USA > Vermont > Windham County > Brattleboro > Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont; early history, with biographical sketches of some of its citizens > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01096 2683
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/brattleborowindh1880burn
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BRATTLEBORO
WINDHAM COUNTY, VERMONT
EARLY HISTORY
WITH
Biographical Sketches of some of its Citizens
BY HENRY BURNHAM
BRATTLEBORO PUBLISHED BY D. LEONARD 1880
1127446
CONTENTS.
Academy,
20 and 188
Hayes Family,
67
Alexander, John
I9
Hines, Arnold J.
134
Anti-Slavery,
44 Historical Nuggets,
190
Arms, Willard
61
Holbrook, John
34
Asylum, Vt.
150
Frederick
124
Attorneys,
43
John C.
I59
Banks,
43 and 185
Hotels,
I72
Blake, John W.
20
Hunt, Jonathan
20
John R.
81
William M.
I39
George B.
I56
Indian Relics,
22
Bradley, J. D.
I35
Johnson, Eliphas
117 and 169
Brown, Addison
145
Kellogg, Daniel
164
Colonel A.
160
Keyes, Asa
I35
Bull, Albert H.
188
Kirkland, Edward
I3I
Burnham, John
128
Knapp, Leonard
I9I
Cemeteries,
59
Knight, Samuel
20
Chapin, Oliver
54
Ladd, George
I90
Charles
I34
Longevity,
58
Cheney, S. T. R.
189
Lottery Office,
36
Church, Alonzo
70
Masonic Lodge,
42
Church, First
22
Mead, L. G.
20 and 151
" at East Village,
26
Military,
44
Unitarian,
28
Mineralogy and Geology,
21
Baptist,
30
Newman, George
130
Methodist,
32
Newspapers,
180
Episcopal,
32 and 177
Noyes, John
83
66
Catholic,
33
Odd Fellows,
43 and 185
Universalist,
178
Physicians,
43 and 60
Clark, Ezra
II6
Postoffice,
36
" Samuel
128
Public Schools,
39
Collegiates,
58
Reeve, Rev. Abner
2.1
Crosby, Edward
128
Representatives,
57
Curious Fiddle,
190
Rockwell, William H.
146
Dickerman, Lem'l
60
Root, Samuel
123
Eccentric Persons,
167
Seymour, Epaphro
I2I
Educational Institutions,
44
Steam Navigation,
39
Elliot, James
78 Stearns, Samuel 66
79 Steen, Joseph
75
Estey, Jacob
142
Stockwell, Mrs. Sally 190
Fessenden Brothers,
109
Thompson, Lemuel
51
Field, Charles K.
I86
Town Clerks,
57
Fire and Water,
37
Tyler Family,
83
Fossil Elephant,
I91 Vt. Historical Society in Brattleboro, 185 4I Warren, B. A. 42
Wells, Dr. Henry
64
Gilbert, Daniel
63
Samuel
64
Goodhue, Francis
II9
Rev. William
25 and 71
Gore, John
42
Whitney, Lemuel Richard 77
68
Greenleaf, Stephen
57 and 66
Grout Family,
162
Wilson, John 63
Hall, George H. and Gardner C. 61
Windham Provident Institution, 43
" George C.
I31
Foster, Samuel G.
Frost, Charles C.
II2
Samuel
1
BRATTLEBORO.
BY HENRY BURNHAM.
The population of this town, now about 6,000, is principally in two villages called East and West village. The West village is nearest the geographical centre of the town. It was formerly the larger and only village, where were the church privileges, town meetings, June trainings, etc. In con- sequence of the navigation of the Connecti- cut river -- which forms the eastern boundary. of the East village, and of the town for about six miles-and the enterprising char- acter and efforts of Wm. Fessenden, John Holbrook, Francis Goodhue, and others, the East village received an impulse, early in the present century, which caused it to far surpass the West village in business and population.
The town derives its name from William Brattle, from Massachusetts-one of the grantees of the town-and his name is the first one upon the list. Being loyal to King George, he fled to Nova Scotia at the com- mencement of the Revolutionary War. It is said he died there before the close of the war, and, after the "Jay treaty," his heirs made efforts to recover his confiscated property in this country. How much land he owned in this town, we are not informed; but his claim covered some of the best land in the town of Putney, which is ten miles north of Brattleboro. It has long been quite universally believed that the first civilized establishment in Vermont was at Fort Dum- mer, which was erected in the southeast corner of the town of Brattleboro in 1724. Hon. David Reed, in his account of Col- chester, ably maintains and claims this honor for Isle LaMotte, in the county of Grand Isle. [See Isle LaMotte, this work, Vol. II .- Ed.] Though it is evident that the several histories of the State have been led into the error of claiming too much for this town, it is equally evident, we believe, that the first English or Anglo-Saxon settle- ment, in this State, was made on what is
now soil of Brattleboro, by the erection of "His Majesty's Fort Dummer," as stated in the charter. Twenty-nine years after this settlement, Brattleboro was chartered under George II., and Josiah Willard, Esq., chosen or appointed Moderator of the first town meeting.
