USA > Vermont > A history of Vermont, from its first settlement to the present time : with a geographical account of the country, and a view of its original inhabitants. For the use of schools > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01188 0728
A HISTORY
OF ,
VERMONT, :
FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT
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TO
THE PRESENT TIME.
WITH
A GEOGRAPIIICAL ACCOUNT
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OF THE COUNTRY,
:
AND A
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VIEW OF ITS ORIGINAL INHABITANTS.
FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS.
BY F. S. EASTMAN.
BRATTLEBORO': PUBLISHED BY HOLBROOK AND FESSENDEN. 1828.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofvermont00east
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DISTRICT OF VERMONT, To Wit :
(L. S.) BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the twentieth day of May, in the fifty-second year of the Independence of the United States of America, HOLBROOK & FESSENDEN, of said district, have deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in the words following, to wit :
"A History of Vermont, from its first settlement to the present time ; with a Geographical account of the Country, and a view of its Original Inhabitants. For the use of Schools. By F. S. EASTMAN."
In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned."
JESSE GOVE, Clerk of the District of Vermont. A true copy of record, examined and sealed by me. J. GOVE, Clerk.
Publishers' Advertisement.
THE advantages to be derived from the use of Histories in schools are manifestly so great that they must be gene- rally acknowledged and appreciated by the citizens of this State.
History sets before the youthful mind striking instances of virtue, enterprise, generosity and patriotism, and incites to copy such noble examples ; it also presents pictures of the vicious overtaken by misery, and solemnly warns against vice. To use the words of Prof. Tytler, "History is the school of politieks ; it opens the hidden springs of human affairs ; the causes of the rise, grandeur, and fall of empires, and points out the influence, which the manners of the peo- ple have upon governments. It chastens the imagination, furnishes matter for reflection, enlarges the range of thought, and strengthens and disciplines the mind."
In a free country, especially, where every man may be called upon to discharge important duties, it is the business of all to be acquainted with the science of politicks and the pages of history. And what history can be more proper than that of our own country ? Many persons who have been through a course of common education, as it is taught in our schools, when called upon to exercise it, have found themselves very deficient in a knowledge of the history of our own country. Whereas, had a work like the present been used, a correct and competent knowledge of our His- tory, Constitution and Government would have been ob- tained.
In remarking on Goodrich's History of the United States, the Journal of Education says-"We believe cheap and brief compends of American history to be important * Strike out of existence these books, and thousands of pupils
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ADVERTISEMENT.
who annually obtain a very good knowledge of our history would know little or nothing of it. Banish these compends, and you carry back the world to an age when knowledge and science were locked up in the libraries of professed scholars."
With respect to the plan of this work, it is materially the same as that of Goodrich's United States ; and the unpar- alleled success of that work, proves the superiority of the plan over any other. It has been adopted in treating of English history, and the work is one of the most popular in England. The Journal of Education says of it-"If any other circumstance is necessary to explain the fact, that it has run through more than twenty cditions, it may be found in its better adaption to the real wants and actual state of our schools than other works."
How much better is such a work even for a reading book, than the thousand ephemeral productions which are con- stantly appearing under the name of Readers; for here is every advantage of variety and interest, combined with much information and profit.
The work is published as an experiment ; and as it must necessarily be a local one, it remains for the citizens of Vermont to decide whether it shall succeed.
May, 1828 ..
TO THE CITIZENS OF VERMONT :
THE importance of early obtaining a correct knowledge of the History of our own country, and more especially of the events which have distinguished, and the fortunes which have attended the State to which we belong, is universally felt and acknowledged.
It has long been a matter of regret, that the means of ac- quiring this knowledge, with regard to Vermont, have been very imperfect. The fact, that no work of this kind adapt- ed to the use of schools has been previously laid before the publick, will be a sufficient apology for the present publi- cation.
In obtaining materials for this work, the most respecta- ble authorities have been carefully consulted. Much assis- tance has been derived from the Vermont Gazetteer, and from Dr. Williams' History of Vermont.
To an enlightened community, who are ever ready to en- courage an attempt at improvement in the means of edu- cation, this work is respectfully submittted,
By their humble servant,
F. S. EASTMAN.
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
CHAPTER I.
NATURAL GEOGRAPHY.
