St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-03-08
NAME OF PEACHAM
William D. Hartman Tells How
The Town Coz Its Name.


Judge William D. Hartman of
Ann Arbor, Mich, who was born in
Peacham has in response to a re-
quest written an historical sketch
telling how his native town receiv-
ed its name Judge Hartman is rs
years old and his article is so in
teresting The Caledonian is pleased
to publish it. He says:
Many times during the last three
score years, l have had occasion to
give my acquaintance the name of
my birth place in New England As
| have pronounced the dear old name
some OF those acquaintance have
smiled, and many of them wondered
how a town should have obtained
such an unusual and unconventional
name. The name is certainly unique
There is probably no other town in
all the round world bearing the name
of Peacham. AS a boy | often Won
dered, and | am sure others have
wondered, where the name came
from and how it happened to be
given to a town on the then frontier
of New England. Some years ago
in my studies of English literature
stumbled on Gays 'Beggars Opera"
and found that the leading character
in the play was Polly Peacham. This
gave me clue. [ found
that the play was written about
1927, and that Polly Peacham
in playing her part had gained
great reputation as an actress-a
reputation second only to that of
Mrs. Bracegirdle and the more IA
nous Mrs. Siddons. The Beggars
Opera had a great run in it's day up
to the time of the date of the charter
and first settlement of Peacham. 1t
was played, not only in the cities, but
in sheds and barns in all the country
towns of England. The play and es-
peciaIly the fine acting of Polly
Peacham was the theme of news
paper writer's and the talk of society.
Ignoring the influence of an unprin-
cipled mother and neglecting the adj
vice of a mercenary father, remain
ing true to her faithless and worthless
husband, Polly Peacham captured all
hearts, even at a time when the
theatre was very unpopular and play
actors-men and WOmen-Were al
most universally esteemed disreput-
able persons. But with all the I'M
popularity of the theatre of those
days the Puritans of England, and
the Presbyterians of Scotland, even,
could not help respecting and APP
plauding the noble character of
Polly Peacham. There can be no
doubt but that some one or more of
the original grantees of the town, or
someone influential with them had
seen the beautiful actress and been
charmed with her graceful form and
marvellous voice, and captivated by
the noble character which she repre-
hnr
to be given to the far away frontier
town.
Wandering few years ago
through the national picture gallery
of London l was especially attracted
by a striking picture of a woman,
painted life size to the waist, on
dark background. She wore a pale
green silk bodice, open at the throat
and trimmed with reddish brown
silk. Her hair was half concealed
by, a lace cap and the soft, moist
ivory of her throat was encircled by
a necklace of pearls. Turning to a
catalog to learn who the beautiful
creature might be, l found to my
delight that it was Polly Peacham,
painted by Hogarth.
All around her were hanging the
masterpieces of Reynolds and Gains
borough and Lawrence and Copley
and other great painters of England,
but Polly Peacham interested me
more than all the rest, and she seem
ed to say as she looked at me with
those laughing eyes, 81 know who
you are, you are native of that old
town in Vermont, named after me
$50 years ago" The real name of
Polly Peacham was Lavinia Fenton
She married a duke of Bolton and,
not many miles from Manchester in
England, is still shown the mansion
designed by lingo Jones, famous ar
chitect, in the midst of noble park,
where the great actress and her .hus-
band spent many happy years. A
beautiful room, especially built for
her as a music room, is still pointed
out, and not far away in the park, is
a large amphitheatre, where theatri-
cal entertainments were often given.
1t is surrounded by noble elms, with
a turf foor-such as can be found
no where but in moist climate like
England-for stage, and tiers of
grassy seats for the audience. The
surroundings, the mansion, the
grounds and its historical associa-
tions, give the place a charming and
dignified beauty. Every Vermonter
going to old England might well
visit the home of the great actress,
and should especially visit the ma
tional picture gallery of London and
take a look at the painting of Polly
Peacham, the only actress-so far as
l know-who has been immortalS
lied by giving a name to a town in
the New World.
VIM. ID. HARTMAN.
Ann Arbor, Michigan,
January 80, 1911.