Sharon Town (part 2 of 3)

Rev. Anson Titus of Somerville, delivered an address on Old Provincial days with especial reference to Madam Sarah Knight of Boston, who 200 years ago rode on horseback throusrh Sharon and lodoed at Ebenezer Billings's tavern on her trip from Boston to New York. Singing was furnished by a double quartet with Cassius C. Stearns, director, who rendered "Ode on Science," "Invitation" and "Keller's American Hymn."

January 18, 1905. By invitation of the Somerville Historical Society, the Corresponding Secretary attended a meeting of that Society, in the Oliver Tufts house on Sycamore street, and spoke of the work being done by the Sharon Society.

January 26, 1905. Quarterly meeting of the Society. President John G. Phillips in the chair. Tea was served, with music by Everett C. Stanton, pianist, and Robert Tappan on the mandolin. Seven new members joined. John G. Phillips delivered an address on Pole Plain, an ancient name for the vicinity, giving some reasons for referring the origin of the term to connection with William Pole and his sister P21izabeth Pole, early settlers in Dorchester and later in Taunton. A short discussion followed. There had been a blizzard the previous day with cold and drifts of snow. Thirty-three persons, however, attended the meeting. A gift presented by Charles E. Hall was explained by the president, being a section of wall paper taken from the Capen house on Massapoag street. The paper on which the design was printed proved to be

Miscellaneous Notes 37 Mlscellaneous Notes

The plan of an historical scrap book was explained in Publications No. i of the Society, and 3 1 contributions were there acknowledged. Thirty of these with additional articles have been substantially bound in half morocco, making a book 8^ inches by io| inches, and f inch thick. The additional articles are, -

Philip Curtis's Firewood ..... Clara E. Curtis Sharon Hydraulic Water Works - - - Charles S. Curtis My early school days at North Sharon - - Amanda M. Eddy Trip to Sharon after forty years - - - George F. Leonard The Tisdales of Easton and others - - Loring W. Puffer Uncle Daniel Fuller ----- Catherine A. Shedd Sharon Land Owners in 1798 - - - Eugene Tappan

Drawing of a Sharon front door - - - - Robert Tappan First acquaintance with Sharon ... - Rufus B. Tobey A little Rebellion history - - - George H. Whittemore Trip over Moose Hill road - - Adaliza A. (Johnson) Winship Our Calendar, Baptist Church . . - - Emma A. Baker How they earned the Dollar . . - - Eliza L. White

An index is added containing 500 names of persons besides other references. The book is entitled "Scrap Book, Volume i." Volume 2 is nearly ready, and a

In continuation of the purpose of the Society to encourage the practice of getting acquainted with the historic and natural features of Sharon, an Outing Committee has been appointed consisting of the following gentlemen: - Col. Edmund H. Hewins, chairman, A. Alden Carpenter, Charles S. Curtis, Benjamin Raynolds, and Henry F. Talbot.

The Society considers Old Home week to be an ideal occasion for holding one of its quarterly meetings. This week in Massachusetts is appointed by statute law to commence on the last Sunday of July in every year. The next quarterly meeting of the Sharon Society will be held on Thursday evening of that week, August 3, 1905, in the town hall. An outing will also be taken during the same week.

Other meetings of the Society will be held October 26, 1905, January 25 and April 26, 1906. As the next January meeting falls on the anniversary of the birthday of Robert Burns, due recognition will then be taken of that event.

The Sharon Historical Society is deeply grateful for the appreciation shown by its sister societies and many friends, and for the valuable aid and encouragement given. The purpose of the Society to issue a printed annual publication has been warmly commended, and the Society is cheered in continuing this important line of work. To meet the anticipated call for the reprint of Deborah Sampson Gannett's address, the principal article in the present annual, there has been pre- pared for sale a special edition of the reprint of the address and the secretary's introduction. This forms a thin book bound in calf back and boards, with gilt top and uncut edges, the price of which is seventy-five cents, postage prepaid,

A full program of each quarterly meeting is issued before the meeting, and will be sent to societies and friends who request it Their attendance on the Sharon meetings would be highly appreciated.

The Sharon Historical Society needs a Home for its records and collections and for a place of meeting for members and visitors. Held in lasting remembrance will be the honored name of that man or woman who so loves Sharon as to build an historical house for the Society.

Friends of Sharon are requested to forward to the ofificers of the Society any information they acquire concerning the town. Early documents and letters, old newspapers references, and diaries are desired. Information will also be acceptable respecting the former existence of moose, and the origin of the names "Pole Plain" and "Sharon." Accounts are wanted of migrations of Sharon families to Maine loo years ago and to the west 75 years ago. The exact identification and proof of the birthplace of Deborah Sampson in Plympton, information as to the site of Wainman's Ordinary, memoranda about Jonathan Billings, Rev. Philip Curtis and other forefathers of Sharon, would be gladly received. The corresponding secretary, on request, will furnish suitable sheets prepared for the Scrap Book. While asking the assistance of others, the Sharon society

Gifts To The Society

Lucy Keyes, the lost child of VVachusett Mountain. Increase Blake. All written by Mr. Blake. Mrs. Ellen A. Bond, Sharon. Photographs found in the stump of a tree.

Gifts To The Society 4I

Torch light carried by Mr. Gay in the Lincoln campaign. Old kitchen utensils. Set of iron skewers. Old papers and magazines. Godey's Lady's Book, 1841. National Reader, 1827, marked "Eunice L. Dewing, Sharon, Dec. 20th, 1827."

The Young Orator, 1833. Mrs. Harriet F. Gray, Walpole. Sermon at ordination of Rev. Jonathan Whitaker in Sharon, Feb. 27, 1799, by Rev. Abiel Holmes of Cambridge.

Celebration of 250th anniversary, 1901. A visit to an early Homestead. A Sunday in the old meeting house. The last two written by William S. Tilden.

American Baptist Missionary Union, by Dr. Merriam. Also pamphlets by him, on missionary subjects. Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket. Nantucket Lands and Land Owners. Proceedings of annual meeting, 1904. National Shawmut Bank, Boston. 200 year calendar. New England Historic Genealogical Society. Boston. Librarian's report, 1904.

4 tickets, Providence Street Lottery, 1761. 3 tickets, Providence Great Bridge Lottery, 1790. James N. Pringle, Sharon. History of United States, by John H. Hinton, 1834. (vol. i.)

Reminiscences of Easton, in The Parish Visitor. Town Records of Bridgewater, entered by John Gary. Copy of deed from Charles Josiah, Indian Sachem, indorsed, "This deed is not valed nor valebel in law the lawers say."

Gifts To The Society 43

Receipts given by Capt. F.dward Bridge Savell to John Drake, Jr , and Archippus Drake, July ii, 1776, for £t^ each, "towards paying soldiers for the present expedition."

Gen. John Glover and his Regiment, by Mr. Sanborn. By-laws of Historical Society of Marblehead, 1899. Sharon Club, Sharon. Souvenir programs of annual entertainments, 19021905.

"Sharon Collections, No. i," containing the following pamphlets: Publications of Historical Society, No. i; History of First Parish, by George Willis Cooke ; Translation of Arabic MS, by Sidney A. Weston, Ph. D.; History of Baptist Church in Sharon, by Rev. Lyman Partridge ; First Anniversary celebration of Stoughtonham Institute, 1864 ; Reunion of Pupils of same Institute, 1889 ; Herbert Spencer, by Rev. John C. Kimball ; Last survivor of the Six Hundred, by Blair Irwin (who died in Sharon, Jan. 27, 1904) ; St. John's Cook Book, recipes by Sharon housewives : Sharon, the healthiest town in New England, by W. B. Wickes, 1884 ; The Freak, a monthly paper edited by Edmund R. Brown, "the youngest editor in America" ; The humanitarian side of Religion, by Rev. John C. Kimball ; C'atalogue of books in Congregational Sunday School, 1899 ' '^"^ miscellaneous circulars. Roger Tappan. Sjundea, Finland. Finland newspapers. Gilbert Thompson, Washington, D. C'.

Essay on Man, 1832 ; Hymns for Infant minds, 181 5 ; Sermons to the rich and studious on Temperance and Exercise, 1772; Faith and Covenant of Baptist Church, 1838 ; Sunday School Class Book, 1859.

List Of Members

Appraisal of estate of Widow Judith BuUard, iSio. Letters of administration on estate of Benjamin Bullard, 1779. Woburn Public Library, Woburn. Trustees' Report, 1903.

By John Sargent Wise Ok New York City

The following address was delivered by Capt. John S. Wise iDefore the Sharon Historical Society, at its celebration in Sharon, February 22, 1907, of the one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of the birth of Washington. Capt. Wise is the well known author of "The End of an Era" and "Recollections of Thirteen Presidents." As a lover of all sections of the land, and having an intimate knowledge of his native state of Virginia and her regard for Washington, with skill as an author and speaker and a special interest in the theme, Capt. Wise adds to the common knowledge of the subject a welcome exhibition of the attitude towards Washington of those who dwell on the soil where he lived and died.

It is a great pleasure, I assure you, to meet and greet the people of Massachusetts on the anniversary of the birth of the great and good man whose name and fame are so identified with her early career. Massachusetts began the bloody work of the Revolution before her sisters. Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill preceded the appointment of a commander-in-chief of the forces of the united colonies. Washington's prominence as a national military character began when he took command of the army at Cambridge; and throughout the whole struggle he found his warmest and most affectionate support among the northern generals, Greene of Rhode Island, the two Putnams, Lincoln and others, even when officers from his own section failed him or were in a cabal for his overthrow. No wonder then that this day tends to revive the long and traditional friendship between Massachusetts and Virginia - a friendship which has ever been strong save when it was interrupted by the episode of civil war, and which is today revived by the determination of the people of both these commonwealths that their dear old states shall not become mere weak instruments for the convenient enforcement of the universal mandates of a grreat centralized orovernment.

