On the evening of April 18, 2005, modern-day residents of the Bethel area once again gathered for an "antiquarian supper."  Sponsored by the Bethel Historical Society as a spring fundraiser, the 2005 supper took place at the Broad Street home of Dr. Moses Mason, who attended all three of the earliest Bethel Farmer's Club Antiquarian Suppers.  A special feature was a small display of items exhibited at the suppers held in the 1850s.  A similar event took place at the Society in 2010; the next antiquarian supper is scheduled to take place in 2016 in conjunction with the Society's 50th anniversary.

Randall H. Bennett

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1855 Antiquarian Supper

Dr. Moses Mason (1789-1866; portrait by Chester Harding)
Participant at 1855, 1856 and 1857 Bethel Farmer's Club Antiquarian Suppers

Oxford Democrat, Paris, Maine, Friday, March 2, 1855

Antiquarian Supper in Bethel

The following communication is both unique and entertaining.  It gives an account of an entertainment, which must have been social, useful and amusing.  We think similar meetings, for similar purposes, might be held with profit in every town and village.  Soon the generations which first settled this County will have passed off the stage.  Most of the pioneers are already gone.  To treasure up their memory, to record their deeds, to celebrate their praises, to imitate their patriotic and virtuous example, to rehearse their legends, to recall their customs, sufferings and relics, should be the high ambition of their sons.  We thank the author for this favor, and publish it with favor; and would be happy to receive others of a similar character.

Antiquarian Supper

The Bethel Farmer's Club, in this place, had a supper after the olden time, last evening, which furnished a fine opportunity to collect together the antiquities of the place; and, although we could boast of no articles from the May-Flower, yet enough were gathered to furnish a delightful theme for the evening.  A beautiful supper was furnished, consisting of the veritable bean porridge of the past, pumpkin pie, fire cake, parched corn, and sage tea, which were eaten with as much apparent relish, as if it had been a more fashionable supper.  A blessing was asked by the patriarch of the town, Peter Twitchell, Esq., now in his ninety-fifth year, who, though unexpectedly called upon, collected his ideas so as to adapt them to the special occasion, much to the delight of the company.  After supper, a poem was delivered, commemorative of bean porridge, when an examination was made of the antiquities present.  An ancient plate, belonging to the old Gen. Putnam family, was exhibited by one of his descendants.  A mug purchased and used at the battle of Bunker Hill.  A porcelain tea-canister of olden time, a really elegant affair much resembling a modern Cologne bottle, was exhibited by Hon. Moses Mason, which acquired an additional interest when he informed us that the article was formerly set on the table as a part of the regular tea-set, when each one poured on boiling water for beverage.  Various articles of earthen and silver ware, a hundred years old, and upwards, were also exhibited.

An old fashioned hat, bonnet and cloak, of red broadcloth, furnished a rich fund of amusement to the young people.  The bonnet, a splendid affair in its day, was the reverse of those worn at the present time, possessing a most ample front as well as rear.

A few ancient books were collected from the Academy Library, and from private individuals, among which were an Arithmetic and Latin Grammar, used just one hundred years ago.  These were the property of Rev. Daniel Gould, the first settled minister of the town.  A pamphlet without date, entitled, Consideration on the Propriety of Imposing Taxes in the British Colonies, for the purpose of raising a Revenue, by Act of Parliament, manifested a coolness of temper quite characteristic of our forefathers.  Another book printed about the year 1717, was on various religious subjects.  Among the titles was, Some few lines towards a description of the NEW HEAVEN, written in 1697, author unknown.  The writer states "that in 1622, at Plymouth the Drought lasted from the third week in May, to the middle of July, without any rain, and with great heat for the most part," reminding us of a similar drought experienced here last year.  Another book was printed in 1733, entitled Durham Cathedral, together with the Histories painted in the Windows.  The most curious book exhibited was printed in London in 1723, and is entitled A New Theory of Physick and Diseases, founded on the Principles of the Newtonian Philosophy.  A single extract may enlighten your medical readers: "Bloatiness must arise in all cases, where the solidities of the nourishing Particles are lesser than their Surfaces, in Proportion to the Quantity of Matter they contain, which must render them less compactedly adhering to the Constitution of the Body, and of Consequence must give them greater void Spaces, from whence arises that State or Condition, we call a bulky, or unweildy Corpulency."

