Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-01-22
DANIEL WEBSTER'S PARENTS.
From the Newburyport 1Ierald.1

From the Newburypor 1Ierald
We all believe, in some way, our traits are
connected with those of our ancestors. We
know it is physically and we belive it to be so
mentally. We reason partly from analogy, be-
cause we see it in the brute creation. We have
gained great deal of knowledge about horse
when we know from what "blood" he sprang.
This feeling, to be sure, is not so strong with
us as in Europe, where titles and position in
society are hereditary, and so much often de-
pends on an accurate knowledge of ones ances-
try. Yet even here it is strong, particularly
when the individual concerned has become en-
inent. For this reason, all that relates to Mr..
Webster's parentage is peculiarly interesting,
for we believe with posterity he will be regard
ed as the great intellectual giant Of the age
lie himself does not seem to have troubled him
self very much about the matter, though he did
some, for he once employed Joshua Coffin, ESQ.,,
of Newbury, to trace it back for him. At that
time, according to Mr.. Coffin, he was mistaken
in the name even of his grandfather.
1t may not be generally known that both of
Mr.. Webster's parents we're born in the imme-
diate vicinity of Newburyport all their nobili-
ty, too, was that proudest # all nobility, that of
nature. His father, Ebenezer Webster, was
born at East Kingston, N. H., about ten miles
from Newburyport. From the poverty of his
parents, as we suppose, he was adopted by an
influential and wealthy man, Major Ebenzer
Stevens. Mr.. Stevens owned large tract of
unsettled land in New Hampshire, in a place
then called Stevenstown, from himself, since in
corporated as Salisbury. A portion of this he
gave to young Webster, who went there and
settled down at the age of twenty-five. He built
him log cabin, in which he lived for seven
years. Mr.. Webster thus speaks of his fathers
early condition-"A man who is not ashamed
of himself, need not be ashamed of his early
condition. 1t did not happen to me to be born
in log cabin; but my elder brothers and sis
ters were born in log cabin, raised among the
snowdrifts of New Hampshire, at period so
early, that when the smoke first arose from its
rude chimney, and curled over the frozen hills,
there was no similar evidence of white man 5
habitation between it and the settlements on the
rivers of Canada" All his life he remained
poor, and, as is well known, was obliged to
mortgage his little farm to raise money to edu-
cate his children. Yet though poor, he was
honored, useful and respected. He was always
one OF the most prominent citizens of his town,
discharging its most responsible offices year af-
ter year. He served often in the Legislature of
his state, as representative and senator. He
was member of the convention called to form
state constitution, and also of the one called
to consider the proposed United States consti-
tuition. lie was appointed, in 1871, Judge of
the court of common pleas for Hillsborough
county, which office he held till his death He
was Christian, too, active in all the affairs of
the church.
His revolutionary services we're very impor-
tant, extending through the whole war. At
first n captain, he was promoted in 1881 to the
rank of colonel. He was brave, trusty and
reliable officer, and engaged in many situations
of great responsibility. He was in the army
when the news came of the birth of his son
Daniel. Calling to his brother-n-law, Stephen
Bohennon. he said, "Here, Stephen, have
another boy at home; get gallon of rum and
we will be merry." This, of course, was before
temperance days, when even good Christians
thought 1t no harm to use n little stimulant to
help heep the heart deerful.
etass is sad mpI on one ms Ccssqn 5fS near near tbe
little stream alone dividing them, the British
however, in much greater force. A storm Of
great length and severity arising, the American:
found shelter in a large barn. When fair wealth
er came, it appeared the British had disappear
ed. This seeming like aninterposition of Prov
idence, some one proposed prayers.
"D-n tie prayers" said soldier, 'let
those pray who want to-" Gen. Stark was SC
much incensed at the language, that he struck
him over the shoulder severely with his sword
saying the name of God should not be profanet
in his army. They all went into the barn, where
he called on Capt. Webster to lead in prayer
who, mounted on a haystack, prayed with sucl
fuency and ervency, that, as Stephen Bohonnor
said, "there never was so much blubbering at
camp meeting"
Judge Webster's personal appearance wa
very fine, to which his son often alluded in terms
of pride. lie was tall stout, very dark, witt
keen, black eyes, and powerful voice-all as il
well known, characteristics of Daniel. He dice
in 1906, when his son, but for whom his owl
memory would even now have become dimmed
was still young man unknown to fame.
Judge Weoster's second wife, the mother o
Daniel, was Abigail Eastman, born in Sails
bury, just opposite Newburyport. She was
tailoress by trade, going round from house t,
house, as he services were required, Her faith
er was the owner of small farm. The fami
came from Wales and first settled in Salisbury
She had two brothers, Ezekiel and Daniel, from
whom she named two of her children.
The story of the courtship is thus told. Sool
after Mr.. Webster became a widower, whic
was in March, 1774, he came to East Kingston
his old home, on visit. A lady friend said t
him, 'why do you not get married again ?' -
would" he replied, "if knew the right one.
81 can tell you," she said, "one who will jus
suit you-Abagail Eastman of Salisbury, abou
as black as you are" He mounted his hors
and went to Salisbury. Reaching the house
young woman came to the door, when he aske
if Abigail Eastman lived there She told hin
she was the one, when he handed her the lette
of introduction he had brought. She invite'
him in, and before he left the bargain was made
They were married October 18th, 1874.
Both Mr., Webster's parents were persons c
fine physical development and strong good sense
: Injured to toll, and belonging to the commo
ranks life. No patrician blood flowed in thei
veins. They seemed to spring up like the ia
| bled heroes of old from the earth, gave birth
a son by whom they have been more honore
than if they could have traced their coat OF arm
through line of athousand senseless and title
ancestors, and died. intellectually the race
! dead. No son of Mr.. Webster inherited NOR
than the name, and in fact we as rule neve
look for great man in great mans son. ID
families have floods and ehbs of greatness a
/, the tides and is the intellect of a great ma
the accumulation of successive generations P
Many interesting questions suggest themselye
on this subject of genealogy, which we must re
serve for a subsequent article.