HON. EDWARD ASHTON ROLLINS. 73
" New England life was never better interpreted. I am delighted with their pleasing style and the photographic accuracy of their descriptions and char- acterizations."
But these books were by no means the first literary work of Mrs. Rollins. So far back as the days of the National Era, — which first brought " Uncle Tom's Cabin " to the light, — she was a valuable contributor to the pages of that periodical. During the war, a series of letters from her pen, at Wash- ington, to the Sprins^field Republican, attracted much attention. On her tour in Europe, with her husband and family, she corresponded with the Boston Advertiser, in sketches of travel, which showed her rare powers of observation and description, and gave glimpses of her deeper nature and her higher culture. Of the qualities of Mrs. Rollins's mind and heart, which could not but show themselves in what she wrote, as well as in what she was, " Gail Hamilton," who was one of her attached friends at Ipswich and ever after, says, enthusiastically : " I never saw a more brilliant, piquant, intellectual, unexpected sort of woman. When you add to this, that she was large natured and generous, you have a rare combination."
Of Mrs. Rollins, as she seemed to those who knew her best, the Hon. William E. Chandler, who enjoyed relations of intimacy with herself and her family for years, says, comprehensively : —
" The complexities of woman's nature, especially of one so sensitive and retiring as that of Mrs. Rollins, make it difficult to describe her character. It developed in quiet conversations with the few people whom she fancied ; in letters to her friends, full both of sense and sentiment ; and finally, blossomed into full view in her books, where it may be better read and felt than it can be stated in words. Intensely thoughtful, and with great command of language, she was capable of vigorous intellectual productions ; but with her feeble health, and controlling love of domesticity, she preferred to write about famihar subjects of common life ; and her beautiful pictures of the homes and scenes of New Hampshire will long attract and charm her readers. Unselfish and thoughtful for others, devoted to her husband and children, pure, spiritual and religious in her whole nature, full of intellectual aspirations, and adorned by womanly graces, she has left to her family and friends recollections only bright and beautiful, which they will never cease to cherish."
THE ANCESTRY OF EDW^ARD ASHTON ROLLINS.
1. Susan Binney Jackson, born in .3. Sally Spring was born in Elliot, 1805. was named for the sister of Hon. Maine, in 1773, and died m Watertown, Horace Binney. of Philadelphia, whose Mass.. in 1825.
mother married, 2ud. Dr. Marshall 4. Simon Jackson, born in 1760, was
Spring, of Watertown, Mass. (brother second son of Gen. MichaelJackson, and
of Rev. Alpheus Spring. Susan's grand- captain in liis father's regiment, the 8th
father), by whom Horace, aftei- the age Continental, in the Revolutionarj^ war.
of tea. and his sisters were reared and In the same regiment were his four
educated. She was married February brothers, and four paternal uncles. All
3, 1825 ; lived in Portsmouth until 1827 ; endured the severe winter with the army
in Wakefield till 1S35 ; afterwards in in winter quarters at Valley Forge, the
Great Falls, where she still resides. general being accompanied by his wife.
2. Hon. Daniel G. Rollins was born Charles Jackson, youngest brother of in 1796, was member of the New Hamp- Simon, entered the army as drummer at shire legislature in 1813. 1853. and 1855; the age of twelve; he was afterwards judge of probate for Strafford County United States District Attorney of from 1857 to 1866. when he reached the Georgia. Simon Jackson died in 1818. constitutional limit of seventy years and 5. Betsey Shapleigh w;is born in Elliot, retired; was for many years presi- Maine, in 1773 ; was married in August, dent of the Great Falls and Conway 1791 ; was a woman of rare merit, and Railroad Company. He died in 1875. died in 1854.
�� �
