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Gc 974. 301 Ad2s 1136137
M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
J
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01092 5144
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofaddison1886smit
HISTORY
OF
ADDISON COUNTY
VERMONT
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS
EDITED BY H. P. SMITH
1
SYRACUSE, N. Y. D. MASON & CO., PUBLISHERS 1886
1
D. MASON & CO., BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS, 63 WEST WATER ST., SYRACUSE, N. Y.
INTRODUCTORY.
1136137
W I HILE it may seem to the uninitiated a task involving but little difficulty to prepare for publication a work no more comprehensive in character than this volume, and containing the history merely of a single county, still it is not out of place here to assure all such readers that the work is one demand- ing a vast amount of labor and research, watchful care, untiring patience, and great discrimination. This need not be said to any person who has had experience in similar work. In attempting the production of a creditable his- tory of Addison county, the publishers and the editor did not underestimate the difficulties of their task, and came to it fully imbued with a clear idea of its magnitude, and a determination to execute it in such a manner that it should receive the commendation of all into whose hands it should fall. It is believed that this purpose has been substantially carried out, and that, while a perfect historical work has never yet been published, this one will be found to contain so few imperfections that the most critical reader will be satisfied.
It has been a part of the plans of the publishers in the production of this history to secure, as far as possible, assistance from parties resident in the county, either as writers, or in the revision of all manuscripts; the conse- quence being that the work bears a local character which could not otherwise be secured, and, moreover, comes from the press far more complete and per- fect than could possibly be the case were it intrusted wholly to the efforts of comparative strangers to the locality in hand. In carrying out this plan the editor has been tendered such generous co-operation and assistance of various kinds, that merely to mention all who have thus aided is impossible ; the satisfaction of having assisted in the production of a commendable public enterprise must be their present reward. But there are some who have given so generously of their labor and time towards the consummation of this work that to leave them unmentioned would be simple injustice. Among these
4
INTRODUCTORY.
should be mentioned Mr. Henry L. Sheldon, of Middlebury, for invaluable aid (as appears in subsequent pages) and access to his large collection of books, manuscripts, etc .; Hon. Jno. D. Smith, of Vergennes, for his valuable chapter on the Bench and Bar of the county, and a history of the city of Vergennes ; Dr. Chas. L. Allen, now of Rutland, for valuable services in preparing the chapter on the medical fraternity; Justus Cobb, of Middlebury, for contributing the chapter on the county press; Professor Ellithorpe, of Bridport, Hon. R. J. Jones, and others, for the comprehensive chapter on the sheep interests of the county ; Mr. and Mrs. N. S. Bennett, of Bridport, for aid in writing the his- tory of their town; M. B. Gove, for writing the history of the town of Lincoln; the late E. S. Dana and others, for preparation of the history of the town of New Haven; Hon. Wm. S. Wright, for writing the history of the town of Waltham. To all these, to the entire press and clergy of the county, the town clerks and other officials, and to so many others that it is impossible to men- tion them in detail, the gratitude of editor, publishers, and readers is alike due.
With these words of introduction, the work is commended to its readers.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE SUBJECT.
The Territory of Addison County in Prehistoric Times -Its Territory Discovered by White Men -Subject to Five Different Powers- Division of the State of Vermont into Counties - Their Names and Extent-Errors in Dates-Extent and Boundaries of the Present Addison County - Division into Towns -- Beginning of its History - First Courts. 13
CHAPTER II.
NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS.
Topography-Mountains of the County-Their Striking Peculiarities-Lakes and Streams - Lake Champlain - Its Historical Associations -Ticonderoga and Crown Point- Chimney Point - Mount Independence- Lake Dunmore -Other Lakes and Ponds - Otter Creek - Diary of James Coss-The Lemon Fair River - Leicester River - Middlebury River - New Haven River - Geology - Résumé of the Science - The Glacial Period and its Results - Clay Deposits of the County - Fossils - Formation of Terraces - Rocks of the County - The Marble Deposit - Other Rock Formations - Minerals of the County - Soil and Timber
16
CHAPTER III.
DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION.
Jacques Cartier's Discovery - Events Leading to Civilized Occupation - Abandonment of the Early Explorations - Changes Ushered in with the Fifteenth Century - John Cabot's Explorations - His Immediate Successors - European Claimants for the Ter- ritory of the New World -Cartier's Renewed Discoveries - "New France "- Other French Explorers - Samuel de Champlain - His Discovery of the Lake which Bears His Name- His Battle with the Iroquois -Henry Hudson's Discoveries - Settlement of the Dutch on Manhattan Island
36
1
6
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
ADVANCING SETTLEMENTS.
Progress of Civilized Occupation -- Settlements and Thrift of the Dutch - Interference by the English -Charles II Charters to the Duke of York-Incursions of the French Against the Mohawks -The Peace of Breda -- De Frontenac's Reign in New France - English Expeditions - First Civilized Occupation of the Territory of Addison County - Further Contests Between the French and English -The Treaty of Ryswick - Queen Anne's War -The Treaty of Utrecht - Resettlement at Chimney Point - The French Fortify Crown Point - Progress of English Settlements - Building of Fort Dummer -The Struggle Between England and France Renewed -Treaty of Aix-la-chapelle - Another Declaration of War - Abercrombie's Defeat by Montcalm -Amherst's Successful, Operations - The Treaty of Paris - End of the French Régime - French Seigniories. 53
CHAPTER V.
CIVIL DIVISIONS.
Controversy Between Vermont and New Hampshire - Boundaries Established by Royal Decree - Early Settlements in the Territory of Addison County - The Controversy Between the New Hampshire Grants and New York-Injustice of the Claims of New York - Details of the Controversy as they Relate to Addison County. . .
. . . .. 61
CHAPTER VI.
THE TIDE OF REVOLUTION.
The Trials of Vermont as a State - Settlements in the Several Towns Previous to the War of the Revolution - Resume of the Principal Events of the War as Related to Addi- son County - Captures of Prisoners-Close of the War - Vermont's Admission to the Union - Latest Events in the Controversy with New York. 66
CHAPTER VII.
FROM THE REVOLUTION TO THE PRESENT TIME.
The Beneficent Reign of Peace - Advance of Settlements- The Second War with Great Britain- Its Chief Causes - Effects in Addison County- Defense of the Mouth of Otter Creek - The Battle of Plattsburgh - Local Effects of the War -The "Cold Summer " - Agricultural Pursuits Early in the Century - The First Newspaper - The Panic of 1837-38 - The Railroad Era - The Period of Prosperity Preceding the Civil War.
71
7
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
ADDISON COUNTY IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Patriotism of Vermont - The Middlebury Light Guard - History of the First Regiment - The Second Regiment - Addison County Enlistments Therein - Career in the Field . - The "Vermont Brigade " - The Fifth Regiment - The Sixth Regiment and its Addison County Members - Further History of the Vermont Brigade- Details of its Honorable Service - The Eleventh Regiment -The Seventh Regiment and its Rela- tion to Addison County - Death of Colonel Roberts - The Ninth Regiment - First Vermont Cavalry - Its Formidable List of Engagements - First Battery - Nine Months Men - The Seventeenth and Fourteenth Regiments - Statistics from the Various Towns of the County - Roster of Field and Staff Officers
76
CHAPTER IX.
COUNTY BUILDINGS, SOCIETIES, INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS, CIVIL LIST, ETC.
Places for Holding Early Courts -The First Court-House - The Old Wooden Jail -The Stone Jail - Removal of the Court-House - The New Brick Court-House - Addison County Agricultural Society - The Champlain Valley Agricultural Association - Mid- dlebury Historical Society -Internal Improvements - Old Military Road - Old Time Traveling - The Building of Railroads - Rutland and Bennington Railroad -Vermont and Canada Road - The Vermont Central - Civil List. 116
CHAPTER X.
