Rambles about Portsmouth. Sketches of persons, localities, and incidents of two centuries: principally from tradition and unpublished documents. By Charles W. Brewster.

202 RAMBLES ABOUT PORTSMOUTH.
Joseph Chase, on Pitt street; and while attending Elder
Elias Smith's meetings, in which she exhibited a wonderful
gift in prayer and exhortation, was guilty of bad conduct
out of meeting, which Capt. Chase told her he would
expose to the brethren. " If you do, I'll burn you up,"
served to keep the Captain quiet, but did not keep her long
on his premises. It was also found that she lived at Mr.
Sherburne's, at the Plains, when the barns were burnt.
Such strong circumstances led to her arrest; but
Sukey being a girl of great beauty, her facinating appearance saved her from the stern clutches of the law.
Although one of the investigating committee declared that
he would never agree to a verdict of acquittal, he gave
way on condition that she should leave Portsmouth never
to return. Sukey went at once to a town in the upper
part of Strafford County, found a husband in one Charles
Stewart, (by some called Ham,) who had been arrested for
firing a barn of Nathaniel Adams in 1805. Of their after
life we know nothing. but probably they became better
persons than hanging would have made them. Whether
the political party bearing the name of "Batrnbutrners,'
descended from them, history does not say.
The 22d of December is the anniversary of an event of
much national importance, and is also the anniversary of a
local calamity of a deeply appalling character.
This day, in 1620, our Pilgrim fathers landed at Plymouth,
and laid the basis of those institutions which have made
New England what she now is-the abode of freedom,freedom of conscience,-freedom from political tyranny,and freedom from hereditary titles and power. On the
rich blessings we enjoy from the stern devotion of our
honored ancestors, we will leave the reader to meditate,
for this is not our present purpose.
On the 22d December, 1813, Portsmouth suffered a calamity the effects of which it took many years to hide from