This is a transcription of the Alstead, NH addition from A Gazetteer of New Hampshire Containing Descriptions of all the Counties, Towns and Districts in the State by John Hayward, John P. Jewett (publisher), Boston, 1849.
NOTE 2. ALSTEAD.-“Andrew Beckwith,” says Rev. Mr. Arnold, “came from Lyme, Conn., to this town (Alstead) in 1767. A remarkable providence interposed for the preservation of his son Richard. When an infant, his mother went to the woods to gather a few berries. She placed her little child on the ground; and while she wandered some distance, and was about returning, she saw a huge bear come up to the tender babe. And, O! it is hardly possible to conceive the throbbing of a fond mother’s heart, while she beheld the voracious animal smelling and passing around her darling child. What could be a done? But while she stood in awful suspense, petrified with fear and doubt, to her exceeding joy the bear retired, and left the boy unhurt and unconscious of his danger.
“One of the great evils was the multitude of wild beasts, especially bears and wolves, which were so numerous as to devour their swine and sheep, and sometimes to assail their larger cattle. At one time, when Mr. John Burroughs was called to Walpole, for medical assistance for his family, he saw, but a few rods distant, a large panther, which he drove from him by a stern look and a sudden yell. At another time he returned from Walpole in a terrible thunder storm anda powerful rain, which his physician would not encounter in the night. In an unexpected manner he found himself enclosed in the bushy top of a large tree, that had fallen in his way. By reason of the extreme darkness, neither he nor his horse could keep the path, which was, however, none of the best. After many attempts to extricate himself and his horse, and groping along in the dark, he was compelled to lodge there for the night. ‘And,’ said he, with the smile of second childhood, ‘I laid my hand over my ear to keep out the rain, and slept sweetly till morning.’ “