St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-03-12
PEACHAn A CENTURY AND A
QUARTER AGO.
Deacon Jonathan ElIfins' unique WA"
usCript Presented 10 the NermO"'
HistOPiCaI Society.

Deacon Jonathan EIkins' Unique Man
uscriut Presented 10 the Vermont
Historical Society.
Bv the will of Henry K. Elklns, ma
tive of Pr acham, who died in chicago III
Tulv. 1901, the Vermont Historical So
cietv has received an exceedingly val
liable collection of early Vermont CONS
naner currency and other relics of Revo-
lutionarv DAYS. Mr.. Elkins was the son
of Deacon Jonathan Elklns, one OF the
FIRST settlers of Peacham, and in the col
lection is manuscript that describes
stirring episode in the life OF that worthy
man Deacon Elkins first came to Peach
am from New Hampshire, in the spring
of1775 with small band OF followers
War was then in progress and the bands
of armed invaders that were constantly
menacing the Vermont settlements maze
life on this frontier extremely hazardous,
so Deacon Elkins and his followers short
" returned to Newbury. He came BACK
in the fall of the next year, however, and
located permanently. The settlement
was almost constantly i'll danger from
one cause or another for several years,
and on the night of March 5, 1871, when
Deacon Elkins was entertaining Col.
Thomas Johnson and Jacob Page OF
Newburv, his house was surrounded by
a hand OF tories and adventures under
the leadership OF Azariah Prichard,
Connecticut tory, and the three were
carried off to Canada as prisoners. Page
was kept but short time and was eX-
changed. Col. Johnson was released on
narole. Deacon Ekins, who at this time
was but 10 years old, was taken to
Quebec, where he suffered much from cold
and hunger. In the fall he was carried
to England and tor about a year was
confined in the Plymouth Mill prison at
Lands End The manuscript referred to
contains among other things an account
of this experience. 1t is related that
while the American prisoners were con-
fined there, DR.. Benjamin Franklin ar
ranged to provide each one Of them with
a small amount OF money per month Tor
the purchase Of necessities, and instead
OF using all the money for such purposes,
Jonathan Eliins bought a blank book
and took instructions in mathematics
| from one OF his fellow prisoners.
This book he carefully preserved and 1t
is now a part of the collection.
The manuscripts also tells of the early
settlements OF PeaCham, and the many
| difficulties encountered by those who
| first made their homes there. The future
historian of the town will doubtless hnd
much valuable Information IN the record
that has been so fortunately preserved
Another valuable portion Of the colIec'
ton consists of rs or so coins, most OF
which were issued during the years 1885
to 17SS, under an act of the legislature
passt d ia June, 1885, authorizing Reuben
Harmon, IT,, to com copper money. AS
| Vermont was the irst state to coin
money this collection is particularly val,
liable, especially those coins issued in
1885 which are now exceedingly rare
The collection contains specimens oil
nearly all the types and varieties issued
during this period and is consequently Of
great historical value. The coins and
other articles are containedin neat ma
hogany case and will be known as the
"Elllins collection
Henry K. EIkins was a prominent bust
ness man of Chicago, but always re
tanned deep interest in his native state
He was espe cially interested in Vermont''
early history and this interest promptec
him to make this collection which is con
sidered the most valuable addition that
has been made to the society's historical
treasures in many years.