Some Three Hundred Years Ago   By: Edith Gilman Brewster

Some Three Hundred Years Ago

BY EDITH GILMAN BREWSTER

The W. B. Ranney Company, Printers, Concord, New Hampshire Copyright 1922, by Edith Gilman Brewster

To the children of Portsmouth this book is dedicated.

DEAR BOYS AND GIRLS:

Because so little is told of the children who lived on our shores when forests were cleared for home making, I have tried to picture here what they might have done in the midst of the true and thrilling happenings you will some day read of in our history.

I hope these tales will help you to love the more our Granite State.

Yours with much affection,

EDITH GILMAN BREWSTER.

CONTENTS

STORIES PERIOD

1 NONOWIT'S HOME 1603

2 THE NEW WORLD 1605

3 VISITORS FROM ENGLAND 1614

4 THE SETTLEMENT 1623

5 DANGER FOR THE COLONISTS 1628

6 [A]STRAWBERRY BANK 1631

7 THE BOYS' CATCH 1632

8 THE FOREST GARDEN 1633

9 THE FUR TRADE 1634

10 COATS, SHIRTS, AND KETTLES 1638

11 WINNICUNNET 1638

12 THE CRYSTAL HILLS 1642

13 THE DENMARK CATTLE 1643

14 THE CUT OF THE HAIR 1649

15 [A]CYNTHIA'S BEAR 1653

16 THE WITCHES OF 1656 1656

17 THE WOLVES OF PORTSMOUTH 1662

18 THE KING'S FORT 1666

19 [A]LITTLE JANE'S GENTIANS 1671

20 THE CHURCH LAW 1675

21 PEACE OR WARFARE 1675

22 SUSANNA'S RESCUE 1675

23 TO THE GARRISON HOUSE! 1675

24 MY NEW HAMPSHIRE 1680

25 THE BOWL OF BROTH 1689

26 THOMAS TOOGOOD OUTWITS AN INDIAN 1690

27 THE ESCAPE 1694

28 THE DEFENSE AT OYSTER RIVER 1694

29 [A]THE ATTACK AT THE PLAINS 1696

30 THE STRAWBERRY FIELDS OF EXETER 1697

[Footnote A: Courtesy of W. A. Wilde Company]

NONOWIT'S HOME

Long before New Hampshire found its name, the deep river at its southeast was known as the Piscataqua by the Indians who could stem its strong currents, even in bark canoes.

Perhaps it was because of the fresh spring close to its salty shores, some three miles from the sea, that the red men made their encampment on the spot that was later equally attractive to men of white skins.

Nonowit, like his people, was glad to see the snows melt away during that spring of 1603. The bare branches of the oak and maple showed tufts of browns, reds, and greens. The fish stirred in the streams, and by the time that Nonowit's forest home had its roof of thick green foliage the Indians themselves were astir. For far up the river at the falls fish could be found in plenty, and that was a welcome change from the game of the winter food.

The men of the tribe were the first to start afoot for the fishing spot, while the squaws broke camp, gathered their belongings, and herded the children.