7 / 54
~
Y inheritance, by nativity, and by virtue of per–
I'!
'
sonal conviction, I claim the right to deal
with this pleasing subject. So far as the annals
appear to show, the first of our tribe to land upon the coasts
of th.e Western Hemisphere - one Deacon Henry Cobb,
who left Ireland just ahead of a warrant for rebellion
against the Crown and then left England a few hours before
a bailiff arrived with a writ - was also the first English–
speaking resident on this Continent commissioned to "draw
spirits," which I take it meant he probably was the pioneer
licensed publican and victualler of all the glad New W odd.
(See official church records of Situate colony, in Massachu–
setts, for ·the year 1636.) Nothing is said about his serving
free lunch.
Upwards of two centuries later, the worthy deacon's
descendant, my paternal great-grandsire, developed the love
for fast horse-flesh which ever since has distinguished our
family. We may the better understand this love of his when
I tell you he succeeded in getting beyond the borders of
7