USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Wells > History of Wells, Vermont, for the first century after its settlement > Part 1
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Gc 974.302 W46p 1822075
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01092 5730
HISTORY
OF
WELLS, VERMONT,
FOR THE .
FIRST CENTURY AFTER ITS SETTLEMENT;
BY
HILAND PAUL,
WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
BY
ROBERT PARKS, EsQ.
RUTLAND ; TUTTLE & CO., JOB PRINTERS. 1869.
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1822075
INTRODUCTORY.
The writer of this brief and simple historical sketch was urged against his wishes to write the history of this town, and at first declined on account of his inability to do justice to the subject ; but, after much entreaty of friends, finally accepted the task, though without change of opinion respecting his fitness. Adopting no particular plan in preparing this sketch, we have endeavored to write intelligibly and with simplicity, knowing that we could not, if we would, make "much ado about nothing."
We have been somewhat discouraged at times, at the small degree of interest manifested in this little work, which is written with no expectations of reward for time and labor spent in its preparation. We acknowledge that it is far from complete, for much of the early history of the town that would be interesting, has passed away in obscurity. Yet amid dis- couraging circumstances, we have persevered in preparing this sketch-our little work of good-will for our Dative town- foreseeing, that with the past already forgotten, the aged men who are with us to-day, will not probably long remain to refresh us with their memories of the more recent past, but may soon lie beneath the sods of the valley.
Though errors may exist, our aim has been to be correct in giving the facts, that would be of interest, so far as we have been able to obtain them. We hope this may be acceptable until another more worthy is written to succeed it.
Therefore, with all its simplicity, it is presented, hoping that it may meet with the favor of our towns-people ; and in the dim future, be of some little interest to our successors.
October 3, 1868.
1
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HISTORY OF WELLS.
This town is situated in the southwestern part of Rutland county, and is bounded on the north by Poultney and a part of Middletown, east by a part of Middletown and Tinmouth, south by Pawlet, and west by Granville, N. Y. It is not at present known whence the name of the town originated, or to whom the honor of naming it belongs.
The Charter was granted by Benning Wentworth, then Governor of New Hampshire, September 15, A. D. 1761, and was in the form usually given in granting townships at that time-September 15, 1868, it was 107 years old-and may now be seen at the Town Clerk's office, and, although worn, by folding, into numerous fragments, is still legible.
There is also on record at said office a copy of the charter together with a plan of the town. The town was laid out six miles square, containing 23,040 acres, and the usual allowance was made for "highways and unimprovable lands by rocks, ponds, mountains and rivers, 1,040 acres free," etc. The north-east corner of the town was originally a short distance to the northward of what is at present Middle- town village. The town was chartered to Capt. Eliakim Hall and sixty-three others, whose names are here given :
Rev. Edward Eales, Daniel Murwin, Jr., Isaac Hall, Jr., Stephen Ives,
John A. Tertius,
Aaron Persons,
John Ives,
John Pierce,
Dr. Caleb Hall, Asahel Thomas,
Titus Culver,
Samuel Jerome,
Hezekiah Hall,
Caleb Merriman,
Dr. Isaac Hall,
William Williams, Nathan Williams,
Thomas Murwin, John Hulls, Stephen Peck,
Reuben Ives, John Moss, Joel Holcom,
Nathan Hulls,
----
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HISTORY OF WELLS.
Samuel Hall, Esq.,
Thomas Thibets,
Joseph Murwin,
Jared Spencer,
Miles Johnson, Eliakim Hall, Jr., Abel Austin,
Noah Andrus,
Titus Ives,
Hezekiah Wadsworth,
Bartholomew Andrus, Asahel Beach, John Avery, Abel Ives,
Titus Beach,
Daniel Clark,
Jacob Parker,
Benjamin Roys, Joseph Bishop, Samuel Bishop, David Lyman, John Beecher, Zebulon Frisbie,
Stephen Murwin,
Andrew Beardsley,
Sam'l Sharp Beedels,
Joseph Francis,
Caleb Culver,
Joseph Newmarch,
Joseph Brunson,
Levi Moss,
H. Wentworth,
Gersham Knot,
Stephen Hall,
Dr. John Dickinson,
Jared Lee, Abraham Parker,
Robert Hazzard, Samuel Hall.
It is generally considered that very few, if any, of the original grantees settled in town, and the early town records show that most, if not all of them, resided in Connecticut.
In the charter there is a plan of the town, wherein we find a portion in the south-west corner laid out and marked " B. W.", and the following is recorded, viz : His Excellency Benning Wentworth, Esq. A tract of land to contain five hundred acres, as marked B. W. in the plan, which is to be accounted two of the within shares. One whole share for the incorporated society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts ; one share for the Glebe for the church of England as by law established ; one share for the first settled minister of the gospel, and one share for the benefit of a school in said town-making in all seventy shares or rights of land originally.
"The settlement of this town was commenced by Ogden Mallory, who moved his family here about the year 1768," ( Thompson's Vt. Gazetteer). If so the present year would be the centennial anniversary of our town's settlement. " Daniel and Samuel Culver came into town in 1771 and moved their families here the following year."
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HISTORY OF WELLS. ORGANIZATION.
This town was organized March 9, 1773, and the following business was transacted at the first town meeting, viz :
" WELLS, March 9, A. D. 1773.
" At a town meeting warned by the charter and held in said town-
"1st. Voted, Ogden Mallory, Moderator.
" 2d. Voted, John Ward, Clerk.
" 3d. Voted, Ogden Mallory and Abner How a Com- mittee to look out a road, and mark out the same in the most convenient place through said town.
"4th. Voted, that the road shall be six rods wide through said town.
"5th. Voted, Ogden Mallory pathmaster for the south part . of the town, and Abner How pathmaster for the north part of the town.
"6th. Voted, that Daniel Culver, Joseph Lawrence and Ogden Mallory should search and find a convenient place for a burying yard in said town.
"7th. Voted, that this meeting be adjourned to the first Monday in November next, at the dwelling house of Ogden Mallory.
"Per me JOHN WARD, Clerk."
The adjourned meeting was held according to the previous vote, November 1, 1773, and "John Ward and Ebenezer Welton were appointed a committee to lay out a burying yard in a convenient place, and Ogden Mallory, Daniel Culver, Joseph Lawrence, Abner How and John Ward were chosen selectmen."
At a town meeting held in regard to the affairs of the grants, February 25, 1774, Abner How and Joseph Moss were appointed a committee to attend the general meeting in Manchester. The meeting thus alluded to was held at Man- chester, in March, 1774, when the committees there assem- bled, from the several adjoining towns, having considered "the
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HISTORY OF WELLS.
despotic act of the New York Assembly, for the suppression and apprehension of the Bennington mob," voted in reference thereto, " that as a country we will stand by and defend our friends and neighbors, who are indicted, at the expense of our lives and fortunes."
The " despotic act " above referred to, was passed March 9, 1774, wherein certain riotous acts were declared to be felony, for which the offender was to suffer death without benefit of clergy. The act names Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, and others, eight in number, who prepared an appeal to the public, showing the justice of their cause, and that they were determined to mainain it at all hazards .*
At the town meeting above mentioned the inhabitants here voted, that " there should be no York authority take place in said town," which plainly shows the spirit of the times that animated the early settlers of this town, in regard to the formation of an independent State. There were many long years of strife, anxiety and bloodshed after this vote was taken before Vermont became ( in 1791 ) one of the United States ; though in one sense it became an independent state from the years 1776-77, for the inhabitants would not recog- nize the authority of New Hampshire or New York, though both of these states claimed title to this disputed territory, which was then known as the New Hampshire grants.
At the time this town thus voted, history informs us, that the subject of making the grants an independent state began to be discussed, and in 1776 a convention was held at Dorset to consider this important measure; and after deliberation resolved " to take suitable measures, as soon as may be, to
.See Hiland Hall's History of Vermont.
