PIONEERS OP THE EASTERN TOWNSHIPS; A WORK CONTAINING OTFICIAL AND RELIABLE INFORRATION RE8PECTINQ THE FORMATION OF SETTLEMENTS; INCIDENTS IN THEIR EARLY HISTORY ; , AND jiftails of |ll)Dfntorfs, Jpfril0 anb IrliDfrancw. BY MRS. C. M. DAT. ^onlreal : • PRINTED BY JOHN LOVELL, ST. NICHOLAS STREET 1863. Entered, according to the Act of the Provincial Parliament, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, by Mrs. 0 . M. Day, in the Office of the Registrar of the Pro- vince of Canada. P li E F A C E.. For the information of many who may read these pages, and especially for a better understanfUng of the subject to which the book relates, by those whose knowledge is limited in regard to this matter,— as very many are but partially acquainted with the course necessary to be pursued in the days of our forefathers, in “ taking up land” as it was termed, — the writer has devoted an introductory chapter to copies of original manuscripts relating to this, which documents (or copies of which) have fallen in her way. Such parts are given as It was thought would be of general or special interest, those paragraphs which contain merely formal repeti- tions having been invariably omitted. The first given of the documents referred to, is the “ Warrant of Survey for the township of Stukely,” then the Return to that Warrant by the Surveyor- General, to which is added the “ Certificate of the Surveyor-General of Woods.” Then follows a copy of the “ Charter of the township of Shefford,” and finally a document in reference to the arrangement between Agent and Associate, which will fully explain itself. 3V PREFACE. It has been made an object to lay before the reader only such information as is reliable, it having been drawn from OflScial sources, or received from parties fully competent to give it ; themselves having, in most cases, been active co-operators in promoting the settle- ment of those parts of our Country, to which this work more particularly relates. It may be proper to say that the papers relative to the two Townships of Shef- ford and Stukely, have been taken in preference to those concerning other parts, merely because the writer had more ready access to them ; and, farther, that though the course herein described may have had exceptions, it was generally nearly uniform throughout that section of Canada known as the Eastern Town- ships.” We now proceed to notice the preliminary steps to be taken in order to obtain the desired Grant. First. It was necessary for the individual, who was to act as Agent for the Associates, to obtain a recommend as to his being a responsible person, when a petition was to be prepared in which the various, peculiar and urgent claims of the petitioner were brought forward, which reasons almost invariably related to grievances, embarrassments and losses suffered in consequence of the then late American rebellion ; and redress was asked in the manner set forth in the petition. Then follows a description of the size and location of the Tract asked for by the petitioner and his Associates ; all ending in the usual form : Which petition was PREFACE. V referred by His Excellency to the Land Committee for consideration.” The number of Associates required for a township ten miles square, wa^ forty, all of whom, with the Agent, were to take the oath of allegiance before they were accepted, and their names entered in the Letters Patent ; each Associate being obliged to make actual settlement.” The Agent was to bear all the expenses incurred in the survey of the township ; to ^open a road through, and erect, or cause to be erected, mills within the town- ship ; which conditions were to be fulfilled within a given term of time before the granting of the Letters Patent. Five-sevenths of the township were to be given to the Agent and Associates ; of the other two-sevenths, one half was for the disposition of the Crown, the other half for Protestant Clergy ; which lands were known as Crown and Clergy reserves. The power to grant Warrants of Survey and make conditions, rested with the Governor and Council, who, for the convenience of parties interested, appointed a board of Commissioners who were located at Missisquoi Bay, whose duty it was to administer the oath of alle- giance to Agent and Associate, as well as to attend to the various details of the business tliat came within the defined limits of their deputed authority. The arrangements between Agent and Associate, which in some cases have been prolific of contention Vl PREFACE. and litigation, were personal and private agreements ; the course usually pursued being to secure .by previous contract, that of the land thus drawn by the Associate, he should deed back to the Agent all received over and above the number of acres stipulated for. Two hundred was the usual number fixed upon, and in these cases the Associate had the privilege of choice from among the lots originally falling to him, on which to make actual settlement; ” yet exceptions to this prac- tice were frequent, especially if the Associate had sons who were considered desirable acquisitions to the com- munity forming, and extra inducements were thought necessary, when a larger proporiion was offered. This matter admitted of great latitude . At the expiration of the term of time, the parties went again before the board of commissioners to represent how mattei*s stood in relation to the fulfilment of the conditions stipulated, and get a statement from that body to send the “ Governor and Council in Parlia- ment assembled.” In few if any instances were the conditions fulfilled to the letter; but in cases of partial failure, com- promises were effected owing to the extreme leniency of the Government, and as the contracts were in part fulfilled they were considered good thus far, and a proportional part of the land granted them, the remainder still remaining the property of Government. The prosecution of this business was attended with serious delays and great expense, as intricate and > ■ PREFACE. VU yexatious questions were often raised to the no small annoyance of parties interested. The various items of expense involved in opening channels of communi- cation with the cities, and the necessary surveyings, explorings, making roads, bridges, &c., were almost constant calls upon the time and means of the Agent ; for which he was not too well repaid by the land which reverted to him, considering that it was in many cases far from being available for sale or cultivation. In this way fortunes were laid out without prospect of immediate, if of final, returns. A statement, with which the writer has met, giving these items of ex- pense in the case of a single township, is a curiosity of itself, and effectually did away with any impression that these arrangements might have been a source of extensive profit to the Agent ; the direct reverse being known and acknowledged to have been the case. Whether this was the wisest method that could have been devised of apportioning land and effecting the settlement of the country, may well admit of serious doubt ; the arrangements that were often entered into between agents and associates respecting the transfer of lands, admitting of so many and great abuses as seemed to open widely a door for the entrance of in- trigue and corruption. That something was lacking in the system we must believe ; proof abundant being at hand even in our day, in the numerous cases of litigation which threaten serious losses to individuals. We hear of such that 1 viii PREFACE. have been referred to Government for decision, where it is to be hoped they will find a satisfactory settle- ment. Probably these abuses of the system then in use, were a prominent cause of the serious disagreements that occurred between His Excellency Governor Pres- * cott and the Council ; differences that ultimately led f to his return to England, accompanied by his secretary, I Samuel Gale, Esq. 1 One principal object of the book, however, is to ■ bring to a more lively remembrance the hardships and privations suffered by the early settlers of these town- | ships. It is but a tribute of justice, we, their descen- i|' dants, who have as it were entered into their labors ^ ' and are enjoying its fruits, owe to those who bore “ the ! i burden and heat of the day,” in pioneermg the way to j our comfort and respectability. We cannot feel too grateful for the self-sacrificing efforts they made for ' ^ their children, or too much admire the strength of ; character necessary to carry such a work to a success- : ful completion : yet we do not — we never can know all of the labor and self-denial necessary to be done and ' borne in the formation of a home in the wilderness. ^ Of the different motives that may have influenced our forefathers in this work, and induced them to forego the comforts of home in a community of friends, to enter on the arduous labors and perilous adventures incident to the settlement of a country like this; whether they were prompted by a spirit of restless PREFACE. IX •nterprise, ambition or hope of gain, it is not our business to judge. We know that they did seek their habitations here that in many instances tenderly reared and delicate women, with young and rising families of children, accompanied their husbands” fathers, and brothers, to these wild homes ; that if not taking active part in the exciting perils and adventures of their dear ones, their sympathies and anxieties were not only taxed to the utmost, but the work of their hands in those departments of domestic industry in which their services could be made available, was brought into constant requisition ; all home privations were equally and cheerfully borne by them as they were alike active helpers or passive suflFerers. We, their children and grand-children, living in the daily enjoyment of what, though seemingly necessary to us, were luxuries to them, are quite too ready to* forget the price at which our comforts were bouo^ht. South Stukely, C. E., July 2, 1862. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. ** Warrant and Return of Survey for the Township of Siukely.” Referred to a committee of the whole Council, by order of his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, — May 20th, 1800. (Signed,) H. W. RYLAND. His Excellency Robert Shore Milnes, Esquire, Lieutenant- Governor of the Province of Lower Canada, Ac., Ac. To the Surveyor-General qfthe Province oflxnoer Canada, GREETING ,* Whereas, Samuel Willard, of the county of Bedford^ in the Province of Lower Canada, gentleman, in behalf of himself and associates, by his petition, bearing date the 29th day of June, in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven,^ to His Excellency Robert Prescott, Esquire, Governor of the said Province, hath humbly requested that a certain tract or portion of the waste lands of the Cronm, in the said petition described as follows, that is to say :• A Township of ten miles square, bounded on the east by the to^vnsbip of Orford, on the west by the township of Shefford, on the north by the township of Ely, and on the south by the township of Bolton, may be 12 PIONEERS OF THE granted to him and his associates forever in free and |)ied universally by hunters and those obliged to pass the night in the woods ; it be'.ng thought that this use of hemlock prevented taking cold from the exposure. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. After the erection of their shanty of twelve feet square, — the walls of logs, and the roof of barks, — and of a shed built of poles and bark, under which was a sort of primitive fire-place to be used for cooking, their attention was turned to the cultivation of what little ground could be got ready for use, and, when the crops were in, to the erection of a dwelling of more comfor- table dimensions, as their shanty did not allow them the luxury of a bed ; they being obliged to sleep on hemlock boughs, which were laid aside during the day. A log house was built, twenty-four feet in length by eighteen in breadth, which was divided into two rooms, the partition and doors being made of split and hewn timbers : then came a log barn and stable ; after which the time was occupied in felling trees and clearing land to plant and sow the next Spring, except such time as was necessarily taken up in bringing grain and other articles of provision from the nearest point where they could be obtained. Henry, on whom this duty invariably fell, as he was the eldest child at home, and consequently best fitted for the task, was generally absent four days in these excursions; his usual helper in seasons of the year when the roads allowed of it, being the pony, for which two and a half bushels of grain formed a load, while the boy walked at the side of the animal. Some- times after wet weather the paths were almost im- passable, so that the poor creature had not power to flounder through with such a burden upon his back, 48 PIONEERS OF THE when the only way was for the boy to wade barefoot into the mud, and transfer the load to his own shoulders, leaving the poor beast at liberty to struggle out. We must not omit to mention that in all these jour- neyings back and forth, it was necessary to be pre- pared with materials for lighting fire, which, in those days, consisted of flint, steel, and spunk, all of which were carried in the pocket. This necessity was the more obvious from the fact, that one night had to be passed in the woods, while going each way ; when it was customary to turn the horse loose to browse, to feed from the tender twigs of trees, or otherwise refresh himself, tie a bell round his neck lest he should wander too far, and then prepare for the night’s lodging by kindling a fire and collect- ing the invariably used hemlock boughs. During the first year after the arrival of Mr. Lawrence’s family, their supplies were procured with- in a short distance of Missisquoi Bay, (now called Philipsburg) forty-three miles distant. The road then passed on this route was very nearly the same as that now travelled through West Shefford, Farnham, Dunham, St. Armand, &c. ; and was first opened by Captain John Savage, who came to West Shefford, with his family, in 1793, nearly a yeai' previous to the coming of Mr. Lawrence. He had pioneered the way, — compass in one hand to keep straight on his course, axe in the other to mark the trees which were to indicate the way taken ; fol- EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 49 lowed by men who cut down the trees and cleared away the underbrush to make way for the ox sleds, which were laden with household goods and provisions ; while the family brought up the rear. Between Conroy’s Mills and West Sheflford, a distance of twenty- four miles, was one unbroken wilderness ; the road having been opened, as above described, and indicated by “ marked trees,” or, as called by others, “ spotted lines,” to guide the wayfarer. The only modes of travelling were either in sleighs, or ox-sleds, on horseback, or on foot ; and as there were no bridges over the streams, the wayfarer who came upon them when too high to be forded, must either wait till they subsided, ^wim over, fell a tree to cross upon, or construct some sort of a raft. 60 PIONEERS OP THE CHAPTER III. In November, 1794, Mr. Lawrence’s family found themselves destitute of the article of salt, and of course must send for it to Missisquoi Bay ; when it was decided that in consequence of the stormy weather and wretched roads, Henry must go the whole way on foot. Arrived at his destination, the boy found salt at three dollars per bushel ; but, after much persuasion, the trader, out of consideration for his yoimg customer, consented to a reduction of twenty-five per cent. The journey back and forth was accomplished in a little more than three days, the boy on his return bringing a bag with forty- two and a half pounds of salt, which load was further increased by the addition of other articles of necessity. No accident befell him on the occasion ; and, though the labour was extreme for his young frame, the task was in a measure lightened by the company of a fellow traveller, who was bound on the same or a similar errand. In order to make the necessary provision for their cattle, the wild grass on a beaver meadow about three miles from their house had been cut, dried and stacked on the ground, to be removed, when snow should fall, that it might be taken to the bam. Unfortunately, EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 51 however, when winter came on, the snow fell to such a depth as to render it impossible to get at the hay, so that the only resource was browsing ; when this,with the constant work, which was necessary to keep the roads open, proved too much for the poor beasts, inducing disease, of which some of them died. Later in the winter, as the snow lay in its greatest depths, and they feared to lose the remaining animals, the only way to get any hay to them was by going on snow-shoes and drawing it on a hand-sled over the deep drifts. Des- pite their best efforts, the oxen and one cow died, and the poor horse was reduced to the horrible necessity of relieving the cravings of himger by preying, like a wild beast, on the carcases of the dead animals. This seems almost incredible ; yet, though a most disgustmg fact, is nevertheless a well authenticated one. In such a way did poor pony struggle on and escape a dreadful death. Before the great fall of snow the family had supplied themselves with such provisions as it was intended should last them till after seed time ; which, as the land had been prepared in the fall, it was determined should come on as early as the season would permit ; but now began trouble in earnest ; and, as the spring approached, they looked forward with anxiety, for their means, at best limited, were becoming nearly exhausted. They had not even the seed necessary to put into the ground ; and on the coming harvest their all of earthly comfort depended. Henry, who was their main-stay, they knew 62 PIONEERS OF THE to be fruitful in resources to meet emergencies and overcome difficulties, and he was despatched in search of assistance ; his first application being to a Mr. Cham- berUn, of Richmond, Vt., who, being a nephew of Mrs. Lawrence, and acquainted with their afiaii'S, was the more readily induced to interest himself in their behalf. He did so by going to Connecticut ; where he obtained something from the estate of Mr. Lawrence, senior, then deceased, with which he returned to Henry, who had waited and worked for this friend in his absence. "WTiat was thus obtained, with other assistance from Mr. Chamberlin, revived the courage of the young man ; who started at once on his return home, that he might relieve the anxiety he knew must be felt at his prolonged absence. At Fairfield, Vt., where one of his elder brothers lived, he obtained four new axes, which, in ad- dition to the provision necessary, sixty-five dollars in silver and a quantity of garden seeds, formed a pack weighing over forty pounds, to be