Considering the character of the address I should make to the citizens of Sharon to-night, I came to the conclusion that an attempt to deliver an elaborate oration must result disastrously among a people so familiar with American eloquence on the subject of George Washington. For over a hundred years his life and career have been an open book to the civilized world. He has been the inspiration and great examplar of youth, and the subject of the loftiest flights of oratory at home and abroad. Even the names of those who have made him the subject of their eloquence would fill volumes. The orations of Webster, Everett and Winthrop of your own state are unsurpassed. It was my inestimable|:-privilege to hear the two latter, and I would not dare to tempt their people to a contrast of an oration of mine with theirs.

About George Washington

approach you, not with a set speech with rounded periods, but in simple conversational way repeating to you some of the folk-lore of his fellow citizens in the state where he was born and lived and died. Those people knew him and loved him and honored and mourned him as did no others on earth. The task is peculiarly grateful to me for I am a descendant of one of his most devoted soldiers, was reared in a family where veneration of Washington was placed next to faith in God, and have but recently, by the strange mutations of life and by the death of a great number entitled ahead of me, become entitled to membership in the Society of Cincinnati of which he was the founder.

Washington has been dead over a century. Precious as are his name and character and deeds to the whole country, he is more or less an idealized abstraction to the people at large outside of his native State, but is still a concrete entity to the older class of Virginians, and, to a less degree possibly, to her rising generation.

No man ever left every feature of his personality, every incident in his long public and private career more indelibly impressed upon the people among whom he lived. He died childless, it is true. To him this was a bitter disappointment, but among Virginians we are disposed to be proud of the fact that Nature, despairing of reproducing so matchless a type, broke the die in which he was cast, and left his fame unmarred by any injurious effects of inferior progeny. The name, too, is almost extinct in the old State, having migrated to the North, South and West. I recall but one Washington family still resident in Virginia, and they are distant collaterals. But his collateral kindred, bearing other family names, and the descendants of his adopted children, the Custis offspring of his wife, are numerous, and among them are preserved all the things pertaining to him not in public places. In one way or another, nearly every prominent family in the State is connected with him, or feels identified with him by some service or circumstance in the life of its forbears. For example: I have no blood relationship to the Washingtons, but my grandmother, through John Custis of Arlington, was cousin of the two adopted Custis children of Washington, and her father was a field-ofificer under his command at Brandywine, Germantown, Valley Forge and Monmouth. Those circumstances alone make people "near kin" in Virginia. His sister Betty, who married Fielding Lewis, was the most prolific of his family, and, to this day, Piedmont and Tide-water and the Valley of Virginia are filled with her descendants, the Lewises and Taylors and the rest of them, all preserving and cherishing the minutest incidents of his great life, with the charm peculiar to oral tradition. But, if Washington had left no kinsfolk, it would be the same.

His public career began at such an early age that, although he died comparatively young, it really extended over a period of fifty years, and led him into every section of the Commonwealth which had then been settled. The result was that his personal acquaintance extended not only to the men of prominence but to men of all stations, and to their families; for in the days when men traveled about they lodged at private houses.

young he was when he first became a pubHc character in Virginia, We are so accustomed to think of him as the mature or venerable man depicted as the father of his Country, He was born in 1732. In 1750 he was not only doing work as a surveyor for the immigrant Lord Fairfax, but a work that made him acquainted with every settler in that section, and they with him. Lord Fairfax became very fond of him. With all his sedateness and exterior calm, Washington, both as boy and man, loved life, was full of manly ardor, and passionately fond of field sports. These tastes he never indulged until his work was done, but the way he went at them in leisure moments endeared him to Lord Fairfax, who found him not only an ardent and bold fox-hunter, but a congenial and respectful young companion at his solitary home. No doubt this constant companionship with an English gentleman at the most plastic period of his youth did more to fix the manners and bearing of Washington, for which he was so distinguished throughout life, than anything else. For, while the Washingtons were just as good as anybody else in Virginia, it was a period of very simple living throughout the Colony ; and the dignity and reserve of Washington in after life were so exceptional as to be constantly remarked upon in the community, and sometimes he was adversely criticized for manners above those of the masses,

Washington was decidedly above the average of his Colonial associates, and even perhaps above the other members of his own family in his observance of social etiquette. The tradition runs that his fine old mother smoked a pipe, and refused to visit him on a certain occasion because he regarded this habit as beneath the dignity of his home. The story is probably true, for I remember seeing the widow of a Revolutionary General, as late as 1851, sitting by her fire in a split-bottomed chair, on a rag carpet, with a lawn cap and a kerchief crossed upon her breast, smoking her pipe with great satisfaction, with no thought that it was "infra dig."; and she was as high-bred a dame as any of them, had been a reigning beauty in her day, and had no doubt trod a minuet with Washington.

Father inherited his veneration for Washington and eagerly gathered and remembered every piece of folk-lore he heard. His love was transmitted undiminished to our whole family, and we are provincial or bigoted enough, or whatever you may choose to call it, to think even in this day that George Washington was the greatest man that ever lived. As General Von Moltke seems to have thought likewise, we may be right after all. Of course we know what has been written about him in books, but the things we know better are those which we have heard by oral tradition, through reliable mediums, during the course of our lives, from hearing them at the family fire-side until they were as familiar to us as the Lord's Prayer and the Creed and the Ten Commandments; things vastly more entertaining than what books contain, often too insignificant for historical record, yet frequently shedding a flood of light on character and making a lasting impression on memory, focusing up to us, as no book can do, the figures of the past.

About George Washington 9

a volunteer aide to accompany him on his expedition to Fort Duquesne. Braddock was a high Hver. The story is told concerning him that he always insisted that twoof his aides should be invited to any dinner he attended, because he expected to require their assistance to reach his quarters after the festivities. Washington was not a total abstinence man. Throughout life he was not averse to a social glass of wine with friends, but he was prudent and abstemious, with little taste for the indulgences and frivolity of his young companions on the staff. They were society men and dandies of the highest British circles. The Headquarters baggage of Braddock was more than that of a Continental Regiment ten years later. The contrast between the simple outfit of Washington and any one of these young British of^cers was most striking. So much so indeed that, with a person less dignified, they would have been disposed to look down upon him. Washington appreciated the maxim of "doing like the Romans in Rome," and he ordered a lot of finery from England, but it never came in time to use it on the staff. One thing he had, and that he always had throughout his life. It is part of a true Virginian's necessary outfit. That was a good horse. No man loved a good horse or was a better judge of him than Washington. He was so young that Braddock paid little attention to his wise advice at first. Indeed the old campaigner not only ignored Washington's warnings, but was disposed to resent them. Meanwhile, by his enterprise, his courtesy, and his prompt attention to every duty, Washington made friends of the members of the staff; friends who kept up correspondence with him until the Revolutionary War, and even during the war sent him messages of affection and respect through the lines. When it was too late Braddock himself was brought to confess the wisdom of Washington's advice, to declare that he had been conspicuously reckless on the battle-field, and that Washington had done more than any officer on the field to save the remnant of the British forces. But for him the Massacre would have been complete. He took charge of the retreat and of the wounded General, and, when Braddock died a few days later, thanks of the most touching kind to Washington for his care and tenderness were among his last utterances.

Another instance of the innate loyalty to friendship in Washington's temperament is found in his treatment of Bryan Fairfax while the Revolutionary War was in progress. Fairfax was a loyalist. He was perfectly sincere in believing that in the pending crisis his allegiance was due to the King. The feeling against all such was very intense and the disposition of the authorities was to oppress and banish Fairfax. Washington knew him, had faith in him and great respect for him. He gave him protection papers and stood by him, upon his simple assurance that he would be neutral. Fairfax repaid him with devoted friendship and perfect fidelity to his pledges.

No man ever lived who possessed to a greater degree the quality of making devoted personal friends, than did Washington. This old forbear of mine of whom I have spoken was a striking instance of the devotion which Washington inspired. He survived until

About George Washington Ii

182 I. My father was born in 1806. My father's mother, died in 181 2, and my grandfather Wise in the following year, so that my orphaned father spent much of his boyhood in the home of General John Cropper, his maternal grandfather, at "Bowman's Folly," the family seat in Accomac County, Virginia, It is on the seaside near Drummondstown, the County seat.

In the autumn of 1776 John Cropper, aged nineteen, marched from Accomac to Philadelphia, as Captain of a company in the 9th Virginia Regiment (Col. Fleming) on Continental establishment to join Washington's Army. He had been married but six weeks to Margaret Pettitt, a granddaughter of John Custis, of Arlington, and a cousin of General Washington's adopted children. Cropper never saw^ his wife again until some time in 1778, when her first child, Sarah Corbin Cropper, my grandmother, was over a year old. Few of us stretch patriotism that far nowadays. During his absence he had fought under Washington at Brandywine and Germantown, had passed the winter in camp at Valley Forge and fought at Monmouth. He had received successive promotions as Major of 7th Virginia and as Lt.-Col. of iith Virginia (Daniel Morgan's) Regiment. Morgan was serving in the South with a detached force and Cropper commanded his regiment. Those two years were the cream of that boy's life. Washington was his God. His whole career as a soldier had been under Washington's eye. True it was a career of defeats and suffering, but what else draws men so near together or makes them know each other so well ?

Washington into more intimate relations with his officers than at any other period of his career. The Army grouped about those hills was like a great family of poor people hugging up close to each other to keep warm. Washington was more like a father to them than a general. Every day he was among the men begging them to preserve their beef hides to make hutroofs, and hoofs and horns to make combs, and tallow to make itch-ointment, and doing a thousand other things showing his concern for others.

The orderly book, still preserved, reads like the record of a careful guardian over his improvident wards. What infinite care and solicitude, down to the minutest details, it all displays. With him was his pet, young Lafayette, now a Division Commander, and Cropper's Brigade was under him. I have the original order of Lafayette assigning Col. Crooper (as he wrote it) to command the iith Regiment, and a note in his own hand-writing, written on thin French letter paper, telling Col. "Crooper" he would be over the following day to talk about "those coats for the men." These things bring us pretty close to the old fellows, do they not ? Then came Baron Steuben.

