35 



was invaluable. Three times he went to England with appeals 

 in their behalf from the judgments of the provincial courts. 



He also identified himself with their spiritual interests. He 

 taught them weekly from his pulpit. He joined them in mar- 

 riage. He baptized their children. He buried their dead. 

 His life was in close touch with that of his people. 



Such were some of the salient points which characterized 

 the agriculture of central New Hampshire from those which 

 distinguish it today. The soil was then new and productive. 

 The cattle and swine were smaller, coarser, and of no well 

 defined races. 



Barley, wheat, and peas were raised more extensively then 

 than now. 



Flax was a common crop, and tobacco was produced for 

 domestic use. 



Cider was made in large quantities, and was a common bev- 

 erage. 



Slavery existed in a mild form, and more or less of the farm 

 work was accomplished by enforced labor. Agricultural imple- 

 ments were few and clumsy. 



During the French and Indian wars farming operations were 

 greatly hindered and prosecuted with danger. 



The style of living was simple but abundant. 



Food and clothing were products of every farm. So, too, 

 were children, bright, sturdy, numerous. 



Little, remote, wilderness-begirt Pennycook was an ideal com- 

 munity. The poets sing of Arcadia, but Pennycook was more 

 than an Arcadia. Its people owned the farms which they cul- 

 tivated. They were honest, intelligent, self reliant. Until 1776 

 they were loyal British subjects. The Declaration of Independ- 

 ence made them American citizens. 



But, ladies and gentlemen, my time is up, and I close here my 

 recital of the record of the First Minister's Farm, omitting the 

 last one hundred and twelve years of it. It is still in the occu- 

 pancy of his descendants. Should its later history be called for, 

 I may reply in the words of the tapster to the thirsty guest of 

 the old English inn, 



"Anon — Anon, Sir." 