carried on his back. At Conroy’s Mills he took the necessary precaution of making an axe helve and sharpening an axe which he carried in his hand ready for use in case of need ; and it was well that he did this, for, on arriving at the south branch of the Yamaska river (at the place now called Church ville) , he found the stream so high in consequence of the spring flood and breaking up of the ice, that it was impossible to pass without forming a raft ; but, as some time had been spent in preparing his axe, it was quite late in the day when he reached EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 53 the river. It had been very stormy though not very cold ; a damp snow had fallen, and he was hungry, weary and chiUy, being too thinly clad for the season ; so that, when this new obstacle presented itself, he was, at first, almost staggered. But his course was soon determined upon, and he commenced the work of fell- ing trees, clearing them of branches, and binding them together with withes. When this was done, and the raft was ready for launching, the snow had ceased falling, the clouds had passed away, the setting sun appeared in the western horizon, and a bleak, piercing wind had commenced blowing up the river. Before him was the turbulent stream overflowing its banks ; and, as the darkness of night approached, he hesitated before attempting to cross, knowing that he must camp in the woods, and thinking that the water might partially subside before morning ; but the result will show the mistake he made in deciding to wait over- night. Being invariably prepared with the necessary ma- terial for kindling fire, his mind was no sooner made up, than the snow was cleared away from a spot of ground, the useful hemlock gathered, the fire lighted, and he prepared as usual for rest. In the course of the night, the water did partially subside as he had expected, and the wind had lulled ; but the morning broke clear and intensely cold, when it w’as found that an ice two inches thick had formed for some distance from either bank, leaving the deep channel of the 54 PIONEERS OF THE stream open. Here was a dilemma ! but we will give his own account of the adventure. “ After spending the night as comfortably as the na- ture of my accommodations would allow, with the morning dawn I was astir ; when, to my utter dismay, I found that an ice of considerable thickness had formed from either bank ; but, after breaking it with my setting-pole, and thinking that I could do the same on the opposite side, I launched the raft, and embarked with sack and axe. But a new and unthought of difficulty now appeared, as on approaching the other, bank I found it impos- sible to break the ice so as to affect a landing, for such was the strength and rapidity of the current, that both setting-pole and my utmost strength were in constant requisition to keep the raft from being car- ried down the stream ; so that after repeated and vain attempts to gain the shore, I found myself going down the deep, open channel without power to land on either side. While passing at the mercy of the cur- rent around a bend in the river, I found the water less deep and rapid than in any place I had seen ; and with this discovery came the instant resolution of abandoning the raft, and throwing myself into the water ; so, dropping the pole,with concentrated strengffi I threw the axe ashore, and, grasping the sack, leaped into the river, which at that point was nearly up to my chin. So strong was the current that a struggle was necessary to gain a footing ; but life and death were before me ; and, with a strength bom of desperation, I EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 55 seized the sack with both hands and commenced break ^ ing the ice with it. In the emergency, the heavy con- tents were of good use ; but as I neared the shore, where the water was more shallow and the ice was thicker, the work was hard, yet hope gave strength ; I worked with a will, and the blows from my sack fell hard and fast. After leaving the water my first efibrt was to find the axe I had thrown ashore, and then to regain the road. I had gone but a short distance before my clothes were frozen stiff ; and being wet to the skin, it was apparent that life depended upon exertion, as I must walk ten miles before reaching human habitation. To think, was to act with a prompt- ness and fortitude which I now look back upon with wonder ; and after regaining the road, I had proceeded some twenty rods, when in making a short descent and stepping on some ice which was covered by the snow, I slipped, and fell in such a posture, as brought the comer of the axe in contact with my right knee, penetrating the clothing, and cutting a gash in the flesh about an inch long. Fortunately no large arteries or cords were severed ; and though the blood flowed profusely, I had no means of stanching it, every shred of my clothing being wet ; so, seeing that my only chance for life depended on keeping in rapid motion, I pressed forward with my utmost strength, the blood continuing to ooze from the wound and freeze to my clothes, which gave me an unnatural, and I must think, a most revolting appearance. 56 PIONEERS OF THE In this miserable plight, I reached West Shefford about ten o’clock. It would be a fraitless task to attempt describing my feelings while in this danger. In all the exciting scenes incident to a backwoodsman s life, I had ever felt that there was a great and watchful Father, whose eye was over His creatures ; and to this Father I had been learned to pray. The great truths of revealed religion were early taught me by my mother, to whom I was indebted for nearly all the instruction I had ever received of a moral or reli- gious nature. Of the advantages of school education I knew comparatively nothing, having been but five years old when my father returned to Hinesburg from Connecticut; so that my mother had been my teacher in all things. Her word or wish, if it could be fore- stalled, was my law ; and I was not only anxious to please her, but much attached to the other mem- bers of the family, and anxious to be useful to them ; knowing that I was greatly depended upon— was necessary to their comfort — had undertaken tliis journey alone and on foot, and incurred this peril in their behalf. These things crowded upon my mind in a confused mass of vague and hurried imaginings ; but high above all these, was another and stronger motive that impelled me to strive for dear life. I wished yearningly to live, and feared, 0 how I feared, to die ! for now was seen that I was not prepared. With death staring me in the face, came the conviction that it was not enough to have been an obedient and EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 57 dutiful child, or a kind and affectionate brother, as it had been my highest ambition to be considered. All these things seemed of little accoimt, now that I was about to meet the God against whom I had sinned. It was a fearful looking forward into an unknown futurity ! a yawning chasm seemed opening before me ! O, it was a moment of agony ! But the time of imminent peril is that for prompt action, rather than for reason or reflection. With death seeming almost inevitable, I clung with despair- ing tenacity to life, and with a convulsive, desperate effort succeeded in escaping the death I so much dreaded. “ I am now an old man, and have experienced many vicissitudes during a life prolonged beyond the three score years and ten, allotted ; yet the scene as above described, still retains its freshness; the impressions then and there received their force and vigour, and will so continue while memory lasts.’’ We have omitted to notice that one of the elder sons of Mr. Lawrence had already settled at West Sheffbrd, so that a resting place awaited Henry on his arrival there ; but as soon as he was refreshed and somewhat improved in personal appearance, he crossed the river in a canoe, and, borrowing a pair of snow- shoes, hastened home, well knowing what must be the anxiety of his family at his absence, prolonged several weeks. His mother received him almost as if alive from the dead ; and all were rejoiced, as well at see- 58 PIONEERS OP THE mg him alive and weU, as at the timely relief he had brought them in this their hour of need. Not only had they suffered fears on his account, but for them- selves, as they were nearly destitute of the necessaries of life. Though the money brought was most welcome, the staff of Ufe could not be obtained nearer than Missis- quoi Bay, and Henry was the one to go. So after a rest of about ten days at home, he again set out on foot as the poor horse was too much reduced by famine to be of use. The boy first went to the usual rendezvous, but could find nothing of what he most wanted at that place, and was obliged to go to West Alburgh, where he found wheat for sale ; when, hiring a man and canoe, and borrowing a number of bags, they brought twenty bushels of wheat around to the landing. Then return- ing, he took back the boat and bags, when he looked up a yoke of cattle, to replace those they had lost. These he was obliged to drive several miles around the head of the bay, through obstacles of various kinds, having often to wade in the water ; sometimes to remove flood wood for the cattle to pass ; to cross the mouth of Pike river in a scow, &c., finally reaching the land- ing where his wheat was left. Here, supplying him- self with seed com, which with other necessaries filled his knapsack, he once once more started for home, driving the cattle before him ; where he arrived the first of May. Now was a busy time, and it was dur- ing this planting season, that the family first began to EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 69 feel the real want of bread ; but knowing what depended on having this work done in season, they saw the impor- tance of perseverance, and eked out a subsistence with the help of their few vegetables, rather than spare the now precious time that it would take to go for flour. When the crops were in the ground, and the spring’s work done, time was taken to send, with the now recruited pony, for a supply of breadstuff, and Henry was sent again to Vermont, from whence he drove home a cow to supply the place of the one lost. After this there was no more want of the necessaries of life in the household of our friends. Luxuries they had not, nor did they crave them ; but ever after this they had an abundance of the staff of life. Their crops, for the season, were fine ; the land, being new and productive, rewarded their labours abundantly, and as particular pains had been taken with the garden, they had secured a plentiful supply of excellent vegetables. Though as a matter of course, they were unavoid- ably subjected to the many nameless inconveniences and privations incident to a residence in a new country, perseverance had secured the essentials of worldly comfort, and laid a good foundation for the future. During the season, considerable land had been com- menced upon, in and around their vicinity, and farming operations begun, making the opening of a nearer way of communication with the city of Montreal a matter much to be desired. Indeed, it had become a question of necessity, for the route, hitherto travelled by way 60 PIONEERS OF THE of Missisquoi Bay, was entirely too circuitous and lengthy. The discovery had heen made that it was but little more than twenty miles to the French Sei- gniories, and that many articles of domestic necessity could be procured at Yamaska, which was even then quite a village. But the great difficulty in this, was not only that the whole country necessary to pass was in a state of nature, an unbroken wilderness ; Wt the path, indicated by marked trees alone, passed over swamps and moras- ses, through which it was impossible for a horse to strug- gle ; one in particular, being one hundred and seventy rods in breadth, in which the water and mud were from four to six feet deep. Of course these could only be crossed by the foot traveller, who picked his way through on the fallen timbers and mossy formations with which swamps abound. The line led through Granby, Yamaska Mountain, and St. Pie ; though what are now flourishing villages, were then un- marked by human dwelling. As inhabitants mul- tiplied,- it became customary for several persons to join company in going for these supplies, thus render- ing the journey less solitary and gloomy. After this opening, the family of Mr. Lawrence obtained their necessaries through this channel. Companies of Indians often visited localities around, which were their former hunting grounds. They were generally quiet and inoffensive, unless finding where liquor was to be had, when the temptation was too strong to be resisted, and they begged and pleaded for EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 61 a very little. If they got that little, they became clamorous for more ; and if they got more, it made them noisy and often quarrelsome among themselves. Occasionally painted faces would appear, greatly to the alarm of the timid, but they never offered violence. The men soberly and civilly confined themselves to hunting and fishing, while the women were busied in making baskets, moccasins, and other articles known as Indian manufactures, and trafficking them with the settlers, from whom they usually received provisions in return. Once in awhile, one would seem to have more acquaintance with the usages of civilized life ; one in particular, of whom the writer was told, had clothes of the best broadcloth, and his linen was of the finest texture, all being made after the fashion of the times ; while a large piece of dark cloth served as a great coat or blanket. This suit w’as kept for visits to the cities, or other (to him) great occasions ; while when with his people on their hunting and fishing excursions, he wore their common dress. He belonged to the St. Francis tribe, and professed to have been a militia officer in the service of government. Their wigwams were built of poles driven into the ground, and drawn nearly together at the top ; a small opening being left for smoke to pass out. The fire was in the centre, in a sort of cavity, around which the ground elevated a little. The sides of the dwel- ling were interlaced with barks and boughs ; hemlock being invariably used for bedding, and to keep out the cold. D 62 PIONEERS OF THE CHAPTER IV. Mr. Lawrence had succeeded so well in putting up his own buildings, that his skill was called into requisi- tion in the erection of a mill, at the place now known as Knowlton’s Falls,” some six miles from his residence; and during the father’s absence, wrhich was turned to good account for the family, Henry was principally depended upon to manage matters at home. Late in the fall of 1795, while going to help to raise the bulk- head of the mill on which his father was employed, m passing through the wood at a place w^here there was no “ spotted line ” to mark out the path, he got bewil- dered, lost his way entirely, and after wandering about the w'hole afternoon, during which a violent rain com- menced falling, approaching night found him in the middle of a large swamp, from which it was impossible to find his way out in the fast increasing darkness. The best he could do w as to secure a firm footing on the prostrate trunk of a decayed tree, and support himself against the body of one erect ; thus passing the night in a standing attitude. To complete the hor- rors of his situation, it had become intensely dark, the rain poured in torrents, and it w^as impossible to kindle a fire, though he was w'et to the skin and shivermg EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 63 with cold. He could not have slept; being too keenly alive to the dangers by which he was surrounded, in not knowing the moment when one or more of the savage beasts, with which these woods were known to be infest- ed, might pounce upon him, alone as he was, and utterly without means of defence. At times, his courage failed, and in despair he gave himself up as lost, imagining that should he survive the night, he must have wan- dered far from the place where he went astray, and consequently far from hope of li dp ; and his mind would sink under the conviction that he had seen the faces of his friends for the last time on earth. Then came fren- zied feelings respecting the dear ones at home, who could never know his fate ; after which he would endea- vour to familiarize his mind with thoughts of death and eternity. But, as on a former occasion, the grim mes- senger seemed clothed with terrors; and he would at once seek refuge in the hope and prayer that he might be spared and given time for repentance ; when again the hope would rise that there might be some way of escape from the dreadful death his imagination painted. After maintaining his comfort- less watch the livelong night, the while alternating between hope and fear, he hailed, with renewed cour- age, the first beams of morning ; and though wet, cold, hungry and weary, as soon as surrounding objects became distinctly discernible, he looked about for some landmark which would indicate a course that might lead him out of his difficulty. No familiar 64 PIONEERS OF TOE object met his view ; but seeing the top of a moimtam at a short distance, rising above the tops of the intervening trees, which in that particular direction seemed of diminutive growth, he shaped his course for that object ; ere long emerging from the swamp, and falling in with a brook of running water, which he then took as a guide, and followed in its windings till it came to a larger stream, in which it lost itself; then following the course of the river, about ten o clock m the morning, to his surprise and joy, he came upon the opening where was situated the very mill his father was en<^aged in building ; to the raising of which he had started the previous day. But no one was there now ; the weather had been and still continued so stormy and cold, that all had left for their homes, and as the season was far advanced with every prospect of an early winter, the work on the mill was suspended till the following spring. , j j It would seem that on first getting bewildered, instead of pursuing a straight line, as he had thought to do, he had taken a circuitous course, and must have passed and repassed the same points repeatedly, without being at all aware of it ; which was probably owing in part to his excited fears, and in part to the “warring elements” which were raging around him; and this accounts for his not having gone further from the starting point. The mountain, mentioned as having been the first prominent object that met his eye in the morning, EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 65 while in search of something to guide him, proved to be the Sheflford mountain, which was really, to him, one of the most familiar objects in the country ; having often passed and repassed it in his frequent joumeyings to and fro