Think of it! A distinguished soldier in European Armies. An aide-de-camp on the Staff of Frederick the Great. What must have been his impressions of that mob ? Washington was quick to utilize his particular talent for organization. He could not have come at a better time or place. He designated him Inspector General and the old Baron entered cheerfully on the task of drilling an Army that never had been drilled.

About George Washington I3

He began by calling for details of men from all the commands, and these he undertook to drill until they were fit to be drill-masters of their comrades. The scenes that followed were immense. The Baron could not speak or understand English, and the men could not speak or understand French or German. Neither could understand or explain to the other, and the result was indescribably ludicrous. Many a day have 1 heard my father repeat Cropper's descriptions of all this and the polyglot swearing of the Baron Steuben. A New York officer acted a sthe Baron's interpreter. Some times the old fellow would lose his temper and explode "Sacre G-t D-n Mein Gott. Ach ! mein friend Mon bon Ami. Tell them what they do not understand. Tell me what they, blockheads, say." But great good came from it all, and the Army was drilled as never before. It was doubtless through the Baron that Washington received the sword of Frederick the Great, the sword which a hundred years later John Brown "appropriated" from the possession of Col. Lewis Washington when he made his famous raid on Harper's Ferry.

The Virginians were encamped on the hill just above Washington's headquarters. Not far from them were the Pennsylvanians commanded by General Cadwalader who shot General Conway in a duel for speaking disrespectfully of Washington. Cropper loved Cadwalader for that and deeply regretted that the job had not fallen to his lot. And there with him, as a Captain in his regiment, and his devoted friend, was young black-haired, diamond-eyed John Marshall, the same who afterwards became the great Chief Justice, but in those days was chiefly prominent as the best quoit pitcher in the Revolutionary Camp. There, too, was Light Horse Harry Lee, the son of Washington's first lady love, beloved of Washington for her sake and his own ; that Light Horse Harry, who, in Congress when his great Commander died, sobbed forth his grief in the immortal resolutions presented by Marshall which declared that he was "First in War, first in Peace and first in the hearts of his Countrymen. '

How these men all worshipped Washington! - In my day I have known descendants of them all, and with all exchanged our family traditions concerning the great Father. Heth's and Cropper's Virginia Regiments were hutted next to Cadwalader's. The three men were devoted friends. Within the past twenty years in New York, John L. Cadwalader, Richard C. Selden and I dined together at my house, great-grandsons of those three old worthies from whom we were taught our veneration for George Washington.

When I was a small boy, my step-mother (only so in name, for she was my own mother, in love) had two old aunts, Aunt Belew and Aunt Claiborne. They were all three related to Mrs. Washington through the Dandridge connection. One of these old ladies lived many years at a place called "Cumberland" on the Pamunky River, adjoining the "White House" where their cousin the widow Custis lived when Washington married her. They always referred to her as Martha Dandridge, and they knew her and General Washington just as we do our cousins now-a-days. I remember one of them commenting upon a handsome colored print of

About George Washington 1 5

Gilbert Stuart's painting of Washington which was then extensively circulated in aid of the Mount Vernon purchase and saying the eyes were too "soulful" and the color too delicate. They said Washington's eyes were smaller, and not so deep in color as the pictures show them; and that there was a look about them not exactly of cunning but very quick and knowing, by no means so gentle as the ox-eyed expression transmitted to posterity by the artist. Then too, concerning his complexion, their criticism was that while Washington's complexion was healthy, it was not so delicately pink and childlike as it is shown, for he had a few scars of small-pox on his face, and his skin showed that thickening which so often follows the disease, although, in his case it was to a slight degree. Once when I was duck-shooting on the Potomac I had pointed out to me a spot where the General is said to have thrashed a fellow for poaching on his ducking grounds. All the details are well remembered in the neighborhood. The Potomac is a famous place for canvas-back and red head ducks. It seems Colonel Washington, as he then was, had carefully baited a certain feeding ground with corn, and that the ducks were coming in finely. But this offender had poached on the place and had been warned away. One morning Washington, who had been absent but had just returned home, went down before day to enjoy the sport of which he was very fond, when, lo I there in the very spot which he expected to occupy, was the same old intruder. He had ascertained that the Colonel was absent and thought he might trespass with impunity. It is said that he tried to push off his boat and escape, but Washington dashed into the water after him, seized his boat and, towing it to the shore, gave him a sound pommelHng. Washington's temper was well known to every one who was intimate with him. He had it under control generally, and no doubt often concealed it with his dignified demeanor, but occasionally he gave his friends an exhibition that they never forgot. History records what he said to Lee at Monmouth. And I for one am glad he said it. It shows he had good red blood in his veins, and it is comfort to feel that great as he was, he was not above the infirmities of us weak mortals. This eternal representation of Washington's extreme goodness and his praying out in the snow at Valley Forge, etc., gets to be namby-pamby after a while.

The sinful world is gratified to know that now and then he wrestled with the old Adam. One of the Carys told my father of an experience he had as a boy on a visit to Mount Vernon. The family chariot was full on a certain Sunday, and the General allowed young Gary to ride to church a favorite mare that was in foal. All were very devout during the services, particularly the General. The family coach started home at once, but Mr. Gary lingered a while. The mare, as is usual with high-bred horses, chafed for her companions, and the moment she was headed homeward bolted. The boy lost control of her. She overtook the General's carriage going like a shot. "Stop that ! Stop that !" shouted the General as she passed him. He thought the boy was speeding her. His commands receiving no attention, he forgot the sermon and the prayers, and Gary said that as long as he was in ear-shot he heard very sulphurous imprecations from his host. Washington designed the National Capital upon a scale which has rendered it unnecessary to enlarge his plans and has made possible, on the very plan he devised, the most beautiful city in the world. Even I remember when I thought there was great waste of space there, but the innumerable buildings erected there in my day, grand as many of them are, find ready for them all that the foresight of Washington discovered would be necessary to display them to best advantage. How in contrast with the crowded spaces in all our other larger cities which had no seer planning for the distant future when they were founded. It is difficult to spend a day anywhere in lowland Virginia, of which Washington was so fond, without meeting with some reminders of him, for he was all-pervading in his day, and nothing could be further from the facts than the old saying touching the departed, "the places that knew him know him no more." Even on my own country-place on the point of Cape Charles, a spot which, so far as I know, he never visited, there are things suggestive of him. A little wild pea known as the partridge pea is indigenous to the whole Eastern shore peninsula. It grows luxuriantly and in that sandy section is regarded, for lack of the sturdier grasses on limestone soils, as an excellent hay and good restorer of the land. I never walk out in the spring time and behold its pretty yellow bloom, without recalling a most interesting correspondence between Mr. Custis, who lived at Arlington, seven miles above my place, and General Washington, concerning the merits of the partridge pea. Mr. Custis took the trouble to secure some seeds for General Washington, and the General planted them at Mount Vernon and reported the results. He said that it might serve its purpose fairly well in a light soil like that of the peninsula, but on the stronger lands of Piedmont there was a plenty of products of better substance both as feed and fertilizers. Washington was unquestionably a scientific farmer in his day, and while far behind the discoveries of the present, he was first in this as in other things.

The old great-grandfather of whom I have spoken^ simply idolized Washington, as well he might. Mr. Custis referring to him says that Cropper had but one toast for all Companies, banquets. Fourth of July, Twenty-second of February, marriages, funerals, and that was "God bless the memory of George Washington." On a certain occasion soon after the War, CoL Cropper was in the coffee-room at Mammy Peterkin's, a famous tavern in Delaware, on the road between his home and Philadelphia. An Englishman present made some disparaging remark about Washington. Cropper, who was a large, powerful man and of quick temper, seized the chair on which he sat and broke it over the man's head. In later years, he was in the Virginia Senate. He was then a General, for Washington had proposed him as Commander of the Virginia troops when the troubles arose with France in '98. At a banquet at the Swan tavern in Richmond a speaker reflected upon Washington. When his remarks had proceeded to a certain point. General Cropper arose, seized a carving knife and started towards him swearing he would

About George Washington I9

his ears*' for such language concerning the greatest and best man that ever lived. It was with great difficulty that he was restrained and pacified. At the surrender of Yorktown Washington presented twelve French cannon captured from the British to the Marquis de Lafayette for distribution to the favorite officers of his division. One of these he gave to Colonel Cropper who took it with him to his home and placed it on the Court House Green at the County Seat. There it remained until the civil war when it was captured by federal troops and removed to Fortress Monroe. A grandson of General Cropper who lived in New York and was loyal to the Union, made personal application to Mr. Lincoln for a return of the gun, and it was delivered to him and remained in his possession until his death which occurred in the present year.

Every year of his life until shortly before his death in 182 1 when disease disabled him, General Cropper celebrated Washington's birth-day and July 4th at the County Court House, by firing that cannon, and by speeches, the reading of the Declaration of Independence, Washington's Farewell Address, and patriotic songs.

These scenes were of course part of the youth of my father. Nothing pleased him more than to describe his grandfather speaking upon Washington. The old man would be moved by his own eloquence to defiance, exultation and tears.

When the old Revolutionary hero became too infirm to appear in public, he would on patriotic days assemble his children and grandchildren about him, have them read the old documents and sing the old songs, while he joined in with all his remaining fervor, the tears streaming down his cheeks. I have a letter written by William Wirt to his daughters when General Cropper died and it is one of his most beautiful productions.

If General Washington slept in all the houses in Virginia which have been pointed out to me, from time to time, as his lodging places, he must have done a good deal of napping in day-time; for in his brief lifetime he could not have done the sleeping in the night-time requisite to fill all these beds.

