The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-02-22

.zMs%S Am France and En-
gland, nations
diverse in race, language, rel1g-
ion and government, contend
ed for supremacy. The French
man, social, versatile and 1mag1-
native, an adventurer, an explor-
er, an evangelist among the In
dams, with incredible alacri-
ty sped his canoe through the
head waters of the mighty north
ern rivers and lakes, and dotting
their banks with missions and
trading ports, unfurled the BAN
ner of France, in the name of the
cross, over this imperial dominion.
The Englishman, practical and
resolute, wasted no baptismal
water on savage heads, but found
ed home, built a log stockade
for protection, school house for
instruction and a church for pray
er. In the long race of centuries
the tortoise overlook the hare and
the French were expelled. The
beautiful hills and smiling villag-
es of Our native state were from
the first, disputed territory, and
destined to remain SO, until the
attainment of statehood in 1871.
DARK AND BLOODY GROUND.
Most appropriately has it been
called the dark and bloody ground
of New England, for its villages
were war trails for contending
savages, and the most direct route
for the dreaded incursions of
French and Indians. upon the
southrrn settlements. Many a
captive has trod the long weary
Journey to the wilds of Canada,
never to return, but some came
back with glowing descriptions
of the broad, fertile meadows of
the Coos valley, and among others
was John Stark, the hero of Ben
nington.
EXPLORATIONS.
The general court of New
Hampshire determined to send a
company to explore this region,
by way of the Indian trail from
the great valley to Bakers river
and the Penigewasset. Ac-
cordingly in the spring of 1854
Col. Lovewell, Major Talford
and a company or men with Stark
as guide, left Concord and in
seven days made Connecticut riv-
er at Piermot1t. They spent but
one night in the valley, and made
precipitate retreat, probably
fearing an attack from a superior
force of Indians. Later in the
same season an exploring party
led by Capt. Peter Powers, made
the perilous trip successfully,
proceeding up past the Ammo
noosuc and Johns river, called by
them Stark river, as far as North
cumberland, N. H. In 1861, after
the surrender of Quebec and the
gathering upof the scattered frag-
ments of the French armies, the
spirit of emigration revived, and
the men of Connecticut, Massa-
chusetts and New Hampshire pre-
pared to transplant themselves
into the great western valley of
the Connecticut.
SETTLEMENT.
No less than sixty townships
were granted on the west side of
Connecticut river and eighteen on
the east side in the year 1761.
At this time New Hampshire
claimed all of the land west to
the New York line, and Gov. Ben
ming Wentworth not unmindful
that charity begins at home"
reserved for himself 500 acres of
land without fees or charges, in
every township granted to petit
TONERS. 1t is probable that the
first information of the "Coos
meadows" was derived from In
dian hunters and captives, the
second from Capt. Powers and his
company, and the third from the
soldiers of the old French war.
"There were two men who were
the principal agents in the first
of Haverhill and New
bury in the Coos country, Col.
Jacob Bailey of Newbury, Mass,
and Capt. John Hazen of Haver-
hill. Mass. Both were officers in /
the old French war and stood ]