HISTORY OF WELLS. 9
declare the New Hampshire grants a free and separate district." Ogden Mallory and Zacheus Mallory represented this town in that convention. At an adjourned meeting of the same convention, held in Westminster in January, 1777, a new and separate state was voted, and proclaimed to the world, under the name of "New Connecticut." (And in the supplementary declaration published by the June conven- tion in the Connecticut Courant, of June 30, 1777, where the name Vermont was officially adopted. The reason for the change is stated to be that when the name New Connecticut was given to the state, it was unknown to the convention that there was already a territory of that name on the Susquehanna river, and it is then declared that "instead of New Connecticut the said district shall ever be known by the name of Vermont."*) And that it was finally recognized by Congress as a separate state was mainly due to the persistent efforts, the superior wisdom of Thomas Chittenden, the first Governor of this state, and to the bravery and sagacity of the brothers Ira and Ethan Allen, aided by Col. Seth Warner and the early settlers-worthy heroes all-who were equal to their tasks on every occasion. We have no doubt but that the inhabitants of this town per- formed well their part to acquire a result so desirable. We should ever hold in lasting remembrance the names and memories of these men who performed so great a work, and founded our state on those noble principles of justice and equal rights. May their posterity always be ready to labor with equal zeal to promote the same cause.
April 4, 1774, a committee was appointed to procure timber for building a bridge across the channel, which connects
*See Hiland Hall's History of Vermont, page 498.
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HISTORY OF WELLS.
the two ponds that form Lake Austin. At this meeting the town voted that the soldiers should have three shillings a day for their services.
The first marriage is thus recorded : " Ebenezer Welton and Catharine Culver, the 18th of May, 1775." The first birth is recorded as follows : "Joseph Moss, son to Joseph Moss by his wife Esther, born September 8, 1775."
Ogden Mallory, Timothy Moss and Reuben Searls were the first listers elected in this town, March 11, 1777, and a vote was taken that the lists should be carried in to the listers on the first day of April. We find recorded April 14, 1778, the following vote, that " we would dissolve the union with the towns east of the Connecticut river." It may be proper to add here an explanation of this vote, which we glean from history, and think substantially correct.
A short time previous to this, sixteen towns on the east side of the Connecticut river proposed to separate from New Hampshire, and unite with Vermont. The proposition met with favor among many of the people of Vermont. The subject came before the Legislature, which submitted the question of annexation to the decision of the people. A majority voted for annexation, but the people on the west side of the mountains, especially near the Lake border, opposed the measure. So the Legislature at their adjourned session in June, 1778, in pursuance of the vote of the people, admitted said towns. As this action of the part of this state was likely to produce war on all sides, the result was, the Legislature in February, 1779, resolved that the said union be dissolved and made totally void.
While we should think from the above recorded vote of this town, that an union had previously been formed with
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HISTORY OF WELLS.
those towns east of the Connecticut river, yet we should judge, that they intended to convey the idea, that the people of this town (in common with those near the Lake border, ) were opposed to uniting with said towns ; as the vote of the town was recorded in April, while the Legislature which admitted those towns did not convene until the following June.
We give below the names of the freemen living in this town in 1780, as found in the town records, some of whom will be noticed in the biographical sketches :
Ogden Mallory, Timothy Moss,
Jonathan Webb,
Gideon Searls,
Barnabas Moss, Alexander Gordon,
A bel Merriman,
John Moss,
Ebenezer Sumner, Jr.,
Reuben Searls,
Richard Crouch, Joshua Culver,
" Increase Rudd,
Samuel Culver,
Ebenezer Welton,
Zacheus Mallory,
Gill Mallory,
Daniel Culver,
Silas Mallory,
Benjamin Richardson,
Daniel McIntosh,
Caleb Smith, Abner How.
In " Thompson's Vormont," in connection with remarks concerning Shay's Insurrection in Massachusetts, in 1786-87, we find the following notice of a convention holden in this town : " So early as the spring of 1784, a convention from several towns was assembled at Wells, by which sundry resolutions were passed in relation to the general sufferings and embarrassments of the people, and a liberal amount of execration was meted out to the lawyers and sheriffs, but no disposition was manifested in this state to oppose the collection of debts by force till the year 1786."
We have no record of this convention, but suppose the "general sufferings" above alluded to were caused chiefly by the Revolutionary war, which, continuing so long, had impov- crished many of the people, who, at its close, being unable
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HISTORY OF WELLS.
to pay, were dissatisfied, especially when the payment of debts came to be enforced. We are informed that much dissatis- faction prevailed throughout this county at that time, and give here in addition, the following extract from Frisbie's history af Middletown, viz : "Joseph Spaulding was captain of the militia in this town, and held that office at the time of the Shay's rebellion in 1786, and when the militia of the county were called on to sustain the courts at Rutland, he started with his company for that place, but on his arrival at Castleton was permitted to return, as the mob had been dispersed by militia nearer at hand."