CHARTER OF BRATTLEBORO; BY KING GEORGE THE SECOND, 1753.
PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
L. S. George the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ire- land King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To all persons to whom these presence shall come, greeting:
Know ye that we of our special grace and certain knowledge and mere motion, for the due Encouragement of settling a new plantation within our said Province, By and with the advice of our trusty and well- beloved Benning Wentworth, Esq., our Governor and Commander-in-Chief of our said Province of New Hampshire in America, and of our Council of the sd Province, have upon the conditions and reservations hereafter made, Given & Granted and by these Presents for us our Heirs & successors Do Give and Grant in equal Shares unto our Loveing Subjects Inhabitants of our said Province of New Hampshire and his Majesty's other Govern- ments and to their heirs and assigns forever whose Names are Entered on this Grant to be divided to and amongst them into fifty- six shares, Two of which shares to be laid out in one Tract of the contents of Eight Hundred acres for his Excellency Benning Wentworth, Esq., and is in full for his two shares, which Tract is bounded as follows, viz:
Beginning at the rocks at the upper end of the Fort meadow so called, Thence up Connecticut River Two hundred and forty rods, & to carry that breadth back West ten degrees North so far as to contain Eight Hundred acres, All that Tract or parcel of Land situate, lying & being within our Province of New Hampshire containing by admeasurement Nineteen Thousand Three Hundred and sixty acres, which Tract is to contain five miles and one-half mile square & no more, out of which an allowance is to be made for high ways & unimprovable lands by rocks, mountains, Ponds & Rivers,
A
18
VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
one thousand and forty acres free according to a plan thereof made & presented by our said Governors orders & hereunto annexed, Butted & bounded as follows, viz: Begin- ning at the mouth of Venters Brook so called where it empties itself in to Con- necticut River, & runs from thence six miles or thereabouts to the South East corner of Marlebrough thence five miles, North ten degrees East by Marlebrough aforesaid to a stake & stones in said Line, Thence East 10 degrees south to Connecticut River afore- said, then down said River to the bounds first mentioned at Venters Brook, Except a Tract of land lying in the said East corner of said Township containing about Two Hundred acres as the same is now fenced in and improved, which is hereby granted & assigned to Oliver Willard and to his heirs & assigns one of the within Grantees, He having heretofore cleared and improved the said Tract and is to be in full for his share & proportion of the said Township, said Two hundred acres are bounded as follows, viz: Beginning at Venters Brook and runs West tenº North sixty rods to a Hill & then runs under the Hill round as the Hill runs to the rocks at the upper end of the Meadow called fort meadow, thence down the river to Venter Brook and that the same be and is incorporated into a Township by the name of Brattleborough, and that the Inhabitants that do or shall hereafter Inhabit said Township are hereby Declared to be Enfranchised with and en- titled to all & every the priviledges & Im- munities that other Towns within our said Province by law exercise and enjoy, and further that the said town as soon as there sliall be fifty Familys resident and settled therein shall have the liberty of holding Two Fairs, one of which shall be held on the first Thursday in October annually, and the other on the first Thursday in February annually, which Fairs are not to continue & be held longer than the respective Satur- day following the sd respective Thursday, and as soon as said town shall consist of fifty familys a market shall be opened and kept one or more days in each week as may be tho't most advantagious to the Inhabi- tants. Also that the first meeting for the choice of Town Officers agreeable to the laws of our said Province shall be held on the fifteen Day of Jan'ry next which meet- ing shall be notifyed by Josialı Willard Esq who is hereby also appointed Moderator of the said first meeting which he is to notify and govern agreeable to the laws and cus- toms of our said Province, and that the annual meeting forever hereafter for the choice of such officers of said Town shall be on the first Wednesday in March annu- ally. To have and to hold the said Tract of Land as above expressed together with all the Priviledges and appurtenances to them and their respective heirs & assigns forever, upon the following conditions Viz: That every Grantee his heirs or assigns shall Plant or cultivate five acres of land within
