Dr. John Dunsmoor

(Doctor)

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!OCCUPATION: Physician !RESIDENCE: Lunenburg, Massachusetts !PERSONAL: Dr. John Dunsmoor's practice extended over a wide area, even as far away as Winchenden. Although a good doctor he had a violent temper. It is recorded that once when he dismounted to gather chestnuts by the roadside his horse refused to be caught, capering away as Dr. John came near him. The doctor, in the habit of carrying his gun, and exasperated, leveled his musket and shot the horse dead. Another story noted that an 89 year old woman said Dr. Dunsmoor was considered a good physician, but very peculiar. If he felt good-natured he would sometimes get up and go off at night to visit a patient, but at other times he would not go, saying to the person calling, "Knock on knock; I'll find doors if you'll find fingers." Once patient he ordered not to drink water. The man, desperate, finally got his watcher to "go down to Bill Jones' well and get me some, if it hurts me I will never let on." The watcher got the water, whcih he drank and the next day was better. "What have you been doing?" asked Dr. Dunsmoor. The patient replied "I have drunk water." Whereupon the doctor answered "you have my medicine in you and you may get it out as best you can" and picking up his hat, left him never to return, and the man got well. -- From Nellie Ataline Gard, Ancestors and Descendants of Phineas and Polly (Gage) Dunsmoor, Marietta, Ohio, 1971, pages 12, 13. !DEATH: Lorraine (Ruth) Curran Van Order gives date as 20 Nov 1794

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