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 Sketches of persons, localities, and incidents of two centuries: principally from tradition and unpublished documents.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

222 RAMBLES ABOUT PORTSMOUTH.
with him. She wrote him several letters, but received no
answer. He wrote to his nephews in Po;rtsnmonth, and said
if one would come out and settle there,.he wotald make him
his heir. The late Samuel Shackford, ab'o.t forty years
ago, went and visited his uncle, but returne'dy. not liking
well enough to remove there. At his deathi h-3 left his
property to strangers.
He died about forty years since, over 80 years old', livi'ng
to see his town, so beautifully situated at the jun'ction of
the Scioto and Ohio rivers, become a place of note and the'
chief county town. Ie was a studious man, intelligent,
but of an eccentricity which to some minds bore marks of
insanity-but those who recollect him in Olhio will not allow'
that le was any other than a sane man. He was probably
convinced that astrologers' sayings should n'ever have an
influence in the selection of a wife; and his wife dCoubtless
was satisfied that the heart which was held by another
should not be bartered, even by parental inflaence.
Mrs. Shackford still lived in the old mansion swhich hler
father bequeathed to her and to a grandson, Thomas Jaclkson:, until the fire of 1813, which constumed it, and drove
them to another habitation.
Mr. Jackson had been several years an instructor of
youth in Portsmouth, and was then teaching a't thle Soutlh
School. He conveyed as many things as hle could to the'
school house; they were saved( but the, re-st iwere burnt or'
stolen. The' next day Ie took possession of the' old Chaun~
cey house oin the Soutlh road. No on'e livedJ in it but
an old manll ammled Jolhn Shores, -whlo had Lee'n put there
to tak-e care otf it. He told thlrillilng taeles of the house
being haunted,(, and sai:,l tfherel Awas ti cloeset in tlhe cellar
lwhere a minlister had laid a spirit t^w'eaity y'earli's osg, and it
had never been opened since. Mr. J. and Capt. John S.
Davis had the curiosity to open it. Found two barrels, one
containing beef and the other pork, in a good state ofpres