This town remained as it was originally chartered until October 28, 1784, when 6,118 acres were taken from the north-east corner of the town, for the formation of Middle- town, and October 31. 1798, the north-west part of the town was annexed to Poultney, by the following act of the Legis- lature, viz : "It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Vermont ; That the north-west part of the town of Wells, in the county of Rutland, be, and the same is hereby annexed to the town of Poultney, in said county, to-wit : That part of said Wells lying north of the following line ; beginning at the west corner of the town of Middletown" thence west to the east line of the town of Granville, in the state of New York. And the inhabitants of said north-west part of Wells, so annexed to the town of Poultney, shall be forever hereafter entitled to the same privileges and immu- nities in common with the other inhabitants of said Poultney."
We have thus far narrated in chronological order what was transacted at the several town meetings mentioned, that seemed to bo worthy of record.
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HISTORY OF WELLS.
This town now comprises only about 13,000 acres. The eastern part is mountainous, the western part moderately even and rolling. The soil is generally good, and as it produces rich, sweet grass in abundance, is well adapted to the grazing of sheep and cattle, and to the keeping of a dairy.
Sheep husbandry, in a pecuniary point of view, compares unfavorably with the rearing of cattle, chiefly on account of the low price of wool and the high price of butter and cheese. Consequently few sheep are kept in this town, at the present time-having gradually decreased in numbers since the close of the late civil war. Then wool was worth one dollar or more per pound, while now at forty cents per pound there is but little call for it. With the reduction of sheep, the dairy interest is increasing, most of our farmers keeping cows, as butter and cheese are the chief staples at present. A cheese factory was established in 1865, by James Norton, and milk is brought to it from farms more than two miles distant. During the year 1867 Mr. Norton received the milk of 315 cows, and made about 120,000 pounds of. cheese. Another factory was established this spring in Tinmouth, a few rods from the town line, by Rollin Cook, which accommodates the farmers living in the eastern part of the town.
Since the Rutland & Washington Railroad was established in 1851, the raising of potatoes for market has become quite a specialty with the farmers in the western part of the town, some of them raising from 1000 to 2000 bushels annually.
Land has increased in value since the close of the late war, and most of the dairy farms in town, under judicious management, have increased in quality as well as in price. Some forty years ago the farm now owned by James Norton was sold for $2,800. Now with its many improvements it
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HISTORY OF WELLS.
could not be purchased for $17,000. Its present proprietor is a Quaker, and is well known in common with others of his sect, as an enterprising and industrious farmer. But not all the farms in town have increased likewise in price, though many have increased nearly as much. Most of the farmers have new and painted dwellings, with comfortable out-build- ings, indicating enterprise and prosperity.
It may be well, and perhaps interesting, especially to those who are to follow in our footsteps, were we to note here somewhat of the past-the past which has forever fled. One century has passed since Ogden Mallory, the first settler, came into this town, which was then a dense forest inhabited by wild beasts, and, if not then, we presume not long before, the Indians had made it their dwelling place, as relics are occasionally found near our streams of water-the writer having now in his possession their flint arrows, found on his father's farm, in the eastern part of the town. We are also informed that such relics have been found near the lake. It is hardly possible at this day to conceive of the many obstacles which even fifty and seventy-five years ago our fathers had to contend with, in preparing homes for their families, who often suffered for the want of food, and withal were scantily clothed. The older people of to-day remember when they were obliged to go barefooted the greater part of the year, often suffering from the severe cold weather. It causes feelings of sympathy to think of the sufferings and sacrifices involved in their necessary avocations, and in providing for the many wants of their families ; when, for instance, having neither stoves nor matches, they were obliged, in case the fire should expire in the fireplace, to borrow of some more lucky neighbor. We presume it would tax very much the
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HISTORY OF WELLS.
ingenuity of the young ladies of the present day, and their patience more, were they obliged to bake and perform the other necessary work by a fireplace, that their grandmothers did before them. Stoves were not introduced here until about 1820, and were cast in Tinmouth.
