The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-10-23
SELECTED.
For the Reporter.
Early Settlers of Canaan-No 8.

| For the Reporter.
Early Settlers of Canaan-No3.
Peter Haywood, Jr. For fifteen years
knew him as Uncle Peter" and so |
will call him still. He was born March
2S, l75l, and died July II, 1922, aged H.
He was hale active man for his years,
apparently good for ten years more Of
life. On the afternoon of that day he
harnessed his steady old gray horse to a
jersey wagon and drove to Norridge-
wock on the south side of the river. Near
the foot of the long hill at the approach
sides with logs for the saw mill. leaving
little more than space enough for two
teams to pass. Perhaps the breeching
broke, something caused the horse to
start and veer to one side of the road,
the wheels struck log, the carriage
was upset, and he was thrown out,
striking on his head and fracturing his
skull. He lived few hours, but was un-
conscious. The town authorities were
blamed for permitting the highway to be
so INSTRUCTED.
The life Of steady going farmer is
happily uneventful; but there is one
episode In the life of Uncle Peter, of
which | know but little, but will relate
so much as | remember to have heard.
Two men by the name of Lambert, (no re-
.ation to the Canaan Lambert's) came
from some place down the river, Pittston
perhaps, ami by their deceitfui represen
tations, persuaded Uncle Peter to join
them In gold digging enterprise. He
went with them on two or three short
trips. | don't know the locality of their
operations, but think 1t was somewhere
East of the river Once he went on horse
back and was gone several days; on his
return he took his saddle bags into his
cellar where there was an apartment with
lock on the door. After few days he
became less careful and left the key where
some of the family got hold of it; in the
saddle bags they found a crust of bread
and piece of pork as large as mans two
| fingers. This was the last of his gold
hunting.
No one suspected that he had any dis
honest views; he was simply deceived by
fair words, and perhaps he was little
credulous oy nature. Not 80 the Lam
berts. They had broken brass candle
stick of which they would show bit as
large as 1 finger nail carefully secured to
appear like gold. 1t was believed that they
had scheme for making or obtaining coun
terfeit money, aud the gold digging was
to account for their sudden wealth. And
IL they could connect some man of good
reputation with their plans it would In.
spire more confidence in their integrity.
Uncle Peters first wife was Marah
Smith, daughter of Abraham and hhoda
Smith, born April 8, 1852. l know moth
ing of this family, never heard of any
Smiths in Canaan except Isaac, for many
years after the date of this marriage,
May 0, 1873. They had three children
| Polly, born March 81, 1880. died, 1906
Asa, born June 3, 1882, died, lS45
Cephas, born May 7, 1884, died, 1856
| There is no record Of the death of this
wife. Oct 7, 1856 he married Catharins
Sampson, daughter of John and Prudence
Sampson, born April ., 1903. Their chill
dren were;
Cephas, born Aug 10, 1887, died aged 4
months.
Lucinda, born April II, 1889, died 1918
age 20. Married Seth Wyman, Jr.
Betsey Mcclellan, horn Dec. 81. 1890
Married Abraham Wyman. (She was
named for her mothers sister Betsey
Sampson, who married Bryce Mcclellan,
1909
Catherine, born Jan. 2s, 1903, died,
1928. Married jonathan Swan.
Samuel, born March rs, 1906, died In
California, Dec. 26, 1881.
The Sampson family lived somewhere
near the Northwest corner Of Norrdge-
wock. Mrs. Catherine Haywood, died
Oct ~, 1874. | never heard what her APP
pearance was when she was young but
for many years she was 20 overburdened
with flesh that she scarcely moved about
the house except from her chair to the
table or. to bed. / have no recollection
of ever seeing her in the old meeting
house; and think for 80 years or more
before her death, she never got so far
away, even to attend the funeral of her
daughters or her husband. 1t was thought
| by some that her coffin would have to be
so large that the door would not be wide
enough to admit 1t. But there was nc
trouble Of that kind. She was rather slow
of speech, bu. was thoughtful, sensible
woman.
She had a sister Prudence who lived
with her many years, who was the very
opposite in appearance; short and thin,
aud ever active in work about the house
died about 1880.
When the son Asa was a young man he
was employed one winter hauling logs to
a sawmill In Starks. As he was unload
ing the logs from the sled, something
hindered their rolling down the bank,
and he went around to the lower side and
removed the impeachment he was not
quick enough to get out Of the way, and
one or more of the logs rolled over his
head and body. From Internal injuries
and conclusion or congestion Of the
brain, he was unconscious for q while,
and for many days 1t was thought be
could not live. He WAS never able to do
hard work Afterwards. He attended our
school one winter after this, especially to
study grammar that he might be able TO
teach school, but l don't think he ever
did. He learned to make sleys or reeds
for weaver's use, and worked at this trade
as long - he was able to work.
Catherine, the youngest daughter was
an excellent girl and woman. Being about
my own age. and . schoolmate, l knew
more of ner than Of the others. She had
remarkable memory, at least 10 one
direction. There are scores and scoret
Of unmarked graves or marked only with
small rough stones In the old grave yard
but there WAS scarcely one 90 obsurely
marked that she could not tell who va
buried there. Frequently when death
occurred In the town the relatives would
have 10 get her to 60 and show where
Others Of their family were buried.
Now many Of the little mounds are nat
tened down 90 that no one can tell if)there
is grave there or not and there arc many
even Of the most respectable Of the old
iuhshikants, whose resting place must
ever remain unkuowu.
Uncle Peters arst house was Of hewed
logs. when the present rseadspce VA
built have no means Of knowing, but ]
think II was some years before the pres
sent century. Several Of The Arst twt
story houses In the town were on o!mi
laf plan, having one chimney with tAres
nru places In The back part Q lasgs kitoh