through the wildnemess; yet, having never before seen it from that point of view, it seemed strange^ He has since repeatedly visited the scene of this^ adventure, and become intimately acquainted with the localities of mountain, swamp and river; examined their relative distances, and even followed the windings of the little brook that proved such a friend on that occasion ; and was thus more and more convinced that he was going round and round, and at the same time getting further and further from the right way* This adventure, as well as that in which he had expe- rienced so marked a deliverance from death by drown- ing, left a lively impression on a mind of strong reli- gious bias, and susceptible of deep and tender feeling. Though not decidedly pious, that is, never having experienced the change of heart he had been taught to think necessary to constitute him a Christian believer, his faith was yet strong in the Divine Being, as a God of providence and grace ; and even then to his youthful mind, these escapes from impending death, seemed as special interpositions of that Power. Early in the spring of 1796, a company of men on their way to the tract which now constitutes the town- ship of Stukely, stopped at the house of young Mr. LawTence in West Sheflford, w’here some of the party d 2 f 66 PIONEERS OP THE fell ill of the measles, to which they had been some- where previously exposed. The disease vraB thus communicated to the family ; the mother and two of the children being attacked at the same time, had become extremely ill. No medical assistance, or proper remedies, could be had in the place j and at this time accident, or rather Providence, brought Henry to his brother’s house; who, on finding the situation of affairs, spent the night in watching with the sick ; when he had ample time and reason to think of the young wife and mother who lay in a suffering and apparently dying state. Feel- ing it impossible to give the sick ones anything like proper attention, he longed for the presence of his own mother. He had great confidence in her as a nurse ; knew that experience had given her a great deal of practical knowledge respecting the treatment of diseases, and felt that her skill and fortitude were imperatively called for. But how to get her there was now the question. In thinking the matter over during the night, as he saw that it seemed only proper skill and attention that were required, he resolved to make the effort to save those apparently marked for death, and, with the morning dawn, started for home. But the snow was fast melting, and the river much swollen and free from ice, presented a seemingly im- passable barrier to an elderly fleshy woman like his mother, even if she should reach it. For the purpose of forming a temporary crossing, EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 67 some one living near had felled a tree from either side, so that the tops by coming together might form a sort of bridge, on which persons, who wished, might pass ; but the strength of the current was such that the tops, instead of clinging together, as it was sup- posed they would, were turned down from either side in a slanting direction, so that a space several feet in width, which was the deepest channel, remained perfectly open. To remedy this, two poles or timbers, some ten or twelve feet in length, were securely laid across from the limbs of one tree to those of the other, on which frail bridge several had risked themselves, and passed safely. It was here that Henry had crossed in coming to his brother’s house ; this was his way back, and only by this, could his mother come to the help of - the sufferei's. Full of determination to do what he could, he has- tened home, and giving his mother to understand the necessities of the case, enlisted her warmest sym- pathies ; but the distance of six miles, the state of the road, and the high river, were between her and the sick ones. He told his mother, how he had crossed, and in his anxiety that she should make the attempt to get to those whose lives, he thought, depended on it, per- suaded her to make the trial ; so confiding in him, and taking such medicines and restoratives as she thought would be needed, they started on foot, and, walking the whole six miles through melting snow. 68 PIONEERS OF THE came to the river where things remained as in the morning. Without doubt or question, she allowed him to lead her on to the frail structure, and when coming to the timbers that connected the trees, gave liim both hands, and took the piece that appeared highest above the water, but their added weight so bent the branches supporting the timbers that when in the middle, directly over the seething, boiling current, they sunk ancle- deep in the water which seemed waiting to carry them to s^dft destruction. Each movement was made slowly and with the utmost precision, for both saw that one false step was certain death. The young man’s nerves had been strung up to such a pitch of intensity, at the thought of the danger into which he had brought one so dear, whose life, so valuable to them all, had been risked at his instance, that though his hand was steady and his voice and step firm, till the peril was past, the moment they were safe over, his firmness of mind and strength of body failed together, and he sunk to the ground trembling, faint and weak as a frightened child. The watching of the previous night, the fatigue of the day, the anxiety felt for his sick friends, but most of all his excitement at thought of the danger into which he had brought his mother, were too much for his firmness, and the reaction took place on the instant. As related to the principal object of these exciting efibrts, — the sick woman to whose relief they had come — it was too late ; she was past help ; and Mrs. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 69 Lawrence had only the melancholy satisfaction of soothing her dying hours by the many little attentions which her extensive experience with the sick and dy- ing so well fitted her to give. She closed the eyes of her daughter-in-law, and remained at the house of her son until the mother was buried, and the children were out of danger ; when she returned to her own habitation, crossing the river in a canoe, however, by this time provided. PIONEERS OF THE CHAPTER V. There had been a general advance in all the depart- ments of work connected with the farm of our friends; —the buildings had been improved, more land cleared and larger crops of grain and vegetables put into the ground — when, in the commencement of the autumn of 1796, Mr. Silas Knowlton, of Newfane, Vt., came to Shefford on his way to the tract now forming the township of Stukely Henry, whose experience as a backwoodsman as well as his acquaintance with the localities around, and whose native perseverance and energy of character fitted him for such work, was em- ployed to bush out a road, and mark trees to lead the way ; when, armed with compass, axe, and the invari- able fire materials, he engaged in an enterprise, which in its results proved one of the most important under- takings of his life ; being nothing less than the com- mencement of a train of circumstances through which himself and brother next younger became Associates of the township of Stukely. Though they w^ere still minors, the difficulty was evaded by an elder brother entering into bonds for the faithful performance of conditions required. Mr. Knowlton made some pre- EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 71 parations for a residence, and returned for his family.* As the country near and around Lake Memphrema- gog became settled, the people were aroused to the importance of having a more direct line of communi- cation with Montreal, and made advances towards opening a road through to Shefford, the inhabitants of which place determined to do their part in effecting the work ; which was accomplished principally by voluntary contributions of time and labor. Before winter a road was cut through to St. Pie, so that when the snow fell and the swamps were frozen over, ox-teams could pass to the river ; from whence to Yamaska (now St. Hya- cinthe) a distance of twelve miles, they went on the ice. But of course this was only a winter road ; the swamps could be made passable in summer only by a considerable outlay of time and means, so that those going this way at that season could only, as hitherto, pass on foot. Some, as in every new community, would get discouraged, lacking the energy and perseverance necessary to carry out successfully the work entered upon; yet, notwithstanding all embarrassments and • It 13 related that on Mr. Knowl ton’s return to Stukoly with his family, they were accompanied by a Mr. Whitney, his wi'e and infant daughter ; and that as they neared the line of divisi< i between the two townships, a playful dispute arose between iho two women as to which should have the honor of being the white female who entered Stukely ; when Mr. Whitney who had heard what was said, suddenly caught the child and running ov*'r the line, declared the question settled. 72 PIONEERS OF THE hindrances, here as in other places, the resolute, enter- prising and industrious did improve their circumstances and gather about them the comforts of life. The opening of even a winter road was an era in the history of these townships, as, from their isolated position in respect to communication with market towns, much embarrassment and difficulty was experienced ; now, however, there was a way of getting to market at least once in the year. Though the brothers Henry and Erastus Lawrence had been admitted to the fraternity of Associates, and had made improvements on their places which adjoined in Stukely, doing sufficient on the premises of each to fulfil the letter of the conditions required, both remmned much of the time with their parents, and gave particu- lar attention to the cultivation of a place which was still their home “ par excellence^ The younger bro- ther was becoming an efficient helper \ so that, under their united efforts, the homestead was improving in extent of ground cultivated, and in the substantial com- forts and conveniences of life. In January,17 97, after the winter had thoroughly set in, the subject of breaking out the new road through the woods to the French settlements was agitated among the inhabitants, and a turn out of three men with cattle and sleds, on which were conveyed provisions for the men and hay for the beasts, sufficient to last them several days, started from the house of Mr. Lawrence early in the morning, and returned the evening of the EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 73 fourth day ; the intervening nights having been passed after the usual manner in the woods, while the four days were occupied in work. Granby river was crossed near the present site of that village, though no house then marked the spot ; and passing through what is now Abbottsford, they reached the Black river at Upper St. Pie, whence they returned without having seen one single human being, except themselves. The most diflScult part of the work was the passage of the great swamp in Granby, half a mile in width ; which obstacle was not finally overcome without much patient effort on the part of the men, and many hard struggles of the poor beasts. At times the cattle would break through the ice, and sink into mud, from which it would have been impossible to extricate them but by the united efforts of the men, who, when occa- sion made it necessary, cut poles to pry them out. They were often obliged to cover the way with bushes and branches cut for the purpose, before daring to venture on with their cattle ; the depth of water and mud making such precaution necessary. Rivers and small streams were frozen sufficiently to be passable ; but, owing to the shelter of heavy trees, or the great depth of snow, or the peculiar nature of the soil, or perhaps from all these causes combined. — the ice in the swamp was less firm. Those acquainted with swampy lands will readily understand the difficulty of the work undertaken and accomplished. By such effort was the first passage to the river ef- PIONEERS OF THE 74 fected through all intervening obstacles, and owing to the extreme cold, the whole way was sufficiently frozen for their safe return, after the above named absence of four days and three nights. Though this was hut a wdnter road, and the way was, to°all intents and purposes, closed to all but foot travellers during the greater part of the year, it was still considered an important point gained. This first opening was hailed with joy, and followed up by people living along the whole line, who were but too glad to avail themselves of its benefits by going to town. Even this partial success encouraged the toore enterprising spirits to greater efforts in overcoming, as fsJ RS practicable, that natural barrier to their future prosperity, which lay in a distance from market. To be sure, there had been as yet little to sell ; but they had a future opening before them, and were anrious to secure facilities con-esponding with antici- pated necessities ; and though gratified with what had been done, they had become all the more desirous of establishing a way by which the metropolis could be reached at any or all seasons of the year. This was earnestly discussed among the people, and great efforts made to awaken them to the fact, that not alone the few, but all alike were to be benefitted by the ■work. Deputations from settlements near Lake Mem- phremagog came among them to raise means by sub- scription, for bridging streams and constructing cause- ways over swamps otherwise impassable. Some hesi- tated, while looking at the matter only through the EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 75 narrow telescope of self, with characteristic unwilling- ness to engage in any enterprise where themselves were not to be the most expressly benefitted ; while some were in fact too poor to aid in the project ; but the greater part were wise enough to see their own true mtereste in the matter ; and, as the result of the effort, sufficient money and labour were promised to justify the undertaking. In September, 1797, the work was commenced, the streams bridged and cause- ways constructed; that over the great swamp in Granby, cost one dollar per rod, — in all one hundred and seventy dollars ; and the work was persevered in, so that in October, ox-sleds could pass to the river at St. Pie. It seems that a natural diflSeulty of communication at first existed between the eastern and western sec- tions of the township of Bolton, so that for some time after settlements were formed in either part, it was only by a long and circuitous way that people could get from the one to the other ; though the interests of the settlers were in a great measure identical, some of them having claims in both sections of the township. A hunter of the name of Frizzle, while following his “ spotted lines,” (the line of marked trees by which he was guided to his traps), made the discovery that there was a natural opening or notch through the mountain, where a road might be made to connect the settlements, already bound to each other by a community of interests. After an examinar tion, the step was decided upon, and a road laid out to PIONEERS OF THE 76 connect, by way of Brome and W est Sheflford, with that already open to Yamaska. A company of four men, including our informant, were busied twenty-four days in cutting and clearing a road, building bridges, &c., passing most of the nights in the woods, hunter fashion. Being without a compass, the party once got lost, and night overtook them on the edge of a beaver meadow, on which the hay had been cut the previous summer. Knowing that there must be some “spotted line” emerg- ing from this place, they camped for the night as usual ; and, in the morning light, commenced search for a way of egress which was soon found leading them out into Brome. Thus was opened the first winter road from Bolton to Montreal by way of Shef- ford and Yamaska. It is related that during the first winter after this, the snow fell to such a depth that the road was blocked up, so that it was impossible to pass with cattle ; and when the people wanted bread, there was no other way to get it, than for one of the settlers to take a sack of the corn they had raised, swing it on his back, and on snow-shoes carry it to the nearest mill ; and, as the whole settlement was in the same predicament, each man had to take his turn ; in which way they lived till the snow melted and sleds could pass. It was no uncommon thing for the poorer class of settlera to travel on foot, twenty, thirty, or even forty miles, loaded with grain or other necessaries for their desti- tute families. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 77 CHAPTER VI. As these early inhabitants were necessarily their own architects, they were often their own cabinet- makers ; and, as “ necessity is the mother of invention,’^ who knows what improvements were brought to light through the promptings of this same stern power ? Some of our readers may feel a little curiosity res- pecting the resorts to which our grandmothers were driven for some of the most common household con- veniences ; we therefore devote a chapter to notices of this kind, though the articles herein described are now entirely out of use. The “ catamount bedstead ” was once spoken of in the writer’s presence, when enquiries as to its con- struction drew forth the following description : First, poles were cut — two of necessary length for the sides, and two for the ends ; these were stripped of their bark, and the ends inserted in holes bored for the purpose in four posts of equal height : this com- posed the frame. Then elm bark was stripped into proper widths, to be woven together after the manner of the old-fashioned chair seat, when this piece of furniture was ready for use. It was usually the case that after the first or second 78 PIONEERS OF THE year of labour bestowed in clearing up a fann, suf- ficient grain was raised for home consumption, but the diflSculty lay in getting it ground, as there were few mills in the country ; none in fact nearer the residence of Mr Lawrence than St. Armand, a distance of thirty miles. Necessity now brought into requisition what was probably an invention of the Indians, (and was one of the few primitive arts in use among them), as necessary to convert their corn into food ; otherwise there was no method except that known as hulling. No doubt improvements have been made in both these ways. The plumping mill,” which was now brought into very general use by settlers living at a distance from grinding mills, was made of a log some fourteen inches in diameter, standing on one end, while in the other was formed a cavity after the fashion of a salt mortar. The pestle was of wood, about two and a half feet in length, and some five or six inches in thickness, rounded at the bottom, the middle made of convenient size for the hand, and fastened at the top to a spring pole, so as after each stroke to rebound for another. Putting about a quart of com into the mortar at a time, the pestle was applied ; and when the grain was suflSciently pounded, the sieve >vas brought into use to separate the coarse and fine meal ; the former being used for the dish called hominy ” by the Indians, while the other could be mixed wdth stewed pumpkins and made into an excellent coarse bread, or used in various other ways knovm to housekeepers in this country. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. T9 Whether the use of the ‘‘ plumping mill ’’ was an occupation for either the male or female branch of the family, is uncertain, though the impression is that the labor was shared between them. For some time after Mr. Nicholas Austin, the ori- ginal grantee and first settler of the township of Bol- ton, came into the country, there was no mill or place where flour could be obtained, nearer than Danville, Vt., more than forty miles distant. The first year he had made an extensive clearing and raised a large crop of corn, but it was of little use without a market, except so much of it as was needed for themselves ; and this had to be prepared by the ‘‘plumping mill,” till Mr. Austin procured something like a large cofiee mill, which, when propelled by water from a small brook near his residence, by being kept constantly going, would grind corn at the rate of six bushels in twenty- four hours ; and this mill, with a wire sieve, brought with great pains from Quebec, completed the accom- modations of the kind, by which that community was for some time supplied with breadstuff. Another want seriously felt was that of leather ; this leading the people, from motives of economy as well as necessity, to tan the hides of such animals as died or were killed ; and the results of their efibrts to supply themselves with the needed article, were both satisfac- tory and encouraging. In the winter of 1796, Henry, and a Mr. Lewis, a neighbor, while on a hunting excursion, killed a large 80 PIONEERS OF THE fat female moose, the flesh of which, when dressed,, weighed about six hundred pounds. This feat was not unattended with danger to the hunters, as, on dis- covering them, the animal rushed furiously towards them, while their guns were discharged, and would pro- bably have done them some serious or fatal injury, had not their dogs held her at bay till they could re-load their pieces, when she was dispatched and they were relieved from their imminent peril. The skin of this creature was turned into good moccasin leather, the tallow was useful for candles, and the meat, which when salted is much like corned beef, helped out their supplies. Many of us yet remember when only small, rude, wooden troughs were used in which to catch the sap as it fell from the maple tree ; when it was gathered in buckets and boiled down into syrup in old-fashioned iron kettles. Sugar making, aside from the taste of the article produced, is not a particularly sweet or agreeable employment, and if any one has been disposed to consider it as such, a very short experience of sap- gathering, or eyes blinded by smoke, soon takes away all romantic interest in the work. In former days, much more severe and unpleasant labor was required for this work than now with our improved facilities ; and there is no good reason why the article manufac- tured should not be greatly superior in quality to what was then made. Seasons varied then as now in the quantity as well as quality of sugar. The operations EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 81 gone through in this work are too well understood throughout the country to need description, as maple sugar is one of our principal home productions. The different kmds of grass and other seeds were brought in by the early settlers ; and as land was cleared and cultivated, hay was thus provided for domestic animals, the different species of which, with the fowls now common in the country, have kept pace in num- bers with the increasmg wants of the people. Most of the clothing worn by the early settlers, both male and female, was, of necessity, of home manufac- ture, made by the industrious hands of our grandmo- thers, mothers and aunts ; for this branch of domestic industry belonged exclusively to the female department of the family. To them a practical knowledge of the use of the hand-card, distaff, wheel, and hand-loom, was in- dispensable ; it being the essential part of their education, and often presenting room for the exercise of a lauda- ble emulation; as, for instance, who should spin and weave the finest and make the whitest piece of linen ; who should take the preference in flannel making, in knitting socks or mittens, or in making bed covering ; or who should excel in cookery or other housekeeping qualifications ; for to the domestic sphere and the care of the sick, were their faculties and energies limited. They had none of the resources for religious or in- tellectual improvement which we find so abundant ; and when we compare the then existing dearth of such cultivation with the advantages lying within our reach, e2 82 PIONEERS OF THE ought not our grateful hearts to rise in a hymn of thanksgiving that “ the lines have fallen to us in plear sant places;” and at the same time to feel humbled that we no better appreciate our exalted privileges or profit by them. Even years passed before the uniform establishment of schools ; while that most miserably injudicious practice of accounting the Sabbath a day of relaxation and amusement, became deplorably pre- valent; or as, was too frequently the case, it was spent in reviewing the labors of the past and laying outwork for the coming week, or in going on business errands in order to save time ; customs which even now are lamentably common among a certain class in all com- munities of nominal Christians.^ In those times and places there was apparent excuse for much of this ; re- ligious worship was a thing almost unknown, and it is hardly a matter of wonder that even those who had been subjected to better home influences, should gra- dually adopt prevailing usages ; such creatures of habit are we, and so readily and insensibly do we become assimilated to the views, feelings and practices of those with whom we are in frequent intercourse. That there exists in human nature an af&nity to evil, one manifestation of which is a strong inclination to indul- gence in selfish ease, is in nothing more clearly shown than in this very readiness to accommodate ourselves to the practices that may be prevalent in communities where we are thrown. No matter though the “ still small voice ” interposes its whispered warnings of un- EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 83 seen dangers, or reason aided, perhaps by the remem- bered teachings and examples of friends of earlier years, may raise a feeble barrier in the downward way ; in very many cases the propensity to self-indulgence is stronger than are conscientious scruples ; reason is impotent, while friendly remonstrance and example seem thrown away. The indifference existing in the minds of so many respecting the nature and origin of the Holy Sabbath, the voluntary bhndness to the benefits arising from its proper observance, and the willing ignorance of the duties and responsibilities it imposes, which are so lamentably prevalent, all owe their existence to this sad truth. 84 PIONEERS OF THE CHAPTER Vn. On the coining of Mr. Silas Knowlton to Stukely, the way seemed open for others ; and as the house of Mr. Lawrence of Shcfford, was a sort of resting-place for these wayfarers, frequent calls were made for Henry’s services as guide or pilot through these wilds ; an employment his peculiar fitness for which has been spoken of. Combined with this fitness, were a quick- ness of perception, a facility of temper, a fertility of resource, and a readiness of action, joined to a spice of romantic interest in these adventures. We must not omit mention of a peculiar case of hardship that occurred on the very earliest of these journeys. Two gentlemen from among the proposed Associates, (the above named Mr. Knowlton, and a Mr. Stevens of Newfane, Vt.), had come on to make selec- tions of land, and Mr. Lawrence’s house, being nearest to the locality they wished to visit, was their stopping- place, while Henry was to be their guide. This was in no way a pleasurable undertaking, for as yet there was nothing to direct them, the surveyors of the Shef- ford line having left a few signs, which if Mowed would have led the travellers astray from the point aimed at. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 85 They started accordingly, with the indispensable compass to guide them, the useful axe to mark the trees, the necessary sack of provision for three days, beside which were fire materials ; and last, though not least, a gun and ammunition, taken not only as a means of protection against wild animals, but to vary the monotony of their weary tramp, by shooting whatever game they chanced to meet. In addition to the fatigues of such an excursion to such as were all unused to them, through such a way and with such encumbrances, they suffered excessive annoy- ance from the swarms of venomous insects with which these woods were then infested ; each of the strangers, but more particularly Mr. Stevens, being so bitten by them that his face and neck were swollen and disfigured to a surprising degree. Such was the effect on him, that on returning to the house of Mr. Lawrence, he was ill for a week, and for a time nearly blind. The others suffered somewhat, but not so severely. At night the smoke of their campfires kept away the intruders, but, while walking or sitting without such protection, they were continually tormented. The flies, which were so troublesome to travellers in these woods, were, first, the moosefly, an insect consi- derably larger than the honey bee and having a sting so acute that horses were not only restive, but would rear, plunge and sometimes become entirely unmanageable when bitten by them ; and in the heat of the day, during the reign of these short-lived but pestiferous insects, 86 PIONEEKS OF THE people were often obliged to keep their cattle shut up in dark stables. For the space of a month or so, gene- rally comprising the last weeks in June and the first in July, most of the travelling was done early in the morning or late in the day to avoid as much as was possible this annoyance. They were called mooseflies, from their being particularly obnoxious to that crea- ture ; yet they were likewise dreaded by all animals, their sting being like that of the wasp, though the pain is not so lasting. They seemed to choose certain trees and shrubs on the leaves of which to deposit their egg, which was covered by a frothy substance resembling spittle, when it rapidly hatched and, as speedily going through its several stages of transformation, came out a perfect, full-grown moose-fly, the torment alike of man and beast. But their reign as flies w^ soon over ; and, unless they took other fonn and guise, we know not “ whither they went or whence they came,” as in their having m a great measure disappeared from their old haunts, they seem to have followed in the wake of some plagues of a “ larger growth,” with which this country was some time infested; so that comparatively few of them are found at the present day. Then there was a small black fly, the bite of which, though not so painful at first, was equally and perhaps more poisonous than the other. This insect is still common in some localities at certain seasons ; and then there was the mosquito, which, during warm weather, is EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 87 too common and annoying an occupant of woods and shades to need a more lengthy notice. Late in the summer of 1796,* a party of fourteen persons, principally from the vicinities of Brattleborough and Newfane, Vt., came on to make selections in Stukely. Several of these were young men, the sons of wealthy parents, entirely unaccustomed to the life they were preparing to enter upon, and as unfitted by habit and education as they well could be. As a matter of course, Mr. Lawrence’s house was their stopping place ; from whence, under the guidance cf Henry, and with the usual preparations, to which were added an extra axe and gun, a camp-kettle and larger quantities of provisions, they started a merry company, each bearing his share of the burdens. As a protection from the troublesome insects, several among the party carried smudges either of dry touch- wood, of an excrescence taken from the trunks of trees growing in damp soils, or of several pieces of cedar bark closely bound together ; either of which retains fire and emits smoke without kindling into a blaze. The young men of the party were determined on having a good time, and entered into the work with a pleasure that showed them intent on the enjoyment of what was to them a novelty. • The discrepancy of dates apparent between the actual com- mencement of settlements in Stukely, and the granting of the warrant of Survey for that Township, can only be accounted for on the supposition that settlements were made in advance of the actual grant and in certain prospect of it. 88 PIONEERS OF THE Partridges* were numerous, and during the first day several of these birds were killed by the young sportsmen, some of whom seemed better fitted for this work than that for which they had come thus far ; not even knowing how to prepare their supper after they had killed it. Among eatables carried on these occasions, the ‘‘ staff of life ” was the principal, with sometimes salt meat, salt, or other seasoning articles. This time they had taken a quantity of salt beef which it was designed should help to season the game they expected to find plenty, and on which lay their principal dependence in the eating line. The first night they encamped by a brook of clear running water ; and while some were * The partridge, like the hen, raises broods, and if her young are disturbed, will fight fiercely and desperately, often falling a victim to her maternal instincts *, while the young upon the first warning note, disappear in an incredibly short space of time ; finding refuge in the smallest and most unthought of hiding places. Their instincts are so keen, and the signal of danger is so readily understood and obeyed, that from the first they are as perfectly still as if hardly daring to breathe. In winter they live upon the buds of trees, principally the birch and maple, and in very severe weather often dive into deep soft snow for protec- tion from cold. People have been much surprised at seeing them drop thus suddenly without other intimation of their being near ; but when the surface is too hard for them to penetrate, they are forced to find shelter from the piercing blast beside logs or on the thickest branches of trees where they remain at night. Their eggs are white, a little smaller than those of the hen, and they lay twelve or fifteen, in some dark place, as far out of sight and sound as possible. In rearing young, their habits are in many respects similar to those of the hen. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 89 B k I JO r I 12 ik Iki ii? [JC Ski! it m tkf! ISBI i^t rpi is» tisic eaes is^ tieiB irJti: ihisf busied in preparing wood, making fire, collecting hem- lock boughs for their bed, &c., others, including the more experienced of the party, went to work about the supper. Perhaps the fowls were not prepared after the most approved culinary methods, as five or six of them were cooked with a large piece of beef : but ‘‘ hunger is the best sauce and many a joke was cracked and laugh indulged by the merry boys, who each boasted his share in the adventures they should have to relate on their return home ; the natural exuberance of ani- mal spints seeming heightened by what was to them a novel experience indeed. The camp-kettle used was either of brass or tin ; of larger or smaller size as required, and was often hung on the end of a stick driven obliquely into the ground, with a notch cut on the projecting end to keep the bale of the vessel from slipping ; but sometimes the stick was fastened into some upright tree or stump, or hung over the fire on a pole supported at either end by posts driven into the ground. Having with them a plan of the projected township divided into ranges and lots, the party, before leaving Shefibrd, had made an agreement among themselves that to prevent differ- ences, arising fi-om choosing the same lots, each should take his choice before starting ; which was done by reference to the plan, and the decisions were made in accordance. They were influenced in this by the fact that in some parts, and especially the localities with which 90 PIONEERS OF THE they were most intimately acquainted, the best land is found on the margin of the streams. But such a rule was by no means applicable in this case ; and they soon found how grievously they had been mistaken in taking this course ; most of the land they had selected, lying in dense and inaccessible swamps. So entirely were they disappointed, that, after looking up the lots they had chosen in pursuance of this plan, they directed their guide to lead them to a better tract, only two of them deciding to abide by the agreement. Several of them were either dis- couraged by the appearance of the country, and their experiences during this trip, or deterred by different causes from making settlement, and sold their claims to other parties. This latter practice, which was followed in a greater or less degree in all the Townships, was a prolific source of strife and litigation ; there being, even at this remote day, suits pending in consequence, which seems to have been one of the unavoidable evils result- ing from the system pursued in -granting the lands. How these suits will yet be settled, remains to be seen. Among the settlers who subsequently came to Stukely, were four brothers of the name of Knowlton, viz., Ezekiel, Levi, Lyman, and Asaph, cousins of Mr. Silas Knowlton, the first inhabitant of the Township. They came of an ancestry of high social standing in Southern Vermont; and from them have sprung a numerous and very respectable connexion, now scat- tered in different sections. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 91 CHAPTER VIII. For many years, pot and pearl ashes were the staple articles with which to make remittances in the way of trade, and were indeed the principal products wHch could be spared from the country, where little com- paratively was raised, and, for a time, a non-producing population was fast multiplying. The first considerable effort made at marketing, by our friends, was when Henry, with Mr. Silas Knowl- ton, of Stukely, started for jNIontreal with each two bar- rels of potash, which, as it was in the days of the famous embargo,’’ then commanded a high price. As was usually the case, two yokes of cattle were ne- cessary for each sled, and in tliis manner their load was taken through Granby, (at which place and at Yamaska mountain there were small beginnings of set- tlements) to the river at a point where a ferry had been established; when the sleds were left and the loads transferred to a scow on which they were taken six miles to the Montreal road ; thence taken by hired carters to the St. Lawrence river at Longueuil ; then crossed in a bateau, and from the landing carried by truckmen to the inspection ofiice, where, after being inspected, the potash was ready for sale. 92 PIONEEKS OF THB Notwithstanding the trouble and expense of their journey, they realized a very considerable profit, hav- ing each received one hundred dollars for his load. Part of this money was laid out for a return cargo of home necessaries, which was taken, by the same means, the same route, though in reversed order ; when, after an absence of eighteen days, and an expense of twenty dollars each, the travellers once more reached their homes. The usual time occupied on this journey, during good summer weather, was ten or twelve days ; but the above described trip was made late in the fall when the days were very short. There were times during the rainy season, that, while passing through some low places on the Granby road, the sleds were entirely covered with water, so that it seemed as if the barrels were swimming along the surface. Another very serious difficulty that attended the transportation of loading to Montreal at that early day, arose from the imperfect means then in use, of cross- ing die rivers Chambly and St. Lawrence. Open scows were invariably used on the former, while bat- teaux were necessary on the latter ; the greater width and ^epth of the river and consequent strength of the current and danger from the wind, requiring diffe^ ently* constructed boats. Each was provided with both oars and settmg poles ; the latter being used ne^ the shores and in more shallow water ; . the former in greater depth and stronger current. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 93 The scow was a large flat boat formed of planks with sides some fifteen or eighteen inches high ; the ends being a continuation of the boat rising gradually above the water, first that it might pass the more read- ily over the surface, and likewise to facilitate the em- barkation and debarkation, by being brought up to the embankment from which carriages or whatever was to be taken over, could gradually descend to the part of the vessel necessary. Large teams could thus be ferried across without detaching the horses, in case the animals were quiet and manageable ; but when otherwise, much trouble was often caused, and great care and pains were ne- cessary to efiect a safe passage. Bateaux, which were necessary on the St. Law- rence, were more in the form of a canoe, being curved towards the ends, so as to present nearly a point to the water ; and were often twenty-five or thirty feet in length, by seven or eight feet in width at the centre ; made of ship-timber covered with boards and planks. They were brought up to the shore against a pro- jection or wharf, and strongly fastened, when planks were placed so as to form a sort of bridge gradually descending inward, over which animals were led singly and securely fastened ; when others, or whatever was to comprise the cargo, were brought on in the same man- ner. Strong cables were provided in case animals should become unruly, when they were fastened to the timbers of the sides wliich were three or more feet 94 PIONEERS OF THE high. At times, ■when droves of cattle or loads of hay made it necessary, two bateaux were strongly bound together so as to prevent rocking ; when qilite a num- ber of cattle or a large body of freight could be crossed to the wharf opposite, from which point loading could be taken by carters to the city, or the bateaux could be towed up a distance of three miles ; which was accomplished by several hands taking the cable and drawing up along the shore, while others remained on board, and with setting poles kept the boats at floating distance from the bank. On returning, the current favored descent to the place of crossing, when the journey homeward was simjiy a reversed repetition. The introduction of the horse-boat was considered an era in the history of ferries in this country, and they were established both on the St. Lawrence river, and subsequently on the Chambly basin (an expan- sion of the river at the time bearing that name) ; but it was soon ascertained that, during the prevalence of high winds, they were little better than the old method of crossing ; as before, travellers being obliged to wait till the storm should abate, before the boatmen dared venture out on the waters. This was all along a serious inconvenience, as whole days, and sometimes several days, had to be spent in waiting for a change of weather, no matter how urgent business might be : but there was no remedy. How- ever, on the application of steam to purposes of naviga- tion generally, it altogether superseded the horse-boat in EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 95 use so many years on the St. Lawrence ; and that at Chambly was done away with by the erection of a con- venient and elegant bridge between the former ferries that crossed the river in the vicinity of that place. About the year 1804, Henry, for the purpose of assisting his brother Samuel, who was about building mills at West Sheflford, started on atour to Westford,Vt., to procure the necessary irons ; and, as had been before- hand arranged, he drove out cattle for payment, and a yoke of oxen with which to draw in the machinery. There he found himself without sled or other vehicle for use, and was obliged to resort to his wits to invent means of transporting the heavy load ; when his inge- nuity, being thus put to the test, suggested the making of a dray, as they were then called, which was nothing other than a long timber split at one end, pried open, and fastened by inserting a short beam crosswise be- tween the parts ; when eight hundred pounds of iron castings were bound on it by heavy chains. This end trailed on the ground, while the other end was fastened into the yoke on the necks of the sturdy beasts, and drawn by them over rough roads and through rapid streams to Sheldon, Vt., where the young man obtained a pair of large heavy cart wheels, on which he fasten- ed the dray, load and all, so as to balance, and then proceeded on his way. There was a ferry over the Missisquoi river, but all the other streams had to be forded. At St. Armand he took the then only route to Shefford through Dunham and Famham ; but the 96 PIONEERS OF THE roads were so rough and the load so heavy that the axle-tree of his cart gave way three times, and was ready for the fourth break-down on arriving at his des- tination. With the aid of axe and auger with which he was provided, and a piece of the hard timber winch grew so plentifully by the way, he repaired the damage each time. The clatter of the iron load, as the cart rolled over stones, logs, and other obstructions, aroused the people as it passed along the line of road, attracting consider- able attention from being the first pair of wheels that had penetrated by that route so far into the interior of the country. As a matter of course, a good deal of surprise and astonishment, if not admiration, was ex- cited at the appearance of the strange “ contrivance and, on approaching the residence of Mr. Gale, in Farnham, the unusual and unaccountable noise which, with its echoes, could be heard, sometime before the lumbering ox-cart appeared in sight, that gentleman became so alarmed and excited that he went out in haste to look up the cause of such a horrid din which seemed to grow louder and come nearer. Under the impression that something unlawful and wrong must be going on, he took the direction from which the sound seemed to proceed, and soon came in sight of the noisy cart with its clattering load ; when, after satisfying himself of the cause and nature of the sounds which had so disturbed him, he burst into a hearty laugh ; and, going back toward the house, called out, ‘‘ Whe-e-ls, EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 9T here is a load on whe-e-ls ! more of a sight than to see a coach-and-six in England ! ’’ and summoned all the inmates of the house, not excepting the ladies, to see the novel spectacle. No sooner had he been given to understand the destination of the loaded vehicle, and the object in view, as connected with improvements going on so near, and contributing so directly and greatly to the convenience of a community in which he felt a special interest, than he gave his hearty ap- proval of the work in progress, and commended the ingenuity and perseverance with which it had been carried on. 98 PIONEERS OF THE CHAPTER IX. At the time of which we write, wild animals were numerous and destructive. Some few panthers were seen and heard in different sections, and one was killed in Bolton in the following manner : — A settler, while passing through a piece of woods in hroad day-light, was startled by the appearance of a strange track in the snow, and, being curious to discover to what it belonged, followed it some little distance ; when, seeing that it must have been made by some for- midable creature, and thinking of himself alone and unarmed, he turned and took his way home. Soon after, a neighbor, who had come the same way on horseback, rode up in great haste (himself in high excitement, and his horse covered with sweat), saying that he had seen a panther in the woods through which he had just passed, and pointmg out the exact place in which the animal had hidden himself, which was in fact in the immediate vicinity of the tracks seen by the other. While they were thus speaking and consulting together, another neighbor, known as a bold, resolute man, came up from the other way, and, on hearing their account of the matter, fearlessly started on to examine for himself ; thinking probably that the fears of his EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 99 informants had magnified the danger. On coming to the place pointed out, which was a cavity formed by the roots of a prostrate tree, he saw a veritable pan- ther, and was rash enough to get a pole and daringly drive him from his hiding place ; when, without other demonstrations of hostility than bristling up and growl- ing a little, he gave a bound off from the roadside into the woods. Returning home, the adventurous man got help ; and, with guns, dogs, and other preparations for a hunt, started m pursuit. Before going far they came upon the creature, when, taking aim betw^een the eyes, the hunter shot and killed him at once. Whether the monster was sick or had been hurt, or was satiated with food, can only be conjectured ; but that some such thing must have operated to stupify him, is evident. On measuring the length of his first leap when driven from the cave, it was found to be twenty- two and a half feet, after which he had gone but about one hun- dred yards before being overtakerv and shot. The length from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail was eleven feet ; and, after being skinned, the limbs appeared of enormous size, showing great mus- cular strength. It is said that the skin was stuffed and sent to the museum in Boston. The almost superstitious fear with which this crea- ture is regarded, was never justified, as far as is known in this country, by any attack on man, though some- times animals would disappear in a most unaccount- able manner. If these depredations were committed by panthers, retreat was made, with their prey, to some remote and inaccessible spot, leavmg no trace behind. Wolves often went out in companies or packs, seeking what they might devour,” when, if any un- lucky creature fell in their way , it was sure to be des- troyed ; but when single they were not considered particularly formidable, except to sheep and small ammals. To those persons who camped in the woods at night, fire was considered a protection, it being thought that this creature has an instinctive dread of that element. At a time when Henry Lawrence was called upon to watch with a sick neighbor, having to pass through woods nearly a mile, he started about sunset, but be- fore proceeding far from the clearing, heard the howl of a wolf, as he supposed, some twenty rods distant, and immediately an answering howl from the other side of the path, ^larmed he took to his heels, and in a very short time reached his destination, no wolf hav- ing overtaken him. On his return, however, in the morning, he found, from tracks in the wet grounds, that two wolves had followed him from the place of their coming together through to the clearing. What instinct gave these creatures knowledge of his pre- sence in the woods, or what ‘‘ special telegram ” was communicated back and forth in the howls that so alarmed him, is not easy for us to say. Some time after the same person had settled in EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 101 Stukely, and had quite a stock of cattle, the calves were placed in an enclosure but a short distance from the buildings, while the larger animals were in a pas- ture still farther off. About midnight he was roused from a sound sleep by the peculiar bellow which he at once knew came from the calf pasture, and to be caused by some sudden attock, for the sound was one of extreme terror ; when, without waitmg for clothes, light, or even to unbolt the door, he raised the win- dow, dashed out, and in an instant was flying rather than running to the rescue ; and, at the same time yelling at the top of his voice, in hope of frightening the enemy. The large cattle had heard the first alarm, and, as if instinctively knowing the danger and its cause, with answering bellows started for the scene, clearing fences and all intervening obstacles. The sounds of terror and distress continued till the owner came near, still hallooing with all his might, when the discomfited foe, frightened by the unearthly sounds which appeared to be coming from all quarters, slunk away m the dark, leaving his murderous work hardly begun. On bringing a light, it was found that one of the largest and finest calves had been seized by two wolves, for there were teeth-marks in both its flanks ; but its violent struggles with the terror inspired by such an uproar, made cowards of the attacking party. The track of two wolves were seen in the day-light. Another settler, on going to mill, and being obliged to wait for his grist till late b the day, was warned f2 102 PIONEERS OF THE of the danger of attempting at that late hour to p^s through a piece of woods, known to be infested with wolves ; but, knowing the anxiety and terror his fa^y would feel at such a prolonged absence, he determined to run the risk. Soon after entering the wood, he saw tracks and heard howls ; and, on coming to a place where some men had been employed in getting out timber, he seized a hand-spike that lay on the ground, and loosened the load on his back that he might throw it off in case of attack. The howls came nearer ; when, quickening his pace and resolutely brandishing his weapon without turning back to count his pursuers, yet with no very comfortable feelings he kept on his way till coming to a clearing, when they slunk away. One of his neighbors, on coming through the same woods with a quantity of cod-fish, of which it is said that wolves are extremely fond, was followed by them ; and, having no means of defence, when they came too near, tore off a piece of fish which he threw among them, running on while they quarrelled for the prize ; and, when overtaken again, threw them another piece : thus on till he had gained a clearing, when they fell back. A farmer in Stukely had confined his cattle and sheep as was customary in the barn yard, when one evening the family were alarmed by an unsual clang of the cowbells then in common use. Tlie men went out directly to ascertain the cause of disturbance, when, by the light of the moon, they saw a large wolf EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 103 in the yard ; but as he seemed in no haste to attack any creature, merely driving the sheep from side to side as if in diversion, or what is more probable with an eye to a fat choice, while one of the men returned to get the gun, the other waited to watch the move- ments of his wolfship. The gun was brought, but could not be got off ; and the animal, getting warned of danger, either through his sense of smell or the click of the gun, left >vithout doing any mischief. A young man of the same place had set several traps, and was in the habit of spending his Sabbaths in attending to them, against the advice and remon- strances of his widowed mother, who felt anxious that he should pay a better respect to the sacred day. One Sabbath morning he started as usual for his Sunday work, taking with him a piece of roasted meat which trappers often trail on the ground to en- tice wild beasts to their death. It seems that he was in the act of doing this, when almost before he was aware of it, four hungry, howling demons were coming upon him, alone and defenceless as he w^as; when, getting possession of a club of wood, and planting him- self against a tree for protection from attack in the rear, he spent the greater part of the day in w^arding off the furious attacks of his enemies, and with the strength of desperation fighting for dear life ; not ex- pecting to destroy them, but in hope of worrying them out ; and he did succeed, alone and unarmed as he was, for before nightfall they had left him to return 104 PIONEERS OF THE home safely. When thus in momentary danger of being tom limb from limb, he thought of the mother whose wishes he had been engaged in violating ; and whatever regret and repentance he might have felt, produced a permanent effect, for this was the last of his Sunday trapping excursions. Unlike bears, if wolves, singly or in companies, attack flocks in the field, they destroy all they can catch ; but if they break into enclosures, they seem content to kill only what will satisfy their hunger ; as if an instinctive cowardice urged them to hurry away. But it was the black bear that ravaged the com and wheat fields of the settler, becoming at length so bold as to break into enclosures in which domestic animals had been secured for the night; in which cases the destruction was often terrible, as if their bloody in- stincts prompted revenge for not being allowed their prey at will; though, when they attacked flocks in the field, one victim usually sufficed. ^ In consequence these animals became the terror of the country, and many expedients were devised to des- troy them ;* yet, even at the present day, one occasion- • They were often taken in large steel traps which were chained to logs that they might not be carried away ; but, notwithstand- ing this precaution, both trap and log have been dragged some distance, the torn up earth, trees bitten and scratched, saplings broken off or torn out by the roots, giving evidence of inconceiva- ble strength and fury. The trap was sometimes fastened with an iron chain to a clog formed of the top of a tree with the branches cut off a few inches from the body, leaving a sort of hook which,. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 105 ally strays from his mountain home and finds his way to the back settlements where he usually manages to do a deal of mischief before he can be destroyed. They are not known to have attacked men unless they consi- dered their young in danger, but then would seem to forget themselves, and fight with ferocity and desper- ation. In the early settlement of Stukely, a man who was out on a fishing excursion, had with him a gun and small dog, when he fell in with a bear and her two cubs. The dog, not used to hunting bears, at once attacked perty, after satisfying himself that his horse was indeed gone, without farther loss of time started in pursuit. The culprit had been gone some hours, and the pursuer gained no reliable news of him till on reaching Qranby, where there was then a small settlement, he learned the course taken by the thief, and pressed forward in pursuit. At Yamaska mountain he took with him an ensign in the militia service, to whom the sus- pected person and lost horse were well known ; and after cross- £ V 114 PIONEERS OF THE geant of militia could execute a warrant if issued by a magistrate ; or if necessary the justice could appoint a special constable for that purpose ; but serious and vexatious delays frequently attended these proceedings, and too often the guilty escaped merited punishment. In cases of theft, assault and battery, disturbance of the peace, &c., the culprit was to be arrested and sent to jail in Montreal, till tried and punished, or “ delivered by due course of law.’’ As the population increased, and communities were formed, in proportion as the order-loving and law-abiding citizens multiphed, so also did a certain ne’er-do-well, improvident and thriftless class accumulate ; its members no doubt being well recruited from those who had once escaped jus- tice by crossing the boundary line, having thus “ left ing the river below Chambly, turned his course up toward St. Johns, in case the offender had taken that course on his way to the States. Having lost track of the fugitive, they took the road to L’Acadie, where he again found trace of the runaway who was seen to take refuge in a wood so situated that there was noway of egress for a horse but by the one entrance. Leaving his assis- tant here on guard, the owner of the horse went to a magistrate at L’Acadie, and, arming himself with a warrant, returned to watch his opportunity to capture the criminal, who, it was rightly sup- posed would emerge from his hiding place only under cover of darkness. His assistant ensconced himself snugly behind some timbers where he awaited the expected arrival. Very soon the barking of the house dog and the sound of steps gave indication of the thiefs approach, who was first made aware of his immediate danger by hands laid simultaneously upon his collar and the bridle of his horse. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 115 their country for their country’s good” ; but as change of residence does not necessarily involve change of nature and habit, they would perhaps fall into the same or similar errors without being always able to escape the consequences. The difficulties that on so many occasions appeared to lie in the way of a strict and impartial administra- tion of justice, were the same in this country as have with some variations been experienced in a greater or less de- gree by new settlers of every name and nation. It was no doubt owing to the spai'sity of the population that so long a time elapsed before effective steps were taken to organize and enforce a more efficient judicial system. But it was in cases of prosecution for debt, slander, and other local and social difficulties, that the greatest causes of complaint existed, as from being located within the district of ISIontreal^ resort must be made to the proper functionaries in that city ; an application often attended with such delay and expense, as in'a great measure to defeat the object in view, and instead of furthering the ends of justice, materially to retard them ; so that, in numerous instances, individuals chose to suffer grievous wrong, rather than subject themselves to the inconveniences, annoyances, and perhaps humiliations, which would be risked in an attempt to seek redress by course of law ; illustrative of which fact very many at the present day could give cases in point. But we have reason to congratulate each other on 116 PIONEERS OF THE the improvements and modifications more recently made in our judiciary system, such changes having been made, and such deficiencies remedied in the order of these affairs as the state of society in these townships loudly called for, and have left us little to wish in relation to them. But it is of the olden time we are writing, and of the difficulties our forefathers experienced in laying the foundations of society in these townships. The need of well administered laws has been spoken of as a great drawback to both the moral and social improve- ment of the settlers ; more stringent regulations, than as yet had been enforced being required by the exi- gencies of the times. Many of the first inhabitants of these parts of Canada were native Britons or their descendants ; some of them had come across the water to seek homes in the polonies, expecting still to enjoy the protection of British laws, and end their days under their sheltering influences ; but they soon found the illusion rudely dispelled in relation to the homes they had chosen, and the alternative presented to them was, either to return whence they had come, to take refuge in the wilds of Canada, or submit to what was highly distasteful and offensive ; what, in- deed, was considered by some, as an unbearable indignity. Some left for this country without waiting to see the point contested by force of arms ; others were driven in, glad to escape with life, even at the loss of worldly substance ; while others, possessing per- EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 117 haps more caution and self-control, waited till the storm had spent its fury, when they quietly disposed of their effects in a country that was no longer to them a home, and sought a residence amidst more congenial influences and associations. Numbers of worthy and desirable inhabitants were thus brought into the country ; though at the same time, it must be admitted that others came in, who could only be regarded in the light of unavoidable evils, being of that ^responsible ill-regulated class who “ neither feared God, nor regarded man.’’ TLe spirit of intolerable partizan animosity, engendered by intestine war^ had disorganized communities, even families becoming estranged and sundered by the demoralizing influences then so prevalent in what were the British colonies. That diversity of opinion, conflicting interests, and the angry passions and pre- iudices that prevail in times of civil commotion, should permanently aSect the characters of such as had mingled in them, or that minds should thus become unsettled, is a matter of little wonder to an under- standing observer of human nature. It might well seem no easy matter to execute laws suiting the eidgencies of the times among the motley population here collected ; but as a more cool and dis- passionate state of feeling succeeded, order gradually came forth from chaotic confusion. It was well that among those whom Providence had drawn into these Eastern Townships, were some choice g2 118 PIONEERS OF THE guiding spirits, who could discern where lay the elements which would settle and consolidate, and strengthen into a social fabric capable of rising supe- rior to the untoward influences through which it had struggled. These men were deeply interested in what- ever concerned the improvement and welfare of the eommunities they had been instrumental in founding, and had spared neither time nor means in efibrts to advance their material prosperity. Almost invariably they were men who had been subjected to a severe test of their loyalty ; some hav- ing suffered serious inconvenience and injustice, if not actual suffering, in consequence of their principles. It is a convincing fact in favor of our holy reli^on that its elements, though long hidden beneath a chaotic mass caused by the upheaving of social order and the subversion of civil law, will rise from the ruin, and gradually regain their sway over the mind. It was eminently so in this country. The leaven hidden beneath the roof of the lowly cabin, or deep in the heart of the humble believer in Christ, gradually, but none the less surely, diffused itself throughout the mass ; in its influence on the mind, producing a strong bias in favor of law and order ; and requiring but the fostering care of civil government, with reli^ous and intellectual culture, to develop it into well estab- lished and orderly communities. With a thin population considering the extent of the country, and nothing especially alluring either in soil. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 119 climate, or natural productions, to induce immigration ; and with the positive disadvantages of an isolated situation as respects access to market, diflSculties of communication, &c.; aside from the fact of our distance from places where government influence and patronage were centralized; — the improvement of these parts may not seem to have kept pace with more rapid developments, in other readily accessible, inviting and favored localities. |Yet notwithstanding all the dis- advantages of a civil, social or local nature, through which from the first these townships have struggled, a good measure of prosperity has at length been realized as the reward of patient and industrious effort. And may we not anticipate a prospect opening before us ? When the unhappy contest shall have ended that now distracts the neighbors with whom we have long been on intimate terms of business inter- course, and the internal improvements now in course of construction are completed, with others that seem to be required and may have been projected, and which aim at the further development of the resources of our country, is it too much to express hope of a future fraught with good? Though the impression has been sent abroad that we are decidedly “ slow,’’ it will matter little in the end if we are correspond- ingly sure. 120 PIONEERS OF THE CHAPTER XI. It had been customary from the formation of the earliest settlements, for the scattered inhabitants to get together occasionally for promoting neighborly in- tercourse, and gratifying the natural desire of the human mind for companionship with its kind ; and it was then no uncommon thing for people to go several miles over the roads to attend those social gatherings, which in summer must be done either on horseback or on foot. Of course as mhabitants increased, these assem- blages became more frequent and were more numer- ously attended ; the usual amusements being entered into with a zest which showed how highly the occasion was appreciated. Dancing was then as now much in vogue, and among those got together were some sufficiently skilled in violin practice, to furnish such music as was necessary. In those days and at those gatherings, spirituous liquors were usually considered essential as a beverage ; but however the practice of drinking might have been carried to excess at other times and places, to the credit of these people be it said that such was seldom the case on these festive occasions. We are told by survivors that the people then EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 121 appeared to enjoy a greater degree of unconstrained social freedom and manifested a more genial and sincere good nature ; and that less of the spirit of envy, rivalry and detraction prevailed among them, than fre- quently and deplorably characterizes older and better established communities. It is said that as the material and intellectual pros- perity of a place is advancing, the moral and religious principle that underlies all true and permanent social improvement, is at a stand-point, if not actually retro- grading. That this is necessarily so, of course we do not be- lieve ; but that it is apparently true in a majority of cases, we are forced to admit. Yet as it is not our present purpose to attempt explanation of the causes of this social relapse^ or to prescribe a cure, we will only speak of it as one of the plagues incident to the pre- sent diseased state of society. Somewhere about the year 1808, Mr. Sanford Whiting, a preacher of the Methodist connection,(which had already become extensively spread over parts of the United States, and entered some sections of Canada) came in as far as Stukely. Among the inhabitants of that township, some few had, previously to their remo- val thither, been associated with this people ; these few heard him gladly, and after some subsequent visits he succeeded in forming a society which gradually in- creased in number, and was included in what was called the Dunham circuit, then comprising several places both sides of the Province line. V 122 PIONEERS OF THE A good deal of religious excitement attended the meetings held by these people, who no doubt did much real good by awakening the guilty conscience and reforming the sinful life. This effect was apparent in many who had been living in open wickedness, and great moral improvement was witnessed in individuals, families and communities. Of the same origin as many of the settlers in these Townships, and intimately acquainted with their habits, manner of life, &c., these preachers could accom- modate themselves with much facility to the circum- stances of the people, thus winning a sure way to the confidence and affections of those to whom they ministered. Their professed work of looking up the lost sheep, seemed to secure to them a claim upon the gratitude and reverence of those whose good they sought, which claim was honored and acknow- ledged in their being received as “ teachers sent from God.” The collection and formation of societies for the better regulation and improvement of their distinctive forms, and above all the fact that the purity of their lives and conduct was singularly consistent with their zealous professions, gave them great ascendency over many minds. It was evidently the mission of these primitive, self- sacrificing and laborious men, to exercise a peculiar influence among the mixed mass constituting the ori- ginal population of this section of Canada ; a mission EASTBRN TOWNSHIPS. 123 which succeeded in turning from the ‘‘ error of their ways/’ many who otherwise might never have heard the “ Good News ” of salvation by faith in a crucified Redeemer. There is certainly something impressive and con- vincing in the fact that these preachers, many of whom were unlearned, while teaching the doctrines of im- mediate conversion and the direct witness of the spirit, by their earnest and soul-searchmg appeals to the heart and conscience, awakened the slumbering faculties, alarmed the guilty, hardened conscience, and when the contrite soul was humbled and repentant, he was point- ed to faith in the all-atoning sacrifice, “ the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world.” The peculiarly striking ceremonies by which their worship was characterized, and the spirit-stirring strains of their sacred melodies, joined to direct per- sonal appeals, had often an almost electrical effect. News came of Mr. Whiting’s death while on his way to New York, but the appointments to Dunham circuit were continued till interrupted by the war of 1812, which for a time broke off* regular communica- tion between the countries ; but after the political hor- izon was clear, the preachers resumed and continued their labors till the arrival in the country of English Methodist missionaries ; the first of whom was Mr. Thomas Cattrick, the second, Mr. Matthew Lang; names of men still remembered 'with affectionate esteem by many who will read these pages. 124 PIONEERS OP THE In time, the societies became numerous and ‘pros- perous ; certain legal disabilities under which the mis- sionaries at first labored, having been removed by earnest and well-directed effort. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 125 CHAPTER XII. At the time Mr. Henry Lawrence took up his per- manent residence in Stukely, the divisions made by the first surveyors, and the comer stakes placed by them, were still in good preservation ; and he had fre- quent calls to assist in looking up difierent lots, which perhaps he could more readily do than any other person ; owing to his better acquaintance with the different sections. But in process of time, and from different causes, these landmarks had become so obscured, or had disappeared so entirely, as to make a second survey of different parts necessary ; and in this work his knowledge and experience were of essen- tial service. Somewhere about 1831, Capt. Cartier of L’Acadie,, with thirty soldiers who had served with him on the Fron- tiers in the war of 1812, obtained a grant of land from government, which fell within the limits of Stukely^ only about one half of the township having been taken up by associates who principally occupied the south- east part ; and a grant had likewise been made to Bishop Mountain of Quebec, which lay in the north-west comer. The soldiers’ lands were taken from the scattered 126 PIONEERS OF THE and unoccupied portions ; each one’s name having been set to a lot of a prescribed number ; the arrange- ments having been made from a plan of the township. The party had come on accompanied by a surveyor, and were prepared for a lengthy sojourn in the woods ; but finding that they could make more advantageous arrangements with Mr. Lawrence, they let the job to him under certain stipulations agreed upon to the satisfaction of all. A company of five persons, viz., the surveyor, two for the chain, one for the flag, and one for the axe, started in good spirits, each carrying a share of eat- ables. The surveyor took his flute along, so that in the absence of other sources of enjoyment, they might make themselves merry with music ; and some rather amusing incidents occurred during their sojourn of a fortnight in the woods, where they camped out every uight. It chanced that the lot falling to Capt. Cartier’s eldest son, was found to be located on the summit of Orford mountain (as a part of that elevation of land lies within the limits of Stukely) ; and, owing to the pre- sence of minerals in that vicinity, the operations of the compass were so embarrassed,* that attempts at survey- * The writer was informed that soon after Mr. Nicholas Aus- tin’s first settlement in Bolton, he had engaged the services of two duly authorized surveyors, who, refusing to be guided by their compass on coming through from Montreal, got lost in the woods ; when their employer, thinking that surveyors who EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 127 mg in the locality were abandoned. With the excep- tion of this contre-temps their work was satisfactorily accomplished, and the party returned in the best of spirits. It was while engaged in this enterprise, which led them into so many different parts of the township, that Mr. Lawrence gained a more thorough knowledge of the various sections ; and finding that a large tract in North Stukely, well covered with both hard and soft timber, and suitable for either farming or lumbering operations, was for sale on easy terms, and that it con- tained a valuable water power, he resolved to avail himself of the opportunity and become the proprietor of the property. The peculiar advantage of the sit- uation consisted in its containing the only mill seat wdthin several miles, which, with tolerable land and good timber, opened an inviting field for industry and enterprise. He therefore purchased sixteen hundred acres of land immediately around the water power ; and, after making a commencement, removed there at once erecting a saw mill and factory for wooden or cooper-ware, for which the land around afforded an abundant supply of material. These wares mostly found market in Montreal ; and, as the business was carried on largely with the help of his sons, it was continued so long as it was considered could thus go astray compass in hand, were hardly reliable, sent them back. Might not their misadventure have been caused by the existence of minerals in that mountainous section? 