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orthography。 He evidently gave satisfaction； and clearly exerted an
influence on the town clerk； Mr。 Samuel Keais； who ever after shows a
marked improvement in his own methods。 In 1704 the town empowered
the selectmen 〃to call and settell a gramer scoll according to ye best of
yower judgement and for ye advantag ＇Keais is obviously dead now＇ of ye
youth of ower town to learn them to read from ye primer； to wright and
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sypher and to learne ym the tongues and good…manners。〃 On this occasion
it was Mr。 William Allen； of Salisbury； who engaged 〃dilligently to attend
ye school for ye present yeare； and tech all childern yt can read in thaire
psallters and upward。〃 From such humble beginnings were evolved some
of the best public high schools at present in New England。
Portsmouth did not escape the witchcraft delusion； though I believe
that no hangings took place within the boundaries of the township。
Dwellers by the sea are generally superstitious； sailors always are。 There is
something in the illimitable expanse of sky and water that dilates the
imagination。 The folk who live along the coast live on the edge of a
perpetual mystery； only a strip of yellow sand or gray rock separates them
from the unknown； they hear strange voices in the winds at midnight； they
are haunted by the spectres of the mirage。 Their minds quickly take the
impress of uncanny things。 The witches therefore found a sympathetic
atmosphere in Newscastle； at the mouth of the Piscataquathat slender
paw of land which reaches out into the ocean and terminates in a spread of
sharp； flat rocks； lie the claws of an amorous cat。 What happened to the
good folk of that picturesque little fishing…hamlet is worth retelling in brief。
In order properly to retell it； a contemporary witness shall be called upon
to testify in the case of the Stone…Throwing Devils of Newcastle。 It is the
Rev。 Cotton Mather who addresses you 〃On June 11； 1682； showers of
stones were thrown by an invisible hand upon the house of George Walton
at Portsmouth ＇Newcastle was then a part of the town＇。 Whereupon the
people going out found the gate wrung off the hinges； and stones flying
and falling thick about them； and striking of them seemingly with a great
force； but really affecting 'em no more than if a soft touch were given
them。 The glass windows were broken by the stones that came not from
without； but from within； and other instruments were in a like manner
hurled about。 Nine of the stones they took up； whereof some were as hot
as if they came out of the fire； and marking them they laid them on the
table； but in a little while they found some of them again flying about。 The
spit was carried up the chimney； and coming down with the point forward；
stuck in the back log； from whence one of the company removing it； it was
by an invisible hand thrown out at the window。 This disturbance continued
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from day to day； and sometimes a dismal hollow whistling would be heard；
and sometimes the trotting and snorting of a horse； but nothing to be seen。
The man went up the Great Bay in a boat on to a farm which he had there；
but the stones found him out； and carrying from the house to the boat a
stirrup iron the iron came jingling after him through the woods as far as
his house； and at last went away and was heard no more。 The anchor
leaped overboard several times and stopt the boat。 A cheese was taken out
of the press； and crumbled all over the floor； a piece of iron stuck into the
wall； and a kettle hung thereon。 Several cocks of hay； mow'd near the
house； were taken up and hung upon the trees； and others made into small
whisps； and scattered about the house。 A man was much hurt by some of
the stones。 He was a Quaker； and suspected that a woman； who charged
him with injustice in detaining some land from here； did； by witchcraft；
occasion these preternatural occurrences。 However； at last they came to an
end。〃
Now I have done with thee； O credulous and sour Cotton Mather！ so
get thee back again to thy tomb in the old burying…ground on Copp's Hill；
where； unless thy nature is radically changed； thou makest it
uncomfortable for those about thee。
Nearly a hundred years afterwards； Portsmouth had another witcha
tangible witch in this instanceone Molly Bridget； who cast her malign
spell on the eleemosynary pigs at the Almshouse； where she chanced to
reside at the moment。 The pigs were manifestly bewitched； and Mr。
Clement March； the superintendent of the institution； saw only one remedy
at hand； and that was to cut off and burn the tips of their tales。 But when
the tips were cut off they disappeared； and it was in consequence quite
impracticable to burn them。 Mr。 March； who was a gentleman of
expedients； ordered that all the chips and underbrush in the yard should be
made into heaps and consumed； hoping thus to catch and do away with the
mysterious and provoking extremities。 The fires were no sooner lighted
than Molly Bridget rushed from room to room in a state of frenzy。 With
the dying flames her own vitality subsided； and she was dead before the
ash…piles were cool。 I say it seriously when I say that these are facts of
which there is authentic proof。
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If the woman had recovered； she would have fared badly； even at that
late period； had she been in Salem； but the death…penalty has never been
hastily inflicted in Portsmouth。 The first execution that ever took place
there was that of Sarah Simpson and Penelope Kenny； for the murder of an
infant in 1739。 The sheriff was Thomas Packer； the same official who；
twenty…nine years later； won unenviable notoriety at the hanging of Ruth
Blay。 The circumstances are set forth by the late Albert Laighton in a
spirited ballad； which is too long to quote in full。 The following stanzas；
however； give the pith of the story
〃And a voice among them shouted； 〃Pause before the
deed is done； We have asked reprieve and pardon For the
poor misguided one。'
〃But these words of Sheriff Packer Rang above the
swelling noise： 'Must I wait and lose my dinner？ Draw
away the cart； my boys！'
〃Nearer came the sound and louder； Till a steed with
panting breath； From its sides the white foam dripping；
Halted at the scene of death；
〃And a messenger alighted； Crying to the crowd；
'Make way！ This I bear to Sheriff Packer； 'Tis a pardon for
Ruth Blay！'〃
But of course he arrived too latethe Law led Mercy about twenty
minutes。 The crowd dispersed； horror…stricken； but it assembled again that
night before the sheriff's domicile and expressed its indignation in groans。
His effigy； hanged on a miniature gallows； was afterwards paraded
through the streets。
〃Be the name of Thomas Packer A reproach
forevermore！〃
Laighton's ballad reminds me of that Portsmouth has been prolific in
poets； one of whom； at least； has left a mouthful of perennial rhyme for
oratorsJonathan Sewell with his
〃No pent…up Utica contracts your powers； But the whole
boundless continent is yours。〃
I have somewhere seen a volume with the alliterative title of 〃Poets of
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Portsmouth；〃 in which are embalmed no fewer than sixty immortals！
But to drop into prose again； and have done with this iliad of odds and
ends。 Portsmouth has the honor； I believe； of establ