Samuel Eddy's Dog

In poking around the genealogy library recently, I came across the interesting tale of my ancestor Samuel Eddy of Plymouth, Massachusetts.

No, he was NOT a Mayflower pilgrim. But, he probably knew a couple of 'em.

Anyway, the tale in question centers on the untimely death of his dog. His neighbor John Dunham evidently didn't care for him very much, and purposely poisoned him.

The Puritan authorities, in all their infinite wisdom, ordered Dunham to purchase a cow and share the milk it produced with Samuel Eddy. I guess they figured it would get them talking to each other again. But, if my ancestor was as suspicious as I can be at times, I don't know how much of that milk he actually drank.

Anyway, another descendant wrote a poem about the whole incident. It was published in The Eddy Family Association Bulletin, pp. 497-498.Vol. xiii, No. 1, April 1, 1934:

An Elegy on the Death of Samuel Eddy's Dog

by William Holden Eddy

To day no lofty strain I sing,

of Pilgrims' joy or suffering,

No tales heroic do I bring

to set your minds agog;

An incident of daily life

of bitterness, alas, and strife,

When rumors sorrowful were rife

of Samuel Eddy's dog.

The breed he sprang from who can name?

Mastiff or bull we cannot claim.

Or trained to seek the fleeting game,

in forest or in bog;

Lurcher or hound, or terrier keen,

Spaniel or Porter, greyhound lean,

Naught do we know of this, I ween,

of Samuel Eddy's dog.

What that dog did we do not know,

almost three centuries ago,

Little indeed the records show,

in Plymouth's catalogue.

But this we read, one summer day

stretched cold in death the poor beast lay,

Poisoned by some fell foe, they say,

was Samuel Eddy's dog.

Of this in truth we may be clear,

that all the settlers, far and near

Spoke words of comfort and of cheer, in friendly dialogue;

And soothed, as best they could, the woe

that had o'ercome its master so,

And checked the tears that would o'erflow,

for Samuel Eddy's dog.

Think of the grief of Zachariah, of Caleb, sad as Jeremiah,

And doubtless year-old Obadiah,

though somewhat in a fog,

Upraised his voice in wailing strong,

and added to the weeping throng

Another lamentation strong

for Samuel Eddy's dog.

What was John Dunham's dreadful fate?

What punishment did him await?

Who made the household desolate?

What was the epilogue?

This only, that he sureties gave,

than henceforth he would well behave

For ever after poison crave

for Samuel Eddy's dog.

But later these two men agreed

in partnership a cow to feed,

To satisfy their households' need

with milk instead of grog;

Thus out of evil, good somehow

will often come; and so that cow

Repentance shows and sorrow now,

for Samuel Eddy's dog.

So let us pardon grant to him,

and trust he's with the cherubim,

That man who gave the poison grim,

and broke the Decalogue.

And let us all assembled here

in heartfelt sorry drop a tear

Upon the long forgotten bier

of Samuel Eddy's dog.