Marek 1810s, 1830s, 1850s, death, education, Goshen, graves & memorials, SOURCE=roadside markers

Capt. John W. Gunnison (Goshen)

A roadside marker in Goshen hints at stories & mysteries from the Wild West... Upon first read this roadside marker's story seems almost straightforward.  But dig a little deeper... and I suspect there are potentially a couple of action-packed graphic novels hidden in here: Like probably most "rugged individualist" log-cabin school teachers who go on … Continue reading Capt. John W. Gunnison (Goshen)

Marek 1860s, Civil War, Civil War Letters of Joseph Rogers, pigs, SOURCE=WHS+Warren, Warner, weather

We Go Without Mittens Very Well (Rogers, Nov. 20 1862, #2)

Rogers recounts recent experiences & dispenses domestic advice for the home front ...

Marek 11th NH, 1860s, Civil War, Civil War Letters of Joseph Rogers, Reference Links, SOURCE=WHS+Warren, Warner

Dear Sister (Rogers, Nov. 20 1862, #1)

In this early Civil War letter, Warner native Joseph S. Rogers stares across the waters at a looming battle...

Marek 1860s, Civil War, Newport, politics, Sarah Josepha Hale, SOURCE=Library of Congress

Letter to Lincoln (1863)

Newport native Sarah Josepha Hale appeals to President Lincoln in the midst of the Civil War, and instigates an official national holiday! << BEFORE: Thanksgiving, 1862 NEXT: Hale's 1864 Thanksgiving editorial >> I've heavily excerpted the original letter to make this comics-format version.  For further reading, see these notes & links: Hale's letter of Sept. 28, … Continue reading Letter to Lincoln (1863)

Marek SOURCE=Little, sources

You Never Know…

... WHAT you're going to find in these old town history books.  I mean, just LOOK at this stuff: And this is just one page from the General Index of one volume!  So many topics, so little time... What's a cartoonist to do? Let's put a little check mark next to all the items that … Continue reading You Never Know…

Marek 1840s, graves & memorials, Pittsfield, SOURCE=roadside markers

Frederick Douglass Visits Pittsfield (1842)

The famous abolitionist finds both prejudice and humanity in a NH graveyard: Douglass visited Pittsfield as part of a speaking tour through New England.  At the time, Moses Norris Jr. would have been serving on the Executive Council of NH.  (He served as a Democratic US Senator from 1843-1847.) This roadside marker is now a … Continue reading Frederick Douglass Visits Pittsfield (1842)

Marek 1830s, 1840s, Dublin, education, entertainment, SOURCE=Leonard+Seward

Dublin Lyceum (1836-1844)

Community education & discourse in Dublin: The adults publish (& perform) their own bi-weekly zine... and the kids put out TWO! Don't you wish you could sit in on one of these weekly meetings?  This is what people in small towns did ALL AROUND New England in an age before electronic devices or even cheap … Continue reading Dublin Lyceum (1836-1844)

Marek 1860s, Civil War, John Adams Dix, SOURCE=Library of Congress, SOURCE=NH.gov

Dix’s Letter to New Orleans (1861)

As the union begins to crumble, Treasury Secretary Dix orders a revenue cutter in New Orleans back North; the captain refuses, and Dix sends this telegram to his agent in the South: At a time when the outgoing Buchanan administration was doing little to avert the ongoing crisis of Southern secession, Dix's order electrified both sides … Continue reading Dix’s Letter to New Orleans (1861)

Marek projects, sources

Comics Project: Drawing from Town Histories

Published town histories provide an excellent starting point for drawing out local history stories.  They're usually packed full of useful documents, tall tales, rumors, gossip, and intriguing leads. Here's how to use them:  Look up your town’s official history: Your local historical society or library will have a copy (either for sale or for borrowing). … Continue reading Comics Project: Drawing from Town Histories

Marek 1770s, 1840s, education, forestry, graves & memorials, Hopkinton, John Stark, Massachusetts, New London, Plaistow, revolutionary era, SOURCE=roadside markers

Moses Trussell (New London)

Wounded at Bunker Hill, and everything after...

Marek 1770s, 1780s, Dublin, revolutionary era, Rhode Island, SOURCE=Leonard+Seward, weather

Revolutionary Soldier from Dublin

Mr. Belknap at war ... << BEFORE: Mrs. Belknap takes care of the farm ... MORE: Stories from the "Revolutionary Era" >> SO MANY accounts of NH soldiers' war experiences include price lists of the bargains or price gouges they encountered. Mr. Belknap seems to have come across 21st century prices in the taverns he … Continue reading Revolutionary Soldier from Dublin

Marek 1770s, corn, cottage industries, cows, Dublin, potatoes, revolutionary era, SOURCE=Leonard+Seward

Woman of the Revolution (Dublin, 1779)

Dublin neighbors rally to support each other in time of war... NEXT: Mr. Belknap at war... >>

Marek 1800-1899, 2nd NH, Civil War, Concord, Harriet Patience Dame, medicine, NH people, NH State House, North Barnstead, portraits, SOURCE=NH.gov

Harriet Patience Dame (State House)

From a portrait at the NH State House. NEXT: Civil War nurse >> Harriet Patience Dame served as a regimental nurse with the 2nd NH throughout the Civil War, and was even captured twice!  She was born at North Barnstead. Dame was inducted into the Nursing Hall of Fame in 2002. born 5 January 1815

Marek 1770s, death, forestry, Henniker, Massachusetts, revolutionary era, SOURCE=Cogswell

A Very Singular Circumstance (Henniker, 1775)

Out of the firing line, into the forest. 19 April 1775 SOURCE: Cogswell's History of Henniker (p.262)

Marek 1790s, bees, Dublin, harvest, honey, SOURCE=Leonard+Seward

Blood and Honey (Dublin)

A cautionary harvest parable courtesy of Dublin's infamous Wranglin' Russell Brothers: This story comes from Leonard & Seward's "History of Dublin, New Hampshire" (1920).

Marek 1820s, death, Piscataquog, SOURCE=Little, Weare

Drowning (Weare, 1824)

Oh no, another disaster down by the Piscataquog... Or IS it?!?! Robert Peaslee was born in Weare 11 April, 1818, so this must have happened in in 1824.  He was the great grandson of Moses & Mary Peaslee.  Mary Peaslee once helped to "lay" a ghost at Rockland Mills.

Marek 1760s, 1770s, Amherst, colonial, construction, death, food, forestry, graves & memorials, Henniker, milk, Nashua, SOURCE=Cogswell

Ward’s Arrival (Henniker, 1763)

Some of Henniker's earliest settler families arrive in town...

Marek 1790s, animals, milk, SOURCE=Little, Weare, witches

Mrs. Dustin’s Witchcraft

How did they know the "Great Witch of Weare" was really a witch? << BEFORE: Mrs. Dustin rides to Whitefield ... I'm dating this story in the 1790s, since Amos W. Bailey was born in 1789 and was a "boy" when Mrs. Dustin was active in town.  Bailey would have related his memories to town … Continue reading Mrs. Dustin’s Witchcraft

Marek 1700-1799, birth, horses, SOURCE=Little, Weare, Whitefield, witches

The Witch’s Ride (Weare)

Mrs. Dustin is up to her infernal sorceries again... this time on a cross-country jaunt! << BEFORE: Meet Mrs. Dustin, the Great Witch of Weare! NEXT: More unspeakable bedevilment from Mrs. Dustin >> Once again, modern readers may be surprised at the Old Timers' concepts of what was and was not an outrage against all … Continue reading The Witch’s Ride (Weare)

Marek 1700-1799, SOURCE=Little, Weare, witches

The Great Witch of Weare

What lively places these NH towns must have been, back in the early days with the witches and ghosts! The little quatrain Little quotes comes from the poem "A Long Story" by Thomas Gray: "...Fame in the shape of Mr. P—t (By this time all the Parish know it) Had told, that thereabouts there lurk'd A wicked … Continue reading The Great Witch of Weare

Marek 1700-1799, cats, colonial, ghosts, religion, SOURCE=Little, Weare, weather, witches

Powers of Witches (Weare)

Here's an overview of witches and their supernatural powers, from the early days of Weare: What a fascinating list of malevolent powers!  Little's litany of satanic skills speaks volumes about what was important to the families of colonial-era Weare.

Marek 1800-1899, chicken, ghosts, SOURCE=Little, Weare

Terribly Troubled with Ghosts (Weare)

In which strange noises emanate from the unfinished room above ... One of Mary Peaslee's progeny later became well-known for nearly drowning in the Piscataquog.

Marek 1700-1799, corn, ghosts, SOURCE=Little, Weare

Ghost in the Corn Field (Weare)

Weare historian William Little has little patience for rumors of hauntings.  Here, John Hodgdon boldly investigates a spooky shade in his corn field ... Something about this story was bothering me as I drew it, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.  Then, around panel 11 or 12, I realized I'd been drawing a modern 20th … Continue reading Ghost in the Corn Field (Weare)