BENCH AND BAR OF ADDISON COUNTY.
Early Independence of Vermont - The Judicial System - The Town Meetings - Acts of Early Conventions - The Council of Safety - Court of Confiscation - Superior Court - Court of Chancery - Probate Courts -- Courts of Insolvency - Probate Judges of Addison County - County Courts- Justices of the Peace -Judges of the County Court -Supreme Court Judges - Biographical Sketches. 129
CHAPTER XI.
MEDICAL SOCIETY AND PHYSICIANS.
The Doctor of Early Days- Organization of the Addison County Medical Society - First Members - First Board of Officers - Names of Early Members - Vicissitudes - Sus- pension of the Society - Reorganization -- An Era of Success - Biographical Mem- oranda of Deceased Physicians.
161
8
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XII.
THE PRESS OF ADDISON COUNTY.
The Printing Business in Early Days - Remarkable Changes -The First Newspaper in Middlebury - The Power of the Press-List of Papers Published in the County - Biographic Memoranda -- Papers of Vergennes and Bristol -Other Publications ..... 181
CHAPTER XIII.
FREEMASONRY IN ADDISON COUNTY.
Strength of the Order in this County -Grand Lodge Organization - First Lodges in Addison County - The Anti-Masonic Crusade - Prominent Men of the Order ....... 192
CHAPTER XIV.
SHEEP HUSBANDRY AND LIVE STOCK IN ADDISON COUNTY.
Antiquity of the Sheep - First Accounts in the Scriptures- First Peoples who Raised Sheep - Changes of Locality - Origin of the Merino -Improvement in Breed - History of the Merino Sheep - Addison County - Early Mutton Sheep - Their Marketable Qualities - The First Merinos in the County - The Early Breeders - Beginning of Improvement - Magnitude of Improvement - The Saxony Sheep - Wool Bearing Qualities- Comparisons Between the Early and the Modern Merino - Descriptions of the two Types - Great Change of Purpose by the Breeders - Sheep Breeders' Associations -Objects and Success - Comparisons of Wool Product - Peculiarities of High Bred Sheep - How Improvement has been Accomplished - Noted Breeders of the County - General Benefits to the County - Horse and Cattle Breeding in the County. 201
CHAPTER XV.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY 233
CHAPTER XVI.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF ADDISON 357
CHAPTER XVII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BRIDPORT 380
9
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVIII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BRISTOL.
397
CHAPTER XIX.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CORNWALL. . 416
CHAPTER XX.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF FERRISBURGH.
436
CHAPTER XXI.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF GOSHEN
454
CHAPTER XXII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF GRANVILLE.
461
CHAPTER XXIII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HANCOCK.
466
CHAPTER XXIV.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEICESTER.
470
CHAPTER XXV.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LINCOLN
481
CHAPTER XXVI.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MONKTON
513
CHAPTER XXVII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW HAVEN 522
10
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF ORWELL 555
CHAPTER XXIX.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PANTON 576
CHAPTER XXX.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF RIPTON 590
CHAPTER XXXI.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SALISBURY 595
CHAPTER XXXII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHOREHAM.
610
CHAPTER XXXIII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF STARKSBORO
628
CHAPTER XXXIV.
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF VERGENNES
640
CHAPTER XXXV.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WALTHAM.
702
CHAPTER XXXVI.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WEYBRIDGE.
712
CHAPTER XXXVII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WHITING.