Some of the houses he occupied were very small and very primitive. Indeed it is hard to realize how little of domestic comfort satisfied even the grandest people of his time. Many of the abodes of the wealthiest and most important people of that day in Virginia were not up to those of the humblest today in space and comfort. There were a few handsome houses in Williamsburg and Fredericksburg in Gloucester and upper Potomac and on the lower James, but outside of these the Colonial Mansions of Virginia never were very numerous, or at all up to modern standards.

A hundred years ago the fame of Washington in future ages, elsewhere than in Virginia, may have been problematic. It never was so there. The surroundings of every Virginian born then or since have been such that he was as sure to worship this immortal man as were the goats bred by Jacob to be "ring-streaked, speckled and grizzled."

About George Washington 21

affect the progeny, and long-continued habits of thought in a whole community of human beings descend from father to son - so generations of Virginians breeding together in a common faith about Washington have produced a Commonwealth of two million citizens to whom his every act and almost every breath he breathed, have been made familiar since they were old enough to comprehend anything. There may be found here and there a Virginian who will reluctantly admit that at one time or another in the tide of time, individuals have lived who in this or that particular quality may have equaled Washington; but it were rank heresy in any man to contend in the presence of a true bred Virginian that any man ever existed on this planet who had combined in him, the same number of pre-eminent qualities, to the same degree or so happily blended, as they appeared in Virginia's peerless Son.

Thus, fellow-citizens, have I attempted to lay before you, in simple phrase, the real George Washington, in his daily and private life and in his relations to his neighbors and fellow-citizens. It may have been problematical with the rest of mankind, a hundred years ago, how he would rank in History. It was never so with Virginians. To them he was, even in his lifetime, "the immediate jewel of their souls." A century has rolled by since he died - a century filled with great events that have revolutionized and changed, almost daily, the map of the world, with hosts of great men, from Napoleon and Wellington, down to now, filling Fame's trumpets with their deeds. Yet, there stands the Colossal figure of Washington, his fame enhanced rather than dimin- ished by comparison with them, and likely to increase for a thousand years to come. Our Washington. Not Washington of Virginia or of Massachusetts. Not Washington of the North or of the South. Not even Washington of America. But Washington of the whole world, embodying and expressing the ideas of Liberty, and Justice and Valor and Moderation as the world had never known them before he lived. Quoted to describe him, the oft repeated words are no longer thread-bare. "As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, Swells from the vale and midway leaves the storm, Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, Eternal sunshine settles on its head."

Thank God that in our past there was one great father, at whose tomb we may meet in common brotherhood for all time to come and there forget the differences of intervening years.

Work Of The Society

A review of the year is due to the members and to other historical societies. Such a record is a part of current history. The study of what has been done is important for a proper prosecution of the work to be done. Certain Unes of effort may be desirable for further work in the coming year, and on the other hand, it may be found that certain lines or methods should be omitted. Again, so far as the past shows success, it will be an encouragement to continue. The year thus reviewed extends from April, 1906, to March, 1907.

The quarterly meetings are held in Old Home Week and in the latter part of October, January and April. The place is the town hall, which on several occasions was ornamented by a Boston decorating company. In Old Home Week the society also arranged an antiquarian concert by the Old Stoughton Musical Society, and on Washington's Birthday celebrated the 175th anniversary of that event witli an address by Capt. John S. Wise. This address is printed for the first time in this issue.

The president of the Society, Col. Hewins, has occupied the chair at each meeting, as well as at each session of the board of directors. Praise is due to the singers and musicians, and to the matrons and assistants who have contributed inspiration and good cheer. At the April and January meetings the leading address was given by Mr. John G. Phillips, followed at the last meeting by Messrs. Hewins, Whittemore and Tappan. Mr. Kempton has often given historical readings. Some speakers who came from out of town were Dr. Loring W. Puffer, the president of the Bridgewater Historical Society, in April, Ex-Gov. John D. Long in August, and Dr. William H. P. Faunce, the president of Brown University, in October. A customary feature of the meetings is a social half-hour with service of tea and cakes.

The year's outings were limited, as previously, to the territory of the town, and took place on Saturday afternoons in alternate weeks of May, June, September and October with an all-day outing in Old Home Week. The attendance was greater than in the previous year, 50 or 60 being the number in the last two months. On longer distances carriages are used. Often times a light lunch is carried by the ramblers, or served to them by the kindness of those living in the places visited. Careful attention is given to antique objects and the history and traditions of the families connected with the places. There was always held on such occasions an informal historical conference, at which some of the speakers were Messrs. Britton, Deming, Drake, Dyer, Field, Fuller, Haskel, Kempton, Mackintosh, Martin, Perry, Pettee, Phillips, Raynolds, Talbot, Tappan, Mrs. Eddy, Miss Felt, Mrs. Mann, Mrs. Talbot, Mrs. Washburn,

Work Of The Society 25

Mrs. White and Miss Winship. Frequent visitors from abroad attend the outings as well as the regular meetings. A scholarly gentleman, while walking with the ramblers in a beautiful grove, expressed his feelings by the remark, "I'd rather walk in these woods than read the best book that ever was written."

Old Home Week

The Society gave unusual attention to the holiday week, called Old Home Week, conducting as already stated the three events of antique concert, quarterly meeting and outing, and also issuing an illustrated program pamphlet for all the exercises of the week, of which 1500 copies were distributed, and a profit realized from the advertisements furnished by friends.

Written Contributions

Each of the meetings and rambles has its historian whose full narrative is printed in the Sharon Advocate, filling one or two columns of that village newspaper. These articles with others are included in the Society Scrap Book, the fourth volume of which has just been bound, its contents being given on another page. These volumes are substantially bound and will last as long as any printed book, and be read with increasing interest as time goes by. Sometimes on a ramble a selection from the Scrap Book has proved appropriate. The Sharon Advocate, by the courtesy of its publisher, contains notifications and historical items concerning the Society as well as the above named narratives. Bound volumes of the Advocate are kept in the Sharon Public Library.

Historical Building

A goodly number of gifts has been received, as shown on other pages and in the preceding numbers of the PubHcations. "Where shall we put these valuables?" is a natural question frequently asked. A sufficient answer is found in Publication No. 3 issued a year ago, containing as frontispiece a perspective view of a suitable historical building with an article describing the structure and a reliable builder's estimate that the cost would be }$6ooo. A generous contribution for the beginning of a building fund would attract other similar contributions, resulting at last in a building erected, alike an ornament to the town and a safe deposit of valuable papers and relics. This building would be of great value to the life and prosperity of the Society.

Associated Work

As a member of the Bay State Historical League, the Society sends representatives to the meetings of the League. Meetings of historical societies have been attended in Somervalle, Roxbury, Canton, Hyde Park, and also meetings of the Bridgewater Historical Society, and the American Historical Association. The Sharon Society has been glad to welcome at its meetings the presidents and members of sister organizations.

Membership

A large membership has been the desire of the Society. Greater interest and more assistance are thus secured. At the beginning one hundred subscribers signed the application for incorporation, and at every regular meeting accessions have been made to this number, the total being now 245. While noting with regret the recent loss by death of three members - Mr. Jay Gould of Norwood Street at the age of 50 years, Mr. Horace S. Shepard of Ames Street at the age of 74 years, and Mr. William F. Hall at the age of 55 years, the society recalls with gratitude that during the calendar year of 1906, there was not a single loss.

Some Results

Interest in local history has been stimulated and diffused by the good attendance upon the meetings and rambles, and by the published accounts of these gatherings. Mr. John G. Phillips, with considerable labor, has prepared what with present means of knowledge is an exhaustive list of sources of Sharon history. Mr. Solomon Talbot, the Nestor of the Society, is constantly aiding in local memoranda. The written contributions to the Scrap Book preserve historical incidents for the use of the future historian. The society's printed annual from its interest as a record, is a pleasant means of exchange with other historical societies and antiquarians. This annual is deposited in the principal libraries of the state, and in many libraries outside the state. The Society will gladly receive from other associations any of their publications that can be spared.

The Near Future

The best work is often the work that is nearest at hand. A complete study of the topographical features of the town, a full list of the names of brooks, hills and tracts of land that have distinctive names, the recovery of Indian names now dropping out of memory (as Sconcumpenshen swamp in South Sharon), are instances. A diary of natural events might be kept, noting the first appearance of different kinds of birds, insects, leaves and flowers. The pursuit of genealogy, little attended to at present by the Society, might be as interesting and useful in Sharon as in other towns. Repeated requests in the Advocate to search old attics and report results, and to furnish copies of family registers in old Bibles have hitherto elicited no response, yet such registers exist and attics are not often empty.

A list has been made of the cases in the Probate Registry at Dedham from 1793 to 1878 relating to Sharon, and the additional work has been commenced of making an abstract of each case. A member who can spend a day, or several days, in continuing this work would be doing a good service. Another opening for historical work is to edit the records of the Sharon Lyceum in the years 1844 to 1846, presented by Mr. Charles S. Curtis. Such an editor could procure a brief biographical mention of each member of the Lyceum, besides writing a history of such organizations in the town. The building of the railroad in Sharon is another theme toward the preparation of which Mrs. William B. Wickes has contributed a copy of a report in 1829 to the Legislature on the practicability of the road, with plans of several proposed routes through the town. Some members of a practical turn might accomplish the task of setting up a monument on the Randall place, using therefor the stone door step pre- sented by a descendant. A similar work would be the placing of a boulder at the grave of William Tolman, with perhaps this inscription, "William Tolman requested to be buried on this spot, from which he had often watched the wild geese fly over the pond." Wood paths and historical sites need to be marked. A more ambitious undertaking might be the publication of a small book of the geography and history of Sharon for use in the public schools. There is none of the members who cannot write a page for the Scrap Book.

The habit of historical research gives a pleasant purpose to one's leisure hours, and a local historical society may add materially to the happiness and refinement of the community. By cultivating the loving study of the town, it will do a substantial part in interesting the people in one another and in promoting good citizenship and good fellowship.

