The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-15

witness Of the feat down the stone steps by General
Putnam, by which his name became mmortazed
san Fingers with Il may not be out oil place 10 here
reproduce ltrle history. Il should first be stated that
the old church which stood at the top Of Putnam Hill
referred 10 was blown down during gale The nrst
Monday in May connecticut Trainin' Day., 1873
MAD REMEMBERS DISTINCTLY
the enthusiasm manifested by the people OF her town
when the came that Independence had been do
cared and that America Free II took longer then
than 10 hear from Philadelphia but the glorious
iidings rolled along and, reaching Greenwich a few
days after the grand announcement was received by
the people In the true spirit OF I'd She had something
to say about The deprcdatons during the Revolution
by maraudcrs from the British camps by land
and sea, and OF the suffering among merchants
aud farmers In consequence thereof II was sad news,
she said. when Washington died, In 1I09 How well
she remembered II. The bells all the country
tolled and everybody mourned Her memory was clear
Mead showed her family Bible, printed in Edinburgh,
and which she had possessed anu read during eighty
i've years She reads IN II but seldom now. and her
extreme deafness prevents her hearing what others
may read Tor her On the page containing the family
record appears the following
Ira Mead was born October ~ A. d. ITO, and
rsed TO Nancy Marshall June !. l7a5.
Among the curious things OF the past which Mrs
Mead has preserved and which have come down with
ner 70 'ns present 9 as are
and which belonged 10 aer mother and grandmother;
spinning wheel wool carder and dstan, operated
by herself; quaint stone China sugar bowl and
milk cup, made In England, aud 81 80 in
Continental paper money. This class Of money
nj one Tine Mrs. Mead said the only circulating
medium, gold and SILVER neng than Of the
present day ever dreamed or Com, 10 use her own
language could not be obtained for love or money.
Three OF the notes. representing The value Of half
dollar three dollars and dollars, curiosties
on the face side OF the first is Inscribed
HAIR DOLLAR; No. 4Jo written with pom,
According resolution Of Congress passed In Philnde
ph.a. February IL. l17U y. EVENSs
on tho reverse side:-
AxsRlcAs coxcnKss and the words. I'VE Are One"
rounded by thirteen Joined together representing the
original thirteen states
rho lace OF the sccoud note bears the Words
cosr,xSrAr cuRnKscr. Three Dollars. No. ae,ee5.
miea dollars the value thereof in gold silver accord
81 = resolution Of Congress passed Ep
on the reverse appears an engraving representing
the eagle destroying the serpent and tho Latin words
On the face OF the third note is printed
CosrxxsrAL cunnrScy. Seven Dollars. No. e6.osa.
s eii entities the holder 80 receive ~ or sns vn% n
gross passed At Philadelphia. Nays l776. r. EyENs
ON the reverse are the words, ''Printed BY Hall &
Sellers and engraving representing The clouds and
the In angry conflict, while from the space between
them radates hight suggestive Of tranquility and re-
pose.
Other specimens Of currency bore dato 17.S and all
OF them showed evidences OF having been much used
But Tor tho fact that this money was handled BY MRS
Mead herself nearly century ago II would possess little
interest further than to show by COMPARISON with our
present beautiful fractional currency how far We have
advanced IN the art OF money manufacture
MRS MAIDS CALLERS.
Mrs. Mead Is favored daily with numerous callors,
OF whom long distances Tor the sake Of
graduation Few II any OF these iail to ask about
Washington and the Revolution, great the desire
present and the remote past joined through
the medium Of living link IN the person OF this aged
representative With OF these she is very tree
converse while with others she maintains reticcnce
declining to mako known any OF the variety OF men,
ory which abe alone disclose She Is different
on different days, al times serious, then again very
witty II said OF her. showing this latter quality,
that occasion when friend spoke OF her having
passed hcr hnndrcdth year. asking tho same time
the circumstance did impress her with the thought
nj any moment be announced, that she reped:-"Oh,
no nothing OF that kind alarms me; very lew people
die. you know, after they hundred years old"
When questioned she could fix but lew Of the Incl
dents Of the OF 1872 and she knew loss about tho
late war than the OF the Revolution. She
bcred the circumstance Of the passage through tho
In 1925 or General Lafayette and suite and knew
the burning Of Danbury and Norwak by the British
forces In 1777.
The historical interest attaching the of Green
wch 10 marked IN many ways. Tho old buryng
ground on Putnam Heights, OF which Mrs Mead had
which will, long, all probability receive all that
mortal Of herso and where the Of many OF
those who lost their lives the struggle for liberty lie
Wondering, OF many OF whom with sadness It must be
said
Their Names their years. speIt by the unleterd muss
The place Of fame and cogy supply, n
preserved and kept with care. The old building
the Heights with its gable roof and scolloped
shinglo siding, used BARRIERS shop in l170s IN
which Ger6ral Putnam was getting shaved when in
formed by his Of Tho approach OF Governor Tryon
still stands in a fine state OF preservation. II IL
owned by Mr. Francis Tones.
AS before stated, Mrs Mead 10 (bcng nearly six
years moro than centcnarian In good health and
4 general thing cheerful spiritA Mrs. Jefferson
presses the belief that her charge will live 10
the local ceremonies to DO performed In Greenwich
July 1885, in honor Of the hundrodth year Of Amer
lean independence.