The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-07-20

Aboai $50 there was large smlgrA
tioa irom Argy leshire. ia the ives, o
Scotland, to Londonderry Ia The noril
ofiaisnd. These emigrants were warm
ly altsehed 10 ihs. prcsbyiefisn doctrine
and discipline, ID which the church 3
scotland vas uuited. The Scottish pro
teslants efIreiaud were inyolyediu mas
difficulties during the reign Of Charles j,
aud james H., uutii 1870, the period
known a. The British reYolution, when
William aud Mary ascended lbe throne
They we're bound 10 assist 10 toe sup
port of the Church Of England, aud
many Of them suffered 10 the siege d
Londonderry, Ireland, IN 1858, whea
James III with q powerful force from
France, besieged that city.
They held 70 their religious belief with
a national teaseily that did not accord
With the populat faith Of Ireland, nor
thal Of their English masters. Disliklug
tbe Institutions of 1.-THE and aud rent
being subjected to the Church Of Eng.
land -tbey resolved 10 emigralo 10 Amer.
lea. lu l7ls large numbers Of these
people landed on our shores, some OF
them near Boston and the others near
Casco bay. Those who landed at Casco,
settled The towns Of Londonderry, Wind
ham, Chester aud Manchester, in New
Hampshire, bringing with them these
names from across the waters Of the AT.
lantie. They introduced the culture OF
potatoes as well as the art OF weaving
linen 10 this part of the American con-
tineut
a little more than half a century later,
ia 1863, il is said that their descendants,
McMurphy, Miller, the Derbys, Mont
gomory, and perhaps one or two more,
led by Col. Rogers, from Londonderry,
n, H., explored the territory of what Is
now Londonderry and Windham, Vt.
Their approach would be from the east,
and, as that party of young men stood
upon those towering SUBMITS they would
be impressed with the belief
thatlhese hills and valleys, bounded north,
south, east and west by mountains high
aud grand, had a soil that was rich, a
climate healthy, and for beauty of seem
cry, a paradise in the Wilderness In
1869 the continuous roar Of these giant
forests was first broken by the sound of
The axe.man.
McMurphy began his work in the Wild
nrness on the land now owned by Wash.
Ington Brooks and son, and erected there
The first log cabin in the territory, sub.
sequenay known as the town of Kent.
Robert Montgomery commenced the same
year, on the Widow Collins place; Mil
Ter stopped in Thompsonburgh, on land
now owned by Josiah Goddard, and the
Derbys settled the Vail farm, which they
sold to Geo. Hews in 1890
They returned to their families on the sp.
Droach of winter, but TO come again.
On the twenty-third day Of the follow
ng February, being in l77O, James Rog-
,rs, regular colonel of Colony militia
n the provincial army under King George
he H., obtained from the New York
legislature, which claimed authority and
dominion over this territory, charter of
NJ the land in Londonderry and Wind
IAN as one township, by the name OF
Kent, in the county of Cumberland. In
he Spring of l770 those who came here
he preceding year returned with some
If their families, but whether they re-
naiHed here the following winter cannot
,e accurately asccrtaiued, but il is be-
ieved that no family on the moudtains or
n the valleys faced the storms of winter
,rior to the winter of l773. In the spring
II l572, Dea. Edward Aiken took his
nFed man and walked from his home in
londonderry, N. H.. TO the town OF Kent, |
distance OF one hundred miles, through 1
mall settlements and huge forests. lie
,egan TO open the wilderness in the
part Of Kent, now the north
IN part Of Wndham.
Daring the same summer, while far
way from neighbors and friends, Dea.
Aiken became victim Of disease. lie .
vas doctored aud nursed only by his
ired man, aud besides him nothing but
be maddened roar ofthose mountain for
sls aud the bowling of wolves broke the
wiul silence that regned around him.
lis hired man reported bis condition to
be small settlement in Rocking ham, aud
rom there 10 his wife mot by the light
ing wings Of the magnetic telegraph,
ut By travelling on foot aud horseback.
lis wife Immediately left her home aud
Durneyed that one hundred miles on
orseback, guided by narrow roads,
aihs, and marked trees, with 30 com
auion but helpless babe in her arms;
encouraged aud buoyed !
p in this solitary march by that woman.
/ deyotion and fidelity that should ever
e remembered, She reached her hus-
and 10 safety. Proyidentially be was
bon restored to health, aud his devoted
I'fe returned asshe came. In the spring
( 1878 all these people, consisting Of
bout seven families, returned to their
.mporary location, 70 prosecute the pio-
GERS work in the forests of Kent.
'ill alludu 10 two instances FOR an illus
-aliou Of their manner OF travelling in
lose days. When Dea. Aiken moved
Il family 20 the town Of Kent, he took
i sOn Peter, lad OF ten years, and a
aughter % twelve year,, aud with them
ime on foot, while bis wife, with iiye
aildreu, assisted by Joseph Oaghtersob,
! fr.t. harsehaek srffb gbafr kadNfra, al