The Republican journal., 1908-07-16

their ha ven still reminds us OF tnelr larry
there. The Miller property. where land
ing was effected, was below the Frothing-
ham house. and the solitary log cabin there
with its we'll sschinked" logs, with openings
for doors and windows, was the only dwell
ling to be seen. Davidson and Morrl-
son were landed on the East Side, and
their lots are now in the town of Sears
port. They were hastily set ashore with
their goods, which they succeeded in
with difficulty removing above high water
mark. They dared not camp near the shore
for the night, fearing that a fire might bring
the Indians down upon them. and finally
made their way to some habltatlons In the
interior, where they we're accommodated
till morning, when they built temporary
shelter. Whites History enumerates Mitch
ell, Miller, Chambers, VIM. Mclaughlin,
Wm. Patterson, and John Cochran Of the
original proprietors, and James Patterson,
| NathI Patterson, John Morrison and Thos
Shute, representatives of others, who in
ITO, "began to open the forest preparatory
to husbandry." Davidson, Reed and Barnet
were not mentioned, though the latter two
were here when Miller and the others ar
rived Mitchell thought the principal set
tement was destined to be on the eastern
side of the bay, but Miller was equally sure
it was to be on the west side, prediction
we well know has been fulfilled. Other
families came the next spring, but their
names and number are uncertain. Ben]a-
min Nesmith and family and others came
in June 1878, when the total number of in
habitants was a little over 80. To quote
from Williamson: "The early settlers were,
of course, strangers to the luxuries Of living.
For several years they depended for sub
sistence upon the crops, and upon fishing
and hunting. The newly burnt land pro-
duced plentiful supply of cereals and po-
tatOes Moose, deer, and even bears were
abundant, and the river furnished salmon.
shad and alewives. Groceries could not be
obtained nearer than the truck house at
Fort POwnall, and all their clothing was
homemade, the wool being carded, spun
and woven by themselves. Boots were un-
known, their place being supplied by cow
hide shoes, with knit leggings. Bear skins
were frequently used in the place of blank
cts. All the cooking and warming was done
by the aid of fire ON the brick hearth, or in
the brick oven, and the tinderbox was an
important feature in every household. There
| were no carpets, sofas, or mattresses, and
feather beds and pillows were regarded as
luxuries and were the subject of bequest by
will. A few pieces of china were reserved
for particular occasions, but culinary and
| / oIc 6n nf md
pewter. Pewter platters and bowls glisten-
ed in row on the dresser of every kitchen
or living room. The houses had no paint and
several were without windows"
We are assured that Befast's early set
tiers were in comfortable pecuniary circum-
stances, notwithstanding the hardships
they were forced to undergo, and it seems
that they were regarded as wealthy by
their less fortunate neighbors who did not
chance to own their land, unincumbered.
The inventories of some of the estates of
the prominent men give SO good a suggestion
of what one can get along without, if need
be, that am tempted to quote Williamson
again regarding some of them. He says:
"John Cochran 1st, who died in 1899, owned
1st division lots 40 and so beside timber
lands at the Head of the Tide, the whole
$79.S3, appears to have been 1 case of
drawers, desk, chest, 2 ia bies, 8 beds and
bedding, II chairs, 1 loom, 2 spinning
wheels, pots and sundry small articles. y
Benjamin Nesmith, who was one of the
largest tax paye by his will dated July 6,
1779, bequeathed specifically to his wife,
one bed and bedding, also all pewter and
pots. To his daughter Mary, he be-
queathed zone feather bed, one bedstead-
and bedding. square table, 1 tea table,
/ good chair, l good chest, l iron pot,
l dish kettle, tea kettle, a fire shovel and
tongs, good mich COW, sheep, case OF
knives and forks, also the sum of $14 in
cash, which is to be laid out to buy her d
silk gown and trimmings for the same. Nc
inventory of the estate of any person who
died here previous to 1900 enumerates q
single carpet, mirror. clock, book, picture
or article of ornament or luxury, excepting
the silk gown mentioned" Can we imagine
Miss Mary in all the bravery of her silker
gown coming up the ''town way" leading
from her home, where the old Read house
now stands, to call upon some of her les!
fortunate friends, carefully picking hel
way through the stumps and over the stones
in the rough path that led through Scarcely
cleared fields on one hand, and the unbrok
en- forest on the other? About that time
; or in August, 1779, when the town WA
, abandoned for fear of British invasion
there were 18 families settled here, includ
ing 100 people, many of them women ant
children. The heads of the families wer'
John Brown, Alexander Clark, John Coch
ran, John Davidson, Tolford Durham
Samuel Houston, VIM. Mclaughlin, Joh1
> Mitchell, Jas. Miller, Jas. Morrow, Benz
Nesmith, Nathaniel Patterson, Robert Pat
terson, VIM Patterson, Vim. Patterson, End
Solon Stephenson and John Tuft. All ex
cept Cochran, Miller and Tuft resided Of
east side of the river, and there, as seem
most fitting, were they laid to rest whel
their labors on earth were done, in a GENE
tary situated on the land now owned b,
Rev. William Vaughan. This city Of tn
silent, where a number of the earliest in
habitants of our native town have gone t.
their long rest, has long since fallen in dis
, repair, and while there is no means o
identifying. the individual graves, wha
could be more fitting work for JOhl