the term of five years for every fifty acres contained in his or their share or Propor- tion of Land in said Township, and con- tinue to improve and settle the same by additional cultivations on Penalty of the forfeiture of his Grant or share in said Township, & its reverting to his Majesty his heirs & successors to be by him or them regranted to such of his subjects as shall effectually settle & cultivate the same. That all White or other Pine Trees within the said Township fit for Masting our Royal Navy be carefully Preserved for that use, and none to be cut or felled without his Majestys Especial Lycence for so doing first had and obtained upon the penalty of for- feiture of the right of such Grantee his heirs & assigns to us our heirs & successors as well as being subject to the Penalty of any act or acts of Parliament that now are or hereafter shall be enacted. Also his fort Dummer & a Tract of land of fifty rods square round it, viz: fifty rods West, twen- ty-five rods South & twenty-five rods North of said Fort. That before any Division of the land be made to and amongst the Grantees, a Tract of Land as near the center of the Township as the land will admit of shall be reserved and marked out for Town Lots, one of which shall be al- lotted to each Grantee of the contents of one acre yielding and paying therefor to us our heirs & successors for the space of ten years to be computed from the date hereof the rent of one Ear of Indian corn only on the first day of January annually if Law- fully Demanded, the first payment to be made on the first day of January after tlie first of January next ensuing the date hereof, and every Proprietor, Settler or In- labitant shall yield and pay to us our heirs and successors yearly & every year forever from and after the expiration of the ten years, from the date hereof. Namely on the first day of January which will be in the year of Our Lord Christ one thousand Seven Hundred & Sixty-four, one shilling Proclamation money for every liundred acres he so owns, settles or possesses, and so in proportion for a Greater or Lesser Tract of the said Land, which money shall be paid by the respective persons above said their heirs or assigns, in our Council Chamber in Portsmoutli or to such officer or officers as shall be appointed to receive the same, and this to be in lieu of all other rents and services whatsoever in Testimony liereof we have caused the seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed. Witness Benning Wentwortlı, Esq., our Governor & Commander in Chief of our said Province the Twenty-sixth day of December in the year of our Lord Chirist 1753 and in the Twenty-seventh year of our Reign.
B. WENTWORTH. By his Excellencys command with advice of Council.
THEODORE ATKINSON,
Secty.
19
BRATTLEBORO.
Entered and Recorded according to the original under the Province Seal, this 27th day of December 1753.
Pr THEODORE ATKINSON,
Secty.
Names of the Grantees of Brattleborough, viz:
William Brattle, Jacob Wendell, James Read, Isaac Brodish, Owen Warland, Wil- liam Lee, Ebenezer Smith, William Gam- mage, John Hicks, Ebenezer Bradish, James Whitemore, William Manning, Thomas Sherren, Thomas Hastings, Jonathan Sprague, John Warland, Benjamin Lynde, Andrew Oliver Junr., William Bowls, Cor- nelius Woodbury, William Willard, Oliver Willard, Samuel Allen, Moses Wright, Sampson French, Joseph French, William Fessenden, Stephen Palmer, Stephen Pal- mer Junr., William Barrett, Daniel Prin- tice, Caleb Prentice, Ebenezer Stedman, Edward Marrett, Junr., Abner Hasey, Ben- jamin French, Thomas Blanchard, Thomas Blanchard, Junr., Jacob Fletcher, Samuel Searle, Samuel French, Sampson Willard, Oliver Coleburne, Jeremiah Coleburne, Peter Powers, Stephen Powers, Daniel Emerton, William Laurence, Abel Lau- rence, Mather Livermore.
Theodore Atkinson, his Excellency Ben- ning Wentworth a Tract of Land to contain Eight Hundred acres which is to be ac- counted Two of the within mentioned shares and Laid out and bounded as within mentioned, one whole share for the Incor- porated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, one whole share for the first settled Minister of the Gospel in said Town, one whole share for a Glebe for the Ministry of the Church of England as by law Established. Also his Majestys Fort Dummer, and a Tract of Land fifty rods round it, viz: 50 rods West, twenty- five rods South & twenty-five North of said Fort.
Recorded from the Back of the Charter for Brattleborough the 27th day of Decem- ber 1953.
Pr THEODORE ATKINSON, Secty.
State of New' Hampshire, Secretary of State's Office, CONCORD, Sept. 26, 1869.
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Record of the Charter of Brattleborough as recorded in "Charter Records," Vol. 1, pages 181, 2, 3, 4.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said State the date above written.
NATHAN W. GOVE, Deputy Secretary of State.
