Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-05-01
Habits and Customs of our New
Hampshire Forefathers.

chester american.
"The majority of the earlier inhabitants of
HlIlsboro' were of the puritan stock and they in
herlt much of the self-denying spirit which dis
tlngulshed that noble race of men. Another con-
siderable portion of the early settlers were of
the Londonderry stock, which emigrated from
the north of Ireland, their ancestors being orig
lnally from Scotland. In the seventeenth centu-
ry considerable numbers of the Scotch were in
duced by large grants of land, from James the
first, to settle in the north of Ireland, where their
posterity remained distinct from the inhabitants
of that country. They were Scotch presbyter-
ians and with the hope of enjoying their religious
liberty they came to America about the year
l7l8. They subsequently settled in Londonder-
ry, whence some of the first inhabitants of Hills
borough emigrated The McNeils, the McClin-
tocks, the McClary's, the McColIey's, the Nc
Clure's, the Cunnighams, the McAlisters, the
Tagarts, the Steels, the Wilson's, the Houstons,
and several other families were of this origin
They were an active cool headed, warm-hearted
mirth-Iovng people. Descended as most of them
we're from the Pilgrims and Scotch covenanters,
they had been trained to habits of industry, per.
severance, and self-denial, which peculiarly fitted
them for pioneers in the wilderness. When we
take into view the difficulties they encountered,
we almost wonder at the courage and hardihooG
displayed in surmountng them. Their lands
were ncumbered with thick forests They had
no roads save paths marked by spotted trees.
They endured hardships almost uncomfortable in
transporting their necessaries over these rough
ways. We are told that it required three men
to steady the vehicle which conveyed the furni-
ture Of the Rev. Mr.. Barnes from Amherst 10
this town. They had no bridges, but were obi
SO as to be impossible, They possessed but few
implements of husbandry Their dwellings at
first were rude huts, built of logs and furnished
with none of the luxuries, and comparatively few
of the Convenences Of life.
Their manner of living was extremely simple
When they had milk considerable part of their
food was bread and milk. In The winter when
they had no milk, they made great account oi
bean porridge, soup broth, pork and beans, &c
Tea, coffee, sugar and molasses, were dainties
which they seldom afforded and equally remov
ed from the extravaganza Of modern times, was
their style of dress. In those days man deem
cd suit manufactured by his wife and daughter
sufficiently good for him to wear on most occa
sons, and our grandmothers made their afternoon
visits in short loose gown, with checked aproI
and neck handkerchief, which their own hands
had spun. For number of years after the set
Element ofthe town no carriages were used, ant
all journies were performed on horseback. The
good man and his wife were accustomed to ride
TO church upon the same horse she sitting on
pillion behind him, and not unfrequently carry
ing child in her arms, while another was noun
ted on the pomel of the saddle before its father.
No person thought of purchasing Or exchan-
ging horse without making the inquiry, " can
she carry double p as some otherwise valuable
animals were in the habit of elevatng their heels
to testify their displeasure at being thus doubly
aded. In winter when the snow was deep pair
of oxen were attached to sled, and the whole
family rode to meeting on an ox-sled, Sometimes
too, an entire household, seated upon an OK sled
would set out in the morning to spend the day
with friend six or seven miles distant. What
would our railroad travellers IN these days say to
such a mode of conveyance? But alas the day
of invention had not then arrived. Steam had
not then been made to expedite every kind of
business, even to that ofrddng the doctor of his
patients. In former days, greater quantities of
snow fell in winter than now, and snow shoes
were much in vogue About fifty years since
sleighs took the place of sleds. At first double
sle!ghs were used of sufficient size to accommo-
date six or eight persons. Single cutters were
soon after introduced. Wagons were substituted
for riding on horseback, about the year 1872
The first chaise owned in town, belonged to Mr..
John Shed, and the second, to Dea Joseph Sym
onds. They were introduced about the year 1905.
Injured to constant labour and exposure the first
settlers here were hardy race. They were not
ashamed to bear the reputation Of working men,
on the contrary indolence was a lasting disgrace.
The females assisted in what they termed the
lighter out door work, such as raking hay, pull
ling flax, &c. 1t is automatically stated that the
wife of Thomas Murdough, the first settler on
the farm now owned by the town as the poor
farm, was accustomed to travel twice daily, near
y three miles thro' the wood to Maj. Andrews
to milk her cows, when the weather would per-
nit. What language would this hardy grand.
mother and her contemporaries employ in ad-
degenerate age who not only deem it quite un.
gentee to milk at all, but who flee from the pres
ence of the harmless COWS as from beasts Of prey.
The marriage ceremony was mos! commonly
performed at the house of the clergyman, after
which the newly married couple mounted upon
the horse, and rode lovingly to their habltaIon
Not unfrequently as they passed along they were
saluted from the dwellings on the way by the
firing of muskets This CUSTOM, however, per-
tanned only to the Scotch Irish portion of the Peo-
Pile. They were met by party of their friends
who accompanied them to their home, where the
evening was passed in every species OF jolllty
and mirlh Among the amusements common at
that period may be mentioned, quilting parties
The young women assembled in the afternoon
and Piled their needles industriousIy till evening"
when the young men came in, and country
dances filled up the remainder of the evening
In autumn, husking frolics, terminated by a
dance, furnished amusement. Somewhat later
the apple bee became common.
Their pastimeS were of a more natural growth
than those of the present day, and were doubt
loo, moro condusive ia health and age