Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-09-05
nlisrellancous.
EXTRACT FROM AN ARTICLE ON
DANIEL WEBSTER.
BY CHARLES W. MARCH.


from the sheets of the unpublished work, in press
Daniel Webster was born on the 18th
day of January, 1882, in the town of Sails
bury, New Hampshire. His earliest ances-
tor, of whom the family have any certain
knowledge, was Thomas Webster. He
was settled in Hampton as early as 1885,
The descent from him to Daniel Webster
can be found recorded in the Church and
town Records Of Hampton, Kingston,
(now East Kings:on) and Salisbury.
The family came originally from Scotland
two centuries ago and more. 1t is probable
however, from certain circumstances, that
they tarried in England awhile, before emf
grating to the new world. They did not
bring over with them all the distinguish.
ing characteristics of their countrymen =
the Scottish accent had become a mere ira
diiion at the time-of Mr.. Websters father $
father.
The personal characteristics Of the fami-
ly are strongly marked: light compilations,
sandy hair in great profusion, bushy eve
brows, and slender rather than broad frames,
attest the Teutonic and common origin of
the race. Dr. Noah Webster-the compil-
er of the Dictionary-was, in personal APP
pearance, the vera efgies of the whole fam
lily.
The uncles Of Daniel Webster had the
same characteristics. They were fair hair
ed and ofrather slender form. His father
however, was Of different physical organ-
cation. No two persons could look like
each other less than Ezekiel Webster, the
father of Daniel, and either of his brothers,
They resembed their father, who had the
hereditary feature and form; but Exc
kiel Webster had the black hair and eyes,
and complexion of his mother, whose mai
den name was Batchelder. She was de-
scendent of the Rev. Stephen Bachelor,
man famous in his time in the county OF
Rockingham aud the towns adjacent
There are many persons now alive IN Kings
ton who will tell you, they have heard their
fathers say, she was a woman of uncommon
strength of character, and sterling sense
Daniel, and his only brother of the whole
blood, alone of the five sous of Ezekiel
Webster, had the Batcheder complexion
the others ran of into the general charac-
teristics of the race.
Many persons in Kingston and Salisbury
still live who reccollect Ebenezer Webster
well. They say his personal appearance
was striking. He was tall and erect; six
feet in height; of stalwart form, broad
and full in the chest. His complexion was
swarthy, features large and prominent-with
Roman nose, and eyes of remarkable bril-
the result, perhaps, OF his services in
the army. He enlisted early IN life as a
common soldier, in the Provincial troops,
and during the war of '56, served under
Gen. Amherst, on the Northwestern from
tier; accompanying that commander in the
invasion of Canada. He attracted the at
tention and secured the good will of his SUI
perior officers, by his faithful and gallant
conduct; aud before the close of the war,
rose from the ranks 10 a captaincy. Peace
between England and France soon follow
ing the capture of Quebec and conquest OF
Canada, the provincial troops were disband-
ed, and returned to their homes.
Previous to the year 1868, the settle
ments in New Hampshire bad made little
or no progress toward the interior Of the
States for more than half century the fit
full eruptions of the French from Canada,
and the constant if not more cruel assaults
of their subsidized allies-the Indians-re-
pressed any movement inward. into the
country. To defend what they held, by a
kind of co,don mihtaire of block houses.
was all the frontier men hoped.
The cesson of Canada to England how.
ever, by the treaty of Paris, in 1903, remov-
ing the great obstacle to farther progress
into the interior, the royal Governor OF
New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth, be.
gan to make grants of townships in the Gen.
trail part of the State.
Col. Stevens, with some other persons
about Kingston, mostly retired soldiers, OBJ
tanned grant of the town of Salisbury, then
called, from the principal grantee. Stevens
town. This town is situated exactly at the
head waters of the Merrimac river; which
river is formed by the confluence of the Pc
migiwasset and Winnepiseogee. Under this
grant, Ebenezer Webster obtained LOT
situated in the north part Of the town. More
adventurous than others Of the company
who obtained grants, he cut his way deeper
into the wilderness, making the road he
could not find.
In 1894, he built log cabin and lighted
his fire. 1.-THE smoke Of which" his sou
has since said, /" ascended nearer the North
star than that of any of his majesty's New
England subjects" His nearest civilized
neighbor in the North, was at Montreal,
hundreds of miles of.
His first wife dying soon after his settle
ment in Salisbury, Ebenezer Webster MARI
led Abigail Eastman, of Salisbury, lady Of
Welsh extraction. She was the mother oil
Daniel and Ezekiel; and, like the mother
Of George Canning, was woman of far
more than ordinary intellect. She was
proud Of, and ambitious Of her sons; and
the distinction they afterwards both acquir'
ed, may have been. in part, at least, the re-
suit Of her promptings.
1t was the great desire of Ebenezer Web
ster to give his children an education. A
man Of strong powers of mind and much
practical experience himself, he still had
felt deeply and often the want of early edu-
cation, and wished to spare his sons the
: notifications he experienced. The school
master was not then abroad, or al least had
not visited Salisbury in his travels. Small