The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-02-22
and preserved for winter.
THE FLOOD.


THE FLOOD.
The faith and courage of these
pioneers were to be sore1y tried
by a great disaster the succeed
ing year. This was the year of
the great flood, and not only were
their habitations invaded, and
crops destroyed, but some of the
fields were buried in the sand to
the depth of two or three feet.
Many distressing and some ANUS
ing incidents are related by the
early inhabitants.
This calamity was not of equal
extent with the Northern Army,
but it followed so soon that it
was severely felt. Mutual help
was rendered in every extremity.
THE HORSEBACK RIDE.
Richard Wallace elsewhere
honorably mentioned) was sent
out to meet and assist the family
of John Mcconnell, an expected
immigrant. He met the family
near night, and they were in a
miserable plight. They were all
on foot, without shoes or stock
ings, and an old beast, a mere
apology for horse, was stagger-
ing under the weight of a few
necessary articles for the family.
Some were sco1ding, some crying,
and some laughing. 1t was soon
agreed that Wallace should take
two of the children, one a huge
girl of twelve years, and another
of two years, and return to East
mans brook, followed if possible
by the rest of the family. Here
was an embarrassment for Wal
lace. It would be impossible for
the big girl to hold on while
crossing the s1oughs, and over
logs, but the mother stepped for
ward and by flash of her genius
cut tx. Gordian knot. ''In faith"
said she, ''there must be leg on
each side of the horse" and so
the girl came into Haverhill. She
was soon married to Jonathan
Toler, at the age of twelve years
and six months.
STYLE OF LIVING.
Richard Wallace says, "those
who first settled Haverhill and
Newbury were for the most part
men of some property, and able
to furnish themselves with land,
some stock and tools, to hire la
borers, and in a short time their
houses were we'll furnished for
that day. They were laborious,
prudent and economical, but very
kind to the poor and sick, strict
in their religious principles and
all attended worship on the Sab
bath. The style of living in all
Of the settlements were similar,
where they possessed the means.
Boiled meat, peas or beans, and
potatoes, formed their repast at
noon at night and morning pea
)r bean broth, and sometimes
milk porridge. We never thought
)f having meat more than once a
lay, and | never drank a cup of
tea during the three and half
years that l lived at Coos. Many
wore Indian stockings and moca-
sins of raw hide, when tanned
Gather could not be obtained, and
some of the wealthier had Indian
los fc 1,1fA 4e
wore buff caps. Their clothing
n general consisted of linen"
Mr., Wallace thinks that in 1872
lot more than one school could
De found in every ten miles, on
either side of the river, from Or
ord to the Upper Coos. These
we're generally constituted by a
ew neighbors combining, and
hiring an instructor for a few
weeks in the winter, these teach
RS being very inadequate, and
heir only books the psalter and
primer.
THE INDIANS.
The CoosSuck Indians formed a
ort of connecting link between
he St. Francis and other north
rn tribes, and the Indians of
outhern New England. OF this
nee numerous tribe that occu-
lied the rich meadows of Coos,
ut a mere handful remained af-
er the settlement of the whites.
Time and space forbids more
han a mere mention of some
f the striking personalities that
re finely drawn in Grant Pow
RS History of Coos, and repro
uced in the Gazetteer. We will
OF repeat at length the thrice
Did tale. Capt. John, a former
hief of the St. Francis tribe
ought with the French during
1e Colonial war, was of a cruel