The town contains about 34 square miles, in latitude 42 deg., 52 min., and longitude 40 deg., 25 min. It is bounded N. by Dum-
merston, E. by Connecticut River, which separates it from Chesterfield, N. H., S. by Vernon and Guilford, and W. by Marlboro. Among the first settlers were John and Thomas Sargent, John Alexander, John Arms, and Fairbank Moore and son. With the exception of John and Thomas Sargent -who were born at Fort Dummer-they were from Massachusetts. The father and brother of John Sargent, Jr., were am- bushed by the Indians; the father killed and scalped and the brother carried into cap- tivity, where he adopted the Indian habits and manners, but afterwards returned to his friends. Fairbank Moore and son were killed by Indians at the West River mead- ows-now owned by the Vermont Asylum -two miles north of Fort Dummer, and the wife and daughter of the younger Moore were captured.
John Alexander died in Marlboro, July 8, 1828, supposed to be near 90 years of age. At the time Bridgeman's Fort was burned by the Indians-the site of which is now in Vernon, and a short distance from Fort Dummer-where Mrs. Howe and others were made captive by said Indians, Jolm Alexander was a lad 10 years old, and then in the woods after the cows belonging to the fort; being thus in the woods he escaped captivity. The following year he gave proof of a daring spirit for a boy of only eleven years. He discovered a bear and two cubs a short distance from his residence. His father being absent, he, fearless of con- sequences, repaired to the house, took down a loaded gun, and with a well directed shot killed the old bear on the spot. He then, with a lad of similar age, caught and secured both of the cubs.
In the old French War, so called, at the age of 17, he served under Gen. Amherst. and was at the taking of Ticonderoga, and in the American Revolution was at the taking of Burgoyne. He resided in Brat- tleboro more than half a century and reared a large family. Few men have lived to his age and enjoyed so great a measure of health; and very few men of his stature, which was below the middle size, have been more active, robust and herculean than Mr. Alexander. He, at one time, carried on his shoulders, upon snow-shoes, a five-pail iron kettle, two sap-buckets, an axe and trap- pings, a knapsack, four day's provisions, a gun and ammunition, more than three miles
20
VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
through the woods, over hills, valleys, and in a deep snow. He was the second white person born, and, at the time of his decease, the oldest living of the first native settlers on the New Hampshire grants, alias Ver- mont.
At the time Colonel Samuel Wells repre- sented this place, this side of the mountain was called Cumberland County. He repre- sented this part of the State, at New York, until Ethan Allen came down here, in his wrath, to repair the politics of Brattleboro and Guilford.
The man who said, "Rather than sub- mit to the authority of Great Britain, or even the State of New York, I will retire with the Green Mountain boys into the mountains and caves of the earth, and wage war with human nature at large," also said, " Unless the inhabitants of Brattleboro and Guilford peaceably submit to the authority of Vermont, their territory shall be made as desolate as Sodom and Gomorrah."
This proclamation, with the " last argu- ments to which kings resort," cured the York State proclivities in this part of the .State. And no wonder that New York power and influence ceased, for all she ever did in defence of her persecuted friends, advocates and officers in this part of the State, was to use brave words and make promises that were never performed.
Allen knew brave words or law was vain without force, therefore he brought all these with him when he rested at the hotel kept by John Arms, a few rods north of and on premises now owned by the Ver- mont Asylum.
Among the men of this town most dis- tinguished in the annals of the State, and who have been men of influence here, may be mentioned John Arms, Samuel Wells, Samuel Knight, Samuel Gale, Henry Wells, Sam'l Stearns, Micah Townshend, Stephen Greenleaf, William Wells, John Stewart, Royall Tyler, John Noyes, Lemuel Whit- ney, Jolın W. Blake, Francis Goodhue, Oliver Chapin, William Fessenden, Joseph Clark, John Holbrook, Samuel Clark, Sam'l Elliott, James Elliott, Jonathan Hunt, Jr., Thomas G. Fessenden, Joseph Fessenden, Jonathan D. Bradley, Edward A. Kirkland, C. Townsley, L. G. Mead, Paul Chase.
Most of the foregoing names can be seen, in marble, at the cemeteries in this town. it is impossible to obtain biographical
sketches of all these persons, but we have' succeeded in getting some information respecting the lives or career of twelve of the persons afore-named, three of whom have been members of the United States House of Representatives, viz: John Noyes, James Elliott, Jonathan Hunt, Jr.
SAMUEL KNIGHT
Was a man of high culture and one of the most talented men of his time. He was, for years, Chief Justice of the courts in this county, and one of our early town repre- sentatives.
JOHN W. BLAKE
Was one of the foremost lawyers of Wind- ham County. He came to this place, from Bellows Falls, about 1790; was one of the earliest postmasters in this place; repre- sented the town in the Legislature, was a large owner of real estate in the East vil- lage, which he sold to Francis Goodhue in 1811. He died October 27, 1818, aged 59 years.
