The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-09-11
From the Bridgcton (yye,o Jersey) Chronicle.
SUDDEN DEATH.

On Saturday morning last the body of Mr. Je-
remah Badon was found lying near well on
his own farm, distance from the house
in which he lived. A jury was summoned by
John Ware, Esq. who examined the body, but
fonnd no mark of violence, and it is supposed he
fell dead while in the act of pumping some wa
ter, as one of his hands still rested on the pump
handle.
The subject of this notice was, we believe, one
ofthe oldest native Inhabitants in Hopewe town
ship, and with another brother and two sisters,
has resided on the estate left them by their father,
ever since his death, which occurred many years
ago, very much in same way as the sons, he be-
ing found dead in the field
The family, in the recollection of the oldest
Inhabitants who knew them, had always been NC
counted very strange and singular one-some
considering them insane, idiotic, lunatic, .ns-
anhropic they lived sort of recluse life, having
very liltle intercourse with amy body, further than
TO dispose of the products ofthu farm The man
agenlent of the affairs, if management it could be
called, devolved entirely upon the deceased and
Il sister, who died last spring. And although they
lived more like savages than civilized people, and
denied themselves every comfort of life, yet the
love OF money was very strong with them, and the
only pleasure they seemed capable of enjoying,
was that OF boarding up their earnings.
The brother and sister living, are incapa-
bile Of taking care themselves. For twenty years
or more he has been suffered to wander in the
woods in state of perfect nudity, and whenever
the cravings OF appetite lmpelled, would return
to the house, satisfy his hunger, and in the morn
ing ine again to his hiding places, being sell
dom fever seen by the nearest neighbors. The
overseers of the township, finding it necessary,
since the death of Jeremiah, to take charge OF
them and their effects, he was pursued and taken.
He was thnly covered with hair, somewhat re-
seinbling the coat of very old opossunl, and
stouty resisted every effort TO cothe him, aud for
several days refused to eat any thing.
On examining their miserable abode, which
was scarcely fit for decent swine to live in, there
was found in an old chest, almost without lid or
lock, twelve hundred dollars in specie, two hum
dred in good bank pnper besides quantity of
bank notes converted into mice nests, which were
so effectually destroyed, not to be able to es.
innate their denomination value, and several
small sums of money have since been found on
the premises, and doubtless more remains hidden
that will never he discovered.
Since the suspension of specie payments, they
have sold nothing, having an utter adherence of
shinplasters! The cattle and hogs on the farm
have been two three times futtened, in the
cellar was found several hogshends of wheat,
nearly destroyed hy the rats, which were numer-
Gus, and venomous as almost to dispute the
possession of the owners Their property will
probably amount TO six or seven thousand dollars,
and the only grief manifested by the survivors
was thar their money was to he taken from them.
Such is an imperfect sketch of this wonderful
family, which, although living within two miles
of the village of Bri,lgeton, seems to be as un-
known as if their residence had been in Iowa! A
paruIlel circumstance, in all its parts, we think
cannot be found in the United States.