A Catalogue of Harvard College, previous to the Revolutionary War, was exhibited by John A. Twitchell.  Sixty-two students graduated in 1771.  A manuscript in the hand-writing of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, while in England, in 1766, was among the interesting relics of the past.

The first Thanksgiving sermon ever delivered in town was written by Caleb Bradley, A.M., candidate for the ministry, in 1798, and printed at Fryeburgh by Elijah Russell, of which a copy was exhibited.  The first wagon that ever came into town, was in the year 1811.  Whenever a person came to Bethel, they were said to come through the woods, as it was an unbroken forest for many miles.  Consequently when a stranger came, everybody knew it, and ascertained his business before he left.  The first building erected in the vicinity was a grist mill in 1774.  No miller attended, but every man carried his grist and ground it himself.  The same course was adopted with the saw mill.  The first house painted white was erected in 1814 [sic], by Hon. Moses Mason, to whom we were indebted for many interesting facts.  Seven by nine glass, at that time, was eleven cents a square; lime, seven dollars a cask; nails, a shilling a pound.  On the other hand, a house frame cost nothing for the material.  A pine tree that would now be worth fifty dollars, was sold for one dollar.  In the early history of the town, a man went on foot 70 miles to Portland with his hand sled and hauled home a bushel of salt.  The second child born in town is Joseph Twitchell, seventy-three years old, and still a vigorous man.  His mother came into town on snow shoes.  The first barrel of York flour ever brought into town was in 1824.  Previous to that time the inhabitants carried a surplus of wheat to market.  Among the first settlers was Eli Twitchell, whose daughter, now living, he carried in his arms twenty miles through the woods.  he kept the first store in town.  There are but three heads of families now living in town, who were such in 1799.  The first representative to the State Legislature was Eliphaz Chapman in 1808.  The first post-office in town was established in 1814 [sic], Moses Mason, Jr., P.M.  The first ordained minister in town was Rev. Daniel Gould, a graduate of Harvard College.  The first school-house in 1800.  The first meetinghouse in 1806.  The first family who wintered in town was that of Samuel Ingalls, in 1778.

The Indians frequently visited the inhabitants.  Among these was an Indian doctress, the last of the Pequawket tribe, by the name of Mollyockett.  She was fond of rum and emptyings, of the latter she would drink a pint at a time.  A good story is told of her, that when her husband died she went to Canada.  The priest demanded some money to pray his soul out of Purgatory.  She bantered him to take less, but he refused.  She at last counted out the money and laid it on the table, when he made his prayer, and told her that her husband was safe.  Then she said to him, "He sartin safe?"  He replied to her satisfaction.  She immediately took the money, and put it into her pocket.  The priest threatened to pray him back again.  She says, "Me Sanhop very careful Indian; when he get um in a bad place, he stick um up stick, and never catch um there agin"; and she went off with the money.  She was supposed to be over a hundred years old, and used to say that she could remember Lovell's Fight in 1724.  She has been dead about thirty-five years.  A branch of the St. Francois tribe occupied the fertile intervales in town where they raised their corn.  The corn-hills were recognized many years after the town was settled.

In 1780 [sic] three of the citizens were taken captive by the Indians.  One escaped, and the others were carried to Canada, where they were redeemed the next year.

Such are some of the facts gathered at the meeting, which we do not pretend to note down in chronological order.  Nor is this the time to collect the materials for the history of the towns of Oxford County.  The present generation can recount what they and their fathers have seen.  It is contemplated at a future time to have a similar meeting embracing as many of the citizens as possible, for the purpose of collecting all the facts of the early history of the town.  If a company of thirty individuals can bring out so many facts, what may we not expect from a public meeting.  I need scarcely add that the meeting was a happy one to all present.  Speeches were made, and the President presided with his usual ease and dignity.