Historical Outings In 1907

1. Spring Outing, Saturday afternoon, April 27. Stone bridge on Puffer's or Maskwonicut brook, in rear of Richards street. Take electric car to Canton street, thence walk along Canton street to Chestnut Tree cemetery, and thence across the fields.

2. Rock Ridge, Saturday afternoon. May 25. Ride as far as Rockridge cemetery, thence walk along the summit of Rock Ridge to George P. Lawrence's house, and from there ride back to the village.

3. Sharon Incorporation Day, Friday afternoon, June 21. The district was incorporated June 21, 1765. Out-door meeting with special speaker and music.

5. Old Home Week Outing, Saturday, August 3. Ride to Moose hill, lunch on the summit, walk down the west slope to Walpole line at Baker street, and from there ride back to the village.

7. Apple Day (the new holiday), Wednesday afternoon, October 16. Ride to the town farm, giving an entertainment to the inmates, thence across country to Bertram's and home.

The foregoing list of outings was approved by vote of the Historical Society at the last January meeting. A narrative of each outing will be written by one of the company. All persons interested are welcome to join in the excursions.

Historical Scrap Book The Historical Scrap Book

The following is a list of the articles, with names of writers appended, contained in the fourth volume of the Society's Scrap Book, just completed and bound. Contributions are requested for future numbers, and stationery for the purpose will be supplied on application to the corresponding secretary.

Copied by Eugene Tappan Going to Pigeon Swamp, a sketch, . The Burns Festival ..... Historical Meeting, April 26, 1906 . Old Home Week, 1906 .... Historical Meeting, August 2, 1906 Historical Outing, August 3, 1906 . An Evening in Sicily, October 25, 1906. Historical Meeting, January 31, 1907 Washington Celebration, February 22, 1907 Results of the Celebration. The Brook Un visited (outing) . . . Eugene Tappan

Gifts To The Society 33

George S. Godard, Hartford, Conn. Trumbull's Notes on Constitutions of Connecticut. Notes on Town Representation. Journal of Constitutional Convention (1818).

Mrs. Amanda M. Morton. Oracles of Reason by Col. Ethan Allen. Works of William E. Channing, Vol. II. (Slavery, Texas, etc.). Columbian and European Harmony or Bridgewater Collection of Sacred music, 1802.

Dr. Loring W. Puffer, Brockton. The Delhi Gazette (Newspaper) Dec. 27, 1852, "published on the latest safe date of despatch of the overland mail." Atlas of pictures relating to George Washington.

Herbert Randall, Hartford, Conn. Trumbull's Declaration of Independence (picture). Portrait of Roger Sherman (framed by the Society). Portraits of George and Martha Washington by Sharpless (reproduction). Portrait of Washington by Trumbull (reproduction). Picture in memory of Washington.

F. A. Sampson, Columbia, Mo. Missouri Historical Review, a quarterly published by the State Historical Society. Third biennial report of executive committee.

Smithsonian Institution. Washington, D. C. Annual Reports of American Historical Association, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1904 (7 volumes). Report on methods of work in local historical societies (including the Sharon Society). Annual Report of American Historical Association (1905) vol. i.

RuFUS B. ToBEV, WoUaston. Passport, 1868, signed by William H. Seward. Shipping paper of ship Bowditch, 185 1. English bill of lading for 2818 rails, 1870. Dominican shipping document, 1846. Fac simile of Washington letter. Parchment

Officers And List Of Members

President, Col. Edmund H. Hewins. Vice-Presidents, Solomon Talbot, William R. Mann, D. Webster Pettee. Recording Secretary, George H. Whittemore. Corresponding Secretary, Eugene Tappan. Treasurer, Eliza L. White. Custodian, Loring M. Monk. Auditor, John A. Bowman. The Directors consist of the president, the secretaries, treasurer and custodian with the following additional members, Timothy F. Quinn, Amanda M. Eddy, George Kempton, Eliza J. Kempton. The above named officers were elected at the annual meeting, April 26, 1906.

Foreword

The Minister's Record of the Second Parish of Stoughton (later the First Parish of Stoughtonhani, now Sharon) is the property of Mr. Charles S. Curtis of Sharon, the great grandson of Rev. Philip Curtis the first minister, who has kindly loaned the manuscript for copy and publication.

In form the Record is a little book 6 1-2 by 4 1-2 inches in size, bound in thick brown paper covers and contains nearly 100 pages; the hand writing, originally distinct, is now much faded, blurred in many places, and often can be deciphered only with considerable difficulty; the leaves are stained with much use, yellowed and crumbling with age, and in spite of the watchful custodianship now exercised over it, the Record must inevitably soon become a relic of sentimental value only.

A study of the contents will reveal many items of V'ital Statistics from 1 74 2- 1 797 not appearing in the town records which were not begun until 1765. The foot-notes will throw light upon some matters otherwise obscure, but in addition it should be understood that throughout the book, in almost every instance, the dates in the columns headed "Deaths'" are really those of burials, usually three days later than the actual dates of deaths as given in the town records.

As evidence of the progressive characteristics of Rev. Mr. Curtis it is interesting, and worthy of note, that the first entry in the Record, a baptism Jan. I7'^''- 1742, shows that he was using the new style of dating. It was not until September 1752 that January i**'- was legally adopted as the beginning of the year and double dating between January i^*- and March 2^^^- was continued by many until an even later date.

A special eft'ort has been made to reproduce the spelling, punctuation, abbreviations, and the general arrangement of the records, as they appear in the original manuscript. Although other copies have already been made it is believed that no such exactness of detail has been heretofore attempted. A full index is appended. At the close of the records several pages were devoted to a review of the principal events in his own life by the minister and these have also been copied and included with the rest.

In publishing the Minister's Record of Rev. Philip Curtis the Sharon Historical Society feels that it is performing a duty not only to its members and fellow citizens of the town but also to that increasing number of students all over the country who are actively at work, and to a still larger number of persons who are at least interested, in historical and genealogical investigation.

To all such friends and co-workers this copy is dedicated in the hope that it may add a little that is of value to the large stock of already a\ailable sources of information, and be the means of supplying an occasional missing link to the many incomplete chains of New England family history.

* Remember Tupper, by her former marriage, was the mother of Gen. Benjamin Tupper, a native of the territory now .Sharon, who served throughout tbe Revolutionary War and was a pioneer in the settlement of Marietta, Ohio.

* This entire paragraph has been blurred over with iiik, but is distinctly legible, f These names are crowded into the margin. The name missing at the bottom of the page probably began with S. I Mary, crossed out.

May 18 Daniell Richards child hannah. was buried. Aprill 16 The Widow Blackman was buried August 17. John Whites child Jonathan was buried October 19 Nath": Woodcock was buried & 20*''. Solomon Leonard.

Deaths March 7 was buried Mary Belcher Aprill 2 was buried Widow Rogers Aprill 4 was buried Mrs. Harlow Aprill 7 W.- Coney Child. Nathan Aprill 18 W'idow Esty was buried May 29 Mrs. Curtis * dyed

For the Year 1753 Baptisms Jan : 7. Jere*^ : Gould^. Priscilla March 11. Royall Kollock Ebenezer Aprill 15. Will~: Coney. Abigail May 20. Elijah Bakers. Elijah

Deaths April 29 Stephen Hollands Infant Child was buried July 19 Sam". Coney's Child was buried Octo. 17. Job Swift's Child Philip was buried Nov: 13 Job Swifts Child Charity was buried

Deaths Feb. 19 Peletiah Esty Child was buried. Feb. 20. Eb'". Billing Child was buried Feb. 25 Elder Hewins was buried March 18. John Whites Son Simeon was buried April 13 W.- Whood Child was buried April 18. John White oldest dau was buried May 3 Widow Hewins was buried. - May 12 John White Son Levi was buried. - June 6 Mrs Gilbirt was buried June 8 Tolman Child was buried June 29. Massah Gilbert was buried. - July 5. Mrs. Tolman was buried July 18. Eben : Capen's Son, was buried.

Ad: into Chh : January 25 Moses Guild & his wife Admitted into the Chh. August I Lydia Gilbert was Admitted into the Chh. Sep*". 12. Hannah Johnson's [ * ] owned the Covenant. October 31. Martha White Benj": Savel j"'. & his wife & Hannah

Deaths January 30 Pelatiah Whittemore was buried Feb: i Solomon Gilbert Child was buried June 12 Eben''. Billings Child was buried October latter end Cap*^ Eb'". Billings was buried December 4. Tim: Morse Child was buried

Add: Chh: June II. Admitted Jeremiah Belcher Ju"'. & wife August 27. Elisabeth Hixson was Admitted into the Chh : November 5 t Edward Bridge Savel & his wife made Confession . . .

t Edward Bridge Savel was Captain of the ist Company of Stoughtonham Militia, under Colonel Robinson. They marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775. He was captain of other companies, serving seven years.

