Jefferson in Coos County, New Hampshire — The American Northeast (New England)

Granny Stalbird

1755-1845

Photographed By Kevin Craft, September 25, 2014

1. Granny Stalbird Marker

Inscription.
Known as Granny Stalbird, Deborah Vicker came through Crawford Notch c.1796 as cook for Col. Joseph Whipple. It is said she brought the first bible to the north country. She married Richard Stalbird and settled on land deeded to her by Whipple in payment for her service. She became the region's "doctress," a travelling herbalist who learned native wisdom about plants and healing. Stories of her knowledge, bravery, and dedication to settlers of this new frontier are part of the history of White Mountain settlement.

Erected 2011 by New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. (Marker Number 229.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • Women. In addition, it is included in the New Hampshire Historical Highway Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1796.

Location. 44° 24.696′ N, 71° 28.41′ W. Marker is in Jefferson, New Hampshire, in Coos County. Marker is on Meadows Road (New Hampshire Route 115A) half a mile south of Presidential Highway (U.S. 2), on the right when traveling south. Marker is located near parking lot for Applebrook Bed & Breakfast. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 Meadows Road, Jefferson NH 03583, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Thaddeus S. C. Lowe (approx. 3.6 miles away); Cherry Mountain Slide (approx. 3.6 miles away); Lake Coos and the Presidential Range (approx. 5.2 miles away); The Weeks Act (approx. 5.9 miles away); Lancaster War Memorial (approx. 6.9 miles away); First Church of Lancaster (approx. 7 miles away); The Thompson Legacy (approx. 7.1 miles away); Lancaster Main Street Program’s (approx. 7.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jefferson.

More about this marker. Applebrook B&B, located next to the marker, is where Granny Stalbird's family lived for several generations. There is a suite in the B&B named for her.

Also see . . . Jefferson New Hampshire Doctor: Deborah "Granny" (Vicker) Stalbird (1755-1845). In the New Hampshire History Blog, Janice Bowen provides a short but detailed biography of Granny Stalbird: ...‘Granny Stalbird’ was an amazing lady. She deserves the title ‘Doctor’ as much as any of the physicians in colonial America. During this period of our history, most physicians did not attend school, and instead apprenticed with a working doctor. The use of bleeding was a common practice. Medical treatment of the time was barbaric by our current standards, and Deborah appears to have
Photographed By Kevin Craft, September 25, 2014

2. Granny Stalbird Marker
been very successful in healing the residents of New Hampshire’s north country with her remedies, whether conventional or not. Within the context and definition of the term then used, Deborah Stalbird may be considered New Hampshire first (widely known) woman doctor. (Submitted on October 5, 2014.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 15, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2014, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. This page has been viewed 908 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 2, 2014, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.