The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-02-08
DANIEL wEBsTER's PARENTS.

is SO physically, and believe it to be mental
ly. We reason partly from analogy, because we
see it in the brute creation. We have gained a
great deal of knowledge about a horse when we
knew from what "blood' he sprung. This feeling,
to be sure, is not so strong with as in Europe,
where titles and position in society hereditary,
and so much often depends on an accurate knowl-
edge of mes ancestry Yet here it is strong,
particularly when the individual concerned has
become eminent. For this reason, all that relates
to Mr. Websters parentage is peculiarly interest
ing, for we believe with posterity he will be re-
garded the great intellectual giant of the age.
He himself does not seem to have troubled HIM
self very much about the matter, though he did
some, for he once employed John Coffin, Esq, of
Newbury, to trace it back for him. At this time,
according to MIR Coffin, he was mistaken in the
name even of his grandfather.
1t may not be generally known that both of Mr.
Wcbster's parents we're born in the immediate vi
cnity of Newburyport; all their nobility, too, was
the proudest of all nobility, that of nature. His
father, Ebenezer Webster, was born at East King
ston, 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, Maj. Ebenezer Stephens. Mr. Stephens
owned large tract of unsettled land in New
Hampshire, in place called Stevenstown, from
himself, since called 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 years.
MIR Webster thus speaks of his fathers early con-
dtion-"A man who is not ashamed of himself,
need not be ashamed of his early condition. 1t did
happen to me to be born in log cabin, raised
among the snow drifts of New Hampshire, at a
period so early, that when the smoke first arose
from its rude chimney, and curled over the frozen
hills, there similar evidence Of white
mans habitation between it and the settlements
on the rivers of Canada.
All his life he remained poor, and as is well
known obliged to mortgage his little farm to
raise the money to educate his children. Yet tho
poor, he was honored, useful and resi- e. table, He
was always one of the most prominent citizens Of
his town, discharging its most responsible offices
year after year. He served often in the legisa-
ture of his State, as Representative and Senator.
He was member of the Convention called to form
a State Constitution, and also of the called to
consider the proposed United States Constitution.
He was appointed, in 1871, Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas for Hillsborough county, which
Office he held till his death. He a Christian,
too, active in all the affairs of the Church.
His revolutionary services were very important,
extending through the whole war. At first a Cap
tain, he promoted in 1874 to the rank of Colo
nel He was brave trusty and reliable officer,
and engaged in many situations of great respon-
sibility He was in the army when the news came
of the birth of his son Daniel. Calling to his
brother-;n law, Stephen Robinson, 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 Chris
tiars thought it no harm to use little stimulant
to help keep the heart cheerful.
1t is said on one occasion, Captain Webster was
encamped with General Stark, near the British, a
oil Rrit
however, in much greater force. A storm of great
length and severity arising, the Americans found
shelter in a large barn. When fair weather came,
it appeared that the British had disappeared. This
seeming like an interpostion of providence, some
one proposed prayers.
"D-n the prayers" said a soldier, "let those
pray who want to-" .... .
General Stark was so much incensed at the Ian
guage that he struck the soldier over the shoul-
der severely with his sword, saying that the name
of God should not he profaned in this army They
Ill went into the barn, when he called on Captain
Webster to lead in prayer, who, mounted upon a
haystack, prayed with such fuency, that, as Ste
phen Bohynnon said, "there never was 50 much
at camp meeting" ..Gsr
Judge Webster's personal appearance was very
inc, to VIII ch his son often alluded in terms OF
pride. He was tall, stout, very dark, with keen,
black eyes, and powerful voice-all well known
of Daniel He died in 1906, when
mis- son, but for whom his own memory would even
now have become dimmed was still young man,
unknown to fame. |. s.s. ..s"fsgf"r n-0p#...s--
Judge Webster's second wife, the mother of
Daniel was Abigail Eastman, who was born in
Salisbury, directly opposite Newburyport She
vas tailoress by trade, going round from house
TO house, as her services were required. Her
father was the owner of small farm. The father
came from Wales, and first settled in Salisbury.
She had two brothers, Ezekiel and Daniel, for
whom she named two of her children. 30
The story of the courtship is thus told Soon
after Mr. Webster became widower, which was
in March, 1774, he came to East Kingdom, his old
home, on a visit. A lady friend said to him, |
why do you not get married again p II would,
he replied, if knew the right one" 81 can tell
gou," she said, s.one who will just suit you-Abi-
gail Eastman, of Salisbury, about as black as you
lre." He mounted his horse and went to Sails ]
bury. Reaching the house, young woman came ;
% the door, whom he asked if Abigail Eastman
lived there She told him she was the one, when
he handed her the letter of introduction he had {
brought She invited him in, and before he left, I
he bargain was made They were married Octo- /
,cr 18th, 177i. ~ha~a - 80
Both Mr. Webster's parents were persons of fine /,
physical development and strong good sense, in I
lred to toll, and belonging to the common ranks 7
If life. No patrician blood flowed in their veins.
they seemed to spring up like the tabled heroes I
IF old from the earth, gave birth to son by
whom they have been more hoBored than If they
could have traced their coat of arms through a
inc of thousand senseless and titled ancestors,
md died. Intellectually the raceis dead. No son