The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-06-26
North POwnal.

The Sick:-There is at present no new
cases of serious illness among our peo-
pie, excepting Mrs. j. i. Cook, who
about two weeks ago, on account of not
feeling as well as usual, sent to Platts-
burgh for her son, the Rev. Hobart Cook.
Seeming to recover from this indispOsi-
ton her son, after few days returned to
his parish. Last Sunday her symptoms
became so alarming that the neighbors
thought it necessary to recall her son,
who was sent for again. AT this writing,
although dangerously sick, we are glad
to learn that her condition is somewhat
improved This estimable lady is the
widow of the late Rev. j. L. Cook, who
for ten years until the time of his last
sickness, was pastor of the Congrega-
tional church at this place, and whose
memory is still cherished by our people
with feelings of the most tender regards.
VIM. r. Blanchard, everyone will be
pleased to learn, is improving and there
is hopes that this highly respected citi-
zen may be spared to his friends and
neighbors yet for longer time. This
gentleman is now eighty nine years of
age, and his presence is one that is
familiar to all. Our old men the longer
| they live the more valuable and interest
| ing do they become to the younger por-
ton of the living. While they live the
past covered by their lives seems to have
an actual existence and a vital union
with the present, and when they die. we
are sensible of loss, feeling, as if
something was taken away from our own
conscious being, which can never again
be recovered. Let the old never regard
themselves burden because of their
age, for they are the necessary links
which unite together the past and pres
ent, and many times they constitute an
efficient cause to keep the faith of those
who Immediately follow, from becoming
a sterile and dead faith.
A Cannon Ball Joseph Peckham has
in his possession four pound cannon
shot which was ploughed up this spring
on piece of land that formerly belonged
to the old "Deal' farm. 1t is covered
with thick coat of rust, which proves
it to have been long while under
GROUND. There is much curious inquiry
how it came in this locality. There is
no recollection that there was ever in
Pownal cannon that fired such shot.
Some conjecture that it was brought
| from Bennington battlefield. But the
cannon used there were of larger
calibre. We will venture, however, the
following explanation, and promise that
this shot found its place in Pownal long
before the battle of Bennington was
thought Of 1t will occur to those who
read history, that in 1744, at the begin
ming of what was called liking George
War;" forts were built by Massachusetts,
colony along what was its northern bor-
der Fort Massachusetts, in what was then
known as West Hoosac, was one of them.
| Ephriam Williams was commander of
this fort. In 1746 or l747, and during
this war which closed i'll 174S, Williams
was sent with a company of soldiers to
| Albany, as a rendezvous. from which a
movement against the French and In
dams was projected; but which was soon
after abandoned. Also in 1865, during
what was called the ''French and Indian
war; Williams was made Colonel of a
regiment, and was sent as before with
his men to Albany, from whence they
proceeded north and in September fol
lowing, in an engagement, Col. Ephraim
Williams was killed at place near Lake
George. Now the easiest way in those
DAYS for bodies of men from Fort Mas
sachusetts to be moved in that direction,
was through Pownal and over the noun
tains to Albany, and most probably this
was the way taken by Williams on the
two occasions mentioned. Also in 1855,
there were at Albany fourteen regiments
of recruits, and forty pieces of artillery.
These ordinances were brought from the
forts by the soldiers, when they came to
Albany from their several military posts.
Fort Massachusetts had its regular com
plement of cannon, as it was fort and
not ''block-hOuse," and no doubt Col.
Williams, when sent to Albany, took
with him one or more pieces of artillery,
and on his way thither, in passing
through Pownal, this cannon-ball. just
now d. scovered, might have been fired
from cannon or dropped by accident