USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Ryegate > History of Ryegate, Vermont, from its settlement by the Scotch-American company of farmers to present time; > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 07999280 0
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1
HISTORY
OF
RYEGATE, VERMONT,
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FROM ITS SETTLEMENT BY THE SCOTCH-AMERICAN COMPANY OF FARMERS TO PRESENT TIME
WITH GENEALOGICAL' RECORDS' OF, MANY FAMILIES
›
BY EDWARD MILLER
AND
FREDERIC P. WELLS
ST. JOHNSBURY, VT. THE CALEDONIAN COMPANY, 1913.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 072780 ASTOR, LENOX AND TILD N FOUNDATIONS. R
1914 L
Copyright, 1913, by the TORN OF RYEGATE
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
Edward Miller
INTRODUCTION
Many hands have contributed to this history of Rye- gate. In one sense General James Whitelaw, the founder of the town, was also its historian. To his journals and correspondence we owe our acquaintance with its earlier years. The towns and session records are our authorities for the events which they record. The records and per- sonal sketches collected by Mr. George Mason during sev- eral years are a mine of information concerning its families and the events of its first century. He began about 1855 and continued during several years, the collection of such data from the oldest people' of. Ryegate and Barnet, hoping to publish them. But his death found the projected work not yet attempted, and the, collections of years were in a fair way to be scattered and lost.
In fact they were about to be burned, when, fortu- nately for us, they were rescued and purchased by Mr. Edward Miller who was well qualified to complete the work for which Mr. Mason had left abundant materials. Mr. Miller knew Ryegate thoroughly. His entire life had been spent here, and under his shrewd observation had passed several generations of its people. As a school mas- ter he had known its families; as a town officer he knew its business affairs, and as a member of one of the churches he was familiar with its religious history. It was his aim and hope to prepare, as the crowning work of his life, a history of his native town. It was a labor of love with him to collect the materials for the work and to this end he devoted all the time he could spare. He published from
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HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
time to time in various newspapers of the county sketches of families and of persons which are noteworthy for their graphic style, their racy idioms, and the personal sympathy with which they are filled.
But Mr. Miller was a very busy man, and could spare but a small part of his time to the task, and failing health compelled him to relinquish the work before he had begun to arrange his collections in suitable form for publication. It was his regret, as it must be of every reader of this vol- ume, that he had not laid everything else aside, and com- pleted his work while he had health and strength to do it.
Mr. Miller had followed no system of arrangement, nor had he yet classified his collections, and his records and memoranda, scattered through a score of manuscript volumes, diaries, scrap-books and loose sheets of paper, presented a formidable task to the present editor. Of the historical part of his work he had not written out any, there were many families whose records he had not yet secured ; and of his collections much was unavailable for the pres- ent purpose. It has been no light task to select from such a quantity of material the portions which should be used in this work, to supply omissions, to verify statements, collect additional data, and bring the whole down to date.
The full value and effect of what he accomplished his- torically, cannot be easily measured ; but, unquestionably, without it, there would not now be published any history of the town. Unlimited use of all the Mason and Miller records was relinquished for this history by Mr. Miller's family without remuneration. Such an opportunity rarely comes, and that was a vital factor in at length securing favorable action by the town.
Others besides Mr. Miller and Mr. Mason have writ- ten about the early history of the town, but a very impor- tant part of that history was entirely lacking. No one knew anything about the relations between the managers of
V
INTRODUCTION.
the Company in Scotland and their agents in Ryegate sub- sequent to the purchase of the south half of the town by Whitelaw and Allan, and there seemed no way of supply- ing the deficiency. But the unexpected discovery by the editor among the Whitelaw papers of the original corres- pondence between Mr. Whitelaw and the officers of the Company, the original Journal of Proceedings, the account books and much other important matter, more than sup- plied what was lacking, but greatly increased the labor of preparation. The Henderson papers also gave much needed information, some manuscripts owned by the Vt. Historical Society, and the Johnson papers at Newbury add to our knowledge of early days.
Apparently no one knew or even as yet suspected that all this material existed. Few towns have such a mine of information waiting to be explored as Ryegate had. The editor's task has been one of selection, rejection and con- densation. It was at first supposed that the historical part of the work would be covered in a hundred pages. But all this additional matter rendered double that space necessary, and more than doubled the labor of preparing it.
The call for data to complete the volume brought forth an immense amount of new material, and hundreds of per- sons, both in Ryegate and wherever Ryegate people have gone have most gladly lent their aid to the work which should preserve the memory of the sons and daughters of the town. It has been no small task to condense the prof- fered data within the limits of a single volume.
