New Hampshire Tidbits: Toast and Punch on the Fourth of July

Posted on 4 July, 2021 by Janice Brown

1854 FOURTH OF JULY TOAST
Here’s to the man
That owned the land
That raised the corn,
That fed the goose,
That bore the quill,
That made the pen,
That wrote the Declaration of Independence.
— Janesville Daily Gazette, Janesville, Wisconsin, 28 August 1854

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1910 PUNCH FOR THE FOURTH
Plain lemonade may be metamorphosed into lemon ginger punch by adding to each quart of lemonade an equal amount of ginger ale. Have ready also a number of sprays of fresh mint and bruise the lower leaves and stems between the fingers so as to bring out the mint flavor. Put these into the punch a half hour before serving. This is particularly popular at afternoon teas, plazas or roof parties or any social function where men are represented.
–Emma Paddock Telford, The Denison Review, 29 June 1910, Denison Iowa.

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Electrician, Inventor, Author, Businessman of Kingston NH: George Bartlett Prescott (1830-1894)

Posted on 26 June, 2021 by Janice Brown

Silhouette of a man from The History of Silhouettes, by E. Nevill Jackson, p. 207

When you use a telephone, or visit the drive-in at the bank (if they use pneumatic tubes), played a phonograph, spoken on an analog telephone, or if you are old enough to have used a telegraph to send or receive a message, then you have directly benefited from the work of one amazing Kingston New Hampshire man–George Bartlett Prescott.

My regular readers won’t be surprised to learn that he is my cousin (since I’m cousin to everyone)–actually my 6th cousin 3x removed through his mother’s Bartlett line. However for the purposes of this story I will only trace his Prescott surname line. Continue reading →

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Portsmouth NH Soprano, Artist, Sculptor, Instructor: Antoinette (Prien) Schultze 1944-Still Living

Posted on 22 June, 2021 by Janice Brown

The ”Mill Girl” statue was created in 1988 by Antoinette Schultze and commemorates the active role women played in the Amoskeag Mills of Manchester NH. It is located in the Amoskeag Millyard of Manchester next to the Stark Mill. Photograph by Normand Boulanger, 1988. Manchester Historic Association Collection. Used with Permission.

I rarely write articles about living people, but I make an exception for this gifted woman. Her birth date and parentage were already public information (easily found with a google search) so not making the genealogical faux pas of offering that info.

Antoinette (Prien) Schultz came to my attention while researching the locally famed “Mill Girl” sculpture, dedicated on 3 September 1988 and located in Manchester New Hampshire’s mill yard. That city is celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2021. Much of Manchester’s growth and success can be credited to the mill workers, many of them female, who toiled to bring food to their tables, and to line the pockets of their employers, who often “gave back” to the city. Continue reading →

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Penacook NH Woman’s Club Founder, Temperance Leader, Musician: M. Annie Fiske (1855-1909)

Posted on 15 June, 2021 by Janice Brown

Photo of M. Annie Fiske from “The history of Penacook, N.H., from its first settlement in 1734 up to 1900” (1902) by David A. Brown 1902. Colorized by the blog editor.

She was born Mary Anna Fiske, daughter of Rev. William Albert & Mary Ann (Whipple) Fiske on 4 July 1854 in Kittery Maine.  When her father began to preach in Fisherville New Hampshire on  21 Dec 1856, she moved with her parents to Penacook New Hampshire, where she grew up at 59 Summer Street.  She was educated in the local schools, and received some musical training.  Later she attended the Boston Conservatory of Music, and specialized in the organ. Continue reading →

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Some Descendants of Newmarket New Hampshire Black Patriot: Wentworth Cheswell (1746-1817)

Posted on 19 May, 2021 by Janice Brown

Old postcard of Moonlight Bridge, Newmarket NH and a horse-drawn carriage, According to 1911 Granite State Monthly article, this area was probably first owned by Hopestill Cheswell. It was the location of Wentworth Cheswell’s first house that was later home of his son Thomas.

I am not the first to write about a remarkable man–Wentworth Cheswell of Newmarket New Hampshire.  Many have sung his praises and brought to light his many “firsts” in New Hampshire.  His grandfather, and earliest known ancestor, Richard Cheswell, was a freed black man, formerly a slave to New Hampshire resident, David Laurence/Lawrence.

I bought photographs of some of his descendants on Ebay several years ago. At the time I didn’t realize who they were, just that the photographs were old and interesting, Later I discovered their connection to Wentworth Cheswell.  As far as I know there is no painting or likeness of Wentworth, so  I hope that this story with photographs of some of his descendants can shed more light on him. Continue reading →

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