New England Magazine - March 1900 - Page 101
New Ipswich Historical Society
Recap of Page 100
March 1900 - Page 101
…when a horseman dashed up and drew rein at the meeting-house door. How the pious dames must have lost their places in their hymn books and the deacons craned their necks toward the doorway at this unusual happening! How the good Parson Stephen brought his sermon to an unpremeditated close when he had only reached the ninth head of the discourse, in order to learn the meaning of the stranger's advent! Straight up to the judge's pew strode the traveller and whispered: "Your Honor's pardon for this unseemly coming into the Lord's house in such fashion; but the governor of New York bade me find you and announce that the Constitution is ratified, saying: 'Go, stop at New Ipswich and tell Judge Farrar the good news." Then, mounting his steed, the envoy clattered off down the dusty highroad. One can imagine the joy of the stately old patriot, who had fought so valiantly for the ratification of the Constitution! The Farrars were of a hale and sturdy race and lived to see many changes in their native town. At the remarkable age of 102 years the judge received a degree from Harvard. The news of this honor reached the old gentleman at night. "Ah," he remarked with quaint humor, "they have stuck a feather in my nightcap!"
The visitor to New Ipswich will do well to visit the old Farrar mansion, which stands not far from the "little church on the windy hill," where the parson preached and the judge prayed. The house is a very interesting specimen of colonial country architecture. Its quaint carved cup- boards, its crossbeamed ceilings and ancient mouldings are of beautiful workmanship and unique design. One feels a strong desire to poke about in search of secret hiding places in the nooks and corners of the old house.
Not less beloved than Parson Farrar as a faithful pastor and loyal friend was the Rev. Samuel Lee, who was a Yale graduate and a writer of theological books. Mr. Lee, who was a native of Connecticut, was left …
(continued tomorrow)
On this day - January 12, 1898
William Jurian Kaula diary
12 JAN 1898
Creuset's restaurant again. On many evenings while at dinner we are entertained by some strolling musician, or some beggar who can sing the songs of the day, or some contortionist, or acrobat who rolls all over the sawdust on the floor in making the back of his neck meet his heels. One of these tumblers issued tickets with numbers for a lottery on a cake of soap. As the price was but one sous a ticket and most of us are always in need of soap - even if it is of doubtful quality - we all invested in the gamble. For the first time in my life I won a prize in a game of chance. The soap is mine and I will preserve it as a memento of the occasion. It is strong enough to keep forever and so my reasons for preserving it are not wholly of the sentimental kind. One of the odd freaks that comes in once in a while is an old retired omnibus driver - so he said. He went out with a strike and was stricken off the list when the strikers had loafed enough without pay. This fellow carried only a few English Ivy leaves and would place one in his mouth or on his lips and then produce the most astonishing imitations of musical instruments - like the ________ tones of a cornet and the shrill notes of a clarinet. This wonder collected several rounds of sous. There is one chap who comes too often to be longer interesting as the best thing he can do is to place a glass tumbler inside of his mouth. He will fill it with wine if any one will aid the act but he always has to resort to water which he swallows while the glass is in his mouth. Beggars of all discriptions [sic] enter all restaurants at meal times to solicit alms and most of them are too disgusting to have them even approach the table.
On this day - January 12, 1909
James Roger diary entry
12th (Tuesday)
Dull cloudy frosty morning wind east to north east. Snow commenced and drizzled all day. David choring round, fixed stove in brooder house took out old pump &c. I went to social at Parsonage 13 present not very lively affair.
James, David, and Hamish are brothers. The first two are doing daily chores that we can relate to
(cleaning the church or a chicken's coop) while the third brother is president of Fulton Silk with stores in Glens Falls, Brooklyn and other stores around New York city and catering to the wealthy. Is there a Roger family history in New Ipswich?