722
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
BIOGRAPHICAL 733
BRIEF PERSONALS .Appendix i
Ivii INDEX
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Barton, F. D. facing 704
Merritt, W. H.,
facing 608
Battell, Phillip,
between 336 337
Nash, William, .
facing 546
Beach, Allen P.,
facing 440
Remele, Loyal C.,
. facing 774
Bennett, N. S.,
facing 380
Smith, Dr. M. D.,
. facing 340
Dana, Edward S.,
facing 192
Smith, Sheldon,
facing 384
Dodge, Sardis, facing 766
Smith L. E.,.
facing 514
Douglass, J. P.,
facing 750
Dukett, Aikens,
facing 230
Stevens, H.,
facing 742
Hand, Richard C.,
facing 758
Storey, Miles,
between 762-763
Hazard, Rufus,
facing 442
Storey, Mrs. Miles,
between 762-763
Tupper, A. P.
facing 734
Walker, S. Z.,
between 746-747
Jewett, E. R.,
facing 186
Jones, R. J.,
facing 430
Knapp, Lyman E.
facing 298
Lane, Henry,
facing 420
Linsley, Charles,
facing 154
Middlebury, Map of the Early Set-
tlement of, between 240-241 McCuen, N. J., facing 692
Walker, Russell,
between 746-747
Ward, W. W.,
. facing 710
Ward, Ira,
facing 544
Wicker, Cyrus W.,
facing 450
Wright, William S.
facing 702
Stewart, John W.
. between 336-337
Stickney, Tyler,
. facing 214
Gray, Ozro P.,.
facing 388
I2
CONTENTS.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Barton, Franklin D.,.
757
Battell, Phillip, 772
Beach, Allen P. 756
Bennett, Nathan S.
745
Smith, Dr. M. D.
748
Dana, Hon. Edward S.,
739
Smith, Sheldon,
765
Dodge, Sardis,
767
Smith, L. E., 749
Stewart, John W.
735
Stickney, Tyler,
766
Stevens, Herrick,
742
Hazard, Rufus,
741
Tupper, Almon P. 733
Walker, S. Z., 747
Jones, Hon. Rollin J.,
768
Walker, Russell,
746
Knapp, Col. Lyman E.
734
Ward, W. W
764
Lane, Judge Henry,
737
Ward, Ira, .
760
Linsley, Charles,
770
Wicker, Cyrus W.,
743
McCuen, N. J., .
759
Merritt, W. H.,
755
Nash, William,
750
Remele, Loyal C., 774
Douglas, J. P., 751
Dukett, Aikens,
761
Gray, Ozro P.
754
Hand, Richard C.,.
758
Storey, Miles, . .
762
Jewett, E. R.,
752
Wright, Judge William S.,
764
HISTORY
OF
ADDISON COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
THE SUBJECT.
The Territory of Addison County in Prehistoric Times - Its Territory Discovered by White Men - Subject to Five Different Powers - Division of the State of Vermont into Counties - Their Names and Extent - Errors in Dates - Extent and Boundaries of the Present Addison County - Division into Towns -- Beginning of its History - First Courts.
IN the annals of a century and a half, by successive deeds of daring, by bloody forays, by the romance of border warfare, by the conflicts of fleets and armies, the waters and shores of Lake Champlain have been consecrated as the classic ground of America."1 This remark by the writer of a popular historical work applies to the district of territory to the history of a portion of which this work is devoted. For how many years the region of which Addi- son county forms a part, was a favorite resort of the Aborigines before they were rudely supplanted by the Caucasian, is a mooted question. It has never been answered with any degree of assurance, and probably never will be. But the discovery of the county's territory by the whites certainly dates with the advent of Samuel de Champlain upon the waters which perpetuate his name, in July, 1609, and from this event dates the period of its authentic history.
To five different powers has the county's territory been nominally subject, viz .: The Indian, by right of original possession ; the French, by right of dis- covery ; the English, by right of conquest and colonization ; Vermont, as an independent republic, from her declaration of independence on January 15, 1777, to her admission into the Union. March 4, 1791; and to the United States for the last ninety-four years. It has formed a portion, also, of five dif- ferent counties. The first, Albany county, was erected by New York in 1683,
