The history books about Concord, Rockingham County, New Hampshire give us insight 
into its place names. Sewall’s Falls and Sewall’s Island were two of the earliest named locations. Sadly few, if any current residents remember why they were given this name.
All indicators show that the ‘Sewall’ in question was Judge Samuel Sewall of Massachusetts, “who formerly owned the premises.” This is quite an understatement. Continue reading
Cabinet Photograph: Sitting Bull, half-length portrait, facing front, holding peace pipe. D.F. Barry, photographer, Bismark, D.T. c1885. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.
Up and through the 20th century, it had been common practice to collect and “museumize”** remains and artifacts of America’s native people–excavated bones and funerary artifacts included. If we saw a Mayflower passenger’s mummified remains in a glass case at Plymouth, Massachusetts we would be horrified. One has to wonder why we not have the same sense of dismay when it comes to the American Indian.
In 1989 the United States Congress passed the National Museum of the American Indian Act (NMAI). While transferring more than 800,000 objects to the Smithsonian Institution, it required Smithsonian museums to “identify, and CONSIDER for return, if requested by a Native community or individual”–Native People’s (American) “remains and funerary objects.” An Amendment to this law in 1996 added provisions for the repatriation (return) of unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony. Continue reading
Daniel Webster, son of Ebenezer & Abigail (Eastman) Webster was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire [now Franklin NH] on January 18, 1782, and he died Oct. 24, 1852. He was a statesman, lawyer, and orator.
Likeness of Daniel Webster from front cover from Pamphlet re: Funeral March Performed at the obsequies of the Hon. Daniel Webster. Boston MA: 1871; from American Memory / Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University
A farmer’s son, he graduated from Dartmouth College in 1801. In 1805 Webster was accepted into the bar and returned to New Hampshire to set up a practice in Boscawen NH, in part to be near his ailing father. During this time, he took an active interest in politics. After his father’s death in 1806, he handed over his practice to his older brother Ezekiel, who had by this time finished his schooling and been admitted to the bar. Webster then moved to the larger town of Portsmouth in 1807, and opened a practice there. Continue reading
I sometimes joke that New Hampshire's official state sport should be ice fishing. It is actually skiing. I'm not making fun of ice fishermen and woman. Anyone who will sit on a frozen lake, staring down at a hole inside a shanty deserves my admiration, as no amount of money would convince me to do it.
I've noticed quite a few “hits” on this blog relating to ice fishing in the past few days. I'm sure this is due to people looking for Meredith New Hampshire's famous Ice Fishing Derby. And so this is what you folks are looking for….
Great Rotary Fishing Derby—Meredith, N.H. Feb. 11-12. An estimated 6,000 anglers compete in this statewide tournament featuring $60,000 worth of prizes.
For more information call (603) 279-7600or visit their web site at: http://www.meredithrotary.com.
This year's registration fee is $30. General Information, the registration form, prize list, where to buy a fishing license, where to buy derby tickets, and other information is located on the Meredith NH Rotary web site at http://www.meredithrotary.org/derby/.
Janice
SEE article about Hilda (Johnson) Brungot
Portrait above located in New Hampshire State House, photograph taken by Janice W. Brown. Portrait by Willy Fromm, 1978.
Presented to the State by friends, 1978.