In those days the cattle and sheep generally had to endure the long cold winters without shelter. In the autumn, we are informed, the farmers of this vicinity were accustomed to carry their surplus grain, especially wheat, and other farm products, to Troy, N. Y., some sixty miles, with their oxen teams, (of which nearly every farmer possessed one, and some, two pair-whereas by way of contrast, we should here mention that now scarcely one farmer in ten has one yoke of oxen,) and those who were so fortunate as to own horses hauled their freight with them, and returned laden with the necessaries of life, or with goods for the country merchants. Troy was the principal market until about 1824, when the canal from Whitehall to Troy was established changing, in a great measure, the current of trade. Our farmers then hauled their produce to Fort Ann and vicinity, until the Rutland & Washington Railroad was established. Our fathers, struggling with poverty, labored with undaunted courage and perseverance to surmount obstacles in this then wilderness, in order to obtain a homestead wherein their children and children's children might dwell in peace and security. Those were " the days that tried men's souls." It is stated by the older people, that a better brotherhood of feeling existed then than at the present day, that the people were more social and neighborly, and we doubt it not.
The apple orchards that were first planted here, long since
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HISTORY OF WELLS.
filled out the measure of their usefulness and are fast disap- pearing, so that formerly apples were very plenty, and we should judge that cider was then more highly prized than at present, for we are informed that many of those noble and generous hearted old men were not wholly contented unless they had a liberal supply of some five or twenty barrels of cider stowed away in their cellars, to ward off the severe cold of winter. Then in their frequent family visits the cider would be forthcoming, and the evening spent agreeably in story-telling and friendly intercourse.
If they had not our means of education, they seem to have possessed as strong common sense, if not sounder minds, than their descendants. Though they were deprived of many of the comforts and luxuries of the present time, we must admit from all accounts, that they were stronger and healthier than the men of to-day.
Reflecting on the past, do we, the younger portion of com- munity, fully realize and appreciate the benefits that result to us from the efforts of their hard labor ? Do we, con- sidering our advantages, improve our opportunities to the best of our ability ? Do we not rather shut our eyes to this pain- ful truth (of neglected opportunities,) and thus regardless of our own interests fall short of the end for which we were created ? Can we not obtain wisdom from the experience of our fathers ?
Many of the first settlers of this town came from Massa- chusetts and Connecticut, and consequently brought with them many of those old Connecticut notions and prejudices inherited of the Puritans, and handed down from generation to generation for the last two hundred years. They have existed so long that they seem to be hereditary, and, indeed,
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HISTORY OF WELLS.
have not all died out as yet. Many of us are very careful about commencing to plow or plant, or almost any kind of work, on Friday, it being considered (and we fear always will be) an unlucky day. Corn, potatoes and garden seeds must be planted " at the right time of the moon," if we would be sure of a good crop, etc. It is not essential to add to the list, as, we presume, much that is necessary and more that is not, will be transmitted from generation to generation.
Since the early settlement of the town, time has wrought many and marked changes both natural and social. The first settlers here, full of courage and self reliance, brought but little with them, relying mainly on their own strong arms to furnish subsistence to sustain life. It was with great difficulty that they could obtain the necessaries of life for their families, when first they came here; for after erecting cabins to shelter their families, and protect them from wild beasts, they were obliged to cut down and fall into heaps many a noble pine, as well as oak and maple, and then burn them in order to raise their wheat and corn.
Much land in town has been cleared of its timber within the memory of our older inhabitants. Bordering upon swamps many trees were fallen therein as the easiest way to get rid of them, consequently timber has become so scarce, that the necessity for destroying it no longer exists. In the early settlement of the town, there was an abundance of heavy pine timber in the vicinity of the village, as the stump fences now do plainly indicate. These pine stumps have well withstood the ravages of time, and to all appearances will be serviceable for many years to come. Pine trees five feet in diameter at their base, and oak and maple trees four feet, are among the things of the past, though the stumps of such
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2
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HISTORY OF WELLS.
trees are occasionally seen. But few of the first growth of the above mentioned trees remain-mementos of the past- and with the scarcity of other timber it becomes farmers, even now, so soon after the first settlement of the town, to be judicious in the management of their timber lands.
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