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 233:
LANGDON, N. H.–ACCIDENT AT CHURCH RAISING–TRADITION OF LARGE ELM TREE
Our neighboring town of Langdon, N. H., so named in honor of a former governor, although not having a large citizenship, has a fund of history and tradition which make interesting reading. Among the notable incidents there were those connected with the raising, on or about June 1st, 1842, of the Congregational church, which is still in use there.
The "raising" of the frame of any building in olden times was always an event of importance, calling for the gathering of a large number of men to assist. The style of construction was then entirely different from present methods. Buildings were always "framed" while lying upon the ground, and with very heavy timbers. Each of the four sides constituted a "bent" in early parlance. These were put together firmly by themselves, lying on the ground in proper position, so when they were "raised" they made the four sides of the building, and the sides were firmly secured together with wooden pins at the corners.
An unusually large gathering of strong men had come to the raising of this church building on that day, called together by interest in the building because of its expected use, and by the hope of partaking in the usual "refreshments" always served in those days, for churches as well as any other building. The main part of the building had been raised and pinned in its proper position and a portion of the belfry was being added, when some of the timbers gave way and precipitated 15 or 20 men to the ground with the falling timbers. [234] One man, Jonas Blood, was killed in the fall and about a dozen others were severely injured, one with a broken leg, another with broken ribs, and others more or less seriously hurt.
Early in the year 1878 a giant elm was cut down which had stood on the farm of Mr. Charles Holden in Langdon. It was a notable one and had been one of the old landmarks in that part of the state for over a hundred years. Its height was 100 feet; its girth two feet from the ground was seventeen feet; thirty-four feet from the ground twelve feet; forty-eight feet up to the first limb. At sixty feet from the ground six limbs branched out, each measuring six feet in circumference. A section of the trunk twelve feet long was estimated to weigh eight tons, and required nine yoke of oxen to draw it. The whole tree contained sixteen cords of wood.
There was an old legend connected with this noble tree which tradition had carefully preserved, and which had been believed in, and handed down from father to son for the previous 125 years. It was as follows :–
During the old French and Indian war, a detachhment of soldiers was sent out from Boston to join their regiment, which had a few days before started for Quebec. The detachment consisted of fourteen men and all expected, with long and rapid marches, to overtake the regiment in a short time.
On the third day one of their number fell sick, and was left in the hands of friendly Indians, in the town of Langdon. In a short time he recovered, but again fell, this time in love with a beautiful Indian squaw, who was soon to become the wife of an Indian brave. The warrior grew jealous, and watched his chance. One [235] evening while the young soldier and beautiful Indian girl sat under this noble elm, gazing at the moon, and talking of love, an arrow swift and unerring from the bow of the Indian lover, smites the white man through the heart, and pins him to the tree. The maiden with her own hand draws out the arrow, digs the grave, and with her own hands lays her white lover in it, covering him with her own beautiful skirts of fur, which she takes from her person, and with her own hands heaps the cold earth upon him who had taken her young heart captive. She never left that noble tree, never again tasted food, and on the seventh day was found dead upon the grave of her lover.