1856 Antiquarian Supper

The attention of the company was first directed to antiquities of the place, some of which I will mention.  Of books there were many specimens, and as they exhibit the tastes of another generation  in their selection, and as it brings to light books of which even a large library might be deficient, I will give them a more extended notice.  The oldest book present was printed in 1579, entitled Analysis Psalmorum, written in Latin, exhibited by N. T. True, from the Academy Library.  A Treatise on the Supremacy of the Father, by Gilbert, Lord Bishop of Sarum, 1718, a work on a subject rarely treated of at that day, by J. Burbank, Esq.  A volume of Sermons by Rev. Ebenezer Erskine, 1744.  Euclide's Elements, 1746.  A bound volume of the New York Journal and weekly Journal and weekly Register, 1799 to '91 [sic], by Dr. Wm. B. Lapham.  Bound volume III of the Boston Recorder.  A commentary on Revelations, author and date unknown.  On the margin is the following: Nathaniel West, this is his book to read in the yeare 1684, March 9/10th, exhibited by Rev. Z[enas] Thompson.  Dr. Watt's Sermons published previous to 1777, by the same.  The Connecticut Evangelist, a magazine for 1801, Vol. 1, No. 8.  A good number.  Sermons on the Modes and Subjects of Baptism, by Joseph Lothrop, D.D., 1803.  Samuel Barker.  His Book, Read with Candor.  Nature of Saving Conversion by the Rev. Learned and Eminently pious Mr. Solomon Stoddard, 1719.  A Family Bible, 1708, elegantly printed and bound, by Daniel Young.  Christian Institutes, by the late Lord Bishop of Chester, 1775.  From Rev. E. A Buck.  Psalms of David by Brady and Tate, 1774, by Jed. Burbank.  Two Sermons on the Prophecies, by Rev. Eliphaz Chapman of Bethel, 1799.  Mills and Hick's British and American Register, for 1774, by Gilman Chapman, Esq.  Memoirs of Chas. Louis, Baron de Pollnitz, by John Locke.

A variety of coins, by A. Burbank, also Continental money by the same, and J. A. Twitchell.  Two pillow cases of Old India Cotton.  What a chapter in our national history does this one article present!  Linen spun and wove 88 years ago, by Susannah Barker, mother of J. Burbank, Esq.  Table cloth 63 years old by Susannah Bundy, mother of Mrs. Frances Burbank.  Wedding shoe 80 years old, with high heels in the hollow of the foot, by Mrs. John Harris.  Tea cannister upwards of 100 years old, Dr. M. Mason.  Tea spoons, sleeve buttons, buckles and teapots, too numerous to specify.  An Indian pestle dug up on excavating the railroad.  Wooden candlestick and antique lamp.  An elegant porcelain teapot upwards of 100 years old, by Mrs. Wm. Gerrish.  This was truly of elegant pattern and workmanship.  A pitcher from a sister of Gen. Putnam, by Mrs. Roxanna Twitchell, a descendant.  Sleeve buttons descended from Samuel Clark, who was killed in the Revolution, by S. W. Killburn.  A box made of birch bark, by Mollyocket.  A keg, mate to the one carried off filled with rum by the Indians when they captured Lieut. Jonathan Clark in 1781, by his son in law J. Burbank, Esq.  Ancient candlestick, really elegant, by Mrs. Moses Cross.  Pocket book out in the French war, by John Burbank.  From Jed. Burbank.  Wrought worsted pocket book, 1754, by Lydia Morrell, Rowley, Mass.  From Mrs. Timothy Chapman, also do. by Esther Parker, wife of Lieut. Jonathan Clark, wrought 77 years ago.  Infant's short and cap of domestic linen, 75 years old, by Mrs. Sarah Twitchell.  A scythe, the first ever used in town, by J. Burbank, Esq.  An account book was instructive.  I will give you a sample, exhibiting both the prices and customs of the times:

Sudbury Canada, 1793	£	s.	d.
To two Bush. Pertatoes	0	4	0
"  1-2 Bush. Rie		2
"  one mug of flip			9
"  Boarding the School Mistress		2	8
"  Oxen 1 day		2
"  1 Mug Toddy			9
"  1-2 Mug Tod., and Meat Victuals		1	8
"  23 gills of Rum		13	6
"  1-2 douzen Pigeons			4
"  1 Quart Rum lent, Boarding and licker		1

A list of autographs of the following persons were interesting, among whom were John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, R. M. Johnson, James Madison, Benj. Franklin, Daniel Webster, John Davis, Silas Wright, W. C. Rives, J. C. Calhoun, Thomas H. Benton, Abbott Lawrence, Henry A. Wise.  These were received by Hon. Moses Mason.