The glory of Ryegate is in the men and women whom it has produced or who have descended from its early fami- lies. A sturdy race were those Scotchmen in Yankee-land who subdued the wilderness, covered the hills with fruitful farms and planted there the church and the school. Many of their children have scattered to distant states. But they have carried with them the principles which they were
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HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
taught in the family and the Sabbath ministrations. The group of Scotch Presbyterian churches in this part of New England has spread far and wide the truths handed down from the days of the reformation in Scotland. In Barnet Rev. David Goodwillie and his son and successor filled the pulpit of the Associate church for the long period of sev- enty-four years, and their influence will be felt for a century to come.
Our neighboring town of Topsham has sent into the world a number of men who became very eminent, and with one or two exceptions they all came from families which sat under the ministry of Rev's. James Milligan, William Sloane, or N. R. Johnston. This volume tries to show what Ryegate and its people have been and are, and to preserve in accessible form the records of its families. That there has been evil mingled with the good it were idle to deny. But the good has far surpassed the evil, and these pages will preserve the memory of many noble inen and women whose names would otherwise pass into oblivion.
It has been an honorable task to prepare this history, and complete, however imperfectly, the work which Mr. Miller so nobly began. In its preparation the editor has made many friendships which he hopes to retain, and ex- presses the wish that he has given some degree of satisfac- tion.
The editor returns his thanks to the committee and to all those of Ryegate or of Ryegate ancestry who have con- tributed to this work. The thanks of the town are due to the librarian and assistants of the Boston Public Library ; the New England Historic-Genealogical Society; the N. H. State Library; the N. H. Historical Society; to the librarian and assistants of the Vt. State Library and the Vt. Historical Society, and to the librarian and trustees of the Tenney Memorial Library of Newbury for the use of its valuable manuscripts.
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INTRODUCTION.
Attention is called to the appendix for corrections and for much valuable matter which came too late for insertion in its proper place.
FREDERIC P. WELLS. NEWBURY, VT., Jan. 20, 1913.
ACTION OF THE TOWN AND COMMITTEE REGARDING THIS WORK.
For some years after Mr. Miller's death his collections remained untouched and in danger of possible destruction by fire or accident. There was a general wish that his work should be completed if a way could be opened, and it was thought best by those interested to bring the matter before the town. The annual town meeting in March, 1903, dismissed an article "To see if the town will publish a history," and nothing more was done for three years. But the desire for the work took assured form in the March meeting for 1906, when a committee of 27 was chosen "to investigate and report in regard to the matter of a Town History."
This committee mnet at the town house on March 20th when Mr. George Cochran was made chairman, and Mr. Wm. N. Gilfillan, secretary. Messrs. Hermon Miller, A. M. Whitelaw and Q. A. Whitehill were chosen an execu- tive committee, the chairman and secretary of the general committee to act as members ex-officio.
" This committee to have charge of preparing a his- tory of the town, and to report from time to time to the general committee which is to meet at the call of the chair- man." Six meetings of the general committee were held, and many of the executive committee.
The report of the general committee was made to the town on March 5, 1907. They recommended that vacan-
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HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
cies be filled by vote of the committee, and that the select- men be authorized to act with the four members, and that they be authorized to draw orders for $1,000, to defray the expense of preparing and publishing a history of the town "on condition that the general committee guarantee sales of the work to the amount of $500 to be paid to the town treasurer within one year after the history is published." This vote was accepted and adopted with but one vote in opposition.
Mr. F. P. Wells of Newbury was secured to compile and arrange material for the work. A committee of ten, one from each school district, was chosen to canvass for subscribers and to secure promises for sketches from their families.
This committee reported on Sept. 21st to the general committee, and after free discussion it was voted to guaran- tee the sale of books to the amount of $500 "to the satis- faction of the selectmen." On Oct. 10th a contract was made with Mr. Wells to prepare the work.
On May 26, 1909, a contract was made with The Cale- donian Co., of St. Johnsbury to print the history. Soon after this the publishing company changed hands, and sub- sequently many delays have resulted to the disappointment of all concerned. Yet the delay has given more time to collect material for the work, much additional data and many records were secured, the work will be much more complete, cost more, be worth more and the delay be justified in the end.
A full report has been rendered to the town at each annual meeting. More funds being necessary to complete the history, the town by a unanimous vote authorized $1,000 additional at the annual meeting of 1912.
There has been an earnest effort to secure a complete history down to date. The people here have been urged to prepare family records, and every one has been welcomed to a place in the work.
IX
INTRODUCTION.
