From The Connecticut River Valley in Southern Vermont and New Hampshire: Historical Sketches by Lyman S. Hayes, Tuttle Co., Marble City Press, Rutland, VT., 1929, page 349:
A NOTED POETESS ONCE LIVED AT BARTONSSVILLE – NANCY AMELIA WAKEFIELD
From 1865 to 1869 there lived in the village of Bartonsville, a small village in this town, a poetess, who, although her fame rests largely upon a single production, was one whose writings have been read and admired by thousands and in all countries.
This was Nancy Amelia (Priest) Wakefield, the wife of Lieut. Arrington C. Wakefield, a soldier of the Civil War, who was credited to this town, and who made Bartonsville his home from about 1859 to 1869. He spent the last years of his life in Springfield, Mass., after the death of his wife. Nancy came to Bartonsville upon her marriage, which took place at her home in Winchendon, Mass., December 22, 1865. She was born in Royalston, Mass., December 7, 1836, but had spent the greater part of her life previous to her marriage with her parents in Winchendon. Between the years 1851 and 1855 the family lived in Hinsdale, N. H., and Miss Priest worked in the paper mill then owned by George Robertson. Her parents lived at some distance from the mill and she did not go home to dinner. During the noon hour, as she sat upon a bale of rags in the rear of the mill looking over the Ashuelot river, the inspiration came to her to write the poem, "Over the River They Beckon to Me," which struck a responsive chord in the hearts of the reading public and has gained in popularity in the succeeding years. It has been considered among the most pathetic and tender expressions upon that subject that has ever been published, and is to be found in many of the finest collections of poetry in [350] the English language. At the time of her death the Congregationalist of Boston said: "It may be doubted whether a single week has transpired in the last ten years when the verses might not have been picked up from one or more of our American newspapers in their issue of that week. We know, indeed, of no bit of poetry of late, from any pen, that has struck the popular mind so exactly." This popular estimate has strengthened rather than diminished in the years that have elapsed since her death in 1870.
Following are the first two verses of the poem, which indicate the beauty and tenderness of the entire eleven verses:
"'Over the river they beckon to me, Loved ones who cross' d to the other side; The gleam of their snowy robes I see, But their voices are lost in the dashing tide. There's one with ringlets of sunny gold, And eyes the reflection of heaven's own blue; He cross'd in the twilight gray and cold, And the pale mist hid him from mortal view."
While living in Hinsdale Miss Priest became accquainted with her future husband, who was then emmployed in the same paper mill. He later removed to Bartonsville and after his return from the army he brought her as a bride to this town to live. Lieut. Wakefield was an employee of the A. C. Moore mill in Bartonsville and the Wakefleld and Moore families resided in the same dwelling. Mrs. Wakefield is still remembered by numerous older residents as of a beautiful [351] nature and attractive ways, although exceedingly plain in features.
From the time she was 14 years of age, Mrs. Wakeefield always exhibited marked natural ability in the line of poetry, although she had but a common school educaation, supplemented by a term or two at Powers Institute in Bernardston in 1858, where she was a pupil of Prof. L. F. Ward, who in later years was a prominent teacher in Bellows Falls and Saxtons River.
Twelve years after her death her mother selected enough of her poems to fill a book of more than 300 pages, and, with an interesting memoir of the talented woman, it was published in 1882 by Lee & Shepard under the title, "Over the River, and Other Poems." An edition of only 300 was quickly exhausted and it has never been reprinted, so that it is extremely hard to find a copy at the present time. The talent, pathos and beautiful spirit which pervade the most of the poems show a mind of exceedingly fine instincts. Many of her poems were written carelessly in pencil, as if under sudden impulse of the heart, and a number of these were found after her decease.
Lieut. Arrington C. Wakefield, the husband, was born in Gardner, Me., December 22, 1833, and in 1906 was still living with a son in Springfield, Mass. He enlisted in Rockingham June 1, 1861, and served until July 11, 1865, being mustered out as second lieutenant of Co. I. A son, Francis Arrington, was born in Barrtonsville July 6, 1867, and a second, Harry Cavino, was born May 28, 1869. Both were living in Springfield; the former was captain and the latter lieutenant of the Springfield company of militia. Both served through [352] the Spanish-American war and were at El Caney. Their only daughter died in infancy. Mrs. Wakefield died in Winchendon August 27, 1870, and her memory is held in high esteem by many old residents there, and by a few who knew her in this town.