Boundaries, Situation and Extent, Climate, Face of the Country, Soul and Productions, Lakes, Rivers, Botany, Mineralogy, Natu- ral Curiosities.
SEC. 1. Boundaries. Vermont is bound- ed on the North by Lower Canada; East by Connecticut River, which divides it from New-Hampshire; South by Massachusetts ; West by New-York, and the deepest chan- nel of Poultney River, East Bay and Lake Champlain.
Situation and Extent. It is situated be- tween latitude 42d. 44m. and 45d. North ; and between longitude 71d. 33m. and 73d. 26m. West from London.
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Its mean length is about 157 miles. Its breadth on the North line is 90 and on the South 40 miles ; the average breadth being about 57 miles. It contains 9000 square miles, or about 5,760,000 acres.
1. How is Vermont bounded ? What is its extent? How many square miles does it contain ?
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
SEC. 2. Climate. The climate of Vermont, at different seasons presents almost all the varieties of heat and cold. It is generally healthy, as is proved by the longevity of its inhabitants. The air is uncommonly dry and salubrious : and no regular disease is known to prevail.
The winter is cold, but the sky is usually serene. The earth is generally covered with snow from December to March. On the high lands, the snow falls earlier and con- tinnes later.
During a few years past, the climate has experienced a considerable change. The cold is less severe, and the snow frequently disappears in the midst of winter. Sudden changes of the weather are much more frequent than for- merly.
- In spring, the transition from the cold to the warm sea- son is highly interesting. Vegetation comes forward with astonishing rapidity. The fields resume their accustomed verdure; the trees put forth their wonted foliage ; and in a few days from the bleak and barren hues of winter, the whole face of nature assumes the gaudiest attire.
During the summer the heat is often severe, but seldom of long continuance. The air is frequently refreshed by cooling breezes, attended by occasional "showers. Long rains are seldom experienced.
The warm season generally continues to the middle or last of September, when frosts usually set in and arrest the progress of vegetation. It frequently, however, continues pleasant to the middle of November. A few days of very mild weather, called the "Indian Summer," usually precedes the setting in of winter.
SEC. 3. Face of the Country. No State
2. What is said of the Climate? Are any regular diseases known to prevail ? What is said of the winter? What change hay taken place in the climate ? What is said of Spring ? Summer? What usually precedes the setting in of winter.
3. What is the Face of the Country ? What the extent of the Green Moun- tains ! In what direction do they run? Describe the eastern range-the western .- What is said of the country between these ranges! How wide is the principal range? What are the highest summits? What is said of the pative scenery in Vermont ?
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
presents a greater variety of surface than Vermont. It is generally mountainous; the only plain of any considerable extent being near the Canada line.
The Green Mountains (from the French of which, Verd Mont, the State derived its name) extend from the southern to the northern boundary of the State. The high- est range runs from the southern boundary about 80 miles parallel to the Connecticut River, and from 20 to 30 miles distant from it.
It then divides into two branches; the eastern continues parallel to the river, and from 10 to 20 miles distant, and continues to the north line of the State, occasionally rising to a great elevation. The western, which is the principal range, passes off to the north, and extends nearly to Canada, sometimes rising above the usual range of the clouds and sometimes falling below it.
The western range is pierced by some of the large streams falling into Lake Champlain. Between these two ranges, is a beautiful champaign country, from 20 to 30 miles in breadth, second perhaps in fertility, to none in the State.
The valley of the Connecticut is also very fertile, and presents as fine a country for pleasure travellers as any in the United States.
The principal range of mountains from the north to the south line, is about 15 miles wide., The tops of the moun- tains are generally rocky, and covered with moss. The trees, pine, spruce, hemlock and fir, intermixed with shrubs, are small but very aged. At the highest elevation, spruce and hemlock trees, which have probably vegetated for cen- turics, are often uot more than 2 or 3 feet high, They are
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
thickly surrounded by branches, so interwoven as to render the thicket almost impenetrable.
The three highest summits are Killington Peak, Camel's Rump in Huntington, and Mansfield Mountain in Stirling. The sides of the mountains are very irregular, particularly on the south, which is often precipitous.
From the principal range of the Green Mountains, the highlands decline to the east and west boundaries of the State. The descent is not uniform, being broken by frequent elevations, and by the numerous streams falling into Lake Champlain and the Connecticut.
