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FACTS, HEARSAY AND MEMORIES - Page 4 Olive never married. Aunt Lydia and Uncle George died before I was born, but I remember Aunt Olive. We children never communicated with her except by means of a small slate about 3 by 4 with a hole in it and a slate pencil attached. When we called on her she usually gave us a small piece of hard candy. She seldom went out and few people could easily communicate with her. Aunt Mary S. could sign and spell very rapidly in a very grotesque way. Aunt Olive always seemed to enjoy her canary which hung in the south piazza window. She made rag dolls called Polly or Tommy. They were very crude with flat heads and faces covered with some sort of shellac. I well remember our Polly and played with her as long as I played with dolls. While they would have no place in a modern Baby Shop Aunt Olive made many layettes serviceable but not beautiful, which she bestowed on many a baby for miles around, especially in large families where I assume many a harassed expectant mother with little time or money received them gladly. I have often thought she must have lived a lonely life. Leonard Macomber, the only son of John Macomber to live to maturity, had none of his father's interest in farming, but turned to town affairs. He was Town Treasurer I believe at the time of his death. He was married to Esther Austin of Little Compton. She was the daughter of Joshua and Diana Austin and taught school in Westport. Leonard Macomber and Esther Austin were married in the Friends Meeting House in Little Compton. In the copy of a letter to a friend, Lydia writes that they all attended the wedding and that the meeting house was crowded. In 1842, she also writes that he father had engaged men to build a house for Leonard and Esther. Perhaps it was a wedding gift, I do not know. The house referred to is my old home now owned by Norman Kirby. Five children were born to Leonard and Esther. Two died in childhood, Marianna whom I have mentioned and Edward for who my brother was named. Elizabeth, John A., (my father), and Hannah lived to maturity. All three attended the Friends School in Providence now named Moses Brown School. A letter written from there by my father in the early 1860's gives a little idea of the school life of a hundred years ago. These letters were written to his grandfather. In one he says, "I thank thee for working the new lot for me." Great grandfather had presented the lot to him which is now owned by Phyllis Brightman. Perhaps he hoped by the gift to stimulate the waning interest in farming among his descendants. Like many fathers he would undoubtedly have liked to see his only son or grandson show a real interest in the land, but such was not to be. My father taught school in Westport, being especially sought after for the winter term as he was competent to instruct big boys in difficult arithmetic problems and also a master hand at keeping order, as some of the big boys had no interest in learning, but went because farm work was slack. His disciplinary methods from what I have heard would hardly be acceptable today. I have been told that he was once brought upon the carpet for his use of a chair round on one husky, refractory specimen who had put the previous teacher out the widow. When the school committee questioned him he said "Your only request of me was that I should keep order and I have done it." He had no more trouble and if obeyed was always firm but not harsh. During this period, he during the other seasons assisted in the farm work for which he had no liking. Leonard Macomber's life was cut short in his prime by the dreaded diphtheria while he was holding important town offices. He was one of a few men in Westport to be written up in a large volume, "The History of Bristol County." I recall the names of a few others, Andrew Hicks, of whaling farm, the elder Christopher Borden, Ezra Brownell who was a County Commissioner and a William Gifford of North Westport. There may have been two or three others. He was an active Friend, and he and his parents, brothers and sisters were buried in the Friends Burial Ground at Central Village. I haven't the date in mind, but it was prior to the marriage of my father to Esther Ann Allen which occurred May 21, 1874. 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21
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