Billings, & Daniel Bacon Admitted into the Chh : - March 18 Judith Payson Addmitted into the Chh. Aug: 5. Benjamin White & wife Ad: into the Chh: Sep : 9 SuSannah Whittemore Admitted into y*" Chh Oct 28- Experience Fuller Admitted into the Chh :

For the "W'ar 1762. Baptisms Feb; 28 E''. Hewins Child Mihitable March 28 Royall Kollock Child Zeruiah April 18. Jsaac Johnson Child Obed. June 20 Bcnj". Billings Child. Beniamin

April 8. - Ad: Sam': Holmes & wife & William Withinton & his wife Aprill 29. Ad: John Esty & Wife & Abigail Gay. May 8. Add : John Coney & his wife May ID. Add. Hannah Kingsbury. July 8. Mary Savell Add : July 29. Deliverance Morse was Add :

[22] For the Year 1765 Baptisms Feb: 11. P: Witthington: Hannah Feb: 17. John Johnson Mary March 10. Sam' Payson'^ Sarah Joseph Morse'^ Child Charlotte & Na*. Morses Child Hannah. March

J Edmund Quincy V., oldest son of Edmund Quincy IV. of Braintree and Boston and his wife Elizabeth, (Wendell), was born in Boston Apr. 15, 1725. His sister Dorothy was the wife of Gov. John Hancock. Hannah Gannet, dau. of Benjamin and Mary (Copeland) Gannet, was the third wife of Edmund Quincy V. About the time of his marriage to her, he bought a farm of 150 acres in Stoughtonham (now Sharon). On June 6, 1770, in company with Col. Richard Gridley and Joseph Jackson, he purchased 450 acres, including Massapoag Pond, for the purpose of extracting iron ore for the manufacture of war supplies. They bought a furnace, partially drained the pond, built roads, dug and prepared the ore, and had the product in readiness to supply the Committee of Safety, who on Jan. 24, 1774, ordered cannon, ball and shot, in certain quantities, to be carried to storehouses in Worcester, Sudbury, etc. From these stations, supplies were distributed to the colonists, who were thus made ready for the Lexington alarm and the raids that were to follow. Mortars also were made and tested at the Pond, sent in to Roxbury, and used for the fortification of Dorchester Heights.

The part thus played in Colonial History by Edmund Quincy \'. was no less important than that of his brother-in-law, John Hancock, the Governor-to-be, and their friend Samuel Adams, whose names, however, are better known to posterity.

Add: Church Feb: 18. Lois Gould Ad: into Chh : - Sep: 30. Sarah Hewins Ad: into Chh Nov: 18. Ad: into the Chh: Asa Clark & his wife. Hannah Johnson.

July 13, Nehemiah Clark buried & 14 The wife of Benj°. Hewins July 23. Jer: Belcher wife buried. - 28 Benj. Richard Child buried. July 31. Jer: Belchers Ju''. Child Buried. Aug*. 9 Jer: Belcher was buried. Aug*. 10 J°. : Coney Daugh : buried Aug*. 12. Jon: Belcher Child buried Aug*. I. 15. Clifford Belcher, & Son. Ag: 23, his 2\ Son Aug: 26, his daugh*'. & 28. his wife. Sep : 3. Sarah Wood

Add: Chh: January y^^. John Holms Ju'". & his wife. Fib^. 20. Lem : Fuller Ad : into the Chh : March 3 : Han''. Tupper Admitted into Chh : May, 19. Add: Sarah Clark. June 2. Joseph Hewins & his wife Add: - Aug^ II. John Cumings & his wife Add. - D*". Abigail Puffer Ad: into the Chh:

§ Col. Louis de Maresquells (Marie Louis Armand Anstart de Maresquclls) signed, Dec. 6, 1776, a lengthy and important contract with the Colonial Government, for the manufacture of a superior kind of cannon. The peculiarity of their construction was that they were cast solid and then bored out by a process learned from his father, the Marquis of Montelurbert. The Marquis had since 1750 been manufacturing such cannon for the supply of the French Government. The cannon for the colony were to be cast at the Stoughtonham Iron Foundry, proved by de Maresquells in the presence of the Commissioners of the State, and to be furnished by him throughout the war. In return, he was to receive a large sum of money annually during the war and an annuity for life, and was to have the honorary rank of Colonel.

j{ This paragraph has been crossed out; it belor.gs in the record of 1781. ** Reference to the dates of the births of these children in the Town Records show that this heading should be Baptisms. ft Very indistinct. Town Records: Hettee.

J Town Records: Reupeke. John Christian Reupke was a native of Hesse, in Germany. He was a soldier in the British army with Gen. Burgoyne at the surrender at Saratoga in 1777. Not being allowed to return to his own country, he settled in Sharon, marrying at Foxboro a Miss Clark of this town.

transferred from the Chh : of Walpole to this Chh. December s^^. . Ad : The widow Keziah Gould & Zibble Holmes December 26. Add: Elijah Baker & wife

Deaths Jan^. 5. Sam^: Billings Child buried. Male Jan^ 24. J**. Jngraham child. 8 m'*. Male. Jany. 24. Wid : Everet of Rhumatism between 75 & 80 Age Jany 25. D°. loseph Hewins. 85. Age. of Cancer Feb^. 19. Mat : Harlow Child died of Th : Dis''. 5 years old female March 5. M""*. Richard 75. old, died of Complicated Disease. - March 22 Job Esty'^ Child**, died. Ruth 2 years old, by worms, &

23*^ Ebenezer by Throat Distemper i year old. March. 31. Mrs Johnson 80 years old. died Lem. Capen. Child Aug* female i year old 19 died of Quincy Aug*. 23. Wid : Clark died *° 46 year of her Age of Jaundice &

Deaths January y^^ Eben''. Capen buried. Jan^. 17 D°. Bird was buried. - Feby. 12. Elijah Capen wife was buried. - Aprill 3. Ezra Gould Child was buried. May 18. Sam': Capen wife was buried. - June 18. D". lacob Hewins Wife buried Nov"". 20. Oliver Bird Child buried. Decern'". 20. Nathaniel Billings Child Buried. -

Marriages March 14. Married John Rhodes & Molley Haden. April 16. Married Andrew Capen & Hannah Richards May 22. Married Elijah Capen & Massah Johnson. - Sep"". 24. Married Jsrael Smith & Zipperow Bullard All Back Returned to the Clerk.

Marriages April 2. Married. Joshua Whittemore & Ruth Johnson. All Back Returned to Town Clerk De"". 15. Marrid Eben''. Fuller. & Esther Johnson.

Marriages Feb. II. Noah Barden & Sarah Bullard. March loth loel Bullard & Charlotte Billings All Back Sent to the Town Clerk luly 2. Thomas KoUock & Abigail Fairbanks Aug^. 2. Zelotas Thrasher, & Mary Hixson. Octo: 4. John Savel & Anna Hewins Of: 7. Nat: Witherton & Zilpah Hixson Of. 8 Elijah Briggs & Susannah. Richards. Dc*": 31. Francis Curtis & Mary Billing

Tho*. Coney April. 2^. Benjn. Johnson Child buried. April 17 Widow Harlow Child Buried Another of her Children Buried April 20. July 12. Jos'\ Cumings Child Buried. Another of his Children buried Sep"". 4. Tho : Kollock Child buried.

Marriages ]an7. 7. Eben*" Fisher. & Nancy Morse. - April 25. My Son Calvin was Married Aprill 26. Joseph Billings & Sible Kingsbury April. 2y. Nat''. Morse Rebeccah. Fisher All Back Returned to the Clerk luly 24. Oliver Shepherd & Susanah Baker Decern: 15 Jncrease Hewins & Sarah Toleman.

Deaths Sep*". 18. 1796 Hannah Witherton Buried Oct. 3. 1796 M'^ Shephard Buried Melzar Drak Child Buried. Sep: 30. 1796. Oct: 8. 1796 Philip Witherton was buried Nov. 30. 1796 Widow Coney was Buried Nov: 13. 1796 Francis Curtis'^ Wife & Child Died- December 26 1796. Philip Curtis Child Obadiah was buried

June 22. Hittee Leonard Died Daugh^. of Woll : Leonard November ye 22 Died the Rev«» M'". Curtis- * Baptism Aug* 27. Tho. Glover Child Elijah * Thomas Kollock Child *

Ad: into Chh. Catarine Clarck aded into the C!ih Benjamin Riciiards -''. & wife aded to the Church. - Total Added into the Church two hundred & Sixty-four

[90] The Rev''. . Mr. Phihp Curtis was Ordained over the second church in Stoughton in January 1742. and died Nov. 22'^. ly^^y in the 81 Year of his age and 56 Year of his Ministry.

[The rest of this page is blank, as are the five remaining" pages in the book. The upper third of the last leaf has been cut out. A fragment of a letter remaining on the margin on the binding side shows that it had been written upon, probably by the writer of the summary on page [90]. Three more leaves have also been cut out. The "Account" of Rev. Mr. Curtis's family, following, is written on two of the leaves evidently cut out long ago. The "Account" is in Mr. Curtis's hand through the twenty-second item.]

3. J preached my fir^t Sermon at the 2''. chh in Stoughton t in the month May 1741. & was ordained to the work of the ministry there January 13*'^. 1741.2

Source changes here: from Publications of the Sharon Historical Society of Sharon, Massachusetts, by Sharon Historical Society, published 1904; 15,235 words in this source stream.

Introduction To Reprint

A reprint is here given of the pamphlet published in Dedham, Massachusetts, in 1802, containing an address delivered by Airs. Deborah Sampson Gannett of Sharon, Massachusetts. The pamphlet is now rare, and thanks are due to the Dedham Historical Society for the loan of its copy. The courtesy also is acknowledged of Miss Frances M. Mann of Dedham, for the use of the original copper plate from which was printed in 1797 the portrait of Deborah Sampson in the somewhat fanciful biography entitled "The Female Review, or Memoirs of an American Young Lady." Miss Mann is the librarian of the Dedham Public Library, and the granddaughter of Herman Mann, who wrote the Female Review.

son enlisted in the Continental army as a soldier, and served in Capt. George Webb's Company in the 4th Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Col. Shepard, afterwards by Col. Jackson. She was wounded in an eng"agenient at Tarrytown, New York, and was honorably discharged in the fall of 1783.

chusetts. Here she lived until her death, April 29, 1827, and reared a family of three children, Earl Bradford, Mary and Patience. Mary Gannett was married to Judson Gilbert and I-\itience Gannett to Seth Gay.

