Some Three Hundred Years Ago

Three Hundred Years Ago, by
Edith Gilman Brewster

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Title: Some Three Hundred Years Ago
Author: Edith Gilman Brewster
Release Date: January 16, 2007 [EBook #20385]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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[Illustration]

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.
Nonowit suddenly recalled some sturdy reeds growing by the salt

marsh which he thought would make fine arrow shafts. It had occurred
to the boy that he might stand by the falls and shoot his fish as they
bounded over. That is why he was not on the spot when the children
were started on the march, and the last camp fire had been covered.
Even though he was an Indian boy, his heart thumped with fear, when
at the end of the day he returned from his hunt on the marsh to a
deserted camp. No answer came to his long shrill call. The sun was
setting, and it was of no use to follow the trail that night, even though
he had known just where his people were to go.
He munched some scraps that had been left behind and sought the
shelter of a hollow oak which had been the playhouse of the Indian
girls and boys. An old owl hooted and flew from a hole above, but
Nonowit had no fear of him, though he was glad the hole by which he
had crawled into the oak was far above the ground. This was some
protection from the wolves, which he could even then hear howling in
the distance.
All night there was a beating rain, which