New-York daily tribune., 1851-07-28


of uncommon historical interest, and IS well
worthy of the elaborate tribute which 1t has re-
seived in this volume from an ardent, out as
eliminating admirer, Of the Puritamc virtues oi
its members. They were descended from a com
pany Of Scotch emigrants, who lett Argyle
IN 1912, and took up their abode IN the lnsh prov
NICE of Ulster. Receiving large grants OF land
from King James First, after the suppression OF
a rebellion by his Catholic subjects, they occu-
p,ed the soil from which the latter had been ex-
pelled, and during the remainder Of the century
formed powerful and effective bulwark OF the
Protestant cause.
Upon the despotisn of the English hierarchy
becoming intolerable to the Purtans portion
of the colony determined to follow the example
of their English brethren, who, In pursuit oi re-
bgious liberty, had emigrated to America SIX
teen of these families, devoted to the unalloyed
Presbyterian faith Of John Knox, after an ample
exploration of the country selected the spot 10
which the name OF Londonderry was subsequent
Nv given, in remembrance Of their former resi-
dence in Ireland and made 1t the scene OF their
difficult and perous experiment. These pio-
aeers. for the most part, were men OF middle
age, robust, daring, and adventurous, possessing
the traits of character which fitted them Tor sue
cess. "Bcng at the time frontier town, and
exposed TO a savage foe, IN consequence OF war
with the eastern Indians, which broke out soon
after their arrival, they erected two stone gar
rison.bouses These were strongly built, and
well prepared to resist an attack To these the
several families retired at night, whenever dan
ger from the foe was apprehended. There was,
however, one of their number, James Blair,
man of giant stature and OF fearless courage,
who scorned thus to shelter himself from ms In
dian enemies He would never enter the garrl-
son hut with his trusty arms, remained without
and alone. Ii was reported that this man, who
like Saul king OF Israel, was from his should
ers and upward higher than any of the people,
more than once, IN consequence OF his stature.
saved his own life, and that of his neighbors.
After the close of one of the wars, the Indians
related that they had laid in ambush, while Blair
and others were at work IN the field, and had
opportunities to kill him, but seeing his huge
form they dared not shoot, thinking him god.
Although, during one of the most severe Indian
wars, Londonderry was frontier town, ana
therefore exposed to greater dangers than the
more interior settlements, yet the town was new
or assaied The yell of the savage, and the
shrek of the murdered settler, were never heard
here"
The first company of settlers were soon joined
by others who had come with them 10 America,
and dispersed IN various places were waiting Tor
the selection of township. BY the close of the
FIRST year, accordingly there was large increase
in the number of families. Their dwellings were
at first of logs and covered with bark. a. For
time, they necessarily endured many privatlons
and hardfhps Their habita,ions were not only
rude. but their food was meagre in kind and
not abundant IN quantity Being without beasts
Of burden, much of their provision, during the
first two years OF their settlement, was brought
by the men upon their shoulders from liaverhil,
and from Andovcr, Mass In consequence OF
their vicinity to the falls of Amoskeag, they were
enabled to provide themselves with fish. They
were first directed to these falls by an Indian who
visited their settlement Taking Mr.. MacGrc-
gor, the pastor of the colony, to an eminence,
and pointing to tall pine at a distance, he IN
formed him that they were in that direction
Aided by this, he was enabled with his compass
60 mark out coarse to the falls, to which he
with few of the settlers, Immediately repaired,
and, with the scoop-net which they had provld-
ed readily secured supply OF salmon and shad,
with which the Merrimack abounded This, for
a long time was to the inhabitants of London
derry, most valuable resource. Beng within a
few miles of this important fishing-place, they
could with little inconvenience and labor obtain
an annual supply of fish, which constituted an
important article of food, especially before their
fields became productive Subsequently, and
for many years, they lived mainly upon potatoes,
bean -pouldge, samp and barley broth. II was
long before the use of tea and coffee was intro
duccd among them. Their hard labor and home
" fare contributed much, no doubt, TO tina, ro-
bust health, great strength and longevity, by
which they were as company distinguished In
the labor of subdulng and cultiyating the soil,
the women We'd with the men"
They introduced the culture OF the potato,
with which they had been familiar IN Ireland.
Before their arrival this renowned vegetable was
not cultivated In New. England 1t was brought
into general use by their example. Although
highly priced in their families. 1t was long before
its value was known to their English neighbors.
One or two barrels was deemed generous SUP
ply for the winter. An anecdote has come down
by tradition, which shows the slow progress of
this esculent. A few of the settlers had passed
the winter in Andover, Mass, previous to their
location In Londonderry. On taking their depar-
ture from one of the families, with whom they
had resided, they lefi few potatoes for seed.
The potatoes were accordingly planted; came
up and fiourished well; blossomed and produced
balls. which the family supposed were the fruit
to be eaten. They cooke the balls IN various
ways, but could not make them pslaiable, and
pronounced them unfi, for food The next spring,
while plowng their garden, the plough passed