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Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 20, 1875
The Coleraine Murder
The Coleraine Murder - As briefly stated in our last issue, Daniel Dwight, supposed to be one of the murderers of Joseph R. Farnsworth, was arrested Sat. night at the door of his father’s house on Catamount Hill, Coleraine, where he had come 5 days after the murder. There were 6 men, under Deputy Sheriff John Gould, stationed around the house, and between 10 and 11 o’clock, they saw a man coming up the road, which proved to be young Dwight.
They allowed him to approach near the house, when a signal was given, and they stepped from their hiding places. Dwight ran around the house in the direction of the barn, but he was then surrounded and forced to surrender. When taken into the house before his father, he fainted.
Dwight was confined in the lock-up at Shelburne Falls, and on Mon., Trial Justice Brainard of Greenfield held a court at the office of H.M.Puffer, Esq., and had the young man brought before him. A large gathering of people were in attendance, and among them Dwight’s wife, father and mother.
He pleaded not guilty, and the magistrate, without having a hearing of evidence, arraigned him on the charge of murder and continued the case to Mon. the 17th. Officers Swan and Gould then brought the prisoner to Greenfield,where he is now confined in jail. Dwight appears quite calm and is not disposed to talk much about the affair. He accounts for his absence and his whereabouts during the 4 days as follows:
"I had some trouble with my wife on Tues. aft., which had ended by my saying I was going off, and her replying that she hoped I would, and what was more, that I would stay away. She then started to go to father’s house, which is only a short distance from mine, and I started for a pasture where some of father’s cattle were grazing.
On the way I met Herbert Davenport, and together we went to Farnsworth’s house, and afterward went down the lane to the road leading to Shelburne Falls. Herbert wanted a cane, so we stopped and cut one, I bending the tree over while he cut it; but he did not carry it long before he threw it away.
From there we went through the fields directly to my house, where I changed my clothes and gave a suit to Herbert, as his were all patched and dirty. We left home about 5 o’clock, and went down the mountain to Heath, and then through Hartwellville down to North Adams, getting there on Wed. aft.
We walked all Tues. night.Wed. night we slept on the hills near North Adams, and on Thurs. morning, after staying a while in North Adams, we walked to Pownal on the railroad track. At Pownal we got on board a train which was returning with the firemen from the muster at North Adams that day.
At Petersburg Junction Herbert got left with some Salem, N.Y. firemen, because the train started so quick, and I could not get off, it was going so fast. That night I stopped at Greenwich, N.Y. and registered my name in the hotel book in full - Daniel J. Dwight, Coleraine, Mass. I remained there that night, but had nothing to eat, as I only had money enough to pay for my lodging.
[For more information on this area, see the Internet Archive’s "Williamstown, the Berkshire Hills, and thereabout"]
The next day I walked to Troy. I did not remain there long because I was hungry and sick, and thought I would go right home and go to work for father, and let my wife do as she chose. Coming back I got a ride part of the way on a freight train, and got to N. Adams Sat. aft.,and walked to central shaft in the tunnel, and from there I rode to the east end on the workmen’s train and walked to Zoar, where they let me ride on a hand car to Charlemont. From there I rode with a Mr.Wells as far as his house, and then went across the fields home".
A portion of Dwight’s story has proved to be true. Bradley Davenport and Wesley Woodard, sent to Petersburg Junction, sent back that two men answering the description of Dwight and Davenport had been there. At Greenwich, N.Y., Dwight’s name was found registered in full, as he had said, and there is nothing to show that Davenport was with him at the time.
The Davenport boy arrested - Search was continued for Davenport and finally he was tracked to Williamstown, and Thurs. aft. was found there by a Mr. White. He made no efforts to escape, but on the other hand seemed glad to give himself up.
He was brought through the tunnel to Shelburne Falls Fri. morning, and Trial Justice Brainard of Greenfield held a preliminary trial, arraigned him for murder, and continued the trial until the 27th. The Davenport boy’s narrative is substantially the same as that given by Dwight, but he does not deny that they killed Farnsworth.
He says their only object was to obtain money, that he had no enmity or ill will towards the murdered man. He and Dwight had made up their minds to go West and hoped to get enough money from Farnsworth to pay their expenses, but he says they only got about $4.
There were 2 sticks cut, he says, a walnut and a maple. It was with the latter that Farnsworth was knocked down. He says that he did not do the striking, though he was there. After he was left at Petersburg Junction, he wandered from place to place, working for something to eat when he could get employment, and was endeavoring to get back home.
Davenport is not of ordinary intelligence. He was dull at school, and has since been lazy and shiftless. Want of mental responsibility will be entered as a plea in his behalf. His mother says that he has always been a "strange boy". She has another son and a daughter who are bright, active and industrious.
Davenport was brought to Greenfield and lodged in jail on Fri. by Deputy Sheriff Swan. Both boys, who are allowed to be together when not locked in their cells, do not appear to be cast down or afflicted much with remorse. They will be brought before the Grand Jury at the November Court and if bills are found against them the trial will be before a special session of the Supreme Court.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 13, 1875
Shelburne Falls
Shelburne Falls - The 46th anniversary of the Franklin County Baptist Association was held on Wed. and Thurs. of last week. This association is not as large as its name would indicate - only about half of the Baptist churches of the county are in this body. The other churches of the county are connected with the Millers River Association, whose anniversary is to be held in Turners Falls this week.
This division of the Baptist churches of this county into two associations is found to work rather against the interests of the churches. Steps have been taken to unite these two bodies...As it is the Franklin Association is composed of only 11 churches, and of these only 7 churches support a settled ministry...
A feature of special interest was the presence of the venerable and beautiful old man, Father David Pease of Ashfield, now in his 93rd year. Although blind and quite lame, his mind is as clear, and his heart as warm as ever. His life has almost covered the century of our nation's history. The old man was quite elegant in describing the struggles of the Baptist denomination under the old tyranny of the standing order...
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 13, 1875
The Catamount Hill Coleraine Reunion
The Catamount HIll Coleraine Reunion - The reunion of the present and former members of Catamount Hill, Coleraine occurred on Wed. Sept. 1. There was quite a large gathering of people, and the exercises which were as follows, were interesting and endorsed by those present: Reading of Scriptures by Andrus Shippee [also seen as Andros Shippee], President of the day, from Benjamin Farley’s old family Bible; Prayer by Daniel Davenport, an old resident of the hill; Hymn, Coronation Chronological History, by Dr. A.F. Davenport; Hymn, arranged for the occasion:
"This mountain, ’tis of thee
Land of sweet memory
Of thee we sing
Land where our fathers died
Land of their early pride
Aye from this mountain side
Let music ring.
Our native Mountain, thee
Land of the parent tree
Thy name we love.
We love the rocks and rills
Thy woods and towering hills
Our heart within us thrills
Like that above.
Welcome from Western lands
Thrice welcome in our hands
Ye friends of yore.
From distant home released
To mingle in glad feast
With kindred from the east
As wont before.
Let music swell the breeze
And ring from all the trees
Sweet memory’s song
Let every tongue awake
Let all that breathe partake
Let rocks their silence break
the sound prolong.
Our fathers, God, to thee
The highest praises be
To thee we song
Long may our lives be bright
Protect us by Thy might
Great God our King.
Family History, by Miss Emma Farley; Song, by Miss Gertrude Baker; Old Oaken Bucket, by David Cary; Sixty Years Ago, by Miss Nellie Ives; Dinner; After dinner there were speeches from a number of those present. The following is Dr. Davenport’s http://archiver.root...Y/2001-06/0991943526 address:
Chapter 1
And it came to pass in the reign of George and Martha, that certain tribes of the people who dwelt in many parts of the land, bethought themselves that they would leave their birth right to their brethren, and depart from the land of their fathers and go into a far off country, and make by the sweat of the brow a more noble inheritance, both to themselves and to their children.
And there was in these days a mighty wilderness, and no man kneweth the end thereof. Neither did any man dwell therein, save a few of the wandering tribes of the Gentiles called the "red man". And these did neither plant nor gather into barns; only slay a few wild beasts with the bow and arrow, for they were archers.
And now in the midst of the wilderness arose up even into the heavens an exceedingly high mountain, which was fair to look upon from the plains below, for it was covered with mighty trees even into the brow thereof. And then did roam upon this mountain many wild beasts, but the one that did most abound was one which was very fleet of foot, and did prey upon the lesser beasts of the forest, and upon the flocks of those who journeyed hither, and was called the catamount, and the region did very much abound in rocks which were the fastnesses of these beasts, and there was a cave which did reach even to the bowels of the earth in which these beasts did make their dens, and so much had they increased and multiplied that they were a terror to the coming tribes of the mountains, wherefore that place is called Catamount HIll to this day.
Chapter 2
Now the names of some of the tribes who first journeyed hither were these: Aaron, whose surname was Cary, Israel and Peter, and Amasa of the tribe of Shippee. Alden, who was also named Willis. Elihu of the tribe of Holden, and Paul, who was also called Davenport. And these said among themselves, come, let us get up and make some war upon the forests, and drive out the wild beasts, and make unto ourselves habitations.
And all the elders of the tribes said they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. And Aaron said unto Jemima, his wife, come, let us gather ourselves together, even from the middle of the Borough, and let us with our children travel westward, and they came and took up their abode upon the east side of the mountain.
And behold Hezekiah, whose surname was Smith, dwelt also on the east side of the mountain, even unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river. And their flocks were multiplied, for they dwelt among plants and hedges. And Peter went up and Amasa and all lsrael unto this mountain, and the tribe of Farly.
And Anan, also called Bass, went with Joseph, whose surname was Farnsworth, and they dwelt near together in the hollow according to their generations. And in those days came Paul and Alice, his wife, and they made war upon the wild beasts of the forests, and they pitched their tent and dwelt at the border thereof, where they cleared the land and had green pastures, and their flocks and herds were multiplied and they also begat children, whose names were Zacheus, Thomas and Paul, Daniel and Levi; and they also had daughters given unto them: Lydia, Sally and Alice.
And now Alice lay sick of a fever, and great fear came upon the whole household for she was nigh unto death. And Paul saddled his beast and did go for one Nathaniel, who dwelt in the valley by the river, and whose appellation was "Dr. Nat". And he came with saddlebags and he gave unto her pills of buckthorn and aloes,and the drink of herbs, queen of the meadow, motherwort and sarsaparilla, and after many days she recovered, and great rejoicing came upon all the household.
And behold Nathaniel found that she was fair to look upon, and he said, come in unto me and let us dwell together. And Alice said, I will go; and they went to dwell at the head of the meadow, in a house builded by one Artemas and Ruth. And now it came to pass after this, Joel, one of the Chiefs, and Zenas, the son of Cary, sent messengers to Nathaniel, and timbers of cedar, with masons and carpenters to build him a barn. And they builded it 40 cubits long; the stable thereof was 10 cubits, and a threshing floor 10 cubits and 20 cubits for a bay.
Chapter 3
Now it came to pass in those days, as Aaron sat in his house, that Aaron said to Jemima, his wife: "Behold, our meal getteth low, and our children hunger for bread, give unto me! I pray thee a bag that I may fill it with corn and go to the grinders". And Jemima said, go do all that is in thy heart. And Aaron arose and went. And it came to pass as he was journeying homeward from the mill, the even was come and darkness fell upon the whole land, and a great fog encompassed him about, and his way was lost. And Aaron lifted up his voice and cried aloud "Jemima! Jemima!! JEMIMA!!!"
Now Jemimah heard the cry of Aaron and answered, In here am I. But he heard her not, for her voice was weak. So she straightway took a stick and beat vehemently upon the side of the house, and Aaron hearing the sound thereof hastened homeward. Now the sons of Aaron were Zenas and Levi, but Levi died before his father and had no children. And the children of Zenas and Sally, his wife, who were of the tribe of Maxam, were these: Charlotte and Mariettie, John and George, William, David and Levi, 7 in all.
But the days of Mariettie on the earth were as a shadow, and she was not, for God took her; and Charlotte had wisdom and knowledge granted unto her, and she came in and went out before the children and taught them. And the sons of Zenas were skillful to work in stone and in timber and in tilling the land.
And behold, William was wiser than the others about bees, and the queens of Italia, and did make unto himself a great name. And David, like one of old, was a mighty man and a slayer of beasts and of cattle, and behold, the flesh thereof he did keep in markets, and with it he did feed the tribes of Aaron.
And now after many days it came to pass that Aaron and Jemima, being full of years, died. And Zenas and Sally reigned in their stead.
Chapter 4
Now Amasa, Israel and Peter were the three divisions of our tribe, who came to dwell in the hill country and they went even unto the top of the mountain and sought pastures for their flocks. Even over against the habitations of the wild beasts. And behold the house of Amasa increased greatly, and Andrus, Nancy, Jesse, Alvira and Jerusha, Henry, Chauncey, Nathan, Thankful and Kate, all these mentioned by their names, were the children of Amasa and Rhoda.
And after these days Rhoda saith unto Amasa, behold how our house has been multiplied, let us enlarge our borders, I pray thee, that there may be room in our house to dwell there. And this saying pleased Amasa and he straightway brought his cattle and his oxen, and gathered stones and timber and did build him an house, such as one as had not been there before him. He also made shingles of cedar and spruce and covered his house therewith.
Now Amasa was a man of great stature, even 5 cubits high. And Rhoda wrought fine linen and kersey, and with it did make clothes for her family and for Andrus, her first born. For behold, Rhoda was an helpmeet unto Amasa.
Now the children of Israel were Ira, Zovia, Azuba, Anan, Amasa, Catherine, Abraham, Israel, Martha and one younger called Darling. Now the children of Ira, the first born, were these: Delana, Dordana and Diana, and a son, a shepherd, who died in his youth. And Ira spake unto Dilla, his wife, to appoint their daughters to be the singers. So the daughters were appointed, and with their neighbors did often make merry with corn huskings and apple pearings [probably meant parings] with playing and dancing, making great noise with viols and with harps.
And it came to pass in these days that George took wives from the daughters of Ira, and went to dwell with Zenas, his father. And Zenas saith "Unto thee will I give the land of our fathers, even the house of Aaron, for the lot of thine inheritance" and he abode there many days. And George had exceeding much riches and honor, and he made himself treasures of silver and gold. Also storehouses for the increase of corn and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks, for God had given him substance very much.
And George prospered in all his works, and now sleeps with his fathers; and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of Aaron. And all the inhabitants of the hill town did him honor at his death, and Clark, his son, reigned in his stead.
And behold, Ira dwelt many years upon the mountain heights, well content with his lot. And one door of his house opened southward, and he was wont to remove his waistcoat and tarry long, even in the heat of the sun. Before his door, even near the steps thereof, the sweet-heart which Dilla had planted and watered waxed strong. And the sunflower towered high, even 6 cubits, and their fowls, their geese and their turkeys did gather in the shade thereof.
After these things it came to pass that Ira was stricken with a malady too grievous to be borne, and he died and rested with his father. And Dilla went to dwell in the house of her daughter, near the banks of the river; and in fullness of time she died. And behold, now the house of Ira was left desolate.
Chapter 5
And it came to pass in those days that Peter saw that it was not good for man to dwell alone. Now Dorcas was of the tribe of the Pikes, and Peter saw that she was fair, and he said unto her: "Dorcas, if you love me less buss [?] and they went to dwell together; and they builded them an house near the brook by the side of a rock, and nigh unto the habitations of Paul and of Levi. And lo! a mighty storm arose and it beat vehemently upon the house, but it fell not for it was founded by the rock, and darkness was upon the whole land for it was night.
And lo! while Peter and Dorcas slept, a thunderbolt descended from the heavens and did rend the house, and even the bed whereon they slept! and behold, it did divide in twain the soap trough, and did scatter the contents broadcast over the house and the children. And the dog and the swine were killed, and grat fear came upon all the household. And Peter arose and spake unto Dorcas, his wife, "Come, let us arise and give thanks unto the Lord, for he has been merciful unto us; He has saved us from the mighty judgments of the Lord".
And the next day was the Sabbath, and many people gathered in the house of the Lord, and as they went, they tarried at the house of Peter and Dorcas, and with them did offer up thankofferings [sic] that they were saved from the terrors of the thunderbolt, and He had made their lives precious in his sight. And Peter gathered with all the people in the house of the Lord, and Myres, the Elder, arose and said "The Lord hath been good unto his people; yea, He hath showed a great mercy even unto the house of Peter".
So Peter arose and sang a hymn:
"God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform
He plants his footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm".
And all the people said amen. And the Lord blessed Peter and his seed was multiplied: Peter, Susie, Rolly and Fanny, Annie,, Josiah, Patience, Eliza, Paul, Silas and Mila. These were his children - 11 in all.
Chapter 6
And it came to pass in those days that Daniel the prophet was joined to one of the tribe of Barnes, and her name was Patty: and Daniel was famous in his time as an expounder of the Scriptures, mighty in speech, and all the people came to hear him declare the truth on his day. And behold, he was sorely distressed, inasmuch as his substance was oftimes destroyed by fire, and desolation came upon his whole household.
And Daniel humbled himself before the God of his fathers, and the Lord favored Daniel and greatly blessed his household. And these were the sons of Daniel: David, Thomas, Alonzo, Orrie, Tirtious and Hiram; but the names of his daughters were Lucinda, Emily and Caroline. And it came to pass that these all went by themselves in families, some even to the four quarters of the earth, but David and Lucinda did abide near the house of their father.
And after these days Patty the Prophetess died, and Daniel lamented sore. But in process of time, it came to pass that Mary entered into Daniel’s house, and lo! there was restored unto him sevenfold in Mary, who was greater by far than all his former household. For since the time of the fathers there was not found the like in all the tribes of the mountain.
Chapter 7
Now it came to pass that Abraham, the son of Farnsworth, dwelt in the house of Joseph; and after many days Joseph died and Abram [sic] reigned in his stead, with Dolly, who was of the house of Holden. Now Abram was a tiller of the land, and behold, he was barefooted on the top of his head, as was also his father before him. And it came to pass that Orin was pleased with Roxy, the daughter of Abram, and he took her to wife, and they went to dwell in the house left by Nathaniel; and after many days Orin died, and Roxy tarried and reigned there.
And Riley, her brother, did dwell in the house of their father Abram. Now Dolly’s two brothers, Elihu and John, dwelt also on the south side of the mountain near the house of Anan, whose surname was Bass, and behold Anan had an impediment in his speech, and when he was old and infirm he rested from his labors; and Adna and Rebecca reigned there many years after.
Chapter 8
And it came to pass that Abram, the son of Shippee, said unto himself, Behold, I myself am a man, and I will leave even the house of my father Israel. And he married a wife from the tribe of Farley, and her name was Lucy, and they builded them an habitation and dwelt on the north side of the mountain. Now there were daughters born unto them (but behold the son shone not his face in all their household).
Fanny, Jane and Nancy, Martha, Almira and Parthena were the names of the daughters of Abraham. And it came to pass that when men did multiply on the mountains, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons saw the daughters, that they were fair, and they took them wives of all which they chose. And one, a Levite, took the firstborn of Abram; and behold all the daughters were scattered abroad. And after the death of Lucy desolation came upon the whole house. And again, after many days, Abram was joined to another and went to dwell near the plains, in an Ashfield.
Chapter 9
And it came to pass that Peter, the brother of Paul and Silas, said unto Polly, let us pitch our tent and dwell near the house of our fathers, for so it seemeth good. And now behold near by their habitation was a dense swamp, and Peter was a man of great daring, and he fain would have walked upon the surface thereof, but his faith was weak, for there was much water there.
And behold a great calamity fell upon Peter, inasmuch as his nose was divided asunder and one of his eyes were blinded by the kick of old Gilpin, and Peter was sore discouraged, and all his household; and he said unto Polly, "Come, let us journey into a far country, where peradventure we shall find greener pastures for our flocks, and a richer inheritance for our children".
And they went on their journey and Nathaniel possessed the land. And behold Nathaniel was a man of great stature and of large understandings, and he was wont to remove the coverings thereof, and to tarry long among the eels and turtles that did much abound in the meadow ditches.
Now the length of this meadow, and the breadth thereof, was exceedingly great, and in it were many islands, both great and small, covered with trees and shrubs, and with herbs; and lo, Nathaniel and Alice were wont to go out and bring in of the abundance thereof in their season; for behold Nathaniel was a disciple of Hippocrates, and was possessed of the healing art in a great degree; and he had vessels of wood and of iron in which he did compound medicines for the cure of divers maladies.
And now it came to pass when the harvest was ended, and winter drew near, Nathaniel spent the long evenings thereof making baskets of willow, and hooping the sieves which Alice did weave from hair, and did bind with the leaves of the flag. And now Robert, their firstborn, was skillful to work in brass and in iron, and to grave all manner of graving, and to find out any device that was put to him.
And lo, it came to pass that he was pierced with a chisel, and so were his days numbered. And now Nathaniel’s 4th son was called Truair, after one, a high priest, who traveled the circuit of the hill country. Now Truair did in habits much resemble his father; he was a tiller of the ground, and he bethought himself that he would journey in a far country, where he might find more fertile fields; and he bought a parcel of land where he spread his tent.
And there his possessions increased much. And it came to pass in the sixth month - the month Sivan - that he was cultivating the land, when lo, there descended upon him a thunderbolt; and he was taken up dead, and they buried him in the field of burial, in the land of strangers.
And now it came to pass that there was born unto Nathaniel a daughter, and her name was called Lydia. Now Nathaniel and Alice did set their hearts upon her, because she was their only daughter, and well favored. So Lydia dwelt in her father’s household until his death. And she did many things that were praiseworthy, for behold she was a woman zealous of good works. And after many days it came to pass that Lydia was beloved by one Emerson, of the tribe of Cary, and they dwelt henceforth with the Adamonians.
Now Ammon, Joseph, and Jason were also of the household of Nathaniel, and behold they were diligent in sowing wild oats among the rooks and the hedges, and even over the ridgepole of the houses and barns. And after they were well brushed in, it came to pass that they did leave their father’s house, and did join themselves into the society of the Odentologues. And behold they were skillful in the making of gold and silver and of ivory, and did make appliances of cunning device and workmanship, which did even eat and speak for themselves; and all the Edentulous did greatly rejoice.
So they were very diligent in repairing the crumbling incisors, bicuspids and molars, and in all that, pertained to "restoring the contour of the human face divine". And behold one went to dwell with the Gothamites, by the border of the sea; but Joseph builded him an habitation in the Norwood of the Connecticut. and lo, it came to pass, that the house of Ammon was sawn asunder, and again, after many days, it was joified and perfected; and the household of Ammon did rejoice greatly in that they did dwell in broader fields, even in the "valley view" of the winding Hoosac River.
Chapter 10
And it came to pass that Levi was a shepherd born (not made) and behold to him fell the inheritance of Paul his father, and he took up his abode there, and did build him an house of hewn logs and timber. Now the house of Levi was more comely than that of Paul, inasmuch as it was broader and higher and was divided into diverse compartments for the convenience of his family. And behold Susan was exceeding glad and said, Come now, let us build storehouses for our flocks, houses for bees, and also for our cheese.
And now Levi was a man of great cunning and he was skillful int he hiving of bees, and their swarms did greatly increase and behold their household did flow with milk and honey. Now Levi possessed lands in great abundance, and his pastures did much abound in rocks and stones, and no beast could feed thereon, save that their noses were well sharpened. So their pastures did run over with sheep and with lambs, both great and small.
And in these days it came to pass that Levi and Susan did take in abundance of the first fruits of flocks, and of cheese and of honey, and of all the increase of the fields, and the tithe of all these things brought them in abundantly, and their coffers were filled with gold and silver. And behold Levi begat great honor unto himself, inasmuch as he tarried long to possess the lands of his fathers.
Chapter 11
And it came to pass that sundry members of Amasa’s household did journey westward; and one of the daughters tarried just over the mountain, and was joined to one David whose surname was Ives. And Kate, the younger, did worship the son of Simeon the Myres, and again she was made one of the tribe of Benjamin. And behold after many days she did return to the house of her father.
Now Nathan did much resemble his father in that he was tall and of a comely countenance, and he went to dwell in the Hub, where he did dispense to the tribes thereof of the milk of human kindness.
And now Chauncey the brother of Nathan was exceeding tall, even 5 cubits and over. And it came to pass in the reign of King Winter, when he did give his snow like wood, and did scatter his ice like morsels, and his hoar frost like ashes, that one Barton did gather together all the children of the hill tribes saying: harken ye unto me, and I will dispense unto you knowledge and wisdom, and learning in great abundance.
And now much learning did make Chauncey mad, and so he did sit down heavy upon his seat, and low the teacher was sore vexed, and commanded Chauncey that he rise and sit down again. And lo, Chauncey did all that was commanded him in that he did sit down threefold heavier than before, whereupon the teacher did rend his clothes and he drew forth a raw hide and with it Chauncey was beaten with many stripes until the ire of his wrath was kindled.
And behold he leaped over the counter and seized the teacher by the throat, and held him down until he begged for his life. And behold they armed themselves with shovels and with tongs, that they might be defended against the assaults of each other, and there arose a great tumult, and all the children quaked with fear and trembling. And it came to pass that when the noise of these things went abroad, Joel, Zenas and Levi consulted together, and Mary, the daughter of Smith reigned in his stead.
And now Andros the first born of Amasa was a captain and a man of great might, in that he did brave the storms and tempests of the mountain; he was also a man of great courage and daring in that he did dwell many years nearer the lions than any of the other tribes of the mountain; even after all his father’s household had forsaken him and gone. Now Andros did search diligently among all the daughters of the hill country, but found not one who would do him honor. So he chose to dwell alone in single blessedness, and verily he shall not lose his reward.
Chapter 12
Now it came to pass in those days that Alice said unto Emily, Behold, how sin doth abound, and the love of many doth wax cold. Come, let us assemble ourselves together, there am I in their midst. So they took their hymn books and journeyed to the old school house and lighted their candle and placed it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that it might give light unto all the house. Then after Alice had arisen from her knees they did sing an hymn. And Emily arose and said "Behold, this is the house of the Lord, let us assemble often together"; so Alice lifted up her voice and said "Amen" and they departed to their own households.
And it came to pass that the noise of these things did spread abroad throughout all the region round about. And behold all the tribes of the hill country were greatly moved and they came together by scores and by hundreds. Now Haynes, one of the elders of the people arose, and behold he was like unto Saul the son of Kish, in that he was taller by head and shoulders than the rest of the people, and he cried with a loud voice "Brethren and sisters, hearken unto me". and a great silence fell upon all the multitudes and he said "behold we are all gathered together from near and from far, let us give thanks unto the Lord, sing psalms unto his name".
Now Daniel, whose surname was Dwight, broke forth into singing:
"My chains fell off: glory! I cried
Was it for sinners Jesus died etc. etc. [sic]"
And all the people said amen and amen. And Zenas, who was greatly beloved by all the people, arose and said "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel forever and ever". And behold he did free his mind of a great burden which lay heavily upon it in that he did tell to the brethren and sisters that "he dreamed a dream; and it amounted even unto a vision". And all the people gave ear unto him, and after he had sat down behold Alice broke forth into singing:
"Oh that my load of sin were gone".
And scarcely had the voice of singing died away, when Sarah the Prophetess, the daughter of Hanshaw arose, and as she spoke a great silence fell on all the multitude for she spake of one Joel who had been suddenly taken to his death.
Now all the brethren and sisters knew and loved Joel, and they did mourn sincerely for him. And when these words sounded in their ears, their hearts were filled with sorrow; and they expressed themselves in singing mournfully. And it came to pass that Rebecca arose. Now Rebecca was a woman greatly beloved, and all the people gave ear to her as she said "It rejoiceth my heart greatly to meet with the brethren and sisters, who have come from near and from far". And when she had sat down all the people said amen.
Presently Peter arose, and his head was white and glistening, and a halo glowed around it, and his face did shine even as the light; and he blessed God with all his heart and soul; and behold, all his kinsfolk and neighbors became as lambs for quietness. But Per was greatly beloved, and when he had made an end of his sayings, he sang with a loud voice:
"On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan’s fair and happy land
Where my possessions lie".
And after this Samuel whose surname was Brown, arose and opened his mouth and said unto them "Men and brethren, it is with me as with Naaman the Syrian, when Elisha bade him go wash in Jordan; yea, more, it was as if the Jordan had been frozen over, and he had been bidden to go wash 7 times in the river. But he essayed the task, and said "Behold I have been ashamed of my brethren in the days that are past, but now do I greatly rejoice to see them zealous of good works". And Nathan, the son of Burns arose, and all the people knew that he had somewhat to say.
And Nathan said "He felt somewhat cold and lukewarm" and sat down, and all the people broke frorh into singing:
"Come Holy spirit heavenly dove
With all thy quickening powers
Kindle a flame of sacred love
In these cold hearts of ours"
And now it came to pass that Daniel the prophet arose. Now behold he was a prophet born (not made) and when the spirit seizeth him, the voice of Daniel was like the balm of Gilead, even like precious ointment upon their heads, that ran down upon the beard; even Aaron’s beard that went down to the skirts of his garments.
Now after this it came to pass that the hour was late and Myres the elder arose, and behold he was halt, and like Samson of old his locks were long and flowing. And he said "My brethren and sisters, if any man does ought to his neighbor, he must go to him and make restitution, or he can never enter into the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem". and all the people said amen and amen.
Now what shall I say more, for the time would fail me, to speak of Sister Farley and others who through faith wrought righteousness and obtained the promise. So after they had sung an hymn, they all departed and slept. And as for the rest of the doings of the tribes, are they not all written in the chronicles of our memory?
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 30, 1875
Coleraine
(Coleraine) As was feared, J.M. Townsend, the faithful stage driver, has passed away. He died Sun. morning. He will be missed by all, especially by his invalid wife and daughter. We commend them to the sympathy of the community.
"Well, mum, I am near-sighted, and I thought the window was open", explained an Athol gentleman who had deposited several gills of tobacco juice against the car window, to a finely dressed woman, who had received most of the liquid on her lap.
John Bryant, a one armed workman in the furniture manufactory of Joseph Pierce, lost all the fingers but one on his remaining hand Wed. aft., by bringing it in contact with a plaining machine.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 2, 1875
A New Jersey girl sells herself for $15,000
A somewhat eccentric though wealthy gentleman named Gates has recently been creating quite a sensation in and about Somerville. He is well advanced in years, being upward of 70, a widower and a cripple, with one married daughter, an only child. He moved into Hillsborough township over a year ago, and bought considerable real estate, giving one farm to his daughter.
He is said to have been quite lavish with his money - to such an extent that his family became alarmed, and an effort was made by his daughter to have him declared insane and placed under guardianship, but this effort proved a failure. Among other eccentricities was his evident fondness for the society of young ladies.
On the 5th of July he became acquainted with a young lady from the West, who, with her mother, was temporarily staying in Somerville, and who is not yet out of her teens, to whom he made proposals of marriage. The girl took one hour to consider the matter, and then signified her acceptance, although it is said against the wishes of her mother, and on Mon. of last week the parties were united in marriage, the ceremony taking place in Plainfield - the mother in the mean time having become reconciled. Fifteen thousand dollars was the marriage portion of the bride, which sum was at once placed at her disposal.
[Read the sequel of the life of Joshua B. Gates at the New York Times Online Index of May 29, 1877, entitled "Story of an old man’s marriage" and that of May 30, 1877, entitled "Joshua B. Gates’ marriage: his young widow’s claim for dower; her side of the story; Gates’ alleged cruelty; the divorce proceedings"].
Gazette & Courier - Monday, July 19, 1875
Fighting Joe Hooker
Fighting Joe Hooker is in good general health, but is quite lame from the paralytic attack he had some time since. [See General Joseph Hooker on Wikipedia].
Gazette & Courier - Monday, July 19, 1875
Hampshire County items
The Clarke Institute for the Deaf and Dumb held its first graduating exercises at Northampton Tues, a class of 6 being graduated, 4 of them young ladies.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, June 21, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
Company A bore off its share of honor in the Bunker Hill celebration. Captain William left town Wed. with 50 men, who returned by special train on Fri., a little lame and jaded, after their marching in the grand procession, and in consequence of two nights of broken rest, but they all had a good time and are proud of the many handsome compliments given by the press and individuals for the excellent discipline and fine appearance of the regiment points which were not excelled by any other troops in the State.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, June 14, 1875
Hampshire County items
The case of Mrs. Stephen Haywood Senior of Plainfield awakens deep sympathy in a large circle. Six years ago one of her eyes became impaired, resulting, after the lapse of 3 years, in its entire loss. Meanwhile the other eye, double prized, becoming similarly affected, she went to Boston last winter to consult with an eminent eye doctor. After examination, thinking thereby to arrest the trouble, he recommended the removal of the blind eye. Unfortunately this advice, well meant, was adopted, and the next day witnessed the operation. Almost immediately the sight of the only remaining eye ceased, leaving her as she is now, and probably will continue to be totally blind. The means used to secure relief hastened the dreaded result.
A child was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Bryant a few days since, that had no eyes, one socket having no eyeball and the other about as large as a pea and no opening at all. It is really a sad case.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 31, 1875
News of the week
Mrs. Ann E. Williams and her sister accidentally drove a blind horse off a bridge at Curtis the other day, and each of the ladies had an arm and one a leg broken by a consequent fall upon the rocks.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 24, 1875
"A night of delight" by Charles H
"A night of delight" by Charles H. Day [circus press agent].Large article advertising the circus, starting with "Willie was a cripple, and lived on one of the avenues east of the Bowery".
Gazette & Courier - Monday, April 12, 1875
Hampshire County items
Franklin E. Johnson, a farmer who lived near the boundary line of Williamsburg and Conway, committed suicide on Fri. by cutting his throat in his barn with a common pocket knife. He was a sober, industrious man about 35 years of age, He was somewhat lame, and sometimes became quite disheartened, and may have committed the deed in a fit of discouragement. No other reason has been assigned for the act. He leaves a wife and 2 or 3 children.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, April 5, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
The attention of our farmers and horsemen is called to the advertisement of the fine stock horse "John G. Saxe" [named after the Vermont-born guy who wrote "The blind men and the elephant"]. He has few, if any, superiors in this section.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, March 29, 1875
A young man has been visiting the blind and deaf people in Sterling
A young man has been visiting the blind and deaf people in Sterling, selling them pieces of wire which worn around the head and ears was to effect a cure. He got from $5 to $10 from each, and now other towns are warned against him.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, February 1, 1875
Dastardly rape of a deaf and dumb girl
Dastardly rape of a deaf and dumb girl - A dastardly rape was committed Sat. by James T. Carney upon a deaf and dumb girl, named Mary O. Meacham. Carney took the girl to West Farms in a hack, ostensibly for a sleigh ride, and then called at the house of another young lady, who declined to go with them. On the way home Carney accomplished his purpose upon the poor girl whom he had entirely at his mercy. The driver hearing a cry threw back the cover of the sleigh, but it was too late to prevent the outrage. By signs the girl made him aware of what had been done and the driver succeeded in detaining the brute in the back till they arrived at Westfield, where he aroused an officer and had the fellow arrested. There was not the shadow of doubt of the truth of the girl’s statement, her clothing being badly torn. Carney waived examination before Judge Lewis, and was put under $5000 bonds to appear at the May term of the superior court. Carney has hitherto borne an ordinary reputation for decency.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, January 25, 1875
A school not 20 miles from Whitehall, N.Y. is presided over by a cross
A school not 20 miles from http://www.canals.st...tory/finch/pg10.html Whitehall, N.Y. is presided over by a cross-eyed teacher. A few days ago he called out "That boy that I am looking at will step out on the floor". Immediately 27 lads walked out in front of the astonished pedagogue.
Col. Olcott thus relates his first connection with the affair: In 1859 I was one of the two agricultural editors of the New York Tribune, having as little to do with politics as any man in the city; and perhaps as unlikely as any to see or care to see the execution, the preparations for which agitated the whole American people. Although connected with the leading abolitionist journal, I was scarcely an abolitionist, but rather what might be called a congenital Whig. That is to say I came of a Whig ancestry, and caring far less for politics than scientific agriculture, I was content to let others fight their fill of the slavery question, while I attended to the specialty whose development was my chief care.
But events at last happened which aroused all my interest in the topic of the hour. The people of Virginia, led away by a blind fanaticism, and by blind fanatics like Wise, declared war upon the New York Tribune as the representative of the principles John Brown held most dear. One after another, 3 gentlemen were driven out of Charlestown and Harper’s Ferry on suspicion that they were the correspondents who supplied that journal with its vivid accounts of the local occurrences, and when in spite of all this the letters still continued to appear, they gave out that they would hang the mysterious unknown to the nearest tree on sight.
Then the liberty of the press was for the first time practically destroyed in this country, and mob rule asserted itself. Our correspondent, who had sent his letters under the guise of money packages by express, at last found things so hot that he was forced to leave the neighborhood of Charleston, and from Baltimore sent such reports as he could gather upon the arrival of the train. The fatal 2nd of December was fast approaching, and it seemed as if the paper would be forced to let the day pass without having a correspondent on the ground to tell http://www.answers.com/topic/john-brown John Brown ’s friends how he met his doom. Distressed to see the perplexity of my dear friend Horace Greeley, I went to the managing editor and volunteered to undertake the job if he would allow me to do it in my own way. With some remonstrance about the risks I would run, he at last consented and gave me carte blanche to go and come and do as I chose.
After considering many expedients, I finally concluded to go to Petersburg and make that my base of operations. So taking passage by steamer I found myself, late one night, safely landed in the house of a dear old friend in that ancient city. He was a fire eater of fire eaters, an uncompromising, rank, out and out secessionist, in whose mind Divine right and State rights were convertible terms, and who, as I soon found, hated http://www3.iath.virginia.edu/jbrown/master.html John Brown with the perfect hatred that the devil is said to bear to holy water. Tired and sleepy as I was, he would not let me go to bed until he had cursed the hoary old abolitionist from crown to sole, heaping a separate and distinct malediction upon each particular hair of his head and each drop of blood in his veins.
He talked so fast and swore so hard as to leave him little time before day light to ascertain my own sentiments, although, for the matter of that, I was quite ready to express my honest conviction that http://www.zinkle.co...13255285/pg_2?pi=znk John Brown ’s raid was an inexcusable invasion of a sovereign State. I was Whig enough then to be quite willing to have virginia hang him if she chose, and those at the north who thought otherwise were in a decided minority. See how we trimmed and shuffled and paltered with the south until the first cannonball smashed against the walls of Sumter, and so smashed through our http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Txikwa doughface-ism upon this patriot adamant beneath. - Col. Olcott joins the Virginia soldiers - At this night session with my fire eating friend, I learned that some recruits for the company of http://mikelynaugh.c...th/page/image11.html Petersburg Grays , then doing duty at Charleston, were to go forward the next day, and expressing my desire to assist at the hanging of the great agitator, I received permission to join the party.
Behold, then the agricultural editor of the Tribune transformed into a Virginia militia man, his editorial plowshare, so to speak, turned into a sword, and his pruning hook into a spear. And just here, for fear of being misunderstood, let me say that in joining the Virginia soldiers I meant to do my duty, to fight if there should be occasion to fight, and not turn my back upon my new colleagues. I can’t say that I thought there would be any opportunity for us to display our valor, for, in common with all New York, I discredited the absurd idea that any organized body of Pennsylvanians would attempt John Brown’s rescue. Nevertheless, I took service in good faith and all the chances with it.
This matter being satisfactorily settled, my friend at last showed me to my room, and I slept the sleep fo the weary. - The colonel narrates two narrow escapes from recognition on his way to the scene of the execution, and continues - The fatal morning - The morning of that memorable 2d of December dawned at last, and the first gray streak saw us stirring. Wise had seized the Winchester and Potomac railraod on the 29th of November for military purposes, and issued his proclamation to the people of the State. He cautioned them to remain at home or on guard or patrol duty on Dec. 2d, and to abstain from going to Charlestown. Orders, said he, are issued to prevent women and children, and strangers are hereby cautioned that there will be danger to them in approaching that place or near it on that day. If deemed necessary martial law will be proclaimed and entered.
These were his very words, and I submit if they don’t show how badly scared the great State of virginia was! The field of execution - a plot of about 40 acres, half in sod and half in corn stubble, was directly opposite our house, and the gallows stood on a rising ground not 100 yards away from the porch. A military force of between two and three thousand troops - artillery, cavalry, and infantry - had been concentrated at the place; the whole country for 15 miles around was guarded by mounted and foot soldiers; all intercourse between town and country was stopped. A field piece, loaded with grape and cannister had been planted directly in front of, and aimed at the scaffold, so as to blow poor Brown’s body into smithereens in the event of attempted rescue; other cannon commanded the approaches to the modern Aceblema [?], and all Virginia held breath until the noontide should come and go.
The most stringent precautions had even been taken to prevent the towns’ people from approaching the outermost line of patroling sentries, for the authorities were determined to choke their prize malefactor without giving him a chance to make any seditious speeches. The December sun had risen clear and bright, but soon passed into a blank of haze, and I was afraid we should have a stormy day of it. By 9 o’clock, however, as beautiful an azure sky hung over us as man ever saw, and winter as it was, the sun became so hot that doors and windows were flung wide open. The ground had been staked the day before, and fluttering white pennons all around the lot marked the posts of the sentries, who came on the scene at the hour above named. Then a strong force of volunteer cavalry, wearing http://www.vmi.edu/a...il_War/jbjtlplt.html red flannel shirts and black caps and trousers, rode up and were posted, 50 paces apart, around the entire field; and then the guns and caissons of the artillery rumbled up; then more cavalry and infantry came; and then a solemn hush settled over the awful scene, and no sound was heard but the twittering of some birds, the sigh of the south wind among the tree branches, and the occasional impatient stamp of a horse’s hoof on the greensward.
All eyes were turned to the jail, a scant half mile away down the road, but nothing could be seen but the gleam of bayonets and gilt buttons and straps in the bright sunshine until of a sudden, the mass opened right and left, and a wagon, drawn by two white horses, came into view. In it, seated on a long box of fresh-cut deal, was an old man of erect figure, clad in a black suit with a black slouch hat on his head and blood-red worsted http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASbrown.htm slippers on his feet. The melancholy cortege formed and advanced toward us. There was the one helpless old man, suffering from 5 saber and bayonet wounds, going to his death under escort of - Major Loring’s " http://www.libraries...ld/HTML/redpath.html Battalion of Defensibles ", Captain William’s "Montpelier Guard", Captain Scott’s "Petersburg Grays", Captain Miller’s "Virginia Volunteers", Captain Rady’s "Young Guard". -
The last scene - The cortege passed through the triple squares of troops and over the hillock, and wound around the scaffold to the easterly side, and halted. The body guard - our company of Grays - opened rank, and John Brown descended, with self possession and dignity, and mounted the gallows steps. He looked about at earth and sky and people, and remarked to Captain Avis, his jailor, upon the beauty of the scene. It was beautiful indeed. The sun shone with great splendor, and the gleaming guns and sparkling uniforms were strongly relieved abainst the somber tints of sod and woods. Away off to the east and south, the splendid mass of the Blue Ridge boomed against the sky, and shut in the horizon. Over the woods towards the northeast, long thin strips of clouds had gradually accumulated, foreboding the storm that came in due time that evening; while looking towards the south, there lay an undulating, fertile country, stretching away to the distant mountains. Brown’s eye lingered wistfully upon the few civilians who had been permitted to gaze from a distance upon the tragedy, as if, so it seemed to me, he longed for a glimpse of one friendly face; then, with another glance at the sky and the far away Blue Ridge, he turned to the sheriff, and signified that he was ready.
His slouch hat was removed, his elbows and ankles pinioned, and a white hood was drawn over his head. The world was gone from his sight forever, and he and eternity were face to face. One would have thought that, after all their indecent haste to get him tried, convicted, sentenced, and hung, they would have dispatched the poor old man as quickly after that as possible; but not a bit of it. There was still the shadow of a possibility that some http://www.arts.uwa..../MP1901dpCadmus.html Cadmus sown soldiers might spring out of the dull sod of that field, and stampede the prize, so there must be movements of troops hither and thither, marchings and counter marchings, and I stood there, watch in hand, for 8 minutes, that seemed centuries before Colonel Scott, losing patience, gave the signal. Then sheriff Campbell cut the rope, the trap fell with a wailing screech of its hinges, and John Brown’s body hung twirling in the air.
You could have heard the sigh of satisfaction that passed over the whole armed host, so dead was the stillness that brooded over it. There was but one spasmodic clutch of the tied hands, and a few jerks and quivers of the limbs, and then all was still. After the thing had dangled in mid-air for 20 minutes, the Charleston surgeons went up and lifted the arms and dropped them like lead; and placed their ears to the thing’s chest, and felt the wrists for a pulse. Then the military surgeons had their turn of it; and then after a consultation they stepped back, and left the body to dangle and swing by its neck 18 minutes more, while it turned to this side or that, swinging, pendulum like, from the force of the rising wind. At last the lion was declared dead, and the body, limp and horrid, with an inch deep groove cut in its neck by the Kentucky hemp halter sent as a special donation for the occasion, was lowered down and slumped into a heap. It was then put in a http://www.law.umkc....brown/brownbody.html black walnut coffin , fitted into the wagon again, the body guard closed in about it, the cavalry took the right of the column, and the mourning procession moved off.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, January 18, 1875
Miss Maria A. Mar[?] of Appleton received the bite of a dog on one of her hands 12 years ago, and has been a constant sufferer ever since. For the first 4 years she had frequent attacks of sickness o
Miss Maria A. Mar[?] of Appleton received the bite of a dog on one of her hands 12 years ago, and has been a constant sufferer ever since. For the first 4 years she had frequent attacks of sickness of a few weeks duration, and since 1866, when she had a severe attack of her malady, she has not stood up by herself. Her left hand and arm are entirely useless, and for two years and a half she was blind, though she now has a partial use of her eyes. Last July she had an attack of paralysis of the organs of speech, and has since been unable to speak.
- Mon, Jan 18, 2010