1 Watson's Pioneer History of the Champlain Valley.
2
14
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
and included within its limits not only all of the present territory of Vermont, but all that part of Massachusetts lying west of the Connecticut River.1 For nearly a century this division remained intact, or until March 12, 1772, when it was divided into three counties, one of which, Charlotte, embraced within its limits the present territory of Addison county. Bounded on the east by the Green Mountains, it extended from the Canada line on the north to the Battenkill and the south line of the New York patent of Princetown on the south, and reached westward beyond Lakes George and Champlain. The organization of this extensive county was completed in the summer of 1773, and a full complement of county officers was appointed to manage its affairs. With the organization of the State government of Vermont, however, in March, 1778, Charlotte county was overthrown. Vermont was divided into two coun- ties, Unity on the east, and Bennington on the west side of the Green Moun- tain range. In 1780 the name of Washington was given to the territory north of the present Bennington county and west of the mountains; but this act of the General Assembly is reported to have been written only on a slip of paper and never recorded ; in any event, on February 13, 1781, Rutland county was incorporated, embracing the territory of Washington county. Finally, Octo- ber 18, 1785,2 Rutland county was circumscribed to its present limits by the erection of the territory to the north of it into a new county, which was named in honor of Joseph Addison, the English author - the territory of which we write.
As thus constituted, the county included within its limits all of the present counties of Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle and Lamoille, and nine of Orleans and eight of Washington county's towns, while the town of Kingston (now Granville), not included in the original boundaries, was set off from Orange county to Addison by an act passed October 19, 1787. On the 22d of Octo- ber, 1787, the act incorporating the county of Chittenden was passed, circum-
1 See act of New York Legislature, October 1, 1691, in which the boundaries of Albany county are described as follows : " The manor of Rensellaerwick, Schenectady, and all the villages and neighbor- hoods and Christian plantations on the east side of the Hudson River, as far as Roeloffe Jansen's Creek; and on the west side from Sawyer's Creek to the uttermost end of Saraghtoga." Roeloffe Jansen's Creek empties into the Hudson from the east nearly opposite Kaatskill.
2 Dr. Williams and Prof. Thompson, in their respective histories of Vermont, gave the date of the incorporation of Addison county as February 27, 1787, and of Chittenden county (Thompson) October 22, 1782. These errors have been perpetuated in many local works. Of the error in the case of Addi- son county, Hon. David Read speaks as follows: "They took the revised act of 1787 as the original act of incorporation. As well might they have given the same date to the counties of Bennington, Windham, Windsor, Orange and Rutland. As to Addison, the error which originated with Dr. Will- iams doubtless arose from the fact that the act of 1785 did not come to his notice; and he mistook the act of 1787 as the first act incorporating Addison county, whereas it simply modified and defined the boundaries more clearly, and reorganized the counties already formed. Mr. Thompson assumed the data of Mr. Williams as correct, and did not discover the mistake until after the publication of his work. The act of 1787 is drawn up without any express reference to pre-existing counties, and purports to divide the State into six counties, three upon the east and three upon the west side of the mountains ; whereas all of said counties had been previously chartered."-Hist. Gaz., I, 464, 465.
15
THE SUBJECT.
scribing Addison county to the limits of its present northern bounds, except the township of Starksboro, which was annexed by an act passed in 1797. No other changes in its area have been made, except that the town of Warren was set off to Washington county in 1829, and November 13, 1847, the Rutland county town of Orwell was annexed to Addison county.
The county thus occupies a position on the western line of the State, be- tween 40° 50' and 44° Io' north latitude; and between 3º 38' and 4º 18' east longitude, and is bounded west by Lake Champlain; north by the towns of Charlotte, Hinesburg and a part of Huntington, in Chittenden ; northeast by a part of Huntington, and by Warren and Roxbury, in Washington county ; southeast by Braintree, in Orange county, and Rochester in Windsor county ; and south by Benson, Sudbury, Brandon and Chittenden, in Rutland county. It is nearly thirty miles long from north to south, and thirty-three miles wide from west to east, and contains an area of about seven hundred square miles, divided into the following townships: Addison, Bridport, Bristol, Cornwall, Ferrisburgh, Goshen, Granville, Hancock, Lincoln, Leicester, Middlebury, Monkton, New Haven, Orwell, Panton, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham, Starks- boro, Weybridge, Whiting and Waltham, exclusive of the territory occupied by Vergennes, the only incorporated city in Vermont. The population at the census of 1880 was 24, 180.