After an examination of the antiquities, the young people were entertained with an exhibition of the grandmothers at the spinning wheel.  Flax was combed, and wool carded, an entirely new scene to many young persons present.  But the grandmothers were rather outdone by Aunt Sylvia Kilburn, a young married lady who let the old folks understand that she could spin on a little wheel with a child in her arms.  Grandfather Burbank in his blue frock, was very busy making a birch broom; grandmother Burbank was trotting round lively as a cricket in her linen blue and white checked tire; while some of the children plagued their mothers by getting their fingers scratched in the fliers of the little wheel, and then sent off with a scolding.

But I must describe the dresses of some present.  It would have made you laugh to see Uncle Moses Mason enter the room with his bell crowned fur hat on, a foot in height, and his checked linen handkerchief on his neck, made some 70 years ago, accompanied by his lady with her striped satin bonnet richly made, but of enormous dimensions, and large flowing dress of brocade green silk, followed by Uncle Gilman Chapman with his very low crowned hat and largely distended ruffled shirt; while his lady appeared by his side in her fan waisted dress as neat as a pin.  Then followed a bevy of young ladies in straw bonnets protruding out in front so far as utterly to preclude the use of veils or the sight of sunshine, or stolen kisses; a regular Puritan bonnet, and were well calculated to reconcile the opposite sex to the special conveniences of the cut off bonnets of the present day.  Large ear rings and enormous haircombs in the hair done up on the head, with combs behind their ears, gave a charm to those who wore them.  A dozen or more different patterns of dresses of former days were conspicuous among the fair sex.  Aunt Addie won applause in her low necked, short waisted dress with balloon sleeves, the fashion of a quarter century gone by.  Dresses short and long, single skirted and double skirted, found their admirers.  So changed were some of the ladies in appearance, that they were hardly recognized by their most intimate friends.

It is now past eight o'clock when the children are called to supper.  The old folks are seated around the table, the children in the rear, or in an adjoining room, a blessing is pronounced by the patriarch present, Deacon Geo. W. Chapman, 75 years old, when bean porridge hot was dealt out to all present.  Aunt Mary Ann Chapman had the credit of making this, and some of the boys declared that it tasted like oysters.  It was pronounced by all to be the best they ever ate.  Next come a milkpan full of hulled corn prepared by mother Lucia Kimball who has a way of fixing up things a little nicer than anybody else.  It was good as everybody said.  Grandmother Roxanna Twitchell provided the Johnny cake which was capital.  Aunt Mary Brown furnished another which they said was nice, but the children grabbed it so quick, that I could not obtain a piece.  The parched corn was furnished by Aunt Orinda Twitchell.  It was better, I doubt not, than our fathers could obtain.  Grandmother Burbank made the pumpkin pies, none of your milk and water sort of thing of modern times, but the genuine, fragrant smelling, and something tasting pumpkin pie of former days.  Then there was the huge brown loaf like a volcanic mountain smoking away in the centre of the table.  Sage tea was supplied by the old folks, with sugar to sweeten it for the sick, and molasses for the well ones, while the children drank water.  There was considerable grumbling among the children because they had to wait so long for their supper.  One great stout fellow turned round to his brother, and said, "Jess, we've got to live three weeks on clear bean porridge to pay for this treat on pumpkin pie and doughnuts."  Jess was conscious of this, and did ample justice to the topping off things.  Before we got half through with supper an alarm was raised that we were short of bean porridge.  There was much excitement, but the alarm proved to be a false one.