Vermont abounds in native scenery of great wildness and sublimity. Its lofty mountains, the rude and narrow defiles that wind amongst them, and the rushing streams to which they give rise, present scenes of unrivalled grandeur and majesty.
The sloping hills, the fine intervals and the streams which water them, afford a softer and more elegant and finished landscape; while the rich and universal verdure which crowns both hills and vallies, gives to the whole country an air of unmingled cheerfulness.
SEC. 4. Soil and Productions. The soil is generally fertile and well fitted for the pur- poses of agriculture. The highlands are best adapted to grazing. Winter wheat is extensively cultivated the west side of the mountains, but does not thrive so well east of them.
Summer wheat, barley, oats, rye, peas and flax, flourish in nearly all parts of the State. Indian corn grows best on the intervals, but is every where raised in abundance. As a grazing country, it is surpassed by none.
SEC. 5. Lakes. Lake Champlain lies between Vermont and New-York. It is 100 miles long and from 1 to 25 miles wide. In' lat. 45d. 45m. it narrows to a river, cal-
4. What is the character of the soil? What the productions ?
5. What Lakes are there in Vermont? Describe them.
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
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led the Sorelle, which falls into the St. Lawrence.
Lake Memphremagog lies chiefly in Can- ada. It is 40 miles long, of which 7 or 8 are in this State.
SEC. 6. Rivers. All the rivers have their sources in the Green Mountains. Those on the west side fall into Lake Champlain and the Hudson; and those on the east into the Connecticut; a few small streams run north into Lake Memphremagog.
The Connecticut washes the eastern side of the State, but belongs entirely to New-Hampshire.
The Michiscoui rises in Belvidere, passes into Canada, returns into the State, and empties into Michiscoui Bay .- It is 75 miles long, and navigable to Swanton falls, 7 miles.
Onion River rises in Cabot, and after pursuing an irregular course of 80 miles, empties into Lake Champlain about 5 miles north of Burlington. It is navigable 5 miles. On this stream is a cataract where the water falls 500 feet in 30 rods.
The Lamoille rises in Greensboro', and running 75 miles empties into Lake Champlain in Colchester.
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Otter Creek rises in Pera, (30 feet from the Battenkill,) and after running 90 miles, empties into Lake Champlain at Ferrisburgh. It is the longest river in the State, and is navigable 6 miles from its mouth.
West River rises in Weston, runs southeasterly 37 miles, and empties into the Connecticut at Brattleboro'.
White River rises in Kingston, and empties into the Connecticut at Hartford.
The Battenkill rises in Peru, and runs 45 miles to the Hudson.
SEC. 7. Botany. The principal forest
6. Where do the rivers rise ? Where do they empty ? Does the Connecti- cut belong to Vermont ? Describe the Michiscoui-Onion River-Lamoillo -Otter Creek-West River --- White River --- the Battenkill.
7. What are the principal forest trees? Are the vegetable productions nu- merous.
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
trees are the several varieties of pine, spruce, hemlock, fir, maple, beech, birch, ash, elm, oak, hickory, butternut, button- wood, bass, cedar, chesnut, poplar, and cherry. The white pine grows to a great height, and for timber is the most valuable forest tree. 1.
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: The native vegetable productions form too large a list to be here enumerated, as also the varieties of exoticks, which have been successfully cultivated.
SEC. 8. Mineralogy. Iron is the most common mineral, and is found in almost ev- ery part of the State. Mines are worked in Tinmouth, Pittsford, Swanton, Monkton, and Milton. A Lead mine of very rich ore has been discovered in Sunderland." The ore contains from 60 to 70 per cent. of pure lead, and about 3 of silver.
Beds of superior Clay are every where abundant. Marble is found in most towns west of the mountains. . In Bennington a quarry has been opened of peculiar fineness and beauty. It is worked extensively in Middlebury, where a "Marble Manufactur- ing Co." is incorporated, who in 1809 and '10 sawed 20,000 feet of slabs, amounting to $11,000 ; the machinery is propelled by water, and puts in motion 65 saws.
In Strafford is a rich vein of Sulphuret of Iron, containing a small quantity of copper.
8. What is the most common mineral ? Where are mines worked? What load mine has been discovered ? Is marble plenty ? Where le coperas manu- factured !
