Sarah Kemble Knight. Remarks on “this whole Colony of Connecticut” 1704-1705.

The next morning I Crossed the Ferry to Groton, having had the Honor of the Company of Madame Livingston (who is the Governor’s Daughter) and Mary Christophers and diverse others to the boat ⎯ And that night Lodged at Stonington and had Roast Beef and pumpkin sauce for supper. The next night at Haven’s and had Roast fowl, and the next day we come to a river which by Reason of the Freshets [water swells after heavy rains] coming down was swelled so high we feared it impassable and the rapid stream was very terrifying ⎯ However we must over and that in a small Canoe. Mr. Rogers assuring me of his good Conduct, I, after a stay of near an hour on the shore for consultation, went into the Canoe, and Mr. Rogers paddled about 100 yards up the Creek by the shore side, turned into the swift stream and dexterously steering her in a moment we come to the other side, as swiftly passing as an arrow shot out of the Bow by a strong arm. I stayed on the shore till He returned to fetch our horses, which he caused to swim over, himself bringing the furniture in the Canoe. But it is past my skill to express the Exceeding fright all their transactions formed in me.


We hoped to reach the French town and Lodge there that night, but unhappily lost our way about four miles short, and being overtaken by a great storm of wind and snow which set full in our faces about dark, we were very uneasy. But meeting one Gardner who lived in a Cottage thereabout, offered us his fire to set by, having but one poor Bed, and his wife not well, &c. or he would go to a House with us, where he thought we might be better accommodated ⎯ thither we went, But a surly old shoe Creature, not worthy the name of woman, who would hardly let us go into her Door, though the weather was so stormy none but she would have turned out a Dog. But her son whose name was gallop, who lived just by Invited us to his house and showed me two pair of stairs, viz. one up the loft and t’other up the Bed, which was as hard as it was high, and warmed it with a hot stone at the feet.