verbatim unless: ...... shows parts chosen not to be included. ( ) My notes CHAPTER III - Pioneer Life The family life begun so happily in the log cabin on the banks of the Connecticut was a very busy period during the winter following the events of that summer, so pleasantly described by Mistress Allace in the last chapter. Any one familiar with pioneer life can imagine what it was for the mother of a large family, shut in by wintry storms in a log cabin, without neighbors, and without access to aid in time of sickness or serious accident. Doctors and nurses there were none, but this family seems to have been cared for especially as, of fifteen children born to them in an incredibly short period, but one died in infancy; the reaming fourteen grew up to be men and women of a type well known in the annuals of New England, "makers of history" in the true sense of the word. There is no record of how the years passed with Mistress Allace and her husband, but we naturallly conclude that as the "rising prospects of the family, " before alluded to , continued to cheer them on, additional house room must quickly have become a necessity. How soon the house of "Cornish plain" was built is not now apparent,but as the seven very soon became ten sturdy boys and girls, we imagine that so thrifty a couple made flitting to three miles south of their first home in a short time. Meanwhile, local history indicates that the settlers from Massachusetts and Connecticut were not only creeping up the river valley, but penetrating year by year into the fertile lands of White River, in Vermont, and its tributary streams, the "East and West Branch." At Royalton, on the White River, in 1780, there was a considerable settlement, which was that year burned by the Indians; several persons murdered and others taken prisoners, --- in every building was destroyed except a small shed which still stands. Some of these prisoners returned to their homes after two years among the Indians. Randolph, Vermont was first settled in 1776. In 1780, the Indians, on their triumphant way from the burning of Royalton, captured seven men in Randolph, half of the male population of the town. These all returned after a captivity of two years. It may be taken for granted that, before the birth of young Philander in 1775, December 14th, this large family of young people and their parents had plenty of work to do in providing for the needs of the younger ones , as well as their own. Deacon Chase, who was of Puritan stock, and his wife, kept a firm hand upon all these youngsters. Happily, however, for both himself and his children, he had a keen sense of humor, which most of them shared with him. The three girls born before coming to Cornish were now old enough to be of great help to their mother. As soon as possible Deacon Chase provided cows for the comfort and sustenance of the growing family. Butter and cheese was made by wife and children. Sheep were also brought into the country; the wife and daughters were provided with spinning wheels, and it was not long before a hand -loom and all necessary implements for the manufacture of woolen cloth were provided, to wit; the wheels, reels, reeds, shuttles, etc. (the following bear some explaining by an interested/informed reader) Carding the wool by hand for spinning must have been necessary, for the "rolls"" could not then have been made by machinery, and this was also the work of women in a New England household. In due time flax was raised upon the farm, and then it underwent an elaborate process, --- pounding in brakes, "swingling" with a swingle knife, and beating with a beetle, until it became soft, and then it was "hetchelled." All this was work for a man. When the flax was thus prepared came the woman's work, spinning. This was done by means as of the "little wheel", and was a work of much nicety and carefulness. No doubt Mistress Chase took this delicate work to herself. As this period all the cloth and linen for family use was made at home, --flannel and woolen cloth for underwear, coats, and trousers; yarn for stockings and mittens; linen for sheets and pillow-cases, towels and tablecloths; heavy yarn for bedspreads woven in curious and even beautiful patterns, - all these and more were women's work. Beside these, there was hard work for women when hogs were killed and lard was to be "tried out, " sausages made, pickling and preparing hams and bacon, and salting the fat pork; and then when the fat beef was killed there was another process of picking and salting. And then candles were to be made after the tallow was "tried out." Add to this the fact that all the ordinary cooking was done over a fire in the big fireplace, --- frying, boiling, and broiling, -- much of the baking in an Dutch oven, potatoes roasted in the ashes, and the bread mostly from Indian corn and rye; while pies and cakes were baked in a brick oven, with beans and meats, all prepared by women's work. Soap and starch were also made at home with infinite labor and painstaking. After orchards began to bear fruit, cider was made in great quantities, and cider brandy of domestic manufacture furnished enough of the necessary (?) <authour's ? mark> stimulant for men of that day. Barrels of apple-sauce were provided for winter use also. Sugar was made in early spring from the sap of maple trees, although involving much labor both outdoors and in the kitchen. It was a gala time for the children when the snow, still on the ground, began to melt, and the boys got out the big kettles and the sap-tubs and hied (???) themselves to the sugar bush. Chp.4 Cont'd