USA > Vermont > History of eastern Vermont, from its earliest settlement to the close of the eighteeth century with a biographical chapter and appendixes > Part 1
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01188 0769 E
Gc 974.3 H14h 1277092
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofeastern00hall 0
HISTORY
OF
EASTERN VERMONT.