JONATHAN HUNT, JR.,
Was first president of the first bank estab- lished in Brattleboro. He built the large brick house now owned and occupied by George Howe, Esq. He died, while a Member of Congress, at Washington, May 15, 1832, aged 45 years.
LARKIN G. MEAD
Came from Chesterfield, N. H., about 1838, was president of the Brattleboro Typo- graphic Co., was in the practice of law; very active in promoting the cause of com- mon school education; the first to move in establishing the savings bank in this place, and for over twenty years was treasurer of that institution. He raised a talented family, and one of his sons, L. G. Mead, Jr., grandson of John Noyes, has a world- wide reputation as a sculptor.
Further descriptions of the character and doings of others upon the foregoing list of names can be found in our biographical de- partment, and quite extended notices of Micah Townshend, Samuel Wells, Samuel Knight, Royall Tyler and Samuel Gale can be found in Hall's History of Eastern Ver- mont.
AN. ACADEMY
Was incorporated in 1801, and the building for the same erected at the West village. The hall in this building was used for town.
21
BRATTLEBORO.
meetings until 1855, when the town con- structed, at the East village, on Main street, a large brick, two-story building for this purpose. The upper room is over 100 feet long, over 60 feet wide, and 20 feet in height.
WEST BRATTLEBORO ACADEMY AND FEMALE
SEMINARY.
William R. Hayes, a native of West vil- lage, left an appropriation, by will, for building an academy at said village. The conditions of the will having been complied with, the building was erected in 1853.
Rev. Hiram Orcutt, in 1859, erected a large three-story building and established a female seminary near the old academy, and the later one built in part by the Hayes appropriation, and, by consent of parties, occupied the three buildings for the semi- nary school.
At the East village a high school building was erected by a joint stock company in 1831. Deacon John Holbrook, John L. Dickerman and others were first officers, either trustees or committee for building this school house. The site was pleasant, and all conditions seemed favorable, but the school never was prosperous for any great length of time. In 1841, the house was purchased by the district to be used in teaching the advanced scholars from the primary schools. In 1868, a wing upon each side was added.
The soil of this township is similar to that generally found along the Connecticut River, intervals of sand, loam and gravel, with the timber adapted to them.
The principal streams are West River and Whetstone Brook. The former runs but a short distance in town, entering it from Dummerston, near the northeast corner.
Whetstone Brook rises in Marlboro and runs through this town near the centre, affording excellent water privileges, occu- pied by a variety of mills and other machinery.
The Connecticut River is crossed at the south part of the East village by a bridge, connecting this town with Hinsdale, N. H. The first bridge was built in 1804. Oliver Chapin was a pioneer in this enterprise and owned a large share of stock in the same. A few rods above this bridge was the gen- eral landing-place for merchandise, which
was formerly brought by flat-boats from Hartford, Ct. After Mr. John Holbrook- the pioneer of this method of freighting goods to Brattleboro-had abandoned im- porting West India goods to this place. the boating business was carried on many years by G. C. Hall, F. Goodhne & Son, John R. Blake & Co., &c. From 1828 to 1831 these gentlemen, with other enterprising men in towns on the river, made commendable efforts-worthy of a greater success than they achieved-to navigate the river by steam. But some of those enterprising men have lived to see a greater success, by using the river bank on which to employ steam, than the most sanguine of them ever dared to hope from using the river. The steam cars first entered Brattleboro in Feb- ruary, 1848, bringing such a multitude of visitors that the hotels could not accomo- date them.
MINERALOGY AND GEOLOGY.
Not enough of any kind of metals have been found here for any practical purpose. A small amount of lead and gold has been found near Whetstone Brook. * "Actinolite is found in steatite. It is in very perfect capilliary crystals, which are grouped together in different forms, and sometimes radicated mica is found of rose-red color with schorl in quartz, and abundance of schorl in beautiful crystals: also the red oxide of titanium." Argillaceous slate is very abundant, and is quarried to consid- erable extent. Sonie large granite boulders have been found of sufficient size to split into blocks for steps and other building purposes, and no lack of sufficient clay for brick making. Fine roofing slate is found within three miles of the East village. and though it is in the town of Guilford. it is just as well for the interest of builders here as though found in town.
It is the belief of geologists that there has been a time when the Connectient River run where is now the East village, and that it has now worn for itself a rocky bed against the base of Wantastiquet Mountain which. from present appearances. will effectually check its further progress in that direction.
A few rods above where West River empties into the Connectiont, can be seen the residence of Capt. Amos Thomas. The
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