In recognition of her military service, the Massachusetts Legislature in 1792 granted her thirty-four pounds. The resolve recites "that the said Deborah exhibited an extraordinary instance of female heroism by discharging the duties of a faithful, gallant soldier, and at the same time preserving the virtue and chastity of her sex unsuspected and unblemished, and was discharged from the service with a fair and honorable character." On the nth of March, 1805, she was allowed a pension of four dollars per month at the pension office in Washington. The pension commenced from January i, 1803, and |

Eleven years after her death. Congress passed a special act (Statutes at Large, vol. 6, page 735), directing the secretary of the treasury to pay to the heirs of Deborah Gannett the sum of $466.66. The committee in reporting the bill, remark: "As there cannot be a parallel case in all time to come, the committee do not hesitate to grant relief." The act reads as follows: - be, and he is hereby, directed to pay, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the heirs of Deborah Gannett, a revolutionary soldier, and late the wife of Benjamin Gannett, of Sharon, in the State of Massachusetts, now deceased, the sum of four hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents, being an equivalent for a full pension of eighty dollars per annum, from the fourth day of March, eighteen hundred and thirty-one, to the decease of Benjamin Gannett in January, eighteen hundred and thirty-seven, as granted in certain cases to the widows of revolutionary soldiers by the act passed the fourth day of July, eighteen hundred and thirty-six, entitled "An act granting half pay to widows or orphans where their husbands or fathers have died of wounds received in the military service of the United States in certain cases, and for other purposes." Approved July 7, 1838.

In preparing the foregoing facts concerning Deborah Sampson's military service, use has been made of the introduction to Vinton's Edition of the Female Review already referred to.

Deborah Sampson Gannett first delivered her address in the Federal Street Theatre in Boston, in March, 1802. Advertisements of the performances are found in the "Columbian Centinel," in the issues of March 20, 24 and 27. ^ The places and times of some other deliveries of the

Introduction To Reprint

The fact of the W^orcester address w^as furnished by Hon. Alfred S. Roe of that city, who discovered in the "Massachusetts Spy" of Worcester, in its issue of July 21, 1802, the advertisement of the proposed address "in the Court liouse, tomorrow, at 5 o'clock P. M." The other names and dates above given, later than the Boston engagement, appear in a short diary kept by Mrs. Gannett, containing entries from May 3, 1802, to January 6, 1803. They are given here, partly with the hope that some readers may follow up a clew thus afforded, and from diaries, newspapers or family traditions may reach results of interest to be communicated to the Sharon Historical Society. For such communications the thanks of the Society will be given.

"1802, May 3d. I took stage in Dedham. Rode to Providence in company with Mr. William Billings and lady. This polite gentleman and lady showed every mark of genuine friendship. They invited me to take tea with them at our arrival. I informed these generous people of my wishes in making a public appearance, either in Mr. Amidon's hall or in the theatre. Mr. B. informed me that he wished to do everything that lay in his power to assist me, and appeared to be much pleased in reading the bill of my performance in the theatre at Boston.

"I conveyed my letters of recommendation to Mr. Wheeler, and this gentleman - Mr. Wheeler - came immediately, and he advised me to perform in Mr. Amidon's hall ; and finally I gave liim my bill of the performance in Boston. He printed my bill, and they were set up in the most public places in the town, and W^ednesday evening was to be the first of my performance. But I was quite unfortunate, indeed, for I was taken quite unwell, and of course was obliged to postpone my exhibition until Thursday evening.

"May 5. When I entered the hall, I must say I was much pleased at the appearance of the audience. It appeared from almost every countenance that they were full of unbelief - I mean in regard to my being the person that served in the revolutionary army.

**Some of them which I happened to overhear swore that I was a lad of not more than eighteen years of age. I sat some time in my chair before I rose to deliver my address. When I did, I think I may with much candor applaud the people for their serious attention and peculiar respect, especially the ladies."

The animated, flowing style and love of incident displayed in the foregoing extracts make one wish that Mrs. Gannett had penned her own address, and not "procured" it to be written, as stated in her editor's introduction.

In the Albany Register for August 31, 1802, was the following notice, a copy of which was furnished by Miss May Childs Nerney, who is in charge of the history division of the State Library in Albany.

"MRS. GANNETS EXHIBITION "The ladies and gentlemen of Albany and its vicinity are respectfully informed that Mrs. Gannet, the celebrated American Heroine, who served nearly three years with great reputation in our Revolutionary Army, will, at the request of a number of respectable characters, deliver an Address to the inhabitants of this city and vicinity, in the Court House, this evening at }4 past seven o'clock.

Mrs. Gannett visited her captain (George Webb) in Holden, near Worcester, where she staid three weeks. She also visited her general (John Paterson) in Lisle, New York, where she staid a month. Of the latter visit she says: - "November 11 [1802] I arrived at Judge Paterson's at Lisle. This respectable family treated me with every mark of distinction and friendship, and likewise all the people did the same. I really want for words to express my gratitude. They often met together in the neighborhood and had the most social meetings. They seemed to unite in hearty congratulations with my old friend, Judge Paterson, on our happy meeting."

As General Paterson, now Judge Paterson, was a member of Congress, 1803 to 1805, and as Mrs. Gannett's pension was obtained in 1805 and ran from 1803, it would seem probable that he had a hand in procuring it. If so, it was a good pecuniary result of her lecturing venture. She also obtained from her lectures enough money to enable her to forward some to Sharon, "which I hope," she writes, '^my family will make a good use of."

Concerning the contents of the address, it must be admitted that it contains little narrative, being largely apologetic. The speaker alludes to adverse criticism of her act in enlisting as a soldier, which she owns to be an act of presumption. But she had pondered on the injustice of the war, and wished to be an avenger. Seizing an opportunity, she enlisted, and then determined to stay to the end. A few scenes of the war are named. Of the engagement of White Plains, she says : "I was there." The motive that caused her to enlist is referred to, which she seems to decide by attributing it to her fate. If a man had done it, he would have achieved immortal glory and fame. But she was a w^oman, and so contents herself with claiming her hearers' indulgence, as she is conscious of the approbation of God. She closes the address with expressing her high respect for her own cex - a respect increased by her rough experience.

To make the reprint more exact, the spelling of the original is preserved, such as the careless omission of a letter in the word "ADDRSS" on the title page. This

Introduction To Reprint 1 1

He was son of Seth and Patience Gay above mentioned. After providing for the monument, the testator says: ''I further request to have the name Deborah Sampson Gannett, with proper reference to her service in the war of the revolution, inscribed on the same memorial stone."

Intro D Uction

The character and acJiievemeiits of Mrs. Gannett, late Deborah Sampson, tJie American Herome^ have excited much curiosity in the United States. At the close of the revolution, she retired to an obscure part of Massachusetts^ selected, or rather was selected, a partner of an industrious farmer. From her Memoirs, since published, and the best, Clearest ijiformatioji^ she continues to support, with repjitatiou, the offices of Wife^ Mother and Friend - affable in her disposition, courteous in Iter manners^ and U7iiversally benevolent.

It is from her naturally ambitious disposition, and taste for a tnore elevated stile of life, that she is i?iduced to re-visit some of the pri7icipal places, ivhich were the theatre of her personating the soldier - to appear i7i public, to open t/ie eyes of the incredulous, and to wipe off any aspersions, which the whispers of satire, caprice, or malevolence may have wantonly throwjt upon her.

This resolution being commujiicated to a number of respectable Characters, she received invitations from them, to make her appearance on the Boston Theatre, and to give a recital of some of the principal traits of her life. This proposal caught both Jier faficy and her wishes, hoiiorably to enhance the pecuniary interest of her family ; which she is said i7idustriously to econoniize.

dition since of about tlirce pages. Under the superintendence §J Messrs. Powell a7id Harper, site was ushered 07t to the Stage in a very polite rnayuier ; 7vherc, before a crouded assembly, perfectly unabashed, she very audibly recited her naratio?i. In the Manual Exercise, being in co?nplete uniform, and during the Soldier's Festival, sJie acquitted herself with peculiar ease and grace. - An attenda7it has si?ice i7itroduced her to the Audience by the follozving

Ye Guardicin Friends of Liberty and Peace, Our surest hope of merit, poiuer, increase, Mark here those traits so rare in Female's name ; She does 7iot speak, nor do I Her boldest claiyn is simple, ge7ii7ie Truth ; Her humblest plea is for her Sex ajid Youth. May 7iot base calumny her deeds supplant ; Your Patronage as fro7n a Parent, grant. - - Een Britai7i's Fair, though proud, this truth must own - When Liberty's at stake, a FEMALE storms the Throne !

OT unlike the example of the patriot and philanthropist, though perhaps perfectly so in effect, do I awake from the tranquil slumbers of retirement, to active, public scenes of life, like those which now surround me. That genius which is the prompter of C7iri- \ osiiy, and that spirit which is the support of oiterprize, \ early drove, or, rather illured me, from the corner of j humble obscurity - their cheering aspect has again pre- I vented a torpid rest.

congenial with my own disposition to be answered with indifference, or to be rejected, have induced me thus to advance and bow submissive to an audience, simply and concisely to rehearse a tale of truth; which, though it took its rise, and finally terminated in the splendor of public life, I was determined to repeat only as the soliloquy of a hermit, or to the visionary phantoms, which hover throusfh the o-looms of solitude.

A Tale - the truth of which I was ready to say, but which, perhaps, others have already said for me, ought to expel me from the enjoyment of society, from the acknowledgment of my own sex, and from the endearing friendship of the other. But this, I venture to pronounce, would be saying too much : For as I should thus not respect myself, should be entitled to none from others, - .

I Indeed recollect it as a foible, an error and presumption, into which, perhaps, I have too inadvertantly and precipitately run; but which I novv^ retrospect with anguish and amazement - recollect it, as a Thomson, or any other moralizing naturalist, susceptible to the like fine feelings of nature, recollects the hov/ling blasts of winter, at a period when Flora has strewed the earth w^ith all her profusion of delicacies, and whose zephyrs are Vv^asting their fragrance to heighten our sensations of tranquility and pleasure; - or, rather, perhaps, 1 ought to recollect it, as a marriner, having regained his native shore of serenity and peace, looks back on the stormy billows which, so long and so constantly had threatened to ingulph him in the bowels of the deep! And yet I must frankly confess, I recollect it with a kind of satisfaction, which no one can better conceive and enjoy than him, who, recollecting the good iutentiojis of a dad deed, lives to see and to correct any indecorum of his life.

