Norwich bulletin., 1913-03-29
OLD HAMPTON PAPERS
TRAINING DAY.

The first Monday in May is always Training Day. This was an old say ing, familiar to Ebenezer Jewett in his poyhood, for on that day the whole country side was alive with militar., spirit, and hastened to the Training Grounds In Hampton the Traingings were usually held in the fine field that slopes gently to the east now owned by Henry Clapp. on the south end of the street The place was formerly known as the Deming place, and is at the head of the State Road leading from Hampton Hill to Clarks Corners. Trainings were also held al the Curtis Tavern and at the Clark Tavern at Clarks Corners.
 The companies were gaily dressed in uniform and an idea of their appear ance Is given us through the yellow pages of the Orderly Book of the Grenadier Company of Hampton, bear ing the first date of 1926 On the Iast page bearing the date of Sept. 23,1SS3 we find the following; Voted:-That we alter our uniforms: so much of it as to change our piumes for pompoms to be white with redtips" Signed William Bennett, Capt
 The Companies consisted of men and, boys between the ages of sixteen and 1orty-hve years. No wonder the hearts of the Hampton boys beat high on the morning of Training Day; no wonder the walls around the fields were crowd ed with happy spectators, for all the sons and fathers and husbands of the
 
 Iary arOdr and dress parade.
 Many practical joke was played and enjoyed upon these days; and Ebe- nezer Jewett remembers witnessing one which caused a hearty laugh for many day afterwards. One of the mounted Grenadiers rode up to a rail fence on which were seated Q number of negroes; in some way he managed to upset the support and all of them tumbled oyer in an ungain1y heap. He rode back again bent on carrying his joke little farther Accosting a bux- om negress- who was seated on the wall, he said: Jump on Auntie and have a ride" She was to quick for him and did jump on landing squarely be- hind him on the back ot the horse al though he had spurred the animal forward expecting to leave her on the ground But she kept her seat and rode behind him mid the shouts of laughter at the Grenadier's expense until she chose to dismount; curing him of practical joking for that day at least.
 But these Training Da!rs were of little importance or magnitude when com pared with the Sen1i-Centennial Com memoration July, 4, 1928 when Hamp- ton celebrated as it could never cele- brate again with a parade of forty two ReEol1tionary veterans under their old leader Abijah Fuller with Nathaniel Farham drum major. Joseph Foster and Lucious Faville were f1fers and all the subalterns were
 
 must have been to have seen these aged battle-scarred veterans who had rushed to Lexington at the first call, marching up and down the long street of Hampton Hill, carrying their army nuskets and wearing their Revolu- 2Daary uniforms. keeping step again eD the drum and fife of 1775
 Joseph Foster was the only one not Q native of Hampton. neither was he | member of the original Company, but he was duly honored for he was one of twelve sons who had fought with their father in the War of Independence, All Of the other Companies did honor to the Veterans and treated them to a grand dinner. Training Day Ginger bread which was always served on Training Day was feature of the me nu; which everyone, soldiers andspec- tators alike enjoyed. Ths usual speech making on great days was omitted that day of the Great Semi Centennial Con1nemoratfon, as being quite out of place on such an Unsuai, and never to be forgotten occasion.
 SUSAN JEWETT HOWE.