The committee believed that the pioneers of the town and their direct descendants should have preference in illus- trations. This has been a difficult matter to adjust and do justice to all. Most of the original settlers are represented but only a few of the present generation appear. It has been the sincere wish of the committee to make the history a credit to the town, and helpful to every citizen.
IN BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE, W. N. GILFILLAN.
RYEGATE, Jan. 20, 1913.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I.
CHAPTER I.
THE EARLIEST DAYS.
Dr. Dwight's Narrative .- Description .- Indian Trails .- Journal of Capt. Benjamin Wright .- The Deerfield Massacre .- Stephen Williams' Narrative .- Fort at the Mouth of Wells River. 1-7
CHAPTER II. "A CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND CALLED RYEGATE."
Settlements on Connecticut River .- Opening of the Coös Country .- Prosperity of Newbury and Haverhill .- Ryegate Chartered -Sale to John Church .- New York Claim .- The Second Charter .- The Pagan Lands .- Condition of Scotland .- Emigration .- Wages .- The Scotch American Company. 8-14
CHAPTER III. THE INCIINNAN COLONY.
Inchinnan .- History .- Antiquities .- The Knights Templars .- Inception of the Scotch-American Company .- Regulations .- Commissioners. -" Bond of Association."-Names of Subscribers. 15-19
CHAPTER IV. THE JOURNAL OF JAMES WHITELAW.
The Voyage -Philadelphia -New York .- Albany .- Mohawk River .- Ryegate .- Charlestown to New York .- Susquehannah River .- Pennsylvania .- Sir William Johnson .- Dartmouth College. 20-27
CHAPTER V. WHITELAW'S JOURNAL-CONTINUED.
Observations in Southern Pennsylvania .- The Ohio Country .- Mary- land, Virginia .- Observations in North Carolina .- The Eastern Shore of Maryland .- Purchase of Ryegate. 28-35
CHAPTER VI. THE SETTLEMENT BEGUN.
Expenses of the Commissioners .- Agreement Between Church and the Commissioners. - Dr. Witherspoon .- James Witherspoon. - New- bury-Survey of Ryegate .- David Allan .- First Death .- Deed of Ryegate. 36-46
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HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
CHAPTER VII.
THE SCOTCH-AMERICAN COMPANY.
The "City."-The Scotland Managers .- Lord Blantyre .- Mills at Bol- tonville -Embarrassment .- Prosperity of the Settlement .- White- law's Resignation .- The End of the Scotch-American Company .- Reflections. 47-56
CHAPTER VIII. SCOTLAND AND RYEGATE.
The Home Towns of the Colonists: Inchinnan, Erskine, Kilpatrick, Baldernock, Kilmalcolm, Johnstone, Houston, Renfrew, Kilbar- chan, Lochwinnock, Paisley, Glasgow, Balfron, Roseneath .- The Scotch in Newbury .- Wages in 1793 .- The Ocean Passage .- Emi- grants .- Pioneer Life .- Reflections.
57-66
CHAPTER IX. THE HAZEN ROAD.
The Revolutionary War .- The Post of Danger .- The Hazen Road .- Its General Course .- Its Construction Begun by General Bayley, and Abandoned .- Plans for Invasion of Canada .- The Road Com- pleted to Westfield .- Why Abandoned .- Another Invasion of Can- ada Contemplated .- The State of the Country .- Subsequent His- tory of the Military Road. 67-78
CHAPTER X. RYEGATE IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Patriotism of the Colonists .- Minute-men .- The Great Alarm .- The Campaign of Burgoyne .- His Instructions to Col. Baume .- Capt. Frye Bayley's Company .- Adventure of Bartholomew Somers .- Blockhouse .- Anecdotes. 79-88
CHAPTER XI. THE EARLY DAYS.
Contemporary Events .- First Town Meetings -First Marriages .- First Roads .- Early Tax Lists .- Sheep Raising -Log Houses .- Corres- pondence .- Scarcity of Money .- Standard of Value .- Variation in Value of Bank Notes -The Town Pound .- Anecdotes. 89-100
CHAPTER XII. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Retrospect .- Presbyterianism .- The Church of Scotland .- The Stuarts. -The Restoration .- Rise of the Covenanters .- Origin of "Tokens." -The Persecution .- Anecdote .- Rev. James Renwick .- The Revo- lution of 1688 .- Patronage .- The Associate Synod .- Burghers, and Anti-Burghers .- The Relief Church .- The United Presbyterian Church .- Rev. Peter Powers .- Action of the Town .- The Old Meet- ing House .- Early Ministers .- Rev. Win. Forsythe .- Rev. William Gibson.
