(Ellie Kelly lent me this
fascinating book. It refers to incidents happening 100 years prior to
its publishing date. We shall include nuggets of information gleaned
from it in future Newsletters. Thanks, Ellie!)…Babs
“Moses
Emery, senior, was about this time chosen to represent the
plantation at the general court of Massachusetts, for the purpose of
presenting a petition for incorporation as a town, which petition was
granted and the town incorporated under the name of Poland. The name
has given rise to much speculation as to its origin. Some supposed it
to have been from the old Indian Chief Poland, killed by the scout
Manchester: others believe it to be named from an ancient kingdom of
Europe, but the final truth is, it was named for an ancient melody by
the name of Poland, found in most of the collections of ancient
psalmody, for which Moses Emery had conceived a peculiar liking and
being at his on request awarded the privilege of naming the newly
incorporated town, chose that of his favorite tune.”
Farming was the principle employment
of the inhabitants and “though the soil could be stony and hard to work,
was very strong and when once subdued is exceedingly productive. It
adapted admirably to the producing of all kinds of agricultural products
common to this latitude in the New England States; likewise orcharding
is carried on by most farmers, but not as a specialty.”
“It is supposed beyond a doubt that
the Indians had regular camping grounds in the west part of the town,
and often visited Tripp and Thompson ponds, from the fact that various
stone implements have been found on the shores, such as axes, chisels,
arrow-heads and gouges.
John Fernald, one of the first
settlers at the foot of Megquier Hill, while digging his cellar,
excavated the body of a full-grown Indian, encased in a coffin of birch
bark, and placed in a sitting posture, facing the rising sun. But the
red man, the huge moose, the timid deer, the treacherous panther and the
gaunt and ravenous wolf, have abandoned this region forever and in place
of the shrill war -whoop of the Indian, the scream of the panther, the
dismal howl of the wolf, are heard the busy hum of industry, the
bleating of flocks, the lowing of cattle, and the voices of civilized
men.”
“Tripp Pond took its name from
one Richard Tripp who first settled near it southern extremity.
It is a most beautiful sheet of water of no great depth, surrounded by
fine and highly cultivated farms, and void of bold and rugged shores.
Near the western terminus of this pond is a large meadow, between which
and the shore is a huge embankment nearly a mile in length, and some ten
to twelve feet in breadth, with an average height of some six feet. No
skilled engineer could construct anything with more accuracy or evidence
of artistic skill. No person has the least positive knowledge of its
origin or purpose, but it is supposed to be the work of beavers. It
must have existed for ages, as the remains of gigantic trees which have
grown on it summit, and long since gone to decay, are still plainly
visible.”
To be continued in the Spring, ‘06
Issue…