128 PIONEERS OP THE profitable. Subsequently he was induced to give up the management of affairs to the young men, though he is still living at Lawrence ville, North Stukely, at the advanced age of eighty-five years; enjoying a comparatively healthy old age after such a life of activity. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 129 CHAPTER XIII. Mary Brown, bom in Stockbridge,* western Massa- chusetts, Oct. 27th, 1742, was a daughter of deacon Brown, of that place, who was descended rfrom a respectable English family. There was a tribe of friendly Indians in Stockbridge at that time, among whom the little Mary was a spe- cial favorite ; and, from often visiting their wigwams, and being thus frequently and intimately associated with them, she learned to speak their language and sing some of their hymns. Part of the tribe had em- braced Christianity ; and among the sacred songs her children remember as having learned from her, was one composed by a native named Okkum, which com- mences as follows : Throughout the Saviour’s life we trace Nothing but shame and deep disgrace ; No period else was seen — Till he a spotless victim fell. Tasting in soul a painful hell. Caused by the creature’s sin.” * Called Ousetannuck, by the Indians. 130 PIONEERS OF THE Of her natural characteristics as exhibiti;ig them- selves in earlier life, we may say that she was quick to perceive, prompt to decide and resolute to enforce; and withal of that hasty, impetuous temper which re- quired restraint and discipline. Bom of Presbyterian parents and brought up in the puritanic manner of life prevailing at that time and place, she had yet a cheerful flow of spirits; and a spice of the mirthfully mischievous would sometimes break out to the no small annoyance of her parents, notwithstanding the restraints of the demure system of home education then practiced. Laughable instan- ces of this are told among her grand-children and great-grand-children. It was no donbt owing in a great measure to this very exuberance of animal spirits, or cheerful and ani- mated nature, chastened and regulated by experience, that she was able to endure the trials and perform the labors of no common magnitude, which fell to her lot during a life of no ordinary vicissitude ; and live through to enjoy a green old age.’’ On the 18th of March, 1760, she was married to Isaac Lawrence, of Canaan, Connecticut, and subse- quently became the mother of eleven children, nine of whom lived to be men and women. She had been thoroughly instructed in the theoretical part of Christianity, and indeed in the practical, so far as con- cerned attention to outward observances and the re- gulation of her conduct before the world ; had like- EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 131 wise learned some very important truths respecting our common frailties as human beings, and our depen- dence on an Almighty Power ; but it was probably left for experience and necessity to bring home to her heart, conscience and understanding, those all-power- ful influences which must have operated to make her the practical and efficient character she at length be- came. It has been said that she was naturally high-tem- pered, to which may be added a quickness to per- ceive and resent cause of offence ; but probably through experience and observation, she had become aware of danger from indulging in this infirmity, and awake to the necessity of self-control. Her natural and ac- quired abilities, chastened and modified by the stem discipline of life, fitted her to enter upon her duties as wife, mother and friend, understandingly ; to dis- charge them with faithfulness and zeal ; to meet dis- appointment and vicissitude patiently, and with a for titude and inward strength that enabled her to rise superior to each pain.’^ She seemed to possess a power to accommodate herself to circumstances, while her devotion to the interests of her family and friends was worthy of all praise. With these qualities in active exercise at the head of a household band, her constant example commanded not only the love and respect of her immediate friends, but the esteem of the entire community where she resided. 132 PIONEERS OF THE In compliance with the wishes of him she had pro- mised to “ love, honor and obey,” she gave up the home to which he had brought her as a bride, to brave the trials and diflSculties necessary to form one in the wilderness. We may not know her feelings in parting from the friends and associates of earlier years, or of her grief at giving up all the refined enjoyments and endear- ments of social life ; but we can imagine that eyes dimmed with tears, looked their last on the dear faces and scenes left behind ; and we know that she went forth from these to seek a restmg place, and form a home for her little ones, in desert wilds. We will not dwell on her sojourn in Vermont, but follow her at once to Canada, where for many years those peculiar qualities which formed her distinguishing traits found ample room for exercise. Ever after their first isolation from society, Mrs. Lawrence’s children had enjoyed an advantage denied to many, in the watchful and loving care of an earn- est-minded, conscientious and self-sacrificing mother, whose efforts in their behalf were bounded only by her powers of usefulness to them. Having been educated after the most approved man- ner in use at the place where she was born, subse- quent experience had fitted her to meet each new change or trial, and she invariably followed the line duty seemed to mark out. The younger members of her family knew little of EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 133 schools ; theii’ mother was their teacher, and from her they inherited both a taste for books and a facilty for learning ; yet however much she felt the cultivation of their minds to be essential to their well-being in Ufe, her own unaided efforts could do comparatively little in accomplishing the work near her heart ; but she did “ what she could. ” After the settlement of Mr. Gale in Famham, and Mr. Willard in Stukely, the young people had better opportunities of gratifying this taste for reading, as both these gentlemen, in course of time, became somewhat acquainted with the situation and prospects of the family, and noticed with approval that the two young men, Henry and Erastus, kept themselves aloof from degrading associations. With the view of encourag- ing them, as they seemed struggling through adverse Influences to acquire comfort for their dear mother, each gave them access to his library, that of Mr. Gale particularly, containing a choice, valuable, and, for those days, extensive assortment of books. These brothers had been prevented from following any par- ticular bent or inclination, by the constant calls upon their time and strength which the situation of the family involved ; and indeed so strong were their filial feelings, that not only a prompt and willing obe- dience was given to their mother, but her very wishes were forestalled whenever practicable. “ Line upon line, and precept upon precept ” had fallen on their ears from the lips of her whose care of 134 PIONEERS OF THE them from very infancy had indeed been a labor of love and such was the gratitude and veneration they instinctively felt, that her comfort and happiness were their first care, her smiling approval their sufficient reward, and the most willing service on their p^t, none too great an ofiering to render. While pursuing a system of evening readings, as well for mental as practical improvement, the children had usually each Hieir turn, and the mother with her work sat by to act as prompter ; reference being made to the dictionary to decide the meaning of words not clearly understood , or in cases of doubtful pronunciation. They were likewise taught to wTite ; and particular attention was given, to the formation of correct habits of speech ; the great necessity for this being that among the difierent specimens of our kind often calling for food and shelter at this ‘‘ lodge in the wilderness,’^ there were representations of various ‘‘ tongues and people,” — English, Irish, Scotch, French, Dutch, and Indian ; all in all comprising a heterogeneous collec- tion, or taken singly a sort of analysis of our common humanity. No w^onder then that though the language spoken w’as our own mother tongue, or designed to be such, it was frequently uttered with such variations,, additions, [omissions and gesticulations, as in effect murdered the king’s English.” Mrs. Lawrence had seen the too sure effect this would in time have on her children ; and 'with charac- teristic forethought had taken unwearied pains ta EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 135 counteract the threatened evil, by teaching them to speak correctly, in wliich she was successful, as may be seen in her descendants. When the brothers,JHenry and Erastus, took up their residence in Stukely, the parents remained with their younger son, Mr. David Lawrence, though frequently visiting and spendingjtime with the other children. Early in March, 1812, they were called to the sick bed of their son Erastus. The disease was pronounced typhus fever ; and, after suffering weeks of pain, part of which time he was delirious, this estimable young man died, having but a short time before completed his 28th year. This was a terrible grief to his watch- ing mother and surviving friends ; and a cause of deep and sincere regret to those who had known liim as the active, intelligent, and obedient boy, or the energetic, persevering and obliging young man. Naturally gifted with a mind of superior order, and possessing an ardent love of the good and beautiful, with earnest admiration of, and aspirations for educa- tion and refinement, it is probable that had his early opportunities equalled his tastes and talents, he would have risen to eminence in life. As it was, his energy and industry were fast open- ing before him a field for the exercise of those natural o powers which marked his character, and he was deser- vedly esteemed in the community where he resided* But ‘‘death loves a shining mark,” and Heaven’s ways are sometimes “ mysterious.” 136 PIONEERS OF THE So much was his mother affected by his death, that she all the more readily sunk under the influence of the same disease, by which physical and mental pow- ers were alike prostrated for a time ; and when so far recovered as to be removed on a litter to her oto house, she was comparatively alone in the world, for her husband had been suddenly struck Aoyyxi by para- lysis within thirty-six hours after his return from the funeral of their lamented son. Such a benumbing power has disease over the facul- ties, that though Mrs. Lawrence was apparently con- scious during the short illness of her husband, it is not probable that she could have experienced the intensity of feeling exhibited on other occasions of like character. She subsequently appeared comparatively tranquil and cheerful, but never regained her usual robust health, though she lived some years after these sad scenes, residing in the family of her youngest son. Through a long life of no common vicissitudes, she had held on the same consistent course, and to the last maintained her faith and hope in Christ her Redeemer. Though, as has been said, she was bred a Presby- terian, her mind was open to conviction, and ready to receive the truth in whatever form presented. On the introduction of the Methodist societies, without waiting to decide whether the doctrines the new preachers promulgated were in accordance with those enforced and received without dissent by the people among EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 137 . whom her earlier life was spent, she broke through the trammels of a puritanic education, set aside precon- ceived prejudices, and cast in her lot with those people, among whom she remained an acceptable member till called to join the Church above. She was particularly remarkable for a ready and active sympathy for those in affliction ; indeed such was her untiring devotion to the duty of attending up- on the sick, that nothing less than utter inability could keep her from this work. At a period in the history of these early settlements, when medical advice could seldom be had, her exten- sive experience fitted her in a measure to supply that want, thus giving her another claim upon the gratitude of the people, among the elder portion of whom she is still remembered with respect and affection. Her influence was the more readily felt and acknowledged both in her own family and by those around, from the fact that she possessed in no common degree the rare and happy talent of combining pleasure with duty. Tliose habits of industry which are essential to such a situation in life, were not only practically enforced in her own example, but upon her children, who rise up and call her blessed some of them being still alive to revere her virtues and speak her praise. h2 138 PIONEERS OF THE CHAPTER XIV. Mr. Ralph Merry, a native of Lynn, Massachusetts, came in from St. Johnsbury, Vt., to Magog Outlet, in 1799. He there purchased one thousand acres of land, and commenced improvements after the usual mamier of the country, having at that time eight children. As they were obliged to pasture their cows in the woods, or rather turn them into the woods for want of a pasture, the little boys were often sent to look them up ; on one of which occasions three brothers, (the second of whom, named Benjamin, was about ten years old,) were sent in company for the missing ani- mals, and after going over the famihar gi’ounds without success, gave up further search and turned towards home. One of them continued on his way ; while the others, one of whom was Benjamin, stopped to gather some of the beech-nuts that lay thickly scattered on the ground in that place. Benny remained a short time with his brother, when he suddenly started on in pur- suit of the one who had gone ; and very soon after, the other left the beech-nuts, and running, soon overtook the first started. On inquiring for Benjamin, he received for answer, “ I left him with you when, in alarm at his disappearance thus, they together returned EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 139 in haste to the point from which all three had started, but no Benjamin could they find ; and after fruitless search and useless calling, they returned to the house with the startling intelligence that Benny was lost. This child had been an object of special interest and tender care, from having in early childhood received a severe fright (the particulars of which the writer did not learn), which so unsettled his mind, that, notwith- standing all that could be done for him, he at times appeared partially deranged, though usually posses- sing his full intellectual faculties. From the constant O call upon their sympathies this unfortunate infirmity involved, the poor child had become gi*eatly endeared to his parents, 'who had made it a point to shield him from every harm with the greatest tenderness. Immediate search was made, though without success ; and, when the alarm w'^as given, the scattered neighbors assembled and turned out in a body to look up the lost. This was in the spring of the year, always a busy time with farmers ; but Mr. Merry was much respected by his neighbors ; and so much sympathy was excited by the case, that the search was prosecuted day after day, being given up only with the hope of his ha\dng escaped death or captivity. It seems that sudden surprise had the effect of bringing him into this unhappy state, when he was often in the habit of throwing off his clothes as if in the effort of relieving himself of something he felt oppres- 140 PIONEERS OF THE sive ; and it was surmised that on getting bewildered and losing his self-control he had done this, as his hat and clothes were found in different places, where he had apparently thrown them in his fright and flight. The woods in the vicinity were thoroughly and effectually searched, but without finding other trace of the missing child, or any thing to direct suspicion as to the course he had taken, except the discovery of Indians’ tracks and a deserted camp,in which the appear- ance of the ashes and other signs gave indication that its occupants had but recently left. This gave rise to the idea that the poor little lost one had fallen in with the savages and been carried off by them ; which conviction so soon settled on the minds of the people, that, in despair of any good results from farther effort, the search was abandoned. 