| The Wife of Capt. Isaac Davis. |
(Read before the Acton V.I.S. at town hall, April 19, by Miss Viola Tuttle.)
The crayon likeness of the wife of Capt. Isaac Davis which is upon the wall this evening was sketched from a daguerreotype of the original, now in the possession of F. P. Wood, which is to those who remember the face a marked facsimile.
The modest artist wishes his name to be kept from the public, and those curious to know are informed at the outset that he is not a lineal descendant of Isaac nor is his name John, nor is he a resident of the town, though his cheery face occasionally enlivens our streets.
Capt. Isaac Davis was the son of Ezekiel Davis, who married Mary Gibson of Stow, the mother of Isaac. He was born Feb. 23, 1745, on the place where George Hager now lives at West Acton. He married Hannah Brown Oct. 24, 1764. He lived where Charles Wheeler now resides, from which place he marched at the head of his company on that memorable and fatal morning, one hundred and twelve years ago today.
Mrs. Davis had by her first husband, Isaac, four children, two daughters and two sons. One married a Mr. Fitch. Hannah married Amos Noyes. Isaac, one son, remained a bachelor and had some peculiarities common to that unfortunate class of the human family. The name of the other son is not known. Mrs. Davis' second husband was Samuel Jones, who was a man of wealth. By him she had three children, Samuel, James and Eliza.
Samuel, who was a lawyer, built a law office just in the rear of the Monument House, a one story affair, which was afterwards enlarged into a two story building, and which has been still further improved by additions and is now the commodious home of Lucian Noyes, a descendant of that Amos Noyes whom Hannah Davis married. Samuel Jones being a peaceable man, like all the Joneses, could not stir up law business enough to make it profitable, and so devoted himself to the enlargement and adornment of his native village.
He built the house now occupied by J. E. Cutter, also the house of the late Mrs. Drew and erected the frame of another on Raspberry hill. His projects carried him beyond the limits of his ample purse, otherwise the new turnpike opened by him over the hill might have become the Beacon street of the new city, Jonesville.
Eliza, his sister, was highly educated and married a Mr. Waite. They resided in Groton for a while and afterwards moved to Albany, N. Y. On one of her visits to Acton, she had a rich oil painting, taken by a N. Y. artist, of her mother, which she took with her to Albany. Several persons now living well remember that portrait. Mrs. Waite for some time taught in the high school in Albany.
After the death of Mr. Jones, his widow married a Mr. Leighton of Westford, where she lived till his death. As widow Leighton she lived in Acton with her granddaughter, Mrs. Simon Davis, in the house now occupied by Lucian Noyes.
She was a woman of good size, well developed and of marked features. Just note her face. Those eyes are Websterean. Any one who remembers Daniel Webster's eyes can easily take her for his sister. Look at that nose, that mouth, those lips, that forehead, there is a force in that expression we do not often see. That face doubtless had much to do with the courage of Capt. Davis at the old North Bridge.
It was Hannah and Isaac together marching at the head of that company, though she bodily was nursing her sick children at home.
That cheek would not blanch at the sight of redcoats.
She was evidently a woman of large will power. Gov. Levi Woodbury of New Hampshire, brother to Rev. Mr. Woodbury, our former pastor, on one of his visits to Acton called upon Mrs. Leighton and asked her how she managed to live so long. She said “She had always lived on the best she could get.” If she was ever so sick and had cholera morbus she would eat cucumbers, green corn and lobsters all the same if she made up her mind for it.
She would carry out her purpose whatever the difficulties in the way. |
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| South Acton |
Last Saturday the four horse team of George Livermore while taking on a load of four at the mill, became frightened and ran about three miles, unloading ten barrels of flour, but otherwise doing no serious damage.
The auction sale of E. F. Fuller last Friday was not very largely attended. He leaves town tomorrow to reside with his son-in-law, Dr. Sharp of Saxonville. F. S. Sprague, engineer on the main road, is to occupy his house.
List of letter in post office at So. Acton, April 18, advertised to be sent to dead letter office: James E. Nickson, Mrs. Dorcas C. Mann, Mrs. Ada Brooks or Miss Barnard, Miss Flora M. Wiggin. L. E. REED, P. M.
Recent removals: E. H. Jones to the house vacated by Israel Charlton, and W. H. Wood from Marlboro to the tenement vacated by Mr. Jones in the Patriot building; Mrs. Eliza Harrington to the house recently occupied by C. W. Malone; Mrs. C. W. Malone to Boston; C. W. Hanscom from Acton Centre in to the house formerly occupied by Neil Currie; Geo. Priest and family to Marlboro.
Chas. Handley has a position driving one of the teams belonging to the town of Concord, where he has removed.
Mrs. L. C. Baldwin has stored her household goods with T. P. Owens.
Last week James Tuttle advertised for a man to work in a harness shop and has succeeded in hiring one for a year, whom he will put into the store recently occupied by L. C. Baldwin.
Irving Holden of Boston has been visiting his aunt, Mrs. E. H. Wheeler.
Waldo Tuttle is painting his buildings.
Mr. Currie moves into the Hosmer House this week.
Walter Hayward has a position as fireman on one of the trains making this station the end of the run and moved into the tenement he formerly occupied.
Sidney Richardson has purchased the Hosmer house on Maple street and has removed recently from Stow.
Daniel Callahan, who has been ailing for the past 3 or 4 years, died the 20th of consumption.
The Piano society cleared about $60 by an entertainment given in Universalist vestry April 14. This society is composed of young ladies, to whom belongs the credit of getting up an entertainment which was original here.
In this pleasant village lives a lady who will be eighty years old in September. She keeps house for her two unmarried sons, rises at 5 o'clock in the morning, does all the housework for three in the family, with washing and ironing, and makes from 5 to 8 pounds of nice butter each week. This lady is Mrs. Tilly Robbins. |
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| It is becoming fashionable in New York for ladies to carry gold headed canes on the street. Before long, man will be compelled to wear dresses to preserve some distinction between the sexes.—[Norwich Bulletin. |
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| Electricians believe that in time, so far as possible, telephone communication around the world will be had, just as telegraph communication is now had. |
Town of Concord.
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| Notice is hereby given, under Chapter 100 of the Public Statutes, that JOHN C. FRIEND has applied for a 6th class license to sell intoxicating liquors for medicinal and chemical purposes, at his store on Exchange St. in said Concord, in one room on the first floor of said building.
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CHARLES E. BROWN,
Chairman of Selectmen. |
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| Notice is hereby given, under Chapter 100 of the Public Statutes, that HORATIO S. RICHARDSON has applied for a 6th class license to sell intoxicating liquors for medicinal and chemical purposes, at his store, corner of Exchange and Walden Sts. in said Concord, in one room on the first floor of said building. |
CHARLES E. BROWN,
Chairman of Selectmen. |
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