Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-10-12
; ELIZABETH MANCHESTER ;
BY TITS Allen FeIIner. }
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Il the year lE5f. The hour lust be-
fore sunset, and all the western sky
was aglow with brilliant light. a
fair young girl sitting on the door
step OF her home was spinning fax
as she hummed softly 10 herself
snatchcs Of old English ballads. until
she was startled by the sudden re-
port Of n gun. The frightened girl.
realizing the situation. Instantly left
her spinning wheel and fed into the 4
house. where her guardians wife \
was preparing the evening meal. The /
house. story and half frame one. /
was situated i'm a small clearing near 4
the Iioosick river at petershurgh. y. |
| a.. and was one OF the first suhstan-
/ tial houses erected in that section. II
/ was not an unusual thing for the set
! tiers in Petcrsburgh in those early
/ days 20 Zoe attacked by Indians and
I To be suddenly called upon TO defend
/ their lives and their homes 10y heroic
! measures.
! Elizabeth Manchester. the maiden
| spinning beside the door. was born
/ and bred Ina England. When she was
Is years of age her mother died. and
her father. who had many friends in
! New England. embarked for Amer
| lea. taking her with him. The long
sea Journey had made her father
very ill and fatigucd him much more
than he wished his little daughter 10
know. and be rcjoiced when they
were safe ia Salem. Mass. with their
dear old friends. the Brimmers. who
had awaited them anNiouslv. Mr..
| Manchcster did not survive the New
England winter. When dying he left
his daughter in charge OF his beloved
friend. John trimmer.
The Brimmer family consisted Of
the father. John trimmer. his esti-
mahle wife and two stalwart sons.
/ Godfrey and John. Jr. The latter
were fine. noble BOYS. and John es-
| peciallv was very handsome. Al the
| time Elizabeth was added 20 their
household John was just in early
, | manhood He was fivc years older
than Elizabeth. and they called each
other cousins. although there was no
relationship between them. Their
fathers were lifelong friends and
their mothers school chums in dear
3 old England. So when the BrimmerS
I found themselves upon foreign soil,
I | in vast new country. they welcomed
Elizabeth in their family more as q
n beloved daughter than q friend
, Mr.. Brimmer was very ambitious
4 and had sought the new world for .
= purpose. So he and his family pushed
- ON and on 20 the then western from
p tier and were among the first so settle
in Pctersburgh. " y a truly beau
s., ! tiful and fertile country. almost in
/, although beyond the now famous
berkshire Hills. Here they cleared
the land and made home for them
!. selves. first living in very crud
cabin. but after two years Of hard
= pavcnt toll they erected their fin
frame house. and with a good TIRE
acres az land under cultivation wer
- beginning To be very comfortable ir
a. deed. They were and had Away
20 been exceedingly friendly with ia
~ Indians around them, and had helpe
- them in many ways. Ia return the
n had as vet met with no hostilitie
from the sayages.
=" Mrs. Brimmer was skilled in "a
?" household duties She and Elizabet
kept the farmhouse as clean and pun
ne as the finest manor in old EnRian'
be while Mr. Brimmer and the DO.
~ worked diligently TO clear the lar
as. and cultivate the fields. They Ia
iis been three years in their new HON
er and they had been very busy y
ne happy years.
ell How well Elizabeth remembers
ier the Journey from Salem! IL h'
taken them many weeks 70 rea'
IN their destination. They had mas
ed the Journey in summer, travelling iii
an cvpsies. She had been Cousin Johr
siy especial care on the trip. and bell
'eh 80 constantly together naturally tn
became very dear 10 each Oth'
ON Then came the building and settiil
n Of the new home Row much pies
ate ure Il had been 60 help bcautify {
an. home. for she loved them all
ck, dearly.
md The second year they raised sol
fax. for Eiizabeth's spinning wis
the had been brought all the way FRI
nee galem over the mountains and hi
ing on the great OK cart that had carr
re- Mrs. Brimmer's rocking chair. sii'
zen tea set used In England and oti
axe very precious household articles.
'ort this May day was warm and sun
fui. Elizabeth had carried her wheel {
ped Of doors. where she could work
tbs the open air and listen 10 Johns CO
Sng. She intended 10 make g.