After they all had satisfied themselves with the good things set before them, remarks were made by the patriarch, Deacon Geo. W. Chapman, who stated that he was the only one present who had been a resident of Sudbury Canada, the former name of Bethel.  He was reared on bean porridge commonly on two meals a day, and on one cooked meal if they could have bread and milk for breakfast and supper.  In 1803 there was not, probably, a half a pound of tea in Peabody's Patent, now Gilead.  He visited with his friend Lieut. Jonathan Clark in Sudbury Canada, on an oxsled sixty three years ago, and it was as pleasant a visit as ever he made.  He said that he was born on Christmas day, and as his father was a great admirer of George Whitefield, who had a high regard for that day, he was named after that celebrated divine.  He then repeated some verses which he composed last Christmas, on his 75th birth day.  It will be understood that Deacon C. is totally blind.


The recital of these verses, under such circumstances, touched a cord of sympathy in all that heard them.

After supper we were entertained by some music from the Old Folk's Choir.  The tunes were pitched in old style faw—sol—faw—m, and the rooms were filled with good music.  The grandmothers piped in and out the old fashioned Counter, which younger readers must ask their grandmothers to explain to them.

At half past ten the whole company sung Old Hundred, which never sounded better, and our host requested the Rev. E. A. Buck to close with a prayer.

The society passed a vote of thanks to our host and hostess for their uniting efforts to make our visit agreeable.  It was then voted to adjourn to some day in October next, selected by the officers of the society, for the purpose of holding a Town Fair, and for the collection of the antiquities of the town.  Buck and Broad were driven to the door, and the happy company separated to their homes.  Thus has ended the meetings of the Club for the season.  Instead of grumbling about our neighbors, we have spent the swift hours of our winter evenings in real improvement and genuine enjoyment.  We have made noble resolutions which we doubt not will be slowly but surely carried into effect.  To the Clubs all over the land and to the one in Hebron and Turner, this Club sends greeting.

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1857 Antiquarian Supper

Dr. N. T. True residence, Broad Street, Bethel
Site of the 1857 Bethel Farmer's Club Antiquarian Supper

Oxford Democrat, Paris, Maine, Friday, March 6, 1857

Antiquarian Supper

In conformity with our purpose, we took the cars for Bethel on Wednesday afternoon, and arrived there in due time, and found a large share of the guests assembled—the venerable patriarch and matrons, the middle aged, and the young folks, and the children—all full of life and their faces wreathed in smiles.  Even the wrinkled faces of the aged seemed radiated with the glow of youth, by remembrance of the past days revived.  And then the tables—they were loaded with the substantials of life, done up in the style of days of yore, in part—a strange mingling of the past with the present.  There was the "bean porridge hot," the baked beans, the brown bread—this last a little modernized—the boiled dish, the "hulled corn" and milk, and all the et ceteras of the over-loaded tables of olden times, of which all partook with a relish and good will.

After the repast, remarks were made by the patriarchs, and then by the younger members of the assembly, mostly of a historical character, going to show the great change that had taken place in the condition of the country, a full report of which we hope to get for our next issue.

The occasion was one of great interest to all, and of amusement to Young America, in the unique dresses of some of the ladies in particular.  Although afflicted with a severe headache, we enjoyed the entertainment very much.  Very many of the habits carried us back to boyhood days, and brought up the remembrance of uncles and aunts, long since departed.

As a finale to the winter meetings of the Farmer's Club, this festival was exceedingly interesting and appropriate, and we wish other towns, in this county in particular, would imitate the example of Bethel in this matter.  Why may not every town in this county have its Farmer's Club, and thus, not only awaken a new interest in farming, and accumulate and diffuse agricultural information, but help form something like society in the farming community, of a rational, intelligent, and profitable character, instead of the gossiping visits which constitute so much of the intercourse among the families of the farming community, which every intelligent man wishes to escape as he would the leprosy.

Oxford Democrat, Friday, March 13, 1857

Antiquarian Supper

We give considerable space to Dr. True's report of the Antiquarian Supper at Bethel.  We do this, as we doubt not it will be more interesting to our readers than anything we could write.  What the Dr. writes is always worth reading.  This we know our readers will fully endorse.  There is an unwritten sequel to this nice time, of which the lovers of Bean Porridge have an affecting remembrance.

Antiquarian Supper of the Bethel Farmer's Club