101-113
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Early Church Going .- Theological Metaphysics .- Early Ministers .- Rev. David Goodwillie .- Ordination of Rev. Thos. Ferrier .- Rev. Wm. Pringle .- The Disruption .- Rev. James McArthur .- Re-union .- Later Pastors .- Sunday Schools .- Church Edifices. 114-123
CHAPTER XIV. RELIGIOUS HISTORV-CONTINUED.
The Reformed Presbyterian Church .- Organization .- Rev. Alexander Mc- Leod .- Rev. James McKinney .- Rev. William Gibson .- " Reformed Principles Exhibited."-Rev. James Milligan .- Publications .- Rev. James M. Beattie .- Later Ministers .- The Reformed Presbyterian Church at South Ryegate .- The First or General Assembly Church. -Reformed Presbyterian Church of Barnet .- Observations .- The Ryegate Ameliorating Society. 124-137
CHAPTER XV. SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN EARLY DAYS.
Prices of Farm Products .- Cloth and its Manufacture .- Lumber .- River Traffic .- Taverns .- Stage and Postal Routes .- Passumpsic Turn- pike .- The Boston and Montreal Turnpike. 138-152
CHAPTER XVI. EDUCATION.
Public Schools in Scotland .- Schoolmasters .- The Common School Sys- tem in New England .- Early Teachers in Ryegate .- Mr. Miller's Experience .- Other Factors in Education -Location of School- houses .- Statistics .- College Graduates who were Natives of Ryegate. 153-164
CHAPTER XVII. EDUCATION, AND OTHER MATTERS.
Factors in Education .- Cemeteries .- Care of the Poor .- Temperance .- John Paul Jones. 164-173
CHAPTER XVIII.
MANUFACTURES.
Saw Mills .- Connecticut River .- Clay Island .- The Narrows -Canoe Falls, and Early Mills There .- The Ryegate Paper Co .- Brick Mak- ing .- The Granite Business .- The Granite Manufacturers' Associa- tion .- The Granite Cutter's Union. 174-187
CHAPTER XIX. LOCAL MATTERS.
Industrial Changes .- Mr. Whitelaw's Observations .- Wild Animals .- Dairying .- Farms .- Fairs .- Creameries .- Blue Mountain Grange. -Miscellaneous. 188-199
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HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
CHAPTER XX. HOME LIFE IN EARLY DAYS.
Linen Spinning .- Weaving .- Candle Making .- Domestic Pursuits .- So- cial Customs .- Singing Schools .- Writing Schools. 200-209
CHAPTER XXI. PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER MATTERS.
Physicians .- The Insane -Lawyers .- Merchants at the Corner .- At South Ryegate .- The Old Militia .- Masonry .- An Historic Fake. 210-225
CHAPTER XXII. POLITICS AND LATER MATTERS.
Early Political History .- The North Star .- Anti-Masonry .- The Civil War. 226-235
CHAPTER XXIII. OLD AND NEW.
Old Farms and Houses -The Whitelaw Farms .- In Central and Western Ryegate .- The Witherspoon Tract .- Libraries .- The Country Book- store .- The Town Library and Branches .- The Whitehill Library. -Grain and Feed Business .- Sugar Manufacture .- Telephones and Electric Lighting .- Clan Farquharson .- Miscellaneous. 236-247
CHAPTER XXIV. TOWN OFFICERS.
Town Clerks .- Delegates to Constitutional Conventions .- Representa- tives .- Listers .- Superintendents of Schools .- Moderators of Town Meetings. 248-256
CHAPTER XXV. MISCELLANEOUS.
James Whitelaw to his Father, 1773 .- James Henderson's Bond .- Meet- ing House Account .- Vote of Members about Timber .- Robert Brock's Bond .- Weight of Mill Irons .- Certificate of Membership. -Letter from Managers in Scotland .- Money Remitted to Scot- land .- Bill of Exchange .- Letter from Scotland, 1809 .- Ryegate Men in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War. 257-269
PART II.
FAMILY RECORDS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,
273-581
APPENDIX,
583-588
GENERAL INDEX,
591-595
INDEX TO CONNECTED FAMILIES,
597-601
INDEX TO PORTRAITS,
603-604
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS,
605
INDEX TO PLACES IN SCOTLAND,
607
INDEX TO PLACES IN IRELAND, 608
PART I
HISTORY OF RYEGATE,
VERMONT
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CHAPTER I.
THE EARLIEST DAYS.
DR. DWIGHT'S NARRATIVE .- DESCRIPTION .- INDIAN TRAILS .- JOURNAL OF CAPT. BENJAMIN WRIGHT .- THE DEERFIELD MASSACRE .- STEPHEN WILLIAMS' NAR- RATIVE .- FORT AT THE MOUTH OF WELLS RIVER.