But without further preliminary apologies, yet with every due respect towards this brilliant and polite circle, I hasten to a review of the most conspicuous parts of that path, which led to achievements, which some have believed, but which many still doubt. Their accomplishment once seemed to me as impossible, as that I am you will not expect, on this occasion, the entertainment of the soft and captivating sounds of eloquence; but rather a naration of facts in a mode as uncouth as they are unnatural. Facts - which, though I once experienced, and of which memory has ever been painfully retentive, I cannot now make you feel, or paint to the life.

memorable eminence,* where now stand living monuments of the atrocious, the heart-distracting, mementous scenes, that followed in rapid succession! .-^ to her mandates, had we not discovered, that this, her romantic, avaricious and cruel disposition extended to murder, after having bound the slave!

Theatrical Address. 2

Confirmed by this time in the justness of a defensive war on the one side, from the most aggravated one on the other - my mind ripened with my strength; and while our beds and our roses were sprinkled with the blood of indiscriminate youth, beauty, innocence and decrepit old age, I only seemed to want the license to become one of the severest avengers of the wrong.

For several years I looked on these scenes of havoc, rapacity and devastation, as one looks on a drowning man, on the conflagration of a city - where are not only centered his coffers of gold, but with them his choicest hopes, friends, companions, his all - without being able to extend the rescuing hand to either.

Wrought upon at length, you may say, by an ethusiasm and phrenzy, that could brook no control - I burst the tyrant bands, which held my sex in awe, and clandestinely, or by stealth, grasped an opportunity, which custom and the world seemed to deny, as a natural priviledge. And whilst poverty, hunger, nakedness, cold and disease had dwindled the Afnerican Annies to a handful - whilst universal terror and dismay ran through our camps, ran through our country - while even WASHINGTON himself, at their head, though like a god, stood, as it were, on a pinacle tottering over j the abyss of destruction, the last prelude to our falling aiming to devour - not merely for the sake of gratifying a fecetious curiosity, like that of my reputed Predecessor, in her romantic excursions throug^h the garden of bliss - did I throw off the soft habiliments of 77iy sex.

Thus I became an actor in that important drama, with an inflexible resolution to persevere through the last scene; when we might be permitted and acknowledged to enjoy what we had so nobly declared we would possess, or lose with our lives - Freedom and Independence! - When the philosopher might resume his researches unmolested - the statesman be disembarrassed by his distracting theme of national politics - the divine find less occasion to invoke the indignation of heaven on the usurpers and cannibals of the inherent rights and even existence of man - when the son should again 1 be restored to the arms of his disconsolate parent, and the lover to the bosom of her, for whom indeed he is willing to jeopard his life, and for whom alone he wishes to live!

opened to my view; the objects of which now seemed as important, as the transition before seemed unnatural. It wo.uld, however, here be a weakness in me to mention the tear of repentence, or of that of temerity, from \ times involuntarily stole into my eye, and fell unheeded to the ground: And that too before I had reached the embattled field, the ramparts, which protected its internal resources - which shielded youth, beauty, and the delicacy of that sex at home, which perhaps I had forfeited in turning volunteer in their defence. Tetneritis - when reflections on my former situation, and this new kind of being, were daggers more frightful, than all the implements of war - when the rustling of every leaf was an omen of danger, the whisper of each wind, a tale of w^oe! If then the poignancy of thought stared me thus haggardly in the face, found its way to the inmost recesses of my heart, thus forcibly, in the commencement of my career - what must I not have anticipated before its close!

The curtain is now up - a scene opens to your view; but the objects strike your attention less forcibly, and less interestingly, than they then did, not only my own eyes, but every energetic sensation of my soul. What shall I say further? Shall I not stop short, and leave to your imaginations to pourtray the tragic deeds of war? Is it not enough, that I here leave it even to unexperience to fancy the hardships, the anxieties, the dangers, even of the best life of a soldier? And were it not improper, were it not unsafe, were it not indelicate, and were I certain I should be intitled to a pardon, I would appeal to the soft bosom of my own sex to draw a parallel between the perils and sexual inconveniences of a girl in her teens, and not only in the armour, but in the capacity, at any rate, obliged to perform the duties in the field - and those who go to the camp without a masquerade, and consequently subject only to what toils and sacrifices they please : Or, will a conclusion be more natural from those who sometimes take occasion to complain by their own domestic fire-sides; but who, indeed, are at the same time in affluence, cherished in the arms of their companions, and sheltered from the storms of war by the rougher sex in arms?

Many have seen, and many can contemplate, in the field of imagination, battles and victories amidst garments rolled in blood : but it is only one of my own sex, exposed to the storm, who can conceive of my situation.

We have all heard of, many have doubtless seen, the meteor streamins; throug-h or breaking: in the horizon - the terrific glare of the comet, in its approach towards, or in its declension from us, in its excentric orbit - the howling of a tempest - the electric fluid, which darts majesty and terror through the clouds - its explosion and tremendous effects! - Bostonians, and you who inhabit its environs, you who have known from experience your houses and your hills tremble from the cannonade of Charlestoivn^ - your ears are yet wounded by the shrieks of her mangled and her distressed - your eyes swimming in a deluge of anguish at the sight of our butchered, expiring relatives and friends; while the conflagration of the town added the last solemnity to the scene!

. This idea must assimulate with the progress of this horrid delusion of war. Hence you can behold the parched soil of White-Plains drink insatiate the blood of her most peaceful and industrious proprietors - of freemen, 2ind. of slaves/ I was there! The recollection makes me shudder! - A dislocated limb draws fresh anguish from my heart!

You may have heard the thunderings of a volcano - you may have contemplated, with astonishment and wonder, the burial of a city by its eruption. Your ears then are yet deafened from the thunderings of the invasion of Vor^ Town - your eyes dazzled, your imaginations awfully sublimed, by the fire which belched from its environs, and towered, like that from an eruption of Etna, to the clouds! Your hearts yet bleed, from every principle of humanity, at the recollection of the havoc, carnage and death that reigned there!

Three successive weeks, after a long and rapid march, found me amidst this storm. - But, happy for America, happy for Europe, perhaps for the World, when, on the delivery of Cornwallis's sword to the illustrious, the immortal WASHINGTON, or rather by his order, to the brave Lincoln, the sun of Liberty and Independence burst through a sable cloud, and his benign influence was, almost instantaneously, felt in our remotest corners! The phalanx of war was thus broken through, and the palladium of peace blossoming on its ruins.

I will not hence urge you to retrace with me (tranquilly you surely cannot) all the footsteps of our valient heroic Leaders through the distraction both of elements and of war. I will not even pourtray an attempt to reinforce the brave Schuyler, then on the borders of Canada; where, if the war-whoop of infernals should not strike you with dismay, the iommahawk would soon follow!

You have now but the shade of a picture; which neither time nor my abilities will permit me to show you to the life. The haggard fiend, despair, may have stared you in the face, when giving over the pursuit of a favorite, lost child: And it is only in this torture of suspense that we can rightly conceive of its situation.

Such is my experience - not that I ever mourned the loss of a child, but that I considered myself as lost! For, on the one hand, if I fell not a victim to the infuriate rabble of a mob, or of a war not yet fully terminated - a disclosure of my peculiar situation seemed infinitely worse than either. And if from stratagem and perseverance, I may acquire as great knowledge in every respect as I have of myself in this, my knowledge, at least of human nature, will be as complete as it is useful.

But we will now hasten from the field, from the embattled entrenchments, built for the destruction of man, from a long, desolating war, to contemplate more desirable and delightful scenes. And notwithstanding curiosity may prompt any to retrace the climax of our revolution, the means, under a smiling, superintending providence, by which we have outrode the storms of danger and distress - what heart will forget to expand with joy and gratitude, to beat in unison, at the propitious recollection? And I enquire, what infant tongue can ever forget or cease being taught to lisp the praises of WASHINGTON, and those of that bright constella- tion of WORTHIES, who swell the list of Columbian | fame - those, by whose martial skill and philanthropic | labors, we were first led to behold, after a long and | stormy night, the smiling sun of Peace burst on- our be- i nighted World! And while we drop a tear over the '. flowery turf of those patriots and sages, may she unriv- 1. ailed enjoy and encrease her present bright sunshine of j happiness! May agriculture and commerce, industry | and manufactures, arts and sciences, virtue and decorum, ! union and harmony - those richest sources of our worth, and strongest pillars of our strength, become stationary, j like fixed stars in the firmament, to flourish in her clime!

Hail dearest Liberty! thou source sublime! What rays refulgent dart upon our clime! . For thee the direful contest has been waged, Our hope, and all that life held dear engaged. Thee the prime offspring which rny thoughts employ, ^ Once sought with grief - now turns that grief to joy.

Your beatific influence extend O'er Africa, whose sable race befriend. May Europe, as our sister-empire, join, To hail thee rising with your power divine. From the lone cottage to the tyrant's throne, May Liberty, ethereal guest, be known! Ee thou preserved for nations yet unborn, Fair as the shininjr Star that decks the morn.

But the question again returns - VVIiat particular inducement could she have thus to elope from the soft sphere of her oiv?i sex, to perform a deed of valor by way of sacrilege on iinhalloived ground - voluntarily to face the s tor 7ns both of elements and ivar, in the character of

And dost thou ask what fairy hand inspired A Nymph to be with martial glory tired? Or, what from art, or yet from nature's laws, Has join'd a Female to her country's cause? Why on great Mars's theatre she drew Hery^wa/^- pourtrait, though in soldier's hue?