Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-12-25
Daniel Webster,s Parents.


/. great deal ct knowledge about horse when
we knew from whit blood he sprang. This
feeling. to be sure is not m strong with in
Europe where titles and position in society are
hereditary. and 50 much often depends an
curatc knowledge cf ones anceatry. Yet even
here it is strong. particularly when the in dividu-
nj concerned has become eminent For this reason
all that relates to Mr.. Webstcr's parentage il pc
eulisrly interesting for We believe with postcrity
he will be regarded as the great intellectual giant
Of the age. He himself does not seem to have
bed himself very much about the matter, though
be did some. for he once employed John Coffin,
Esq, Of Newbury, to trace it back for him. At
this time according to Mr.. Coffin, he was msta-
ken in the name even of his grandfather.
1t may not be generally known that both Of Mr..
Webscrs parents were born in the immediate vi
cinity of Newburyport: all their nobility too.
that proudest OF all nobility. that of nature. Ills
! father Ebenezer Webster, was born at East King
ston, n. H., about 10 miles of Newburyport. From
the poverty Of his parents, rs we suppose. he
| adopted by an influential and wealthy man. Minor
Ebeuezer Stephens. Mr.. s. owned II large tract Of
unsettled land in New Hampshire, in place call
| ed Stevenson, from himself since called Salisbury
A portion of this he gave to young Webster, who
went there and settled at the age Of %. lie built
him log cabin, in which he lived for years.
Mr.. Webster thus speaks of his fathers early con-
dition
"A man who is not ashamed Of himself. need
not be ashamed Of his early condition. Itdid not
! happen to he born in log cabin but my
elder brothers and sisters born in log cab
| in. raised among the snow drifts of New lamp
| shire, ut period early, thot when the smoke
! first arose from its rude chimney, and curlcd over
! the frozen hills there was similar evidence Of
white mans habitation between it and the set
Elements on the rivers OF Canada
| All his life he remained poor, and. is well
known was obliged to mortgage his little farm to
raise the money to educate his children. Yet.
! tho poor, he was honored, useful and respectful
lie was always one of tho most prominent oiti-
Of his town, discharging its most responsible
Offices year after year. He served often in the
legislature Of his State,as Representative and Sem
ator.
lie was n member Of the Convention called to
form State Constitution, and also of one called
to consider the proposed Cuted States Constitu
ton. lie was appointed, In lI9l, Judge of the
Court Of Common Pleas for lillsborough county,
which of!icc he held till his death lie was
Christian, TOO, active in ali the affairs oil the
Church;
Iii, revolutionary services were very important
extending through the whole war AT first Cap
tain he promoted in l184 to the rank of Colo
mel. lie was u brave. trusty, and reliable officer
aud engaged in many situations of great response
bity. He WAS in the army when the news
of the birth Of his son Daniel. Calling to his
brother-in.law. Stephen Robinson, he said, "lIere
stephen, have another boy at home, get a gallon
Of rum and we will be merry" This, Of course,
was before temperance days, when even good
| Christians thought 1t no harm to little slim
ulant to help keep the heart cheerful
1t is said on occasion, Captain Webster was
encampel with Gen. Stark, near the British.
! little .tresm alore dividiH" them-the British,
! however, in much greater force. \ storm ot great
! length and severity arising, the Americans found
shelter in n large barn. When far weather came,
it appeared that the British had disappeared. This
seeming like an inerposition Of Providence some
one proposed prayers.
"p--n the prayers, said a soldier, ''let those
Pray who want ~.
Geh. Stark wa 50 much incensed ut the langu-
age, that he strt * the colder the shoulder
severely with his sword, saying that the name Of
God should not lie rroianed in his army. They
all went into the born, when he called on Captain
| W ebster to lead IN prayer, who mounted upon
harStack, prayed with such iluency, that, Us Ste
phen Bohonnon said, there never was So much
| blubberng at a camp meeting"
Judge Webster j personal appearance was very
fBe, to which his often alluded in terms Of
! PRIDE. lie was tall stout, very dark with keen,
| black eyes and n powerful yoice--all well known
characteristics Of Daniel He died in 1906, when
his sou, but FIR whom his momory would even
now. have become dimmed, was stiil young man
unknown to fame.
Judge Websters second wife. the mother Of
! Daniel, was Abigail Eastman, who born III
/ Subsidiary directly opposite NewIuryport. She
was n taiIorcss by trade, going round from house
| to house, as her services were required Her
| father was the owner OF Il small farm. The father
came from Waie,, aud first settled in Salisbury
She had two brothers, Ezekiel and Daniel, for
| whom She named Two of her children.
The story of the courtship Is thus told. Sonn
| after Mr.. Webster became widower. which was
! in March, Ii lie came To East kingston, his
| old home. a visit A lady friend sand to him,
why do you not get married again! 81 would,
he replied al knew the right one Il can
tell you she said, zone who will ust suit you
! Abigail Eastman, Of Salisbury. about rs black as
you are lie mounted his horse and went to
Salisbury. Reaching the house, young woman
came to HE door, whom he asked if Abigail East
man lived there. She told him she the one,
when he handed her the letter Of introduction he
had brought. She invited him in, and before he
left the bargain was made. They married
October 18th. l114.
Il 'th Mr.. Nebster's parents were persons Of
fine lhysrcaI developement and strong good sense.
Injured e. toll, ana belonging to the common
ranks Of life M patrlcian blood flowed in their
veins. They seemed to spring ap like the tabled
heroes OF Old from the EARTH gave birth 10 son
by whom they have been more honorcd than il
they could have traced their coat ii arms through
line OF IL thousand scnseess and titled ancestors,
and died. Intellectually the race is dead. \"
son ct Mr.. Webster Inherited mole than the name
and in In we rule never look tor II greas
man in II q eat mans sou. Do families have
floods and ebbs Of greatness as the tides? and Is
the intellect If n great the accumulation ,d
successive generations! Many interesting qnes-
tons suggest themselves ON this subject of genoa
lory; which we must reserve for subsequent ar