I N the year 1812, Rev. Dr. Dwight, president of Yale College, published a narrative of a journey to Canada, and took occasion to speak in very high terms of the Scotch settlers of Ryegate and Barnet, and of the favorable estimate in which they were everywhere held for their industry, good order and good morals, adding also that, as far as he could learn they were, generally, in very good circumstances.
These towns are the only ones in the state which were settled by colonies from beyond the Atlantic, and Ryegate is unique among all New England towns in that its affairs were, during some years, regulated by an association of farmers and artizans in far-off Scotland. Its history, therefore, must be very different from its neighboring communities, which were settled by immigrants from the older towns along the sea coast, who were, themselves, descended from the earliest settlers of New Eng- land.
In many things this colony was unique. Upon those who formed it the Church of Scotland had laid the strong hand of her faith, and the Presbyterian form of belief and practice is held, almost without dissent, by their children.
It is the purpose of this work to consider the reasons which induced the first settlers of Ryegate to leave Scotland; the organization through which the land was selected, divided, and governed during some years, the toils and privations of the colonists and their ultimate prosperity, to give the history of its institutions and gather the annals of its families.
In the first place it is necessary to give some account of the region in which it lies, and what we know about its history before its settlement. It occupies the southeastern corner of Caledonia County, and is sepa- rated by Connecticut River from Bath in New Hampshire. South lies Newbury, in Orange County, and west and north are Groton and Barnet. The soil of Ryegate is not excelled in fertility by that of any other town in New England, and the town has always ranked high in the amount and value of its agricultural products, especially those of the dairy. The underlying rock is granite, with limestone alternations, and the town
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HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
lies in a strip of land which extends through Barnet, Peacham and Dan- ville, and is considered by eminent geological authority to be the most productive section east of the Hudson. It is watered by brooks which flow into the Connecticut, or into its tributary stream called Wells River. In the center of the town, in the midst of rolling uplands, lies the hamlet of Ryegate Corner. North of it, to the height of 2192 feet above sea level, rises Blue Mountain, its southerly side scarred by quarries. South Ryegate and East Ryegate, several miles apart, are thriving villages along its borders. A few small ponds surrounded by romantic scenery, are found in different parts of the town.
All over the town, among the hills and upon the uplands, white houses and huge barns evince the taste and prosperity of its inhabitants.
This is the Ryegate that we know. But Ryegate, when first called by that name, was an unbroken wildernesss, without a clearing of any kind, or roads or paths, except those made by Indian feet. Could one have stood on Blue Mountain then, he would have seen only a vast forest, stretching as far as the eye could reach, with the chain of mountain peaks rising in the east. It formed a part of the wilderness which lay between the English colonies, and the French settlements along the Saint Lawrence, and we do not know whether its first white visitors were French or English.
Those who have devoted much time in studying Indian history and traditions, are of opinion that this part of New England was never the permanent abode of any large tribe of Indians, but that it was neutral ground lying between the tribes along the Atlantic coast, and the nations of the interior. It is known, however, that from time im- memorial, parties from different tribes visited the great meadows of Newbury and Haverhill, which they had cleared, and where they raised corn in their rude fashion.
The section of the Connecticut valley between Orford and the mouth of the Ammonoosuc, was called Coos or Kohass, and a similar tract near Lancaster and Guildhall was called by the same name, and these sections were distinguished by the titles of the Lower and Upper Coos. There is much difference of opinion as to the precise meaning of the name.
To reach these cleared intervales there were paths or trails which led to the distant Indian towns or hunting grounds. One of these trails came up from the Merrimac Valley, following very nearly the course of the railroad from Plymouth to Haverhill. Another lay along the Con- necticut. According to the best authorities there was a famous trail which left the great river at the mouth of Wells River, held a northerly course, and divided into two branches about where Ryegate Corner is now. One of these trails went north through Peacham, Walden and Greensboro to the head waters of the Lamoille, and the celebrated Hazen
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THE EARLIEST DAYS.
Road followed its general course. The other branch took its way over the high lands west to the Winooski Valley. There is a very ancient map which gives the general course of both the Connecticut and Wells Rivers, with the line of this trail and says, "Along this route many captives have been carried to Canada." The famous Indian scout known as Indian Joe or Joe Indian, who lived at Newbury, and whose grave in the Oxbow cemetery there is suitably marked, knew all the trails well, and much of the little we really know about them, came through those who knew him. He died in 1819. Joe's Pond and Brook in Cabot and Danville perpetuate his name, and Molly's Pond and Brook that of his wife.
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