Year: 1871

correspondent of the Armenia N. Y.
Times has written for that journal an ac-
count of a singular old hermit named Da-
vld Tonkery, or better known as Old Ton
kerry, the Hermit who formerly lived in a
hut situated in wild ravine or mountain
slope near Mt. Riga, in the neighborhood
of Armenia. Where this strange character
came from no one knew. He brought
plenty of money and settled on a tract of
land containing about one hundred acres.
The thoughts and conversations of this old
hermit were always about witches, and
like most hermits he was woman hater,
not allowing one to enter his dwelling on
any pretence. He believed all black eyed
women to be witches, and it was not safe
for one to go near his dwelling, as he al
ways kept gun loaded with a silver ball
ready to shoot any witches that might mo-
lest him; at night he always placed his
gun across two chairs, the muzzle point
ing direct towards the door. He owned a
fine strawberry patch, and would allow
school girls to pick all they wished, except
the black-eyed ones; these he would march
OFT his premises instanter.


lie was never known to harm but one
person; that was poor woman by the
name of Mrs. Hamblin. Her COW had
wandered from home, and she went up the
mountain to the old mans farm Just before
dark and climbing upon a fence looked
over his farm for the lost cow. The old
hermit saw her, and it so happened that
there came 4 hurricane or very heavy wind
that night and blew down a grove of fine
chestnut timber for old Tonkerv. lie
thought at once that the poor woman was a
witch and had been up the night before to
see where she could do him the greatest
damage. A few days after he met the
woman in the road. He caught her and
with sharp stone cut a cross in her fore
head between the eyes, to kill the witches
in her, he said. But this proved q deal
witch to old Tonkery, for she sued him anG
recovered damages to the amount of 5000
and the man was obliged to sell ten acres
OF his best wood land to pay suit and case


lie did his own cooking washing anC
housekeeping, and hired help to do his
farm work when necessary. When visit
ors came to see him. If he liked their ap
pearance, he would give them apples ant
cider. His chiet study was how he SHOULD
rid himself Of Fostering witches; as he be
came advanced in age his fancy grew upo1
him, and his agination was assisted an(
excited by wicked neighbor who sought
to get the old mans property by tlattery
and deceit. He willed his property to this
man, but the town authorities interfered
and when at last the old hermit arrived a
the point of death he was taken in charg,
by the poor master and cared for until hi
demise. The will was broken and tn,
property appropriated to the support o
the town poor.


The rock, bordering on y stream wher,
he has arranged a water wheel for shaking
witches to death, is now pointed out to Wis
itors. 1t was supposed that the old hcrmi
had money buried on the premises, anc
more or less search has been made ever,
year by different parties to find it, but d,
money was ever discovered, we believe
until about one year ago, Il man by The
name of Abyron Bishop, while picking
Whortleberries in the vicinity, found
wooden trough hidden in Il ledge of rocks
Great was his surprise on pulling il out, tC
find it filled with silver coin; the shiny
pieces were Of all descriptions. many o
them as bright us when first from the mint
The man that found the trough was so cx
cited that he ran down the mountain
scattering the silver pieces as he ran, an,
screaming at the top of his voicc-''ThC
devil is after me the devil is after me =
The box was supposed to have contained
over one hundred dollars. The trough
| with over twenty dollars OF the money i.
now in possession of George Dakin, ESQ.
of Mount Riga.