It was at the dawn of a bright era in our history that Addison county be- gan her corporate existence. It was at a time when the people were begin- ning to look forward with hope from the dark days of the Revolution; when the joys of peace and freedom were just settling upon their hearths, and trade, finance and agriculture were emerging from the chaos formed by a long and bloody war. The act of incorporation provided everything in its power for the immediate establishment of the machinery of civil government, the towns of Addison and Colchester being made half-shires, and the time for holding courts appointed as follows : "At Addison, the first Tuesday of March, and at Colchester the second Tuesday of November, and that of the Supreme Court on the second Tuesday of August, alternately at Addison and Colchester." The first term of court was held at Addison, on the first Tuesday in March, 1786, with John Strong, of Addison, chief judge, and Gamaliel Painter, of Middlebury, and Ira Allen, of Colchester, side or assistant judges. Court con- tinued to be held there, with the exception of the November term of 1786, which was held at Colchester, till the first of April, 1792, when it was trans- ferred to Middlebury, where all of its sessions have since been held.
Such is a brief reference to the subject of this history-a locality forming no small factor in the grand total of agricultural wealth, of the energy and en- terprise of the commonwealth of Vermont.
16
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
CHAPTER II.
NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS.
Topography-Mountains of the County-Their Striking Peculiarities-Lakes and Streams -- Lake Champlain - Its Historical Associations - Ticonderoga and Crown Point -Chimney Point - Mount Independence - Lake Dunmore - Other Lakes and Ponds - Otter Creek - Diary of James Coss- The Lemon Fair River - Leicester River - Middlebury River - New Haven River - Geology - Résumé of the Science - The Glacial Period and its Results - Clay Deposits of the County - Fossils - Formation of Terraces - Rocks of the County - The Marble Deposit - Other Rock Formations - Minerals of the County - Soil and Timber.
T THE face of the county is generally uneven, though not to such an extent as would be naturally supposable in a territory traversed by two moun- tain chains. The eastern portion lies upon the Green Mountains, that range which is the most striking feature in the scenery of Vermont, and from which the State derives its name.1 The principal peaks of the county in this range, though few attain an altitude of much over 2,000 feet, are Lincoln Mountain, in Lincoln; Hogback and South Mountain, mainly in Bristol; Bread Loaf, in Ripton ; and Mount Moosalamo, in Goshen. They are not generally precipi- tous, and are mostly covered with timber to their summits. From this high- land the county has a general slope to the lake front, though it is broken into a succession of fertile valleys, and into elevations of a peculiar formation, none of which properly attains the dignity of a mountain. These latter are the foot- hills of the fourth of the State's mountain systems, the Red Sand Rock Range, which extends through Addison, Chittenden and Franklin counties. The pe- culiarity in the formation of this range and its surroundings invites scientific speculation.
They have a character decidedly unique, the peculiarities being a gradual slope upon the eastern side and a bold and rugged escarpment upon the west- ern. The rock of the series is usually a limestone, or calcareous slate, dipping to the east, capped with a siliceous rock known as the "Red Sand Rock." Snake Mountain in Addison, and Buck Mountain in Waltham, are the most elevated peaks of the division, though Florona in Monkton, Shell House Moun- tain and Mars Hill in Ferrisburgh, are prominent elevations. A person stand- ing upon Snake Mountain and looking to the north can count ten uplifts, each of which presents essentially the same outline as the one upon which he stands. While viewing this scene, the contemplative mind at once is led to reflect upon the agencies which have been at work to produce a series of hills so uniform in their structure and so similar in their outline.
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