'WTien this sad thought came home to his mother’s mind, it is said that she roamed about like one distracted, crying out in the anguish of her heart, Benny, Benny, 0 where are you?” thus giving expression to feelings which a true motherly instinct can readily understand and appreciate. But though the neighbors and friends were dis- couraged, Mr. Merry could not relinguish the idea of finding his child ; and the thought of his being in cap- tivity filled the father’s mind with agony. Neither pains nor expense were spared in the search, and in his travels wliile in Lynn, he was induced to apply to ‘‘ Old Moll Pitcher,” of famous fortune-telling note- EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 141 riety, and to “ Betsey Barr,’’ of kindred celebrity, both of these worthies assured him that his boy had been taken away by two dark-skinned people, appa- rently natives. The last named of these women gave him to understand that the lost child had been taken to a place where three rivers met ; and he so far fol- lowed her instructions, which perhaps in a measure agreed with his own convictions, as to go to Three Rivers, where he made earnest and extensive enquiries, but without learning anything satisfactory ; and the same result followed every attempt to get reliable infor- mation in any quarter, till effort was given up in despair. Some of the relatives, however, were still of opinion that the child had been taken off first by the Indians, and that, in consequence of his becoming confirmed in imbecility, (a consequence which was naturally sup- posed would follow the fright caused by finding him- self in the power of these strange beings) they had taken him near some settlement in the States, and abandoned him there ; which supposition subsequently gained probability from the report that a wander- ing, half-crazed unfortunate had been taken up and placed in the alms-house at Haverhill, Massachusetts, where he died after some years. Show of probability was further attached to this story from rumors that the poor creature in his more lucid intervals gave such account of himself, and other members of his family, as led to conjectures of his identity with the lost Ben- jamin Merry. But this meagre intelligence only . ‘r'!' 1! riJ V PIONEERS OF THE reached these parts after the father’s death, which occurred some thirty-six years since, so that nothing further was ever ascertained. The writer received this account from a surviving sister of the lost boy, who was in her ninth year when these events occurred, and she distinctly remembers the agony of grief into which her mother was thrown by them, and the distress and anxiety of her father during his prolonged search ; and when after leaving no means untried which in any mind offered a probability of the child’s discovery, or of gaining sure knowledge of his death, he was compelled to relinquish hope of either. She remembers also the regret and sympathy felt and manifested by their neighbors and friends at the suspense and uncertain- ty in which Benjamin’s fate was shrouded. Mr. Merry had purchased extensively of the asso- ciate claimants ; and in consequence of parties having failed in the fulfilment of stipulated obligations, was loser to a very great and seriously embarrassing ex- tent. In short he was a sufferer from the effects of that system of granting land which in admitting of so many and great abuses, often made the innocent and honest-mided, victims of the designing, unscrupulous and unprincipled adventurer. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 143 CHAPTER XV. The folloAving biographical notices are intended to represent an honorable and honored class, to whom reference has been made in this work, as having been prominent in forwarding the settlement of the country, and largely interested in its subsequent improvement and prosperity. With the exception of Col. Wells, these persons be- came actual residents of Canada, that individual hav- ing remained at Brattleborough till his death, though, on a grant of land having been made to his children, they removed hither and settled in Faniham, where many of their descendants still reside. It might be proper here to say that the intention of the writer was to have collected and prepared a greater number of these obituary notices of characters long since passed from life’s stage, many of them no doubt consigned to forgetfulness and oblivion ; but find- ing that such a course would necessarily enlarge her work much beyond the limits originally intended, the design was abandoned ; the knowledge of the subject arrived at having induced the conviction that in very many if not most respects, the individuals of whom sketches are thus given, may be relied on as a general 144 PIONEERS OF THE representation of that class to which Canada owes much. It may be well also to say that in preparing these short biographies, the writer is, in most of the cases, largely indebted to surviving relatives and friends of the deceased parties ; but in those of Messrs. Wells and Gale, particularly, much has been taken from an American book, entitled, ‘‘ The history of Eastern Vermont.’’ SAMUEL WELLS. Samuel Wells, son of Jonathan and Mary Wells, though of English ancestry, was born in Deerfield, Province of Massachusetts, in 1730. He married Hannah Sheldon ; and in July, 1762, settled in Brat- tleborough (now in the south-eastern part of Vei” mont,) on a farm of six hundred acres, situated about a mile north of the east village. Here was bom his family of thirteen children, two of whom died in in- fancy. The remaining, five sons and six daughters, with the exception of one daughter, married in Brat- tleborough. A grant of twelve hundred acres of land in Canada, having been made to each of them by the Crown, as a compensation for the losses which Col. Wells had suffered during the revolution on account of his adhesion to the King, they all removed thither between the years 1798 and 1802. The daughters were married to Samuel Gale, Ephraim Nash, Micah Townsend, Jonathan Gorton, Nathaniel Church, and -M EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 168 roughly despised, he disposed of his beautiful estate at Somersworth, near Lake Winnipissiogee, and prepared himself and family for a new home in the wilds of Canada. In thus persisting in a step fraught with such fearful responsibility as was that of compelling them to share a life to which they were wholly disinclined, and for which they were totally unfitted by habit or education, some of the inherent qualities of this husband and fa- ther’s character were exhibited ; which consisted in an earnestness of purpose wdiich seemed but another name for obstinate perseverance ; an unbending will that would yield nothing of self-supposed and self-appropri- ated right ; and an impatience of contradiction or oppos- tion in the pursuit of a favorite project, which carried all before it. Many of the troubles of his after life were traceable to the developments of these very traits. On becoming joint proprietor of a township of land, Mr. Austin visited the premises, erected a log house and made a commencement ; and, when he came in with his family, was accompanied by a number of men hired for the purpose of clearing land. They proceeded to chop and bum the timber on ninety-five acres, at which the smoke was so thick as for a time to obscure the sun, and great fear was felt lest their house should be burned; but by effort this calamity was prevented, and the land, thus cleared and prepared immediately, that same season yielded one thousand bushels of corn. It is said that he came to Canada with an abundance 164 PIONEERS OP THE of means ; and, as it had been his ambition to become a large landed proprietor, his wealth was freely used in what he considered was for the good of the country, such as the construction of roads, bridges, mills, and in extensive surveys, &c. ; but, whether his plans were not well matured before being put in practical operation, or whether there was a large infusion of the visionary element in his mental composition ; it is apparent that from some cause, his anticipations were not in any good degree ever realized ; and he had the grief and mortl- frcation of seeing his fortune wasting away before the untoward influences with which he was brought into contact. The troubles that have risen out of the rela- tion of Mr. Austin as Patentee, and various other par- ties as Associates of the Township of Bolton, are still fresh in the memories of many in those parts, much litigation having grown out of them ; and the conse- quence to the subject of our notice was, that from be- ing a man of opulence and influence, he became reduced in means, and limited in resources ; the world seeming to have passed upon him the sentence of condemna- tion as an unsuccessful man, which is known as virtual death. This, to a spirit like his, was most unendurable ; but even in his efforts to seek redress for grievances by course of law, he was often imfortunate ; for when feeling himself wronged and outraged by the scheming and complicated villany he sometimes met, his tenacious adherence to what he considered right, and his strict sense of justice, prevented the meeting his adversaries 1 ^ n EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 165 on their own gi-ound of deceit and subterfuge ; in con- sequence of which unequal contest, he could not but be a frequent sufferer. That he was arbitrary, is admitted ; or perhaps phre- nolo^sts will say that the organ of combativeness was largely developed m him ; or others may think that a good degree of the antagonistic element was apparent in lus character; whichever was the case, through fault or misfortune, the man seemed better fitted to make enemies than friends. Mr. Austin was bred a quaker ; but in consequence of having married out of that society, he was looked upon as an alien, till by continued adhesion to the customs of the sect, he retrieved his standing and was forgiven, continuing to wear the quaker garb and retaining their habits of speech till his death. We are not informed, however, whether he carried these manners into the drawing-rooms and to the tables where he was fre- quently admitted during his first visits to Quebec, ibough such was probably the case ; as for the time he was an honored and welcome guest, and likely a pnvi- leged person. On one of these visits there, a cannon was presented him by the Government, which in a very unquaker like manner he declared his purpose of mounting on a high point of land running out from his estate into the Lake, which small promontory he had named “ Poiirt Gibraltar.” But for want of a road, and means of conveyance through the woods, the cannon was left in Quebec, and there remains to this day. He 166 V PIONEERS OF THE was unfortunate in his family relations, his wife having ; suffered for years from a partial derangement of her mental faculties, which was probably induced by a ^ (to her distasteful) change from a home of luxury and ^ refinement, to the hardships and self-denials of fife in ^ the woods, involving, as it did, the loss of all moral or intellectual culture. She had been dehcately and ten- 1 derly reared ; and, till her removal to Canada, had been used to occupy a position in society in accordance with ^ her tastes and capabilities ; is spoken of as having been ® naturally a person of high spirits, of a reserved and 5 uncommunicative nature, but of elevated moral senti- * ments. i Of her daughters, four in number, one returned to ' Portsmouth, N. H., where she subsequently married, the other three remaining in Bolton. Some of their greatest sufferings and inconveniences arose from the want of proper medical advice in the family. One of its members accidentally fell and ^ broke an arm, when the limb was suffered to grow ^ together in such a manner that a large bunch protru- ded from it a little above the wrist, healing in that way to the great annoyance of the owner. The following was taken from the Sherbooke Gazette, published in 1859, and was from the pen of a passenger on board the steamer “ Mountain Maid : ’’ We had the pleasure, on our upward trip, of meeting with an oldjgentleman, whose early recollections of the country, after a residence of nearly seventy years on the west- EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 167 erly bank of the Lake, as he recounted them, gave a vivid picture of the difficulties with which the early pioneers of these townsliips had to struggle. People now-a-days grumble at the hardships of a new country, with roads, mills, schools, churches, medical advice, &c. ; yet we can form but a faint idea of what opening up a new country is, or the embaiTassments and per- plexities the first inhabitants had to encounter. Compare the circumstances of a party settling a few miles back in the woods at the present time, with those of the people first coming mto this country, say seventy years ago. We will give a few facts gleaned from the old gentleman referred to. His father, named Austin, emigrated from New England nearly seventy years smce, and brought his family, among whom was the narrator, then eleven years of age. They left their home in Somersworth, N. H., when the snow was two and a half feet deep, with three yokes of oxen, one sled being loaded with hay and grain for the teams, the two others with the family, household goods, and provisions. They had to camp out in the woods for nine nights after leaving the settlements in Vermont, before reach- ing their new home. Where are now the rich and flourishing farms on both sides of Lake Memphremagog, with good society and every convenience that one need ask for, at that time for many miles, not a single settler could be found, not a tree cut, the land not even surveyed, and a “ waste, howling wildemess lay around for several day’s journey ; continuing so a 168 PIONEERS OF THE number of years after Mr. Austin’s fii-st coming to the Magog. No mill or place where flour could be obtained, was nearer than Danville, Vt., distant upward of forty miles.” The com they raised was at first pounded m a large wooden mortar in common use in the country wherever there were settlements at that period ; and this conti- nued till Mr. Austin purchased a small mill, which pro- pelled by water from a brook near his residence, in a measure supplied the deficiency. “ Schools !” contmued our old friend, “ why bless your heart, we did not know in my young days what a school wa%; we had to teach one another in the family; those who knew the most, teaching the rest : no chance for schools when he had to camp out over night in going to \dsit our nearest neighbors.” Mr. Austin, senior, died in 1821, ruined in fortune and disappointed in hope. His character, as has been seen was compounded of the elements of discord , and those qualities which are essentially of the “ earth, earthy” were developed in his life and conduct. What an impressive comment on the uncertainty and instabi- lity of human expectations and calculations. May not the inner lives and private histories of many others be in some degree here delineated ? W e think so ; and that lives are lived out and heads laid low, of which, if the true record was told, such might be seen. The writer has been assured by one who has had the best opportunities of knowing, that notwithstand- EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 169 Lag his apparent sternness and coldness toward the world he conceived had used him so harshly, beneath the surface of his character there ran a vein of better feeling ; and that to those in whom he could intimately confide, he expressed the deepest regret and repen- tance for some of the acts of his life. He had chosen his restmg-place on the prominence himself had named “ Point Gibraltar,” where he sleeps alone ; the spot having been designated by a simple birch tree, which, however was unfortunately cut down by mistake. Many feel that justice has not been done to his memory, and that he possessed inherent qualities which, under better influences and happier auspices, would have developed into a character of no ordinary virtue ; his prominent faults being but perversions of a better moral sense ; and, that all being considered, it merits other treatment than silence and neglect. Let the veil of oblivion be drawn over his faults, for “ the grave covers all defects.” REUBEN GARLICK. The Rev. Reuben Garlick,M.D.,of English parent- age, is said to have come from Milford, Massachusetts, but whether that was his native place, the writer hM not learned ; the knowledge we have of him, before his coming to this country, having been principally drawn from the following extract of a letter addressed to the husband of his grand-daughter in West Shefford, m answer to inquiries respecting his earlier life. 170 PIONEERS OF THE The information we have been able to glean is very meagre indeed, and has been mostly gathered from the memory of the aged, and the traditions of the parishes where he lived and labored. It is indefinite as to dates ; and of his parents nothing yet has been learned except that they were of English birth. The only item we have respecting his ordination, was taken from a published list of ordinations in the Diocese of Connecticut, where it is recorded that Reuben Garlick was ordained deacon in Middletown, Connecticut, July 2nd, 1787.” It is said that he was a graduate of Yale College, New Haven, Connecticut ; but it is probable that he was residing somewhere in Vermont, very likely in Alburgh. We find traces of him at work in Alburgh among the early settlers, preaching the Gospel, visiting the sick, as both clergyman and physician, and some of the time teaching school. He continued there nine or ten years, and then removed to Jericho, Vt., where, and in the neighboring towns of Underhill and Essex, he both preached, and practiced medicine, some nine or ten years more. In both these places he has left behind him a good name ; and the present generation speak of him as having been a most useful man in his day ; an acceptable muiister, a good physician — generous- hearted, freely bestowing upon the poor, but laying up nothing for himself. From Jericho, he went to Canada, and settled in EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 171 ShefiFord, where Jie lived six years, preaching, practic- ing medicine, and teaching school, till his death, which took place there, April 19th, 1805. His mortal remains were deposited in theburying-ground at Water- loo, Shefford, L. C. Of his children, some married and settled in this country, while others returned to the United States. The only surviving son is now living in the township of Brome, C. E. The early settlers of those portions of Canada that lie along the hne, mostly emigrated from the neighbor- ing States, many of them being descended from the Dutch families, who had first settled on the banks of the Hudson ; their preference in favor of the British government having induced them to remove to this country, during or soon after the war which separated those colonies from the parent state ; and these with a few families of English, Scotch, and Irish origin, constituted the population at the time Mr. Garlick came to Camada. As the Episcopal Church was at that time but little known in the northern portions of the United States, the religious sympathies of the people in these parts, so far as developed, were for the most part favorable to Calvinistic doctrines, and the Presbyterian forms of worship and church government. Mr. Garlick might, therefore, be considered a pioneer of the Church in the Eastern Townships.