Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/58

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��THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

��Robert Rogers, of Ranger and Tory fame, entitled " Ponteach." In this room are two costly and beautiful cab- inets containing a rare and rich collec- tion of China and Majolica ware. Mrs. Bell is collector and connoisseur of China, and her collection is something to be proud of. Beyond the hall is the dining-room. In it is a gilded- framed mirror, imported by Col. Na- thaniel Oilman, that has hung in the same place since 1815.

Going up the broad stairway we en- ter the second story. Nearly every room has the same appearance that it had eighty years ago. The guest chamber, in the northwest corner, has sheltered many persons of distinction. The wainscot is untarnished. There are deep window seats, and exquisite carving on the walls and above the mantel-piece. The chamber in the south-east corner is the room that was occupied by Senator Gilman all his life. It is in part the same as in his day, and is still pervaded by his pres- ence. There is the furniture he used, the fire-place by which he sat in the blazing light, and some of the books that he read. The chamber is not large, and its antique look is height- ened by the huge beam that is left bare in the ceiling.

Right across the way is the room that is used by Gov. Bell as his study. Its furnishing is modern, though there are several relics in the room that have an historical tale. Here hangs the sword that was worn by Gov. John Bell when he was sheriff of Rocking- ham county. A staff, or wand, that was used by Samuel Gilman, Esq., leans against the wall. Here is a gold ring containing the hair of Col, Nicholas Gilman and his wife. The crest and coat-of-arms of the Gilman family is shown the visitor. The arms of the English family, located in Norfolk county, is — Argent, a man's leg in pale, couped at the thigh ; sable ; the crest, — a demi-lion issuing from a cap of maintenance ; motto, — Esperance. The family in America has substituted, for a crest, a man's arm, grasping a

��stringed arrow. Why the change I do not know. The Gilman family is of Welsh origin, and has a genealogy go- ing back beyond the time of Edward, the Confessor.

The house that Councilor Peter Gilman lived in is still standing in a state of excellent preservation. It is on Water street, the second building beyond the American House. A por- tion of it has antiquity of more than two hundred years, and is probably the oldest building in Exeter. It was erected as a block-house for defence against the Indians, in the far-away days before John Cutts was the first governor of New Hampshire, under the crown. The timbers are of oak, and very durable, and the windows originally were nothing more than loop- holes. Col. Gilman owned the house as early as 1745, and added greatly to it. The additions that he made are very high posted, and have a great deal of wainscot and elaborate molding. Two of the rooms can not be surpassed in New Hampshire for their ancient style and magnificence, the paneling and carving exceeding even the work in the old Wentworth and Warner mansions at Portsmouth. Colonel, or Councilor, Peter Gilman, was one of the great men of New Hampshire be- fore the Revolution. He had great wealth, a lofty name, and the royal governors honored him. More than once he entertained the vice-regal Wentworths at his noble home. His state and manner of living was that of the patrician of his time. Silver plate graced his table ; he drove in a coach- and-span, and owned several slaves. In 1 773, when the offices of major- general and brigadier-general were filled for the first time in the province, Gov. Wentworth bestowed the first up- on Theodore Atkinson, of Portsmouth, and the last upon Peter Gilman. At the same time he was a member of the governor's council.

Brigadier Gilman was seventy-two years old when the Revolution came. His whole life had been devoted to the service of the king, and all his honors

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