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
The manufacture of Coperas is here exten- sively carried on.
A company, under the name of the "Vermont Mineral Factory Co." was incorporated in 1809, which immediately commenced manufacturing Coperas in this town. In 1822, 180 tons were manufactured, and 158 tons in 1823. The ore is blasted from the bed in large masses, and is then beaten to pieces by hammers and thrown into heaps. By laying thus exposed to the atmosphere a few weeks, spontaneous combustion takes place, which converts it into the sulphate of iron. What remains is then conveyed to the leaches, and water is passed through it which dissolves the coperas and leaves the earthy matter behind. The water is then boiled and transferred to cisterns, where the coperas chrys- talizes on bouglis and branches of trees which are thrown in.
SEC. 9. Natural Curiosities. Many of the uncommon views, the peculiarities of natu- ral scenery and natural phenomena, which have been classed under this head, occur in this State.
To the traveller almost every part pre- sents a variety of interesting objects .- Passing in any direction, he will find fre- quent cause of admiration, and of astonish- ment, at the works of nature.
In Plymouth are several interesting caverns. The larg- est is entered by a sloping passage of about 10 feet leading into an apartment 27 feet long, 20 wide, and 20 high. From this, passages lead off into several other rooms, one of which is 30 feet long, 12 wide, and 20 high.
Vermont abounds with curiosities of this description. In Brandon, Danby, Bennington, Bradford, Duxbury, Mouk- ton, and Halifax, they have been explored, and no doubt there are many more yet unknown.
On Onion river, in Colchester, the channel is for 15 rods through a solid rock, 50 feet wide and 70 deep. There is also in Waterbury a similar passage, but the channel is nar-
9. Are there mapy natural curiosities ? What do they consist of?
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
rower and about 100 feet deep. Huge fragments of rocks have fallen down from the ledge, and formed a complete natural bridge which is passable for foot passengers.
In Clarendon, there is a remarkable cave, in the S. E. side of a mountain ; the entrance is 2 1-2 feet in diameter and 31 feet long, and opens into a room 20 feet long, 12 wide and 20 high. In the north end of the room is a pas- sage 40 inches in diameter, which leads into a room 30 feet by 20.
In Dorset is another remarkable cave. The entrance is 12 feet square, through a perpendicular ledge 20 feet high. The passage is short, making an angle of 25d. and opens into a room 20 feet high, 25 broad and 150 long. At the farther end, two passages lead off' to an unknown distance into the mountain.
A remarkable change has taken place in Poultney river, which empties into East Bay, on Lake Champlain. A little above its month, a ridge of land crosses in a northerly direc- tion. The river running a northwesterly course, on meeting this ridge suddenly turned to the northeast, and pursuing that course half a mile, turning westerly passed over a ridge of rocks and emptied into the Bay.
In 1783, during a freshet, the river broke over the ridge, and meeting no rock, wore a channel 100 feet deep, leaving the former one entirely dry. The earth thrown out of this prodigious chasm, filled the bay to a considerable extent, so that where it had been navigable for vessels of 40 tons, a canoe could with difficulty pass. These obstructions have, however, been partially removed.
On the interval of Onion river, in Burlington, a' large number of frogs have been dug up in a torpid state, from 25 feet below the surface of the earth. They were found bedded in the earth like stones, and on being exposed to the air, were soon able to leap about. They were probably buried by some inundation of the river, and may have been there for centuries.
In Thetford is a curious pond, covering about 9 acres. It lies on a flat, which descends on every side but the north. It is fed by no stream, neither does any issue from it. The water is 70 or 80 feet deep, and in summer falls about 2 or 3 feet. It contains large quantities of fish, barrels of which were formerly caught in a season. It is only about 4 rods from the bank of Connecticut river, between which and the pond the road passes.
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
In Glover was a pond, about 3 miles long and one wide, from which issued a considerable branch of the Lamoille river. A small distance north of this, was a smaller pond, from which run a branch of the Barton river. In 1810 some persons, to increase the mill privileges on this stream, cut a channel from the large pond to the smaller. After dig- ging about 4 feet, through a hard body of gravel, which had resisted the water for ages, they came to a bed of quick- sand, and the water entering this, in a few moments formed a large channel 60 feet deep, and of considerable width. The whole body of water rushed to this outlet with such force as to carry away half an acre of the opposing bank, with trees standing, over a precipice to the north. The whole pond taking a northerly course, suddenly inundated the country below, the deluge advancing like a wall, level- ling forests and hills, and sweeping off mills, houses, barns, and cattle, and barely giving the inhabitants time to es- cape. In 15 minutes the bed of the pond was left entirely dry, and is now in part cultivated.
CHAPTER II.
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VERMONT PREVIOUS TO ITS SETTLEMENT BY THE ENGLISH.
State of the Country, Original Inhabitants, Native Animals.
"SEC. 1. State of the Country. Vermont, previous to its discovery and settlement by the English, exhibited a universal wilder- ness. From its northern to its southern boundary, one wide unbroken forest cover- ed the face of the luxuriant earth.
1. What was the state of the country previous to its settlement by the English ? Were there any traces of civilization ?
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
It presented an assemblage of moun- tains, hills and valleys, thrown together in the most romantick magnificence, but rude and uncultivated as when fresh from the hand of the creator. No traces of former civilization enlivened the dreary waste; no crumbling monuments attested the glory of former ages. The soil had never been pressed by the footstep of civilized man. The busy sounds of social and civilized life had never gladdened its vales. All was si- lent-save where in solitude might have been heard the dashing of the cataracts, or the yells of the savages. -
SEC. 2. Original Inhabitants. The native inhabitants were the Coos Indians, a race unimproved in the arts of life, and wild and unpolished as the animals of their chase. They afford an example of man in his prim- itive state, fresh from the hand of nature, untamed by civilization and unaccustomed to restraint, with all his passions free and uncontrolled.
The different tribes of Indians that formerly inhabited our country, were similar in their appearance and habits, and together form a distinct race. They are copper-coloured, bave broad faces, with high cheek bones, small black eyes. and very piercing. Their hair is always black, long, coarse, and perfectly straight, and they seldom have any beard. They are taller than Europeans, rarely corpulent, are well
2. Who were the original inhabitants? What state of improvement were they in! Describe them .--- What was thelr clothing ? How did they subsist ? Were they fond of agriculture ? What was the situation of the women ? Wbat lo said of their enterprise in war? How were they engaged when not employ- ed io war or bunting ?
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
proportioned, strong and active. Their features are regu- lar, but the countenance has an expression of wildness and ferocity. i
They clothe themselves with the skins of animals, and are extremely fond of ornaments. They frequently decorate the head with feathers, and arrange the hair in the most fantastick forms. They generally wear pieces of. gold, shells or shining stones in the nose and ears, and paint the face with different colours and figures.
The produce of hunting and fishing, and the spontaneous productions of the earth, afford the principal means of subsistence. They are very averse to agricultural pur- suits, and despise all regular labour as de- grading. They never succeeded in any at- tempts at cultivating the earth.
The situation of the women, as in most barbarous nations, is truly deplorable. All the drudgery and labour of life is assigned to them; in a state of absolute servitude, doomed to incessant toil, they are left to perform their perpetual tasks, without as- sistance or pity, and often receive in return the most brutal treatment from their hus- bands.
When engaged in hunting and war, the Indians exhibit the most indefatigable en- terprise, perseverance and activity. In the taking of game, or ensnaring an enemy, they manifest the most consummate skill and address. No other occupations are deemed worthy their attention, and when not engaged in these, they relax into indo- Ience and inactivity.
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
SEC. 3. A Chief presides over cach tribe, but his authority depends upon his reputa- tion for courage, wisdom and experience, which are the original means of his eleva- tion. In every external circumstance, he is on a level with the rest of the tribe, and bears no particular marks of distinction.
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All publick transactions relating to , the welfare of the community, are performed in a council, composed of the whole tribe. Having no records or written laws, they are governed by tradition, and the old men are their deposito- ries, and by them their debates and consultations are man- aged. Their councils are conducted in a slow, solemn, and deliberate manner. , They have great respect for age and experience, and they take rank according to their rep- utation for courage, and the number of scalps they have taken. $
1!/War is considered the most honourable employment, and of course they are fre- quently engaged in it; it is generally car- ried on by stratagem. Nothing can exceed their cunning and perseverance, and when a sudden attack is made, the onset begins with the most horrid yells.
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