The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-12-31

NOV. vs. ioJfi ulo heN' Duuley W oouuIluge was OF
dained pastor of the church in Simsburyand at that
time the members renewed their covenant VOWS
Among the names recorded were those of Nathaniel,
Thomas, Ruth, Elizabeth, and Hannah Holcomb.-
In 1883, grant of land was made to Nathaniel Hol-
comb On examining sketch history of Simsbury,
CRANKY and Canton, (all originally Simsbury)I find
no man of the name of Holcomb, except Joshua and
Nathaniel, until the year 1894 In list of tax pay
ers in that year, Thomas Holcomb is added. From
these named, probably the vast number of persons
in this country by the name Of Holcomb descended.
Although enough have left Connecticut to people a
nation yet of some 600 voters in the town of Gran
by there are II named Holcom6. There are also IS
of the name of Hayes. found several cases Of Hol
comb women, marrying without changing their
names; and was told that if a man Of woman wish
cd to marry they must go out from CRANKY, or take
a companion who has Holcomb or Hayes blood run
ing in their veins.
In the historical sketch prepared by Noah A.
Phelps, former Secretary of State, are many inter
estng Incidents Of which is the title of land con-
veyed from some of the MASSACRE Indians, to John
Griffin because he possessed the magical power of
setting fire which consumed quantity of pitch and
tar! Tradition hands down the story that Griffin
told the MASSACRE head-men that he could burn tar,
pitch and even oater and that if they did not give
him title to large tract Of land, he would burn
them UP. They wished to see some of his jugglery
praised especially the power Of burning aoater Mr.
Griffin set fire to some alcohol, which burnt, and
which he threw into some tar and pitch, causing
thom to burn. This convinced the Indians that
Griffin could do what he pleased, by way of mira
cles and they Immediately gave the title to the tract
of land demanded In March, 1868, the General
Court ordered grant of 200 Of landto be made
to Mr. Griffin, on account of his being the first to
perfect the art of making tar and pitch The town
made him another grant, and the whole combined
was called Grifin's lordship.
My father having served at Newgate Prison,( Sims
bury Mines,) as blacksmith, and as one Of the
guard and having heard anecdotes related by him
in early childhood, respecting the prison and its in
mates,I quite interested i'll having some of these
incidents repeated by old people in CRANKY few
days ago. One of these was,-Peter Perrin, (called
Dublin) escaped over the old pickets and when sub
sequently discovered by my father and ordered to
return, said, ats not me, Misthur Holcomb. Twas
n;ver in Newgate Prison, and shall not go there
My father told him he must go--took him back,a
received ten dollars reward for apprehending and
returning him. AT the completion Of the new walls
AID pickets, the prisoners were permitted to drink
toasts with the officers of the prison. Dublins toast
was, "Here's health to the captain and all the rest of
the prisoners" A song, composedby DR.. Buck,was |
sung on this occasion. This evinces about the same
sd of ~ &c
eral cases Of outbreak in the prison are named, |
anloug which is one Of thrilling character. 1t APP
pears that the prisoners had agreed to descend the
ladder Of the shaft (some Is feet deep,) except a
portion of the last, who were to make an attack on
tho only guard who was there at the time, when the
others were to come up; give assistance if necessa-
~, and escape The attack was commenced on Mr. |
Dan Forward, who took the assailants as they came
and pitched them heels over head on those ascend
ing, some of whom went to the bottom, which soon |
convinced them that Dan was too forward for them
in their position, and they gave up the contest and
retired to their lodgings Two Methodist preachers,
or those who protested to be Such were imprisoned
for stealing horses to ride their circuits They
orderd to make nails. They refused, when orders |
were given to administer to each a certain number
of lashes. One cf them went to work, but the 9TH
or swore he would no.,and with axe he found, he
cut three or four fingers from hand, as to be
freed from work. His hand was dressed, and he was
made to keep dry sand running through hopper,or
turn grindstone a certain number Of hours per
day, until his hand was healed, when cot was so
placed that he could turn nail rod and set to work.
which he performed faithfully after that.
As appears from record, the discipline of New
gate was severe the lodgings of the prisoners were
all in one room; this mere hole, caused byre-
moving copper ore and other matter-an unhealthy
place, The regulations were not good, and frequent
attempts made by prisoners to obtain their lib
crty by rising on the guard, or in other ways.
have the prison discipline the substance ofwhich
I will give on my return, and compare it with the
old discipline that people may see the radical i'm
provements made in prison regulations since 1850
1900. JEDEDIAH HoLCoMB.