France. He was rctalien off the coast of France by the Eng- lish, and in 1757 returned to America, and in 1758 assisted at the capture of Louisburg. He served with distinpuished gallantry and ability in Canada during the remainder or the war. In 1767 he settled in Windsor Makshfield was granted Oct. 16, 1782, and chartered to the Stockbridge Indians June 22, 1790. It was pur- chased of them b}' Isaac Marsh of Stockbridge, Mass., from whom it takes its name, for £140. The first settlers were Martin and Calvin Pitkin from East Hartford, Conn., Gideon Spencer, Aaron Elmore, and Ebenezor Dodge. The town was organized March 10, 1800. The population in 1870 was 1,072. In this place are the Great Falls of the Winooski, which is here said to descend 500 feet in the distance of 30 rods. Warken was chartered Oct. 20, 1789. The town was settled in 1797 by Samuel Lord and Seth Leavitt, and organized Sept. 20, 1798. There are two villages. East and West Warren, having a population of about 1,000. Waitsfield was chartered in 1782, and was first set- tled bj' Gen. Benjamin Wait * in 1789, after whom it took its name. The town was organized March 25, 1794. Population in 1870, 948. Plainfield was chartered Oct. 27, 1788, by the name of St. Andrew's Gore. About 1794, Tlieodore Perkins, Joseph Batchelder and Seth Freeman settled the town, and were followed within a jear by Jonathan and Brad- ford Kinney, Moulton Batchelder, John Moore and others. The town was jorganized under its charter name, April 4, 1796, and clianged its name to Plainfield Nov. 6, 1797. Population in 1870, 726. The remaining towns of Washington County are Rox- BURT, organized in 1796, population 916, containing a fine vein of marble : Woodbury, formerly called Monroe, having 902 inhabitants, and noted for the abundance of its ponds : Duxbcrt, organized in 1792, population 893, having on its west line Camel's Hump Mountain, 4,083 feet high, and being connected with Watcrbury by a natural bridge over the Winooski : Worcester, organ- ized in 1803, population 775 : Plainfield, chartered as St. Andrew's Gore in 1778, organized a town with its present name in 1797, popidation 726: and Fatstown, organized in 1805, population 694. and became conspicuous in the controversy of the Green Mountain Boys with New York with reference to the territory of Vermont. In 1776 he entered the Continental army as captain, and served under Gen. Washington till the close of the Revolutionary war, coming out with the rank of colonel. He was afterwards made brigadier-general of militia. Removing to Waitsfield iu 1789, he made it his home till his death in 1822. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. wi:n"dham county. BY JOSEPH J. GREEN. Windham Countt lies on the eastern slope of the Green Mountains, in the north-eastern corner of Ver- mont. It is watered bj- the Deerfield, West and Saxton's rivers. The sources of the former are in Somerset, Stratton and Dover. It flows through a forest region of spruce, hemlock and hardwood. West River pursues a diagonal course through the countj' from the north-west to the Connecticut at Brattleborough. The interval lands of this vallej- are excellent for grain, and the hill- sides have a strong and productive soil. Saxton's River has its sources in Windham and Grafton, and flowing east, empties into the Connecticut just south of Bellows Falls. The bottom lands in the valle}- of the latter river are unsurpassed in fertility by any in the State. The historj- of Windham Count}' and of Vermont begins with the sale, April 24 and 25, 1716, at Hartford, Conn., of the equivalent lands, so called from this fact : On the establishment of the line between Massachusetts and Connecticut, it was found that Massachusetts had chartered 107,793 acres in Connecticut, as an equivalent for which she gave the latter an equal amount of land in her unchartered territorj'. These lands were located in four sections ; one on the west side of the Connecticut River of 43,943 acres was deeded bj- Gov. Saltonstall to William Dummer, William Brattle, Anthon}- Stoddard and John White, and comprised the land in the present town of Dummerston and a part of Putney and Brattle- borough. In 1724, b}' order of the General Court of Massachu- setts, Lieut. D wight erected a fort on what is now known as the Brooks Farm, about two miles below the village of Brattleborough. This fort, built of pine-logs, was 180 feet square, with houses inside whose single roofs ran up against its walls, — each house facing the court- yard in the centre. Soon after its completion, a bod}- of Indians attacked the fort, killing and wounding sev- eral of the garrison. In the following year two scouts were killed and three captured bj- the Indians, in the vicinity of the fort. In 1728 the fort became a trading- post, and the Indians came in great numbers from Lake Champlain and Canada. The trade proving unprofit- able to the State was soon abandoned. At a date now uncertain, a block-house was erected on the great meadows in the present town of Putncj'. During King George's war, several of the settlers were killed or captured bj- roving bands of savages. In the fall of 1747, Bridgman's Fort in Vernon was attacked and burned, witli heav}' loss to the settlers. Two j-ears later, a scouting part}' under command of Capt. Melvin were surprised and defeated in the present town of Jamaica. Not long after a well-equipped force of 40 men, commanded by Capt. Hobbs, after a few hours' contest, defeated a superior force of French and Indians led b}' Sackct, a well-known half-breed. Other minor contests occurred, and in June, 1755, Bridgman's Fort, which had been rebuilt, was again the scene of a terrible Indian assault, it being laid in ashes, and its occupants carried into captivit}'. At midnight, March 6, 1758, a band of Indians burst into Fairbank Moore's house, in Brattleborough, on the farm known as the Newman Allen place, now owned by the Vermont Asylum, killing and scalping Moore and his son, taking the son's wife and four children prison- ers, and burning the house. The Moore skeletons were found a few years since in the barnjard, about a foot beneath the surface of the ground ; and in the skull of one was an ounce ball. Mrs. Moore and her children were redeemed in 1762. Prior to 1764 Gov. Wentworth of New Hampshire chartered 14 towns within the present limits of the county. In July of that year the king decreed the west- ern bank of the Connecticut River to be the boundary line between New Hampshire and New York. The settlers on the " Grants," as these lands were then called, were in no wise alarmed b}' this decision. Having pur- chased their lands of a royal governor, under the seal of the Crown, they held that a provincial change could in no wa}' affect the validity of their titles. The authori- ties of New Y'ork held that all grants of land issued bj' Gov. Wentworth were void ; and raising the charter-fees to $2,000 or more, and doubling the annual rental to the Crown, they required the settlers to take out new charters. In most instances, they were unwilling and unable to comply with the terms, while a refusal sub- jected them to a loss of their possessions, as the New York authorities readily regranted these towns to those who paid the required fees, and the courts at Albanj' sus- tained all claimants under their charters, in writs of ejectment. The more fully to establish their power over the territory, and enforce their laws, the New York Assembly incorporated the count}- of Cumberland Jul}- 3, 1 7GG, with a county seat at Chester, which was changed to "Westminister in May, 1772. Crean Brush, an assis- tant secretary of New York, was appointed clerk of the court. The following winter, he and Samuel Wells of Brattleborough took their scat in the New York Assem- bl}' as representatives of Cumberland Count}', thus com- pleting the legal machinery necessary to unite the county to that province. A system of legalized tyranny now commenced, which developed an open revolt March 13, 1775, and terminated in the Westminster massacre, and the final independence of Vermont. Windham County, infested as it was, with a great number of ardent adherents to the authority of New York, called Yorkers, became naturally tlie scene of much of that unhappy civil turmoil and strife resulting from that long and implacably bitter straggle for civil supremacy on the territory of the New Hampshire grants which earl}' in the Eevolutionary epoch prevailed between the authorities of New York and those of Vermont. The latter, convinced of the justice of their cause, did not hesitate, in the maintenance of their supposed rights, resolutely and boldly to put the edicts and authority both of New York and of the Continental Congress at defiance. With the great war of the Revolution on its hands. Congress was piactically powerless, so far as this controversy with Vermont was concerned, to enforce its own demands ; and accordingly that infant State was left to administer her own internal alTairs pretty much in accordance with her own will. It may be admitted that in the enforcement of her authority Vermont sometimes resorted to measures of extreme severty, if not to an unwarrantable stretch of judicial power ; that so far from being always careful to be both humane and just, she was, at times, perhaps, needlessly stern, ruthless and severe. Her prisoners, it is affirmed, were often subjected to unnecessary privations and cruelties — de- prived of suitable food, and confined for a long time in comfortless and unwholesome, not to say, loathesome prisons. Prominent among those who thus suffered were Timothy Church of Brattlcborough, Jlaj. Evans of Guil- ford, Maj. William Shattuck and Thomas Baker of Halifax, Charles and Timothy Phelps of Guilford, the latter high-sheriff, under New York, of Cumberland County. The trials of these men, and of others, were manifold and severe. Mulcted in heavy fines, confined for long periods in comfortless prisons, deprived of their estates by acts of confiscation, banished from the Stite with the threatened penalty of death for their treason if caught within the State limits, it must be admitted that they paid dearly for their loyalty to New York. Repeat- [ edly repairing to the New York Assembly, and to Phila- ! delphia, and addressing to both State and national legis- [ latures many and better, but practically fruitless appeals | for protection and redress of grievances, these and other j long-suflering Yorkers, concluding at length to make a j virtue of necessit}-, finally gave over the struggle, and 1 yielded unqualified submission to the authority of the j State of Vermont. j Feb. 16, 1781, Windliam County was incorporated, ! and on the 21st the county was divided into the half- i shires of Westminster and Marlborough. The count}' I officers subsequently elected were Noah Sabin, Jr., judge of probate, John Bridgman, Luke Knowlton and Benja- min Burt, judges ofl the County Court, and Jonathan Hunt, high-sheriff. These men, all of acknowledged ability, though at first esteemed more or less earn- est partisans of New York, faithfully administered tlie laws of the State against the usurping and treasonable Yorkers. Newfane became the shire town of the county Oct. 19, 1787. The village of Newfane was originally located near the centre, and on the highest hill in town, where the county buildings were erected in 1788. So steep and inaccessible was the hill, that in 1825 the location was changed to Park's Flat, in the valley of Smith Brook, two miles east, Mr. Park giving a donation of land for a public common. Here a court-house and jail were erected in the summer of 1825, at a cost of $10,- 000 ; and in 1853 they were thorouglily repaired and modernized. The village on the hill followed the public buildings, and where it once stood, nothing now remains but the cellars and foundations of the houses. It is doubt- less the only instance in the State of the removal of an entire village from its original location. The new village recci\cd the name of Faycttevillc, in honor of La Fayette. Previous to the completion of the Vermont and Slassa- chusetts Railroad in 1849, the Connecticut River was the great artery of commercial and business life for this en- tire section, whose interests are agricultural rather than manufacturing or mining. The natural resources of the county consist of lumber and large beds of building-stone of various kinds. In Newfane, Grafton and Athens are found large deposits of freestone ; in Townshend, Wardsborough and Jamaica, lime ; and Dummerston HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. possesses one of the largest and purest bodies of gran- ite in New England. These and the other business and political interests of the county have long invited the building of a railroad up the West River vallej-, and the Brattleborough and Whitehall Railroad Company have contracted for the construction of the first 35 miles of this line from Brattleborough to South Londonderr}-, to be completed during 1879. Among the distinguished persons connected with the historj- of Windham Count}- may be mentioned Crean Brush,* born in Dublin, Ireland, about the year 1725, who, as representative of Cumberland County in the New Yoik Assembly, exercised his great powers of oratory in the interest of that province and in favor of the crown ; Stephen R. Bradlej-, a staff-offlccr in the Revolutionary army, prominent in the contest for State independence, one of the first United States senators from Vermont, being elected in 1791 and again in 1801, born in Wallingford, Conn., in 1754 and a graduate of Yale, dying in Wal- pole, N. H., in 1830 ; Samuel Gal^, an English gentle- man, bom about the year 1747, a thorough loyalist, eventually removing to Quebec, where he received the appointment of provincial secretarj-, d3-ing in 182G ; Hon. Lot Hall, a native of Y'armouth, Mass., where ho was born in 1757, removing after various vicissitudes to Westminster, serving as judge of the Supreme Court from 1794 to 1801, dying in 1809 ; Hon. Luke Knowl- ton, born in Shrewsbury, Mass., in 1738, serving in the French and Indian war, afterwards one of the proprietors of Newfane, to which place he removed in 1773, daring the Revolution, suffering much annoyance and incon- venience in consequence of his loyalty to the crown, but in the latter part of his life holding many important pub- lic trusts ; Samuel Knight, the first lawyer settled in Brattleborough, from 1789 to 1793 chief justice of the State ; Hon. Noah Sabin, born at Rehoboth, Mass., in 1714, removing to Putney in 1768, imprisoned f after the Westminster massacre, on account of his lo3-alt3' to the king, subsequently filling manj' positions of honor, dying in 1811 at the advanced age of 9G ; Hon Hoyt H. Wheeler, born in Chesterfield, N.H., in 1833, judge of the Supreme Court from 1869 to 1877, during the latter year being appointed district judge of ^'ermont by Pres. Hayes ; and Hon. James M. Tyler, born in Wilmington, * When the British were in possession of Boston, he was placed by Gen. Gage in charge of private property taken under military orders, and upon the evacuation of the city sailed for Nova Scotia. While on the way thither, Brush was captured, and being sent to Boston was placed in jail, heavily ironed. Being visited by his wife, a change of garments was effected, Brush escaping to New York. Here he was treated witli neglect by the British officials. At last, goaded to despair by the rebuff of the commanding general, he committed suicide. His Vt., in 1835, an able lawyer in Brattleborough, recently elected a member of Congress. TOWTS'S. Brattleborough was chartered by Gov. Wentworth to William Brattle and 49 others, Dec. 26, 1753. The first settlers were the builders and intnates of Fort Dum- mer. Prominent among these are the names of Sargeant, Willard and Alexander. John Sargeant is said to be the first white child born in Vermont. Fairbank Moore and son, John Arms, and Samuel Wells, were among the first to take up land and settle at a distance from the fort. Bj- slow degrees the settlement increased until in March, 17G8, there seems to have been a sufficient num- ber to hold a legal town meeting. During the year it appears that eflbrts were made to establish a church, and with so much success that in April, 1869, we find an organized bod}' staling themselves Covenanters voting to unite with Guilford to sustain preaching, and raising £16, Y'ork money, for the purpose. In 1770, this body of Christian worshippeis, numbering 79 members, voted to unite with Guilford in settling the Rev. Abner Reeve for three j'ears. The testimonj^ seems to in- dicate the erection of a log meeting-house during the year. The house stood about ten rods west of the old cemetery, half a mile north of what is now called Harris. Hill. In 1781 the town A'oted to build a new meeting-house, on or near the Marlborough road, in the present village of West Brattleborough, and employed a company of 150 men to raise the frame. In June, 1786, it was voted to raise a tax of a pennj' a pound to paj- for the rum and sugar used in raising the meeting-house. Oct. 17, 1775, three of the ministerial bretkren met at the house of Mr. Reeve, and with him organized the first Ministerial Association in Vermont. The preamble at:d articles of this organization are still preserved, and show the strong moral and religious zeal of the founders. The venerable Mr. Reeve continued with this soeietj' until 1793, when, by reason of age and infirmit}-, he resigned. He died May 6, 1798, aged 90. The church is now in a flourishing condition. I In 1816 a new Congregational Society was organized | at the east village, and the Rev. Jonathan McGee settled Jan. 13, 1819. This society has continued to grow in daughter, a dashing young widow, subsequently contracted a romantic mai'riage with Gen. Ethan Allen. + He was a second time placed in prison, but soon after released and ordered by the committee of safety not to leave his farm under penalty of death, the committee giving orders that any one might shoot hira if seen off his estate ; one, in after years, confessing to having spent hours near Mr. Sabin's house, firelock in hand, to see him step over the dead- line. In 1778, the church excluded him from the communion-table. numbers, wealth and prospeiit}-, until it now outstrips the other and older. The Unitarians, Episcopalians, \ i\Iethodists, Baptists, Catholics and Universalists have nourishing societies. Prominent among those who earl3' gave character and direction to the business interests of the town was Stephen Grconleaf of Boston, who purchased what was called the governor's farm, and opened probably the first store in V'ermont in 1771, tlius laying the corner-stone in the business interests of the East Village of to-day. To-day a few venerable men are still in business here I whose memory carries them back to the daj-s of the founders. Among these we may mention the Hon. Asa Ke3'es, the oldest lawj'er in Vermont, who has re- I cently resigned the office of register of probate, at the I advanced age of 91 ; the venerable Joseph Steen, the I oldest merchant in the county, who, at the age of 85, is \ daily waiting upon his customers ; N. B. Williston, president of the First National Bank ; and Charles Frost, the learned shoemaker, whose botanical and linguistic at- , tainnients have given him a name and position among the scholars of the daj'. j A great event in the business interests of the town was the completion of the Vermont and Massachusetts Rail- road. Thfe arrival of the first train, Feb. 19, 1849, was celebrated by an immense gathering of people from all the surrounding towns. Since then the population and wealth have more than doubled, and the town has become the business centre of Windham County. The moneyed and mercantile interests arc represented by three banks of discount, the oldest of which was organized in 1821, and the Vermont Savings Bank chartered in 1846. In 1827 Alexander C. Putnam began the publication j of the " Messenger." In 1833 William E. Ryther and George Nichols founded the "Vermont Phoenix," now one of the oldest and most influential journals in Ver- mont. In 1836 Joseph Steen started the " AVindham County Democrat," afterward published bj- George Nich- ols. In 1847 the " Weekly Eagle," by B. D. Harris and William Hall, began its flight. The " Record and Far- mer" was established in Brattleborough by D. L. Milliken in 1864, and four years later he and George E. Crowell began the monthly publication of the " Household." The " Windham County Reformer" was begun as a campaign sheet in the presidential canvass of 1876 by Charles II. Davenport. The Vermont Asylum, now one of the largest and best I appointed institutions of its kind in New England, was founded in 1834 by a bequest of $10,000 from Jlrs. Anna M. Marsli of Hinsdale, N. H. The world-renowned Esty Organ Works wore founded in 1846. They occupj' eight extensive shops, and emplo}' 500 men, who turn out from 7,000 to 9,000 instruments a i 3'ear, making a business of over $1,000,000 i)er annum. The population of Brattleborough is about 5,000. Grafton, chartered to Jonathan Whitney and others, April 8, 1754, as Tomlinson, was the last town granted by Gov. Wentworth prior to the French and Indian war. Its present name was adopted Oct. 31, 1791. In 1768 a Mr. Hinkley and others began the settlement of the town on the brook that has taken his name, but soon abandoned their improvements. In the spring of 1780, Amos Fisher, Samuel Spring, Benjamin Leatherbee and Edward Putnam, from Winchester, Mass., made a per- manent settlement. A Congregational church was or- ganized June 28, 1785, and the Rev. William Hall set- tled Nov. 7, 1788. The meeting-house was built in 1792. There is a large quarrj' of soapstone in the south- eastern part of the town, extending into Athens. These quarries were opened about 1822, and have been worked with little or lio interruption lo the present. The village is well located, and built in a neat 3et substantial man- ner, and for many years was the seat of a successful woollen manufactory, now idle. The population is 1,008. Guilford was chartered bj- Gov. Wentworth April 2, 1754. Jonathan and Elisha Hunt made the first clearing in 1758. Micah Rice's family arrived in town in Septem- ber, 1761, and were soon followed b}' John Barney and others. From the beginning the town was a little inde- pendent republic, governing itself bj' an annual election of officers under the rules of the proprietors until 1772, when at a meeting held Maj' 19, the friends and parti- sans of New York, having a majority, declared the town to be in Cumberland Count}-, N. Y., and organized it agreeable to the laws of that Province. In 1776, the Whigs and New State men combined, and outvoted the Yorkers and Tories, and resolved that no man should vote who was not qualified according to the directions of the Continental Congress, and thus excluded all Tories from the polls. They also voted to raise nine soldiers for the Continental army and give them a bounty of £4 Bay money. In 1777, they voted that no person should vote who was not possessed of £40 real or personal estate. In 1778, the power of the parties changed, and the next year a committee was appointed to defend the town against tlie pretended State of Vermont, and another to hold the town powder, lead and other public stores. Hav- ing obtained the power, the Yorkers excluded the New State men from the polls by force. Whereupon the Ver- HISTORY OF XEW E^"GLA^■D. monters organized a government of their own and elected the necessarj- town ofDccrs, who, backed by the laws and powers of the new State, proceeded to collect the taxes and enforce the laws of Vermont, and, as has alread}" appeared in the histor}- of the county, manj- and bitter were the conflicts during the six years reign of anarchy that followed. Tradition says that both parties held reg- ular meetings in secret throughout this stoi-my period, and that the Yorkers, although in possession of the town I books, dared not enter any records therein, lest they j might be stolen, as in fact the records of both parties finall}' were, and buried together in the pound, where they were totally ruined. Chief among the New State men was Benj. Carpenter, who was a delegate to the first State Convention at Dorset in 177G, and man}- times did he march alone through the woods to attend the legisla- ture at Bennington. Carpenter's efforts for the freedom of Vermont were fullj' seconded by the Hon. John Shep- ardson, who was appointed chief judge of Cumberland Count}' by the New State authorities in 1778. Since 1790, the history of Guilford has been of that quiet, uneventful character common to all rural towns. The Rev. "Wilbur Fisk, president for a time of the Wesle^yan Universit}' at Middletown, Conn., was a native of this town. Population, 1,277. i IlALiFiVX was chartered b}- Gov. Wentworth Maj- 11, 1750. It was the first town covered by a royal grant I within the present limits of Windham Count}-. The first settler was Abner Rice, from Worcester County, INIass., i who commenced his clearing in 17G1, and in 17G.3 he was joined by others from Pclham and Colrain. It is sup- posed that the town was organized al)out 1 770. The Con- gregational church was organized in 1778, and the Rev. David Goodall was settled in 1781. The next j-ear tlic meeting-house was built. The church now hves onl}- in momoi'V. Halifax is chicflj- an agricultural town, and well adapted to grazing. Population, 1,020. Jamaica. — The first attempt at claiming the land ii this town was on the 17th of June, 1775, on the river in the casterl}- part of the town by Caleb and Silas Ila}-- ward, sons of AVilliam Hayward of Townshend. The}- settled there near each other within a few 3-ears after, probably about 1777. Benjamin Ilaj-ward, a distant relative, came from Men- don, Mass., with several sons, a 3-ear or two later, and settled in the same neighborhood. The town was chartered Nov. 7, 1780, and was organ- ized Sept. 3, 1781. A saw-mill and a grist-mill were erected on the Wardsborough branch of West River, near its mouth, by Peter Ilazelton in 1782 or 178.3. Tlie Congregationalist church was organized in 1791. A Baptist church was organized in IGOG, and Elder Simeon Coombs was the first settled minister. The town has two banlis, and a population of 1,223. LoxDONDEKKY was granted b}" Now Y'ork as the town of Kent, Feb. 20, 1770. In 1774, James Rogers, S. : Thompson and James Patterson, of Londonderry, N. H., commenced the settlement. Rogers was a firm partisan ' of New York, and upon the organization of the State of Vermont left the territory. The town, of which he was the principal proprietor, was confiscated in 1778. April 20, 1780, it was rcchartercd to Edward Aiken. In 1795 and 1797 James Rogers, Jr., petitioned the legislature to return to him the original title to the unsold land in town. His praj-er was favorablj- considered and the title con- firmed. A Congi-cgational societ}- was organized at what is now called North Derry, and a meeting-house erected in 1813. The population of the town is 1,252. Newfaxe. — The original charter of the town was issued under the name of Fane by Gov. Wentworth, June 19, 1753. The name is derived from an honored English famil}- of the sixteenth centuiy. The township linall}- became the property of Luke Knowlton and John Taylor of Worcester County, IMass., and from them all titles are derived. The settlement of the town was com- menced in May, 17GG, b}- Jonathan Park and NathaniL'l Stedman, who were followed in the summer by a Jlr. D3"er. Stedman and Park made their first clearing on the hill near the centre of the town. In the spring of 17GS, Park established himself on the present site of Faj'ctteville, and erected the first framed house in town. In JIaj-, 1774, the town was organized. Juno 30th the church was organized and the Rev. Hezekiah Taylor set- tled as pastor. He remained until ISll. In 1792 the town voted to build a meeting-house, which was finished in 1800. The "Windham County Grammar School, incorporated in 1801, enjoyed a high reputation for 15 j'ears, but it w-as allowed to pass awa}-. Faj-ettevillc and Williams- ville have grown up since 1825. The latter has a good water-power and several mills. Faj'ettevillo is one of the most beautiful and attractive villages in the State, and is quite a favorite summer resort. The population of Newfane is 1,113. Putney. — The settlement of this town was begun about 1744, by AVilliam Phipps, David Rugg, Robert Baker, N. Howe, and several others, who built Fort Hill near the centre of the great meadow. During the Capo Breton war they were compelled to abandon their im- provements, and all is then a blank until 1754, when John Perrj', Philip Alexander and Michael Gilsou ai- I rived and established themselves upon the site of their predecessors. The following year others came, and they erected a large fort of hewn pine logs in the south-cast part of the meadow. The first religious services held in town were conducted within the walls of this fort, bj' the j Rev. Andrew Gardner, a former chaplain of Fort I Dummer. The settlement of what is now called Putnej- Street was begun in the spring of 17G4, by Joshua Par- ker, who drove the first wheeled vehicle and moved his family' into town in 17G5. Before the close of the year there were 19 families in town. For several j-cars reli- gious services were conducted b}' Mr. Parker at his house, or the barn of James Cummings. The Hon. Noah Sabin arrived in the spring of 17G8, and erected the first framed house, and soon after, Moses Johnson built tlie first two-storv house, which is still in use. The town was organized May 8, 1770. Rev. Josiah Goodhue was installed pastor of the first church Oct. 17, 1776, and remained until his death in 1797. I In 1770 Peter "Wilson opened a store, around which 1 as a centre a thriving village has grown up, containing one of the finest town halls in the county. J The population of the town is 1,1G7. Rockingham. — In the early days this territor3- was known as Goldenstown. It was* chartered by Gov. AVcnlwortli under its present title Dec. 28, 17u2. The I settlement was commenced in 1753, by Moses "Wright, Joel Bigelow and Simeon Knight. It was organized as j a town about 17C0. The early settlers devoted them- selves principallj' to fishing, taking immense quantities I of salmon and shad at the foot of the "Great Falls." I About 1770 the Congregational church was organized, j and the Rev. Samuel "Whiting settled Oct. 27, 1773, who I remained 36 years. The Congregational church was or- I ganizcd at Bellows Falls in 1850, and the Episcopalians j and Methodists have flourislaing societies in this village. j In the interests of education, Charles Jones, of Cam- liridge, Mass., a native of the town, proposed some 1 time since to furnish $10,000 toward the substantial en- dowment of a good academy at Saxton's River, a flour- ishing village within the limits of Rockingham. This, I through the wisdom and munificence of J. A. Farns- j worth, aided by the earnest labors of the Rev. "W. N. Wilbur, has led to the founding of the Vermont Acad- emy at Saxton's River, with a pennanent endowment fund of $100,000, the subscriptions to which were com- pleted in 1873. The village derives its name from a Mr. Saxton, who, tradition saj-s, settled here about 1790, and was drowned in the river. The water power here was early improved bj- the building of a mill, and about 1820 a Mr. Bucklin started a woollen factory and estab- lished a business that has contiiiucd to tlie present. In the early records, the celebrated falls on the Con- necticut River in this town are called the " Great Falls." But a later civilization has vcr}' appropriately named them in honor of Col. Bellows, one of the leading pio- neers in settling the country around them. The fall is made up of several descents and rapids, dropping 42 feet in the space of half a mile. "Various facts that we have gathered point to 1790 as near the time wlien busi- ness began to take shape and form at this place. The first bridge was built across the river at this point b}- Enoch Ilale, in 1785, its length being 365 feet. In 1791, the Bellows Falls Canal Companj- was chartered, for the purpose of opening a canal around the falls, for the transportation of merchandise on the river. This company emploj'ed a Mr. Sanderson to build a dam across the river, and opened their canal for the passage of the first boat in April, 1779. About 1810, William Blake established the first paper- mill, and in 1816 Thomas G. Fessenden founded the first newspaper, the ' ' Bellows Falls Intelligencer." The ' ' Ver- mont Chronicle " was started here in April, 1826, by E. C. Tracy, and the "Vermont Intelligencer" bj' B. G. Cook, in January, 1835. The " Bellows Falls Gazette " was begun by John W. Moore, in 1837. W^ilHam Mack established the "Republican Standard," which was changed to the "Bellows Fa;lls Argus "bj' Iliram At- kins, about 1854. The "Bellows Falls Times" was founded bj- its present editor, A. N. Swain, in 1856. The Vermont Valle}' Railroad was completed in 1851, and thus ended the value of the Canal Company's prop- erty until 18G9, when William Russell obtained a con- trolling intei-est, and began the erection of pulp mills. The place has since become one of the largest pulp and paper manufacturing points in New England. Population of the town, 2,854. TowNSHEND was chartered bj' Gov. Wentworth, June 20, 1753, and the settlement commenced in 1761, by Joseph Tyler and John Hazeltine. The original town was organized in the spring of 1771. A Congrega- tional chui-ch was organized, and the Rev. Nicholas Dudley ordained, June 26, 1777. In 1790, a new meet- ing-house was built, around which the village of East Townshend has grown up. In 1850, a Congregational society was organized at West Townshend. The Bap- tists also have a society in town. In 1835, a seminary was established here, and the school has ever remained a firm and enduring institution of learning. The inhabitants of this town, under the lead of Col. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. j Ilazeltine and Samuel Fletcher, took an earnest and I active part in the Revolutionar^v war, and the New State movement. The news from Lexington brought six mus- kets to the shoulders of six good men, who, with young Fletcher, marched to the front, and fought at Bunker Hill, and served luider Gen. Washington at Roxburv. Fletcher was -subsequentl3- captain of. a companj- of minute-men, and served with credit in an expedition to Ticonderoga in 1777. During the late war, the town furnished 120 soldiers for the national army- Population, 1,171. AVestmixster was originally granted by the General Court of Massachusetts, Nov. 19, 173G, to Joseph Tis- dale of Taunton and his associates. The second char- ter was issued by Gov. Wentworth to Josiah Willard. Nov. 9, 1752, under the name of Westminster, and fail- ing to comply with its terms, the proprietors obtained a third charter, June 11, 17G0. A determined effort was made to settle this town as early as 1738, by one Richard Ellis and son, and some actual progress was made. A later attempt was made by John Barnej', in 1749. On account of various diffi- culties and discouragements, however, these enteritises were successively abandoned. It was not until Feb. 4, 17G1, that a proprietors' meeting was held in Westmin- ster, and steps taken to apportion the land among the proprietors. At a meeting held Jlay 6, several lots were awarded to Col. Josiah Willard, upon the condition of his building a saw and grist mill. Such were the deter- mined and earnest efforts of the proprietors in this in- stance to maintain their charter rights, that b}' the close of 176G fifty families were settle'd in town. In 17G7, a Congregational church was organized. Three j-ears after, a meeting-house was built. In JanuaiT, 1771, this was the most populous town in Cumberland Count}-, and in May, 1772, it became the shire town. Soon after, a building of hewn logs for a court-house and jail was erected. Earlj- in the summer of 1778, Judah P. Spooner and Timothj' Green estab- lished here the first printing-office in Vermont, and in October were appointed State printers. In Februar}-, 1781, they issued the " Green Mountain Post-Boj-," the first newspaper published in Vermont. Upon the estab- lishment of Vermont authority, and the removal of the public buildings to Newfane, the town lost its political importance, and has since become one of our most flour- ishing and wealihj^ agricultural communities. Population, 1,238. WiiiTixcnAM. — It is supposed that the settlement of this town was commenced about 1770, bj- a Mr. Bratlin, in the north-west part of the town on the Dcerfield River. Tradition says that Mr. Singleton Williams arrived in the south-east part of the town .about the same time. The smoke of the latter's cabin was discovered liy Brat- lin while journeying to Colrain to mill, and proceeding in the line of this sign of humanity he soon found a neighbor. Mr. Bratlin found Sawetaga, a lone Indian, li\-ing upon the sliores of the lalce that now bears his name , but as the whites crowded upon his hunting-ground, he took to his canoe and floated down the Dcerfield River, never to return. Manj' Indian relics, such as arrow- heads, hatchets, &c., have been found in the vicinity of the lake. Tliis sheet of water is estimated to cover 500 acres, and has upon its surface a bod}- of floating land containing about 100 acres, that rises and falls with the water. The descent at the outlet of the lake and vol- ume of water give one of the best water-powers in the count}-. It is said that the town was organized Jlarch 23, 1780. The first meeting-house was comi^leted in the centre of the town in 1798, and is now used as a town house. There are three societies that sustain preaching. The business has deserted the old town on the hill and centered at the thriving village of Jacksonsville, in the east, and Sawetaga at the west part of the town. Upon the hill just south of this village are still to be seen the well, apple-trees and foundations of the house of John Young, the father of the renowned Brigham, who removed to western New York when the prophet was two years old. Ex-Ma}-or Jilson of Worcester is one of the honored sons of the town, and a gi-andson of the original pioneer, Singleton Williams. Population, 1,2G3. Wilmington was chartered by Gov. Wentworth to Phineas Lyman and others April 29, 1751. The diffi- culties and dangers of the French and Indian war, as in other towns in the county, prevented a full compliance with the terms of the charter. June 17, 17G3, Went- worth issued a new charter under the title of Draper, to other parties. A serious contest arose between the old and new proprietors for the possession of tlie town. Record and tradition clearly indicate that the former, and those holding under them, were the first actual settlers; and their charter seems to have been finally confirmed by the legislature of Vermont. First among these we find the name of Marks, who built his cabin in the valley of the Dcerfield River, in the south part of the town, and was soon followed by others. The first town meeting was held March 2, 1775. In 1 780 the Congregational church was organized. A Mr. Chapin had ijreviously preached to the society. In 1777 there were about 30 families in town, and when the flying horseman heralded the approach of Col. Baum toward Bennington, Col. William Williams and his men shouldered their muskets and marched to the front in season to join in that memorable battle. As early as 1781 Adnah Bangs kept an inn, and Roger Birchard, grandfather of President Haj-es, is said to have opened the first store. It is about 40 j-ears since public attention was turned toward laying the foundations of the present thriving village, now the third or fourth in size in the county. It has a good water-power and lumber trade, and a savings bank. The town is one of the finest grazing ti:acts in the county, and its agricultural fairs have become justly cele- brated for their exhibitions of stock. Population, 1,24G. DuMJiERSTON, named in honor of the senior proprietor. Gov. Dummer of Massachusetts, was settled about the year 1754. The first town meeting was held March 4, 1771. In the old church-yard in this place we find the name of Capt. John Wyman, an officer of the Revolu- tion, and one of the party who destroyed the tea in Boston Harbor in 1773. The population of Dummers- ton is 916. Veknon, originallj' called Hinsdale, was probablj- settled about the time of the erection of Fort Dummer bj' parties from Northampton and Northfield, Mass., who erected forts Bridgman and Sartwell, the latter standing as late as 1840. The town was organized before the Revolution. Population, 764. Wardsborough was settled in 1780, and organized as a town March 14, 1786. The present town, comprising the northern part of old Wardsborough, was organized in 1810. Lumbering and agriculture are the principal interests. Population, 866. Marlborough, settled in 1763 b}- Abel Stockwell from West Springfield, Mass., and Capt. Francis Whita- more * from Middletown, Conn., held its first town meet- ing May 8, 1776. Present population, G65. Dover was a part of Wardsborough until 1810. Population, 635. Windham was incorporated Oct. 22, 1795, and was organized soon after. Population, 544. Athens, settled in 1780, and organized March 4, 1781, was in early days the scene of several Indian alarms. Population, 295. Stratton, organized March 31, 1788, is a mountain town with a population of 294. During the presi- dential canvass of 1840 the "Log Cabin Convention" was held here and addressed b}' Daniel Webster. Brookline was set off from Putiiej' and Athens in 1794 and organized in March, 1795. Population, 203. Somerset, the smallest town in the county, was organ- ized Nov. 19, 1792. Population, 80. ■WIIS^DSOE COUE^TY. BY WILLIAM E. GRAVES, ESQ. Long years had passed since the titled Frenchman who gave his name to Lake Champlain first saw, in 1609, the land which he never visited, and of which Windsor Countj' forms a part, — a land of luxuriant forests unsur- passed in densitj-, where the white-pine and the sugar- maple find their most congenial soil, in the native home of the evergreen spruce and fir, which first suggested the name of Verd Mont. Of the 14 counties in this Green Mountain State, Windsor and Windham, in the south-eastern part, occupy • The wife of Capt. Whitamore, a woman of remarkable fortitude and of vigorous constitution, was nurse, physician and midwife of all the , country round. She assisted at two thousand births without losing a ' patient. I t The records show that the inhabitants of the " Grants " were not to-day nearl3' the same teri-itorj' that under the govern- ment of New York was known, — previous to the Amer- ican Revolution, and during a part of the last centurj', — hy the name of Cumberland Count3-. This countj" was the first established in Vermont, then called the " New Hampshire G rants, "f and probably received its name from Prince William, the Duke of Cumberland, who, in 1746, met with distinguished success in opposing the rebels in Scotland. But not now, as then, are Vermont's river-towns bor- very obedient subjects to those New Yorkers who volunteered to rule over them. Soon after the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia, July 4, 1776, the Green Mountain Boys concluded not to remain longer under the rule of any earthly government or nation, except their own, and, in 1791, Vermont became a sovereign State. — Demtng. HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. dered with dense forests of noble pines, destined for His Majesty's nav\- ! Nor do Capt. John Burk's, or Maj. Eogers's rangers, — fit bodies of troops to rival the resobite Indian, — roam now as then, scouring the woods for scalps ; watching on mountain-tops for the smoke of Indian camp-fires ; fighting the savage with a S3'stem of finesse not inferior to his own cunning Indian artifice ; unsurpassed as marksmen ; and, as warriors, a foe whom the enemy might hate, but could not despise. Loaded with provisions for a month's march ; canying an excessivcl}- heavy musket, with correspondent ammu- nition ; and bearing the burden of a porter to do the duty of a soldier, these rangers sought the Indian trail over jagged hills and steep mountains, across foaming rivers and gi-avellj^-bedded brooks. Alert to prevent surprise at night, in summer the ground sufficed for a bed, and the clear skj^ or the- outspreading branches of some giant oak for a canopj- ; in winter, at the close of a wearj- march performed on snow-shoes, a few gathered twigs pointed the couch ■ made hard by necessity, and a rude hut served as a miserable shelter for the in- clemencj- of the weather. Were the night verj' dark and cold, and no fear of discoverj^ entertained, gathered around the blazing brush-heap thej- enjoyed a kind of satisfaction in watching the towering of its bright, forked flame, reheved bj- the dark background of the black forest ; or, encircling it in slumber, dreamed that their heads were in Greenland, and their feet in Vesuvius ! In sickness the canteen, or what herbs the forest afforded, furnished all medicine needed till the attain- ment of theii- object, — a string of scalps or a retinue of captives. Some of them had borne for manj- years the barbarities of the Indian, and were detennined to hunt him like a beast in his own native woods. Not a few j had seen father and mother tomahawked and scalped before their very ej'es ; and some, after spending their youth as captives in the wigwam, had returned, bringing [ with them a knowledge of the Indian modes of warfare, j and a buniing desire to exert that knowledge for the destruction of their teachers. Great were the dangers they encountered, arduous the labor they performed, • Hall's Hist, of Eastern Vermont, pp. 1-73. Reminiscences of the French Waa-, Concord, 1831 ; pp. 4, 5. "Rules for Ranging Service," in the Jounials of Maj. Robert Rogers, London, 1765; pp. 60-70. Hoyt's Indian Wai-s, pp. 266-268. t In the " Memoir of Gen. Stark," Concord, 1831, p. 180, it is said that in the spring of the year 1759, Capt. John Stark " was employed with two hundred rangers in cutting a road from Ticonderoga to Charles- town, N.H." t In 1765, the father of a family, — a mechanic by trade, — was absent the whole \nnt€r in the older settlements, earning something for the sup- port of his household. During the short, unpleasant days, and long, cheerless nights of this dieary season, the wife left at home saw no human eminent the service they rendered, and yet the ranger has seldom been mentioned but with stigma, and his occupation rarely named but with scorn and abuse.* Although the ranging service brought not the honor acquired in a regular or provincial corps, it was in this serv-ice, — so instructive in the details and minutia of Indian warfare, — that the mind of John Stark reccivcil its lessons of brave soldierj- and heroic daring, and his arm gained that strength which, during the Revolution, was so manfully exerted in defence of the liberties of his country on the field of Bennington, f [ But all this has passed away, and with it, many heart- rending exi^eriences of the sufferings of these frontier ! settlers, I who, defj-ing the perils of border-life, not only encountered hardships, but met them manfully. Seeking a home in the silent wilderness, where thej' were soon to found a State ; accustomed to hard labor and spare meals, the}- toiled nobl}- on, through hunger and thirst and famine, and the desolations of disease, quietly pur- suing their way with untiring industry ; with a zeal not ' to be quenched ; and with motives only less lofty than those which animated the handful of adventurers who braved the winter's storm on the ice-clad rock of Plym- outh. Who can teU how many a brave spirit, — of courageous man or heroic woman, — toiling on through want and sickness, neglected and forgotten, maj- have suffered and died alone, wasting away hke a name in the sand ! Working early and late to win a field from the forest b}' long -continued toil, a strange settler is seen from a distant hill-top piu'suing his toilsome task, — miles from anj- human habitation. All at once he is missing ! A few daj-s later he is found dead from disease, in his lowly cabin. Such cases are recorded in the history of Windsor County. How many maj- hate lingered and died alone, amid the rude snows of winter, in the gloom and savage wildness of the forest, "unknelled" save bj- the snarling wolf, — their only requiem the swaying of the forest-boughs moved bj- the moaning wind. Even thus — it is said — men and women die daily in crowded cities, where their names passing awaj- from being but her little daughter. Her hands were not employed in per- forming simply the lighter duties of the household, but, to supply her fire ! with fuel, she felled the trees of the forest, and on the twigs -n-hich the j branches afforded she supported her lirilc stock of cattle. She procured | water for them, and for herself and daughter, by melting snow, —it be- j ing easier than to seek for springs through the deep drifts. In this way | she spent the winter, and although licr sufferings were occasionally severe, yet constant employment left her little time for unavailing com- plaint. She was an excellent nurse and midwife, — on one occasion trav- elling in the night six miles through the woods, upon snow-shoes, keep- ing the path by the assistance of blazed trees. She died at the advanced age of 87 years. record and recollection, are never known ! But, alas, for death in the desert — be3-ond the sound of human voice, save its own echoes, that make the solitude more lonelj' ; and where, beside the rush of waters and the sighing wind, no sound startles the ear but the rustling of the squirrel, the flitting of a bird, or the deer's quick, crackling tread ! No more planting, sowing and reap- ing his scanty harvest ! No more struggling with the barren luxuriance of nature ! No more rising in the cold, dark, snowy winter mornings to his hopeless task of taming the forest, where he laid him down to rest in that dreamless sleep that knows no waking ! The romantic story of Pocahontas may enliven the early history of Virginia, but the lonel}- death of the northern frontier settler forms a sad recital in the annals of the earlj' chronicles of New England. Although earlj' visited and explored, a long time elapsed before Windsor County was settled to any. con- siderable extent. Nearly 50 miles long and 30 wide, this magnificent domain, with its peculiarly rich soil and agreeably uneven surface, covers 900 square miles of fer- tile land, having a range of slate passing through the western portion, where several quarries of excellent soap- stone have been opened, more especiallj- in Plj'mouth, Bridgewater, and Bethel. In the south is an abundance of excellent granite ; and in Plj'mouth, primitive lime- stone, which is extensively manufactured into lime. Garnets are found in many parts of the count3-, which was incorporated in Februarj', 1781. Lying southerl3' to the sun, on the eastern slope of the Green Mountains — between them and the Connecticut — whose stream winds its way through long reaches of rich meadow and distant mountain scenerj', — charming the ej-e alike with placid and with rapid waters, and separating Windsor from the counties of Grafton and Cheshire, in New Hampshire, — Orange Count}' bounds it on the north, Windham Count}' on the south, and Rutland County on the west. The White River runs across its northern part, Quechee River through its centre, and the Black River through the south, where some head branches of West and Williams rivers take their rise. Of the many pleas- • This town also has its Bloody Brook, foiling into the Connecticut, just below the bridge leading from Darlmouth College. The stream de- rives its name from a bloody battle fought here during the French war. Stone pots, arrows and human bones are frequently found in the Indian burying-ground in this place. Capt. Partridge's "American Literary, Scientific and Military Acad- emy," was established here in 1820, with pupils or cadets from nearly all the States in the Union. Subsequently, the principal part of the school was removed to Middletown, Conn., but was at length restored to Norwich (a small school having meantime kept possession of the building) , under the name of Norwich Uiyversity , by the act of Nov. 6, 1834, with the insignia>of a regular college, although no definite term ant villages in this county, perhaps the most important are Royalton, Norwich, Windsor and Woodstock, — the latter near its centre, and the seat of justice. But few vestiges of the Indians now remain ; yet, as late as 1840, in several of the towns bordering on the banks of the Connecticut, stone mortars and pestles, white flint stones, heads of arrows, tomahawks, and bones buried in the sitting posture peculiar to the Indians, were occasionally found. Many }ears ago, large tracts of burned ground and ashes, — marks of long residence in old and extensive settlements — were discovered. The Iroquois, whose hunting-grounds were west of the Green Mountains, seldom wandered to this part of the State ; but there are many indications that the aborigines had a home here for centuries, — before America had been lifted above the mystery of the great Western Ocean. The first town granted by New Hampshire east of the Green Mountains, after the close of the French war, was Hartford, incorfDorated July 4, 17G1. In the summer of 17G4, Elijah, Solomon and Beuiijah Strong emigrated with their families from Lebanon, Conn., and made the first permanent settlement. They were followed during the next year by 12 other families, and in 17G8 a town government was regularly organized. The first child born in town was Roger, son of Ebenezer Gillett, in 1767. On the same day and date, July 4, 17G1, was incorporated Norwich,* by the name of "Norwhich."t During the two following years, Jacob Fenton, Ebenezer Smith and John Slafter, from Mansfield, Conn., built a camp and began improvements. There were at this time, two men in Hanover, and a small settlement in Lebanon, both towns lying opposite in New Hampshire. Smith and Slafter left Fenton at the camp, while they went to Lebanon to help hoe corn. Upon returning on Saturday evening they found Fenton dead. A monu- ment was erected over his grave. In 17GG, a saw-mill was built by the Burtons, a little west of Norwich Plain. The first town meeting was held in 17G8. Near the centre of the western side of Windsor County lies Plymouth,} chartered in 17G1, by the name of " Saltash," changed to Pl}'mouth in 1707. The town- was prescribed in which to complete a course of study, students being admitted to honors upon passing a satisfactory examination. This went into oper.ation in May, 1835. It has never been practically regarded as among colleges of the first r.ank. Its first president was Capt. Aldcn Piirtridgc. His successors have been Gen. T. B. Ransom, who died on the battle-field of Chepultapec; Gen. Henry S. Wheaton, and Kev. Edward Bourns, D. D. t Everybody pronounced it Norwich, and the superfluous "h" was eventually dropped without an act of the legislature. J The largest of the Plymouth caverns, situated near the foot of Mount Tom, in this town, was thoroughly explored by the late Prof. Zadock Thompson, the historian, in July, 1818. It contained seven HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. ship was re-granted bj' New York in 1772, but no settle- ments commenced till 1777, and the town was not or- ganized till ten j-ears later. A part of this township was set off to Shrewsbury in 1823. One of the richest farming-towns in the county is Ilartland,* originally granted in 1761, by the name of Hertford, f Manj' fine cattle roam over its hills and valleys on the west bank of the Connecticut, and 10,000 sheep have been often seen grazing in its pastures. The rightful father of the town was Timothy Lull, who took his family from Dummerston, — where he had previously been living, — 50 miles up the Connecticut River in a log canoe, in 1763. He landed at the mouth of a beautiful stream which he called Lull's Brook, — the name by which it has ever since been known. His nearest neigh- bors were more than 20 miles distant. Proceeding up the brook he came to a deserted log-hut, situated near the place now called Sumner's Village. Here he com- menced a settlement, and after acquiring a handsome propertj-, died at the age of 81. Timothy Lull, Jr., was the first child bom in the town. J The settlers who fol- lowed Mr. Lull were mostl}' from Massachusetts and Connecticut. In 1765, the number of inhabitants in the rooms, varying from 10 to 30 feet in length, the roofs of which, when discovered, were festooned with stalactites, and the floor with stalag- mites, which have been broken off and carried away. The rocks of the cavern are limestone, and it was probably formed by the removal of earth from among the rocks by water. This cave is visited by large numbers of persons during the summer season. Soapstone is found here ; also considerable quantities of iron-ore of a superior quality, which is smelted and cast into stoves, at the village called Tyson Fur- nace. * The follomng singular incident, — in all his personal experience the most peculiar, and of little interest, perhaps, to the general reader, — made a strong impression on the writer at the time of his first visit to Vermont, nearly 20 years ago : On a mission for the soldiers, during the war of the Rebellion, in the latter part of June, 1862, he first set foot in AV'indsor County, having left the county of Sullivan in a neighboring State early in the morning. The last call he made in New Ilampshu-e, before crossing the Connecticut, was one of inquiry at a scminaiy for young ladies, where he listened to a reading-exercise of the senior class, — a member of which had recited in the text-book a selection from Isaiah on the "Triumph of the Gospel," — the last paragi'aph com- mencing, " Thy sun shall no more go down," &c. The " perfect " June day gradually wore away, and closed with a gorgeous sunset, blazing through the trees and reddening the entire west ; while, as the shadows lengthened, the prophecy, " Thy sun shall no more go down," was con- tinually recalled to mind, and often repeated mentally, with the addi- tional query, " when " ? The answer came, — half an hour later, — when, on reaching Hartland, enveloped in fogs from the river, in the gloom of the evening, an eccentric stranger (possibly insane), in the garb of a professional man, of some sort, being asked, " What town is this, please ? " pausing for a moment as if to collect his scattered thoughts, at first glared wildly at the speaker, and then with a vacant far-off gaze,— such as the Seer might have assumed in addressing Lochicl, — responded somewhat loftily, but with great apparent solemnity, — " We shall com- prehend it when we know how the morning stars sang together ! " Bidding the man " good-night," with thanks but leaving him in "pos- town was 30. The first town-meeting was held in 1767. The first town clerk was William Sims, and the first representative was William Gallup, in 1778. In the centre of the uneven antl mountainous town- ship of Reading § is a church edifice, || built in 1816, owned bj' all denominations. Chartered by New Hamp- shire in 1761, and granted bj' New York in 1772, the town could boast of no inhabitants until the latter j'ear, when Andrew Spear with his family came here from Walpole, N. H., and were for five or six years the only residents. In 1778, John Weld came from Pomfret, Conn. A saw-mill was built in 1780, when the first town meeting was held, and Reading became a thriving settlement. Portions of the town of Hancock were annexed to Reading in 1831 and in 1837. The town of Pomfret — one of whose proprietors was Gen. Israel Putnam, of Pomfret, Conn. — was incorpo- rated in 1761. The first settlers, Bartholomew Durkee, with his wife and five children on foot, upon a snow-shoe path, drawing their furniture on a hand-sled, came here in 1770. The first minister of the town. Rev. Elisha Hutchinson, according to one historian, " had some sin- gularities about him." 1 The town organization of Pom- session of the road, the traveller pushed on to the first pnblic-honsc, where a cordial welcome caused him to forget the rebuff he had just encountered, and where the incident of the evening was afterwards satis- factorily explained, as one of the by no means uncommon hallucinations of a gifled college-bred man (then residing in the neighlxjrhood), and whose unfortunate propensity for brain-stimulants had already cost him the loss of a prominent goveniraent position abroad. At that time the humble visitor to Vermont little dreamed that he would ever be called upon to describe any part of the Green Mountain State ; although during the season he visited many of the towns in the leading counties, making his home in Windsor till late in the following spring. And now the ' philosophy that draws a moral from the smallest incidents in our lives, at once suggests how little we know of the future, — which is not for \ mortal eyes, — or, what we may do, or where we may be at the end of j the year, or twenty years hence I and the thought of this will sometimes recall the hour and the man, with his sti-ange answer, " We shall com- ) prchcnd it when we know how the morning stars sang together." I t Its similarity to Hartford, the adjoining town, caused the legislature to alter the name to Hartland, in 1782. X His birth took place in December, 1764, and on this occasion, " the midwife was drawn by the father from Charlestoivn, upon the ice, a dis- tance of 23 miles, upon a hand-sled." — Thompson's Vermont, Part III., p. S8. § It is said that Captive Johnson (described under Cavendish) was bom in Ueading, Aug. 30, 1754, and the monument mentioned is in Reading. II No longer occupied as a house of worship, it is kept in repair by the town, and used for its meetings. H lie was preaching a sermon in Hartland, at a private house, and stood in the door-way delivering his discourse to an audience occupying the entry and the two adjoining rooms. While thus engaged, Lieut. | Gov. Spooncr entered. Pausing for a moment, the minister infoi-mcd , his hearers that he had " got about half through " his sermon, but as j Gov. Spooncr h.ad come to hear it, he would begin it again, and looking i at a woman near him, remarked, " Good woman, get out of that chair, . and let Gov. Spooncr have a seat, if you please." fi-ct commenced in 1733. John W. Dana, who came to I'orafrct about the year 1772, built the first grist-mill I upon a small stream falling into White River, and was the first town representative. Woodstock, the shire town of Windsor County, first chartered by New Hampshire in 17C1, was also granted ten 3"ears later b}' Kcw York, and a charter to that effect was issued in 1772, when the place had only 42 inhab- itants * ; but a town government was organized early I in the following j'ear, and in 1774, there were 14 fam- ilies in the township. James Sanderson, however, had previously settled herewith his family in 1768 Major James Hoisington was the first person who pitched his camp in that part of the town whore the village now is, which was in earlv times called the " Green." In 1770 he built a grist-mill, and soon after a saw-mill, on the j south branch of the Quechee, near the spot where the count}' jail now stands. Previous to the erection of these, the inhabitants found the nearest grist-mill at Windsor, and sometimes had to go to Cornish, N. H. Dr. Stejihen Powers (grandfather of the famous sculp- tor), the first resident phj-sician, removed here from Middleborough, Mass., in 1774, and erected the second log-house in the village. During the Revolutionary war the progress of llie settlement was slow. There were scarcely' anj' inhabitants in the State to the north of this place, and the frequent alarms by reports of Indian invasions repeatedly caused the settlers to conceal their valuables in the woods. The ravages of wild beasts also compelled the people to guard their cattle and sheep by night. The settlement of this town came too late to give it a brilliant Revolutionar}- histor}-, or a prominent part in those conflicts occurring between the people of this and the neighboring province of New York. The legislature held a session here in 1807, — the first and only one ever held in Woodstock, that bod}-, since 1808, having been regularlj' convened at I Montpelier, the established capital of the State. In 1811-12, the prevailing epidemic was quite fatal hero. On the west side of the Connecticut River, which scp- * In December, 177G, Lord Townshcnd and his associates petitioned Gov. Moore of New Yorlc for a grant of the township of Woodstock l)y the name of " Raynham Hall," promising to settle and cultivate it. The request appears to have been dismissed. — .V. F. Colonial MS S., Land Papers, Dec, 1766, vol. xxii. t Old MSS. in possession of Hon. William M. Tingry. X Tlicso falls, having a descent of 110 feet in an eighth of a mile, — 50 of which are nearly perpendicular, — are regarded as one of the greatest curiosities of the State. The scenery around the village is also highly romantic and interesting. In some places, the channel tlirough which the river passes docs not exceed three yards in width, some of the way through a deep ravine, walled in by perpendicnlar ledges of miea- slato from 60 to 86 feet high. arates it from Charlestown, N. II., is Springfield, one of the best agricultural towns in the State, first chartered b}' Gov. Wentworth of New Hampshire iu 17C1. Among its first settlers were Simon (or Simeon) Stevens and Hon. Lewis R. Morris. Little is definitely known of the earliest town governments, but from conflicting statements it may be reasonably concluded that Spring- field was organized before 17C4.f Its principal village is situated at the falls \ on Black River. John Barrett was the first representative of tlio town in 1778. The lands now comprised in the township of Chester were granted in 1754 by the name of Flamstead. No settlements being made, this first New Hampshire grant was forfeited. A second charter hy the same province, issued in 1701, gave to the town the name of New Flamstead. Thomas Chandler, a selectman of Walpole, N. II., became interested in the settlement of New Flamstead in 1703, finallj' removed to that town, and in 1760 became proprietor, by a third charter issued bj- New York, and the name of the town was changed to Chester. Under this patent the town was organized in 1707, and by authority derived from it lands in Chester arc now held. The first birth in town was that of Thomas Chester Chandler, in 1073. Daniel, Amos and Prescott Ileald — father, son and grandson — held the office of town clerk during a period of 80 years, from 1779. During the troubles of 1814, many of the young men of Andover enlisted in the army and served throughout the campaign. Chartered in 1701, the first permanent settle- ment in that town was made bj- Thomas Adams, § and eight or ten others in 1770, and the town was organized in 1780. The western half of Andover was, in 1779, incorporated, and in the following year organized as the town of Weston. The small triangular town of Baltimore was formerly a part of Cavendish, || set ott' in 1793, and organized in 1794, — Cavendish having been granted bj- New Hamp- shire in 1761, re-granted by New York in 1772, and probably organized about 1781. Capt. John Coffein, at } Probably .incestor of the late Alviu Adams. II On one of their predatory excursions, during the French and Indian wars, the savages, having taken several prisoners in Charlestown, N.H., fled with them to Canada, and encamped, Aug. 30, 1754, within the limits of this town, where one of the captive women, — a Mrs. Johnson, — gave birth to a daughter. The Indians compelled her to take up her line of march over the Green Mountains, a distance of 200 miles, to Canada. The daughter was named " Captive," in commemoration of the circumstances of her birth. Captive Johnson was afterwards the wife of Col. George Kimball of Cavendish. Upon the north bank of Knapp's Brook in the town of Reading, beside the road running from Springfield to Woodstock, stands a monument commemorative of the events above recorded. HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. whose hospitable dwelling the Eevolutionarj' soldiers re- ceived refreshments while passing from Charlestown, N. H., to Lake Champlain, was the first settler in this wilderness. Hawks' Mountain* separates the town from Baltimore. Situated near the highest elevation of the Green Mountain range, — about 1 ,000 feet above the level of the sea, — is Ludlow, which, after receiving its charter in 1761, remained unsettled for more than 20 j'ears, when James Whitney moved here from Massachusetts, and settled on what is called North Hill. In 1835 a Univer- salist Society was formed, — -greatly' prospering under the charge of Rev. J. Hemphill, through whose influence repentance and baptism were made pre-requisites of membership in that church. The town of Bethel was at first granted by the govern- ment of New York to a company of men, most of whom were Tories, and who, at the commencement of the Revolution, sought safety bj' flight. Its charter of 1779 was the first issued by the government of Vermont, — the town being settled in the fall of that j'ear, and or- ganized in 1782 and again in 1790. Joel Marsh was the first representative, and the first town clerk was Barnabas Strong. The first permanent settlement commenced in Windsor was bj- Capt. Steele Smith, who moved here, with his famil}-, from Farmington, Conn., in 17G4. Solomon Emmons and his wife f are, however, entitled to the honor of being the first persons in the place, Capt. Smith finding them here on his arrival. Chartered bj- New Hampshire in 1761, Windsor was afterwards granted by New York in 17G6, and re-granted bj' the same province in 1772. The place was rapidlj- settled, soon organized, and at an early period became one of the most flourishing and popular villages on the " Grants." In 1777, the State Constitution was adopted and ratified in this town. In 1848, Windsor was, for the second time, di\ided into two townships, the west part being incorporated, and in 1849 organized as the town of West Windsor. In the year 1780 there were about 300 persons in Ro}-alton, and the* place was very thriving. But the}- had hardly secured their harvest when they received • It derives Us name from Col. Hawks, who, during the French and Indian wars, encamped thereon, for a night, with a small regular force, among whom was General (then Captain) John Starli. Traces of their route arc still to be seen. t Mrs. Emmons was the first, and for sometime the only white woman who resided in the town. Slie was an excellent midwife, — the only one for many miles around. During the latter part of her life she was sup- ported by the town. Her death occuri-ed in the year 1S33. t In a house first approached by the Indians two women, suddenly awalsened by the Indians, rushed out of the doors, deshabille, and stood motionless till the Indians brought them their clothes. This act of a hostile visit from the Indians, and the settlement was laid in ashcs.| New York gave the place a charter in 1771, and Vermont in 1781. The town was probably organized about 1774 or '75. Benjamin Parkhurst, one of the first settlers, died in 1842 at the advanced age of 97 years. His family were noted for longevity. The township of Weathersfield granted to Gideon Lyman and others, mostly from New Haven, Conn., in 1 761, was re-granted to the same parties bj- the governor of New York, in 1772, and a town government was formed in 1778 ; and Rochester, incorporated in 1781, was organ- ized in 1788: Stockbridge, chartered in 1761, was first settled in 1784-5, its first organized town meeting being held in 1792. Hon. Elias Kej-es built the first grist-mill in 1786. So elevated is the town of Barnard that the sound of the cannon fired at Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, was distinctlj- heard in that place, although over 100 miles distant. Gov. Wentworth gave the town its charter in 1761. It was organized in 1778. The township of Bridgewater was also chartered in 1761. Its settlement commenced in 1780, and the town § was organized in 1785. Possibly it maj- be worth mentioning that "Joe Smith," — the founder of the Mormons, — was born and spent his youthful days in Sharon, one of the northerly towns of Windsor County, chartered like most of them in 1761. This town suffered with Ro3-alton from the Indian attack of 1780, — the savages when leaving town firing every building within sight, destroying cattle and laj'ing waste the crops. ToWTv'S. Woodstock, the seat of justice for AVindsor County, situated on the Quechee River and its branches, con- tains a population of about 3,000, and prides itself on its beautiful village of "Woodstock Green," the busi- ness centre of a large tract of country, and containing many handsome public and private buildings. Its county com't-house, built imder the supervision of Ammi B. Young, a native architect, is one of the most tasteful structures in New England. The annual term of the negative kindness restored their senses. They dressed themselves, col- lected the children and fled to the woods, while the savages plundered the house. At another place when one of the women had the boldness to reproach the Indians for destroying helpless women and children, — telling them tliat if they had the courage of wan-iors they would cross the river and go and fight men at the fort, — one of the Indians bore her remarks patiently, and only replied, "Squaw sliouldn't say too much ! " This quiet rebuke of the savage answered its purpose, and the woman remained silent. } In 1822, a living frog was taken from the earth, 26 feet below its surface, at a place about 30 rods from the river. Superior Court sits here iu February, and terms of tlic County Court occur in Ma}- and December. In the sum- mer months, with its wide-spreading elms and the goodl}' maples of its beautiful "park" iu full foliage, few vil- lages make a more agreeable impression. Five miles from the "Green" is South Woodstock, a neat and pleasant village containing the Green Mountain Liberal j Institute. Taftsville is also a busy place. Two news- papers, the " Vermont Standard" and " The Age," are published in Woodstock, which has a bank with a capital J of $60,000, one savings institution, a manufactory for scythes and axes, one for making carding-machines, straw-cutters and other articles of like description : a machine-shop, gunsmith's shop, establishments for mak- ing furniture, carriages, harnesses, trunks and leather ; a woollen-factory making dail}' about 500 yards of doc- skins, and grain and flour mills. Woodstock has been the residence or the native place 1 of its full share of distinguished men. Here was I cradled and reared Hiram Powers, a man whose name j has become a household word among lovers of art, — I whose fame is his country's boast. His father was Ste- phen Powers, Jr., and his grandfather, Dr. Powers, one of the first settlers. He was born July 6, 1805. Hon. Titus Hutchinson, judge of the Supreme Court from 1825 to 1834, the last five of which he served as chief justice. He died Aug. 24, 1857. Hon. Charles Marsh, in his day the head of the Wind- sor County bar, and M. C, 1815-17. He died in 1849. Hon. George P. Marsh, formerlj- M. C, and minister I resident at Constantinople, was son of Hon. Charles : Marsh, and a native of this town. Hon. Jacob Collamer, a distinguished lawyer, was in 1833 a judge of the Supreme Court, continuing till 1842, when he declined the office, serving as M. C. from 1843 till 1849, when he was appointed postmaster-general of the U. S. by President Taylor. On the death of Gen. I Taylor in 1850, Judge Collamer resigned with the other members of the Cabinet ; and in 1854 was elected U. S. I senator. He received the degree of " Doctor of Laws" I from Dartmouth College and from the University of Vermont. Springi'ield, a flourishing town containing many fine farms, numbers -also about 3,000 inhabitants, and be- sides its rich lands and deep soil, has several mills and manufactories of various kinds at its central village. Some of the best Vermont horses have been reared in this town ; and, at one time, the production of sillv re- ceived considerable attention, more than 1,000 pounds of I cocoons having been produced in a year. The Rutland and Burlington Railroad touches the south-west corner of the town, which has six church edifices, 20 school dis- tricts, and a prosperous academj- called the Springfield Wesleyan Seminar}'. Hartford is watered by the White and Quechee rivers, affording the town many valuable mill-privileges, particularly at White River village and at the village of Quechee. The former is pleasantly situated about a mile from the mouth of the river, which is here crossed by a substantial bridge. Quechee village is situated around a considerable fall in Otta Quechee River, aliout five miles from its mouth. There are also two other vil- lages, called White River Junction and West Hartford. The population of the town is about 2,500, and its several villages contain numerous mills and manufacturing estab- lislimcnts of various kinds. The Vermont Central Rail- road passes through the town. Joseph ]\Iarsh, very prominent in the early history of the State, came here in 1772. He was a member of the convention of 1777, which drafted the first State Consti- tution ; was the first lieutenant-governor, holding the office several successive j-ears ; and was for a long time chief justice of the court for Windsor Count}'. Chester, a very pleasant town, with two handsome villages, and a population of more than 2,000, has good water-power and manufactories of various kinds, and is a great thoroughfare for travellers from the eastern part of New England to the Hudson River, near Troy, N. Y. The passage over the Green Mountains from Chester to Manchester is considered the best in this part of the State. Rev. Aaron Leland, prominent in polities and religion, from town clerk became representative, judge of the County Court, speaker of the House of Representatives, and lastly lieutenant-governor of the State. Daniel Hoald, who settled here in 177G, served in the Revolutionary army ; was in the battle at Concord bridge, and at Ticonderoga, and died here in 1833, in the ninety-fifth year of his age. Windsor, by the enterprise and wealth of its inhabit- ants, has become one of tiie most flourishing towns on the Connecticut River. It has a population of about 1,700, a court-house. State j)rison,* and an educational semi- nary ; two newspapers, — the " Vermont Chronicle" and the " Vermont Journal ; " a national bank, with a capital of $50,000 ; the Union Arms Company, manufacturing guns and machinery ; and other mills and factories Hon. Horace Everett and Hon. Jonathan H. Hubbard, — former members of Congress, — and the Hon. Carlos * The original prison, of stone, was built in building, 112 feet long, 40 feet wide, and four st confinement, was erected in 1830-32. 9. An additional high, for solitary HISTOEY OF NEW ENGLAND. Coolidge, governor of the State in 1849 and 1850, are among the distinguished men of Windsor. The farm and country residence of the Hon. William M. Evarts, secretary of State of the United States, is also in Windsor. Ludlow is a mountainous town of 1,827 inhabitants, with excellent land for sheep and cattle. The village is verj' i^leasant, and the centre of considerable trade. Black River Academy in this town ranks with the first acad- emical institutions of the State. The remaining towns in the county are : Cavendish, containing a population of 1,823, with the two flourishing villages of Proctorsville and Duttonsville, four large wooUen factories, iron- works, and other manufacturing establishments, — also the birthplace of Ryland Fletcher, late governor of Ver- mont, and of the late lion. Richard Fletcher, formerly member of Congress, and justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts: Bethel (1,818), a place of consider- able business, especially at the larger village of West Bethel, and having a bank with a capital of §50,000 : Hartland (1,711), with its valuable water-power and its fertile farms: Royalton (1,678), somewhat rough and mountainous, but an excellent grazing-town, whose agi-i- cultural products are considerable, and hav-ing a pleasant village and an academy: Norwich (1,640), rejoicing in some of the finest orchards in the State : Weathersfield (1,577), noted for wool-growing, whose meadows on Black River are rich and fertile, and whose fai-ms on the banks of the Connecticut are among the best in A'ermont : Rochester (1,445), with its tracts of excellent meadow, its pleasant village and busy trade : Plvmouth (1,285), well-known for the quantity and quality of its farm prod- ucts : Stockbridge (1,269), whose soil is better for pasturage than for tillage, and having a famous mill- privilege at the " Great Narrows :" Pomfret (1,251), a hilly grazing-town, 20 miles from Windsor, watered by the White and Quechee rivers: Barnard (1,209), ex- celled b}- few towns of its size in the yearlj- products of butter, cheese, cattle, sheep and wool : Bridgewater (1,141), abounding in excellent soapstone, and having manj' good mill-sites and fine inten'als on the river, its highlands also producing valuable crops : Sharon (1,013), traversed by the Vermont Central Railroad, and containing a handsome and flourishing AoUage, with mills f(jr the manufacture of woollen goods, paper, and other articles: Reading (1,012), with its several small streams tributarj' to the Quechee and Black rivers, its woollen- factor}' and excellent pasturage : Weston (931), whose inhabitants are principally engaged in farming : West Windsor (709), the business of whose people is wholly agricultural, — special attention being given to wool-growing: Baltimore (83), with twice that number of inhabitants 20 or even 60 years ago : and Andover (588), where was bom, June 16, 1894, the late Alvin Adams, leading partner in the wo rid- renowned firm of Adams & Co., whose lines of travel reach to the ends of the earth, and whose banking-houses and express- otflces are in all the great cities of America. INDEX Abbott Family, 495. Abington, 239. Abington, South, 240. Acton, 208. Acushnet, 124. Adams, Samuel, 50. Adams, John Quincy, 222. Adams, John, 58, 222. Adams, Town of, 103. Adams, Noi-th, 103. Addison County, 693. Addison County, grouped towns of, 701. Agawam, 175. Albany, Vt., 769. Alfred, 592. Allen, Ethan, 683, 702, 703, 707, 726. Allen, Ira, 685, 711, 722, 728. Alna, 532. Alton, 603. Amherst, N. H., 639. Amherst, Mass., 180. Amcsbury, 141. Ames, Fisher, 220. Andros, Sir Edmund, 42, 247, 313, 456, 501, 551. Andrew, John A., 66. Androscoggin County, 464. Andover, Mass., 141. Andover, North, Mass., 146. Andover, Me., 542. Andover, N. H., 648. Andover, Ct., 387. Antrim, 641. Anti-slavery agitation, 64. Aroostook County, 470. Aroostook County, grouped Aroostook Wars, 471. Argall, 16. Arlington, Mass., 204. Arlington, Vt., 710. Ashfield, 159. Ashland, 206. Ashburnham, 281. Ashford, 396. Athol, 281. Attlcborough, 122. Augusta, 514. Avon, 497. Ayer, 208. B. Banks, Gen. N. P., 198. Bangor, 546. Bakcrsfleld, 746. i of, 473. Bartlett, Gen. ■William P., 66, 99. Barnstable, County of, 72. Barnstable, Town cf, 74, 81. Bamstead, 603. Barnet, 719. Barton, 769. Barrc, Mass., 281. Barre, Vt., 782. Barnum, P. T., 307. Barrington, K. I., 409. Barrington, N. H., 670. Bath, 560. Bedford, N. H., 640. Bclchcrtown, 183. Belknap County, 601. Bellingham, 230. Belfast, 570. Belmont, Mass., 208. Belmont, N. H., 604. Bellows Falls, Village of, 789. Bennington, County of, 702. Bennington, Battle of, 684, 705. Bennington, Town of, 707. Bennington, grouped to\vns of County, 711. Berkshire County, 87. Berkshire County, tabulated towns of, 107. Berkshire, Vt., 747. Berkley, 122. Berkeley, Dean, 428, 430. Bemardston, 159. Berlin, Vt., 782. Beriin, Ct., 328. Berwick, 592. Bethel, Me., 538. Beverly, 142. Billerica, 207. Biddcford, 586. Bjame, 9. " Black Snake " affair, 740. Blackstone, William, 241. Blaine, Hon. James G., 516. Blue Laws, 356. Blue Hill, Me., 508. Block Island, 431. Bowditch, Nathaniel, 137. Boxford, 147. Boutwell, Hon. George S., 204, 225. Boston, 242. Boston, South, 270. Boston, East, 271. Boston Massacre, 56, 252. Boston Tea Party, 253. Boston Port Bill, 253. Boston Elm, 258. Bolton, 386. Bowdoinham, 561. Boscawen, 647. Bozrah, 376. Braintree, Mass., 226. Braintree, Vt., 758. Brainerd, David, 346. Bradford, Vt., 757. Bradford, M.ass., 146. Bradford, William, 22. Bradstreet, Simon, 31. Brandon, 775. Brattleborough, 786. Brewer, 549. Bremen, 533. Brewster, 86. Briggs, Gov. George N., 103. Brighton, Mass., 269. Brighton, Vt., 738. Bridgeport, 306. Bridgewater, 238. Bridgewater. East, 239. Bridgewater, West, 240. Bridgton, 479. Bristol Coimty, Mass., 108. Bristol County, R. I., 403. Bristol, Ct., Town of, 325. Bristol, R. I., Town of, 414. Bristol, Me., Town of, 532. Bristol, Vt., Town of, 700. Brookfield, Mass., 281. Brookflcld, West, Mass., 287. Brookfield, Vt., 758. Brooklinc, 224. Brooklyn, Ct., 390, 394, 395. Brockton, 236. Brownell, Thomas C, 322. Brown, John, Col., 93, 95, 704. Brunswick, 481. Bryant, William Cullen, 185. Bucksport, 506. Buckland, 159. Buckfield, 539. Buckingham, William A., 294, 374. Bunker Hill, Battle of, 190. Bunker Hill Monument, 264. Uurke, 720. Burlington, 724. Burritt, Elihu, 324. BushncU, Rev. Horace, 322. Butler, Gen. Benjamin F., 194. Buxton, 591. Cabots, 11. Cabot, Vt., 783. Calais, Me., 580. 800 IXDEX. Calais, Tt., 783. Colrain, 159. Dresden, 532. Caledonia County, 711. Colt, Samuel, 322. Dudley, Thomas, 31. Caledonia County, grouped towns of, 721. Colchester, Conn., 372. Dudley, Joseph, 42, 220, 245. Camden, 527. Colchester, Yt., 728. Dukes County, 124. Cambridge, Yt., 75.5. Columbia, 384. Duramerston, 791. Cambridge, Mass. CoUamer, Hon. Jacob, 797. Dunbarton, 649. Canton, Mass., 227. Commonwealth Period, 58. Durham, Me., 469. 1 Canton, Conn., 328. Connecticut, State of, 291. Durham, K. H., 670. Canonicus, 399. Connecticut Charter Troubles, 292, 312. Durham, Conn., 3.54. Canterbury, 391. Coos County, 616. Dustin, Mrs. Hannah, 642. Canaan, Me., 567. Coos County, grouped towns of, 616. Duxbury, 239. Candia, 654. Copley, John Singleton, 273. Dwight," Timothy, 180. Cape Cod, 72. Cohassct, 228. Cape Elizabeth, 481. Cortereal, 12. Cartier, 13, 739, 748. Cornish, N. H., 676. E. Carver, John, 22, 72. Cornwall, Conn., 699. Carroll County, 604. Corinth, Yt., 759. Carroll Countv, grouped towns of, 607. Coffin, Sir Isaac, 214. Eastham, 86. Castleton, 775. Covcntrj', R. I., 421. Easton, 122. Castin, Baron De, 4.56, 500. Coventry, Conn., 379, 3S0. Easthampton, 182. Castine, to«-n of, 507. Crandnli's School, Miss Prudence, 392. Eastford, 397. Centre Harbor, 604. Cromwell, 354. Eastport,581. Chatham, Mass., 84. Craftsbnry, 769. Easton, Theophilus, 291, 3.55, 358. Chatham, Conn., 351. Cumberland County, Mc., 473. Edwards, Rev. Jonathan, 91, 179, 329. Charlemont, 1-39. Cumberland County, grouped towns of. Edgecomb, 533. Channing, Kev. W. E.. 249. 489. Edgartown, 127. Charlestown, Mass., 261. Cummington, 183. Effingham, 607. Charlcstown, R. 1., 446, 453. Eliot, Rev. John, 33, 35, 267, 268. Charlestown, N. H., 675. Ellsworth Family, 327. Charleston, Tt., 7C9. D. Ellington, 387. Chandler, Hon. Z., 640. Dalton, 106. Emigration to Connecticut, Hooker's, 34. Champlain, Samuel, 14, 72, 499, 648, 693, Damariscotta, 533. Emmons, Rev. Nathaniel, 221. | 739. Danville, 719. Endicott, John, 28. Cheshire, Mass., 107. Danvers, 139. Enfield, Mass., 186. Cheshire County-, N. H., 60S. Danielsonville, 398. Enfield, Conn., 324. 1 Cheshire County, grouped towns of, 615. Dartmouth, HI, 122. Enfield, N. H., 629. ' Chesterfield, 615. Dark Day, 339, 451. .Enosburgh,746. Chester, K. H., 6-56. Davenport, Rev. John, 291, 3.55, 357, 358. Epping, 6-5.3. Chester, Yt., 797. Davenport, Abram, 309. Essex County, Mass., 131. Chehnsford, 206. Dawes, Hemy- L., 103, 185. Essex, Town of, 142. Chelsea, Mass., 297. Dedham, Mass., 224. Essex County, Yt., 729. Chelsea, Yt., 759. Deering, 482. Essex County, Yt., grouped towns of, 739. Cheever, Master, 263. Deerfield, N. H., 6.53. Everett, Edward, 65, 273. Cherryfield, 582. Deerfield, Mass., 153, 157. Everett, Town of, 206. China, 519. Deerfield, attack on, 149. Exeter, R. I., 447, 454. Chittenden County, 722. DeMonts, 14, 72, 499, 528, 576. Exeter,*N. H., 652. Chittenden County, grouped towns of, 729. Dennis, 83. t Chittenden, Gov. Thomas, 728. Derbv, Conn., 363. 1 Chilmark. 129. Derby, Yt., 769. F. 1 Chicopee, 172. Deny, 653. Fair Haven, Yt., 776. Church, Col. Benjamin, 123, 431. Dewev, Rev. Orville, 107. Fairhaven, 123. ! Clinton, 282. Dewey, Chester, 107. Fairfield County, 299. Claremont, 675. Dexter, 550. Fairfield County, grouped towns of, 309. Connecticut, State of, 291. Difficulties with England, 41. Fairfield, Fort, 472. Conant, Roger, 28, 132. Difficnities with France, 46. Fairfield, Yt., Town of, 745. Confederacy, N. E., 38. Dighton, 122. Fairlec, 759. Congress, Continental, 56, 57. Dighton Rock, 122. Fairlec, West, 760. Congress, Provincial, 50. Dix, Gen. John A., 647. Fairfax, 744. Conway, Mass., 152, 159. Dorr's RebeUion, 402. Fahnonth, 83. 1 Conwav, N. H., 606. Dorchester, 264. Falmouth, Me., 483. Concord, Mass., 204. Dorchester Adventurers, 27. Fall River, 113. Concord, N. H., 644. Dorset, 709. Faneuil Hall, 2-50, 251. Concord, Yt., 738. Douglas, Stephen A., 775. Farmington, Conn., 328. Court of Assistants, 30. Dover, Mass., 230. Farroington, Me., 496. | Coddington. -W-illiam, 31, 399, 400, 422. Dover, Mc., 5-53. Farmington, X.H., 670. Cobb, Gen. David, 121, 509. Dover, N. H., 660, 668. Fcssenden, Hon. Wm. Pitt, 647. Cotton, Rev. John, 33, 242, 245. Dracnt, 207. Fires in Boston, 242, 247, 248, 251, 254. Fitchbmg, 289. Fletcher, 745. Fort Griswold, Capture ol", 295. Forest Hills, 268. Foxborotigh, 229. Foxcroft. 554. Franklin County, JIiiss., 147. Franklin County, grouped towns ol', 160. Franklin County, Me., 490. Franklin County, Me., grouped towns of, 498. Franklin County, Vt., 739. Franklin, Mass., Town of, 228. Franklin, Ct., Town of, 375. Franklin, N. H., To\™ of, 646. Franklin, Vt., Town of, 746. Frankfort, 575. Franccstown, 641. Franiingliani, 201. Freetown, 113, 123. Frceport, 484. Fr.vebnrg, 537. G. Gallaudet, Thos. H., 322. Gariliner, 516. Garrison, AVni. Lloyd, 64. Gaspee, Burning of the, 419. Gay Head, 129. Georgia, 745. Georgetown, Me., 561. Georgetown, Mass., 146. Gilmanton, 602. Gilford, N. II., 604. Glastonbury, 325. Glover, 769. Gloucester, 137. GolTstown, 638. Gomez, 12. Gorton, Samuel, 417. Gorham, 484. Gorges, Ferdinando, 583, 584, 593. Gosnold, Bartholomew, 13, 124. Gosnold, Town of, 130. Gouldsborough, 508. Grafton, Mass., 282. Grafton County, 624. Grafton County, grouped towns of, 630, 631. Grafton, Vt., 787. Grand Isle County, 748. Grand Isle County, Towns of, 751. Great Barrington, 103. Greenfield, 150, 167. Greene, Gen. Nathaniel, 419. Greenwich, K. I., East, 420. Greenwich, R. I., West, 422. Greenville, 641. Greene, 469. Green Mountain Boys, 683, 704. Greeley, Horace, 634, 775. Gridley, Gen. Richard, 220. Griswold, 372. Groton, Mass., 203. Grovcland, 143. Groton. Ct., 371. Guildhall, 737. Guilford, Vt. Guilford, Ct., 362. H. Hadlcy, 183. Hadley, South, 181. Haddam, 352. Haddam, East, 352. Hale, Nathan, 294, 380. Hallowcll, 517. Halifax, Vt., 788. Hamilton, 147. Hampden County, 160^. Hampden County, grouped towns of, 175. Hampden, Me., 547. Hampshire County, 175. Hampshire County, grouped towns of, 175. Hamlin, Hannibal, 547. Hampton, 655. Hancock, John, 56, 68, 222. Hancock County, Me., 499. Hancock County, grouped towns of, 510. Hancock, N.H., 041. Hanover, N. H., 630. Harvard, Rev. John, 34, 262. Harvard College, 34. Hartford Convention, 61, 316. Hartford County, 311. Hartford Countj-, grouped towns of, 329. Hartford, City of, 318. Hartford, East, 326. Hartford, West, 329. Hartford, Vt., 797. Harpswell, 485. Haidwick, Vt., 720. Harwich, 84. Hatfield, 184. Haverhill, Mass., 137. Haverhill, N. H., 629. Hawley, Gen. Joseph R., 297, 317, 3J3. Hawes, Dr. Joel, 323. Hayes, Rutherford B., 127 Heath, Gen. Wm., 220. Hebron, Ct., 380. Hebron, Me., 541. Henniker, 648. Higginson, Francis, 29. Highgate, 745. Hillsborough County, 631. Hillsborough County, grouped towns ul', 641. Hillsborough, Town of, 638. Hinsdale, N. H., 615. Hinsdale, Mass., 107. Hinckley, Gov. Thomas, 42, 76. Hinghani, 237. • Hiram, 541. HoUiston, 204. Hollis, 640. Holbrook, 229. Houlton, 472. Holidays, Pastimes and Customs, 44, 441, 448, 475, 487. Holyoke, 171. Hoosac Tunnel, 97. Hooker, Rev. Thomas, 33, 34, 291, 312, 321. Hooksett, 648. Hopkinton, Mass., 202. Hopkinton, R. I., 447, 453. Hopkinton, N. H., 647. Hopkins, Samuel, 92, 362. Hopkins, Dr. Mark, 106 Howard, Gen. O. O., 46S. Hudson, Henry, 14, 72. Hudson, Mass., 204. Hudson, N. II., 640. Huntington, 184. Hutchinson, Anne, 36. Hutchinson, Thomas, 273. Hyde Park, Mass., 220. Hyde Park, Vt., 755. T Indians ; Abenaquis, 722. Anasagunticooks, 537. Iroquois, 693, 748. Kennebec, 519, 531, 562. Mashpee, 75. Massachusetts, 108. Mohcgans, 87, 89, 388. Narragansetts, 108, 243, 442. Norridgewocks, 491, 662, 563. Nipmucks, 275, 387, 616. Praying, 35. Pequots, 299, 243, 301. Pequakett, 536. Penobscot, 458. Pennaeook, 642. Passamaquoddy, 677. St. Francis, 698, 616, 617, 711, 734. Tarratincs, 458, 524, 543, 546, 548. Walibaquasselts, 388. Wampanoags, 22, 108, 404. Indian Stoekbridge Mission, 89. Ipswich, 144. Irasburg, 769. Isles of Shoals, 5S9. Islesborough, 576. Jamestown, R. I., 431 Jamaica, 788. Jefferson, .^33. Johnson, Isaac, 531. Johnson, Vt., 755. Keene, 610, 614. Kcnnebunk, 590. Kenncbunkport, 591. Kennebec Comity, 511. Kennebec County, groui>cd towns Kent County, 417. Kent's Hill, 520. Killingly, 395. King Philip, 39, 73, 123, 406, 446. Kingston, Mass., 240. Kingston, N. H., G56. Kingstown, 44.). Kingstown, North, 462, 4,54. Kingstown, Soutli, 4.t3. Kittery, 688. 802 INDEX. Knox, Gen. Henry, 273, 526. Mansfield, Ct., 377. Montville, Me., 574. Knox County, 521. Manchester, Ct., 325. Montgomery, 747. Knox County, grouped towns of, 52S. Manchester, Mass., 144. Montpelier, 777. Manchester, N. IL, 635. Montpclier, East, 783. L. Manchester, Vt., 708. Morse, Samuel F. B., 273. Laconia, 604. Mann, Horace, 64, 05, 221. Morton, Gov. M.ircus, 131. Laneaster, N. 11., CIS, 622. Marshfield, Vt., 783. Morristown, 755. Lancaster, Mass., 283. Marshficld, Mass., 240. Moretown, 782. Langdon, John, COO, C52. Marblehead, 138. Moultouborough, COO. Lamoille County, 751. Marll)orough, 198. i Lamoille County, grouped towns of, 7CG. Martha's Vineyard, 124. N. ! La Tour, 57G. Massachusetts, State of, IS. Kihant, 145. Lawrence, 1.34. Massachusetts Bay .Colony, 26. Nantucket County, 209. Lawrence Family, 203. Massachusetts, first seltlcment of, 27. Nantucket, Town of, 209. Lee, 104. Massachusetts, General Court of, 22. Nashua, C36. Lee, N. H., C70. Massachusetts, Constitution of, 58. Natick, 109. Lee, Rev. Jesse, 250. Massasoit, 22, 108, 404, 405. National Constitution, adoption of, 59. Ledyard, John, 371. Massacre, " Bloodv BrooU," 132, 1 !8. Nccdham, 226. Ledyard, Col. William, 371. Mashpee, 86. New England, council for, 27. j Lcdyard,375. Mason, 641. Newport, Vt., 769. Leeds, 468. Mason, John, 455, 503, 504. Newport, N. 11., 675. i Lebanon, X. II., C20. Mason, Capt. John, 291, 312, 343, 365, 370. Newport County, R. I., 422. Lebanon, West, G29. Mather, Rev. Richard, 265. Newport " Old Stone .Mill," 11, 428. Lebanon, Ct., 373. Mather, Rev. Increase, 33. Newport, City of, 422. Lenox, 105. Mather, Rev. Cotton, 33. New Hartford, 340. ' j Leominster, 283. " Mayflower," 17, 19, 72. New Haven Coimty, 354. Lcwiston, 465. Maynard, 208. New Haven County, grouped town. of. Lexington, 206. Maysville, 473. 365. Lexington, Battle of, ISO. Mayhew, Rev. Jonathan, D2. New Haven Colony, 355. Litcbfield County, 330. Maverick, Samuel, 271. New Haven, Ct., 361. Litchfield County, grouped towns of, 341. Medford, 200. New Haven, Vt., 699. Litchfield Law School, 333. Medw.iy, 227. New London County, 365. Litchfield, 340. McdUeld,-229. New London, Town of, 366. Lisbon, Ct., 376. Melrose, 204. New Hampshire, 593. Lisbon, Me., 465. Meredith, C03. New Hampton, 603. Lisbon, N. H., 629. Merrimack, N. H., 040. New Bedford, 115. Lincoln Coimty, 528. Merrimack County, C42. New Britain, 323. Lincolnvillc, 573. Merrimack County, grouped towns of, 040. New Milford, 338. Little Compton, 431. Mcrrimac, Mass., 146. New Gloucester, 486. Littleton, N. U., C29. Methucn, 145. New Sharon, 498. Livermore, 467. Miantonomo, 244, 399. New Ipswich, 639. Livermore, East, 460. Middlesex County, Mass., 187. New Boston, 640. London Company, 14. Middlesex County, grouped towns of, 208. New Durham, 671. London Merchants' C.iupanv, 24- Middlesex County, Ct., 312. New Market, 653. Londondcrn-, N. U., C55. Middlesex County, grouped towns of, 351. New Sweden, 472. Londondeny, Vt., 7SS. Middlesex, Vt., Town of, 7S3. Newbury, Vt., 760. Loudon, 648. Middlebury, G98. Newbury, Mass., 145. Lowell, Mass., 191. Middlefield, 354. Newbur}-, AVcst, 146. Lunenbnrgh, Vt., 738. Middleborough, Mass., 236. Ncwbuiyport, 138- Ludlow. Vt., 708. Middlcton, Mass., 147. Newfane, 788. Lubcc, 582. Middlcton, N. H., 671. Newton, 197. Lynn, 135. Middlctown, Ct., 349. Newcastle, 532. 1 Lrndcl>orough, 641. Middletown, R. I., 430. Newman, Rev. Samuel, 111. Lynnficld, 146. Milford, Mass., 283. Nobleborough, 533. Lyndon, 718. Milford, Ct., 363. North Haven, 363. Lyme, 374. Milford, N. II., G37. Northport, 575. Lyme, East, 374. Milton, Mass., 228. Northwood, 655. Lyme, Old, 375. Milton, N. IL, 670. Northfleld, Vt., 780. M. Mills Family, 339. Northfield, Mass., 158. Mill River Disaster, 177. Northampton, 178. Machias, 578. Milo, 554. Norfolk County, 210. Machias, East, 588. Minot, 465. Norfolk, Town of, 230. Madlmry, 671. Monson, 173.. Nonvood, 230. Madrid, 498. Monroe, 154. Norwalk, 307. Maine, State of, 4-55. Montague, 154, 158. Norton, 123. Maiden, 198. Monhegan, 529, 530. Norse Discoveries, 9. Mansfield, Mass., 123. Montville, Ct., 372. Nonvich, 368. Norway, 638. Norombega, 549. Norridgewock, 365, 367. Nott, Rev. Samuel, 376. Nottingham, 656. Oak Bluffs, 128. Occam, Kev. Saiiipsoii, 373, 385. Old South, 249, 257. Old Saj'brook, 353. Old Town, Me., 548. Orange Countj-, Vt., 756. Orange, Town nf, 760. Orange, Mass., Town of, 158. Orland, 509. Orleans, Mass., 86. Orleans County, Vt., 764. Orleans County, grouped towns of, 769. Orono,548. Orrington, 549. Orwell, 699. Ossipee, 605. Otis, James, 50, 52, 77, 79, 81. Otis, Harrison Gray, 273. Oxford, Mass. , 283. Oxford County, Me., 536. Oxford County, grouped towns of, 542. Paine, Robert Treat, 121. Palmer, 174. Parker, Theodore, 64, 268. Parkraan, 555. Paris, 539. Peabody, Town of, 143. Peabody, George, 143. Peacham, 720. Pelham, N. H., 641. Pembroke, N.H., 647. Pembroke, Me., 581. Pemaquid, 529, 530, 531, 532, 557. Penobscot County, 543. Penobscot County, grouped towns of, 5)0. Penobscot, Town of, 509. Penalties, Colonial, 35, 75. Pepperell, 207. Pepperell, Sir William, 589. Peterborough, 637. Persecutions, religious, 36. Pcquot war, 39, 244, 291, 312, 343, 3G5. Phip^l.urg, 5G0. Phips, Sir AVilliam, 43, 532. Phillips, 498. Phillips, Wendell, 64. Pilgrims, landing of, 20. Pilgrims' Compact, 24, 72. Piscataquis County, 551. Piscataquis County, grouped towns of, 555. Pittsfield, N. H., 648. Pittsfield, Mass., 100. Pittsford, 776. Pittston, 518. Plainfield, Ct., 390. PlaiiiHcld, Vt., 783. Plainfield, N. H., 676. Plymouth County, 231. Plymouth County, smaller towns of, 241.- Plymouth, Town of, 237. Plymouth, N. H., 630. Plymouth Company, 14. Plymouth, Council of, 17. Plymouth Colony, 18. PlymoulU Rock, 20. Poland, 468. Pomfret, 393. Pool, Elizabeth, 108. Popham, Lord John, 15. Popham, George, 15. Popham, or Sagadahoc settlement, 15, 529, 556. , Portsmouth, N. H., 650. Portsmouth, R. I., 430. Portland, Me., 474. Portland, Ct., 351. Poultney, 775. Powers, Hiram, 797. Pownal, Vt., 710. Preston, 374. Presque Isle, 472. Pring, Martin, 13, 15, 72. Princeton, 283. Prospect, 571. Providence County, 433. Providence County, Towns of, 444, 445. Province Charter, 42. Provincial Religion, 49. Provincial Governors, 44. Provincial Period, 43. Provincial Politics, 50. Provincial Congress, 56. Provincial Contests with the Crown, 50. Provineetown, 84. Progress in Massachusetts, 68. Puritans, 26. Putney, 788. Putnam, Town of, 397. Putnann Gen. Israel, 294, 302, 394. Q- Quaker Troubles, 37, 75, 245. Qiiincy Family, The, 223. Quincy, Town of, 225. R. Randolph, Mass., 227. Randolph, Vt., 761. Rangeley, 498. Raslc, Sebastian, 457, 558, 563. Raymond, 656. Raynham, 123. Reading, 205. Readficld, 520. Regicides, 177, 292, 359. Revolution, Rise of the, 53, 579. Revolution, the War of, 56. Revere, 272. Rehoboth, 110, 123. Rhode Island, State of, 399. Rhode Island, Battle of, 425. Richmond, Me., 561, 617. Richmond, R. I., 447, 454. Richardson, Gen. I. B., 743. Richford, 747. Robinson, Rev. John, 19, 73. Rockport, 145. Rockland, Mass., 239. Rockland, Me., 526. Rockingham County, G50. Rockingham County, gronpi 657. Rockingham, Vt., Town of, 71 Rochester, N. 11., 069. Rochester, Mass., 241. Rogers' Rangers, 598, 792. Rollinsfurd, 670. Rowley, 145. Rox ,267. Roxhury, West, 268. Royalston, 288. Roycc, Stephen, 742. Rumford, Count, 199, 646. Rumford, 540. Rupert, 710. Rutland County, 770. Rutland County, grouped ( Rutland, Vt., 772. Rutland, Mass., 284. Rye, 657. Sagadahoc County, 555. Sagadahoc County, gi-ouped towns of, 562. Salem, N. H., 654. Salem, Mass., 136. Salem, Ct., 376. Salem Witchcraft, 132. Salisbury, Mass., 143. Salisbury, N. H., 648. Salisbury, Ct., 340. Saltonstall, Sir Richard, 31. Samosct, 404. Sandwich, Mass., 74, 82. Sandwich, N. H., 605. Sangervillc, 554. Sanbornton, 603. Sargent, Lucius M., 273. Sassacus, 244. Saugus, 144. Saxe, John G., 743, 745. Schools, Common, 34. Scituate, 240. Seabrook, 654. Searsmont, 574. Sebec, 554. Sedgwick, John, 341. Sedgwick, Theodore, 93. Seekonk, 124. Separatists, 378, 391. Scwall, Samuel, 273. Shaw, Robert G., 66. Shays' Rebellion, 58, 97, 164, 191, 276. Sharon, Mass., 230. Sharon, Ct., 340. Shaftsbury, 709. Shcpard, Rev. Thomas, 263. Shepard, Rev. Thomas, Jr., 263. Sherman, Roger M., 310, 339. ' Sherborn, 208. Sheffield, 107. I Shelbume, Mass., 159. I Shelburne, Vt., 727. Sheldon, Vt., 746. Shirley, 207. Shoreham, Vt., 700. Shoreham, New, R. I., 431. Shrewsbury, 284. Simsbniy, 329. Sigoumey, Mrs. L. II., 322. Skowhegan, 565, 566. Slavery in Massachusetts, 62. Slavery, 448, 586. Slave Trade, 426. Smith, Capt. John, 16, 72. Smith, Hon. John G., 743. Somerset County, 562. Somerset County, gi-ouped towns of, rvjT. Somerset County, Mass., 123. Somerville, Mass., 196. Somerville, Me., 533. Somers, 381. Somcrsworth, 668. , Southampton, 184. ■ Southbridge, 284. Southborongh, 287. j Southington, 324. I Southport, Me., 533. I Spencer, 284. ! Springfield, Mass., 170. Springfield, West, Mass., 173. Springfield, Vt., 797. Sprag-.ie, 372. I Stamp Act, 52. , Stamp Act Riots, 251. .■^tandish, Miles, 22, 72. Stark, Gen. John, 96, 684, 7a5. Starks, Town of, 567. Stamford, 308. Stafford, 379. St. Albans, 744. St. Albans Raid, 741. Sterling, 288. Stiles, Rev. Ezra, 363. St. George, Me., 527. St. Johnsbury, 717. Stockbridge, 105. Stoddard, Col. John, 179. Stowe, Vt., 755. I Stowe, Mass., 207. Stoneham, 202. Stoughton, 227. Stoughton, Gov., 265. Stone, Rev. Samuel, 33, 34, 312. Stonington, 370. Stonington, North, 375. Stockton, 573. j Strafford County, 657. ; Strafford, N. H., Town of, G71. I Strafford, Vt., 761. j Strong, Gov. Caleb, 179. Sturbridge, 285. Stuart, Gilbert, 428. Sudbury, 206. Suffield, 326. Suffolk County, 241. Sullivan County, 671. Sullivan County, grouped towns of, 676. Sumner, Charles, 66, 273. Sunderland, 711. Surrey, 509. Sutton, 285. Swanzey, N. II., 615. Swansea, Mass., 112, 124, 408. Swampscott, 145. Swanton, 744. Tamworth, 606. Taunton, 118. < Temple, 497. Templeton, 287. Tewksbury, 207. Thanksgiving, 22. Thetford, 762. Thompson, 395. Thomaston, 527. Thomaston, South, 527. Thorstein, 10. Thorfiun, 10, 11. Thorwald, 10. Tilton, 604. Tisbury, 128. Tiverton, 431. Todd, Rev. John, 103, 774. Tolland County, 376. Tolland, Town of, 382. Topsham, Me.,561. Topsham, Vt., 762. Topsficld, 145. Torrington, 339. Townshend, 207. Townscnd, 789. Travelling, Old-tune, 67. Troy, Vt., 769. Truro, 85. Trumbull, Jonathan, 294, 373, 374. Trumbull, Jonathan, Jr., 374. Trumbull, John, 321. Trumbull, J. Hammond, 322. Tuftonborough, 607. Turner, 468. Tunbridge, 762. u. Uncas, 312, 313, 343, 373. Union, Ct., 385. Union, Me., 527. Upton, 285. Uxbridge, 285. V. Vane, Sir Henry, 33, 243. Van Ness, Gov. Comelius P., 726. Vassalborough, 520. Verrazani, 12. Vernon, 379. Vermont, State of, 677. 679. ' Vermont in the Revolution, 683. Vermont, civil polity of, 686. Vermont, admission into the Union, 68 Vergennes, 700. Vershire, 763. Vinland, 9. Voluntown, 396. w. Wallingford, Vt., 776. Waitsfield, 783. Wakefield, N. H., 607. Wakefield, Mass., 204. Wallingford, 364. Wales, Me., 470. Waltham, 197. Waldo County, 568. Waldo County, grouped towns of, 576. Waldo, Gen. Samuel, 501, 523, 569. Waldron, Maj., 595, 596, 661. Walpole, N. H., 615. Walpole, Mass., 230. Walden, 721. AValcott Family, 293. Warner, 648. Wan-en, Vt., 783. Wa Ma Warren, R. I., 411. Warren, Me., 527. Warren, Gen. Joseph, 191, 380. Warwick, 417. Ward, Rev. Nathaniel, 33. War, King Philip's, 39, 75. 110, 112, 188, 232, 246, 586. War, French and Indian, 47. War of 1812, 60, 459, 505, 534, 548, 551, 5.59. War for the Union, 66. War, Revolutionary, .56, 683. Ware, 181. Wareham, 240. Washington County, R. I., 445. Washington County, Me., 576. Washington County, Me., grouped towns of, 583. Washington County, Vt., 777. Washington County, Vt., grouped towns of, 783. Washington, Vt., Town of, 763. Washburnc Family, 467. Watcrbury, Ct., 362. Watcrbury, Vt., 781. Watertown, 202. Waterford, Ct., 376. Waterford, Me., 541. Waterville, 517. Wayland, 208. Weare, 638. Webster, Daniel, 65, 646, 652. Webster, Mass., Town of, 286. Webster, Me., To«ti of, 470. Wellflcet, 85. Wells, 591. Weld, 497. Wentworth, Benning, 597, 679. Wentworth, John, 597, 598, 608. Wenham, 147. Westminster, Vt., 790. Westminster, Mass., 287. Westfleld, 173. Wilton, Me., 497. Winchester, N. H., 615. Westport, Mass., 124. Wilton, Vt., 638. Winchester, Mass., 207. Westpoit, Me., 533. Willington, 383. Winchendon, 286. Westford, 207. Willimantic, 398. Wiscasset, 532, 534. Weston, 208. Williston, 728. Witchcraft in Boston, 245. Wcstbrook, 488. Wilmington, Vt., 790. Woburn, 198. Westborough, 286. Wilbraliam, 174. Wolf borough, 604. Westerly, 447, 452. Winslow, Edward, 108. Woodstock, Me., 541. West Boylston, 287. Winslow, Me., Town of, 518. Woodstock, Ct., 392. West, Dr. Samuel, 82, 117. Windsor County, 791. Woodstock, Vt., 795, 796. Wethersfield, Ct., 327. Windsor County, grouped towns of, 791. Woodbury, 341. Woyiunutli, Capt. George, It, 520. Windsor, Vt., Town of, 797. Woolwich, 561. Weymouth, Town of, 225. Windsor, Ct., Town of, 32G. Wooster, Gen. David, 294, 310. Wlialc Fishery, 210. Windsor Loeks, Town of, 329. Worcester County, 274. M^heehvright,"Rcv. John, 593. Winthrop, John, 30, 31, 241, 245. Worcester Countv, grouped towns of, 288. Whitefield, Rev. George, 250. Winthrop, John, Jr., 291, 292, 307. Worcester, City of, 278. White, Rev. John, 27, 28. Winthrop, Mass., Town of, 272. Worthington, 186. Whitingham, 790. Winthrop, Me., Town of, 518. Wrentbam, 230. Whittier, John G., 64, 65, 140. Windham County, Ct., 387. Writs of Assistance, 51, .52. Wickford, 445. Windham County, Ct., grouped towns of, Wilson, Rev. John, 32, 241, 242, 24G. 398. Wilson, Hon. Henry, 66, 200, 667. Windham, Ct., To^vn of, 389. Y. Williams, Roger, 33, 36, 242, 243, 399, 400, Windham, Me., 488. 423, 433, 434, 435. Windham County, Vt., 784. Yarmouth, Mass., 74, 82. Williams, Ephraim, 92, 98. Windham County, Vt., towns of small Yarmouth, Me., 489. Williarastown, Mass., 106. population, 791. York County, Me., 583. Williamstown, Vt., 763. Winsted, 337. York County, Me., grouped towns of, 592. Williamsburg, 183. Winterport, 573. York, Town of, 592. EnnATi M. — rage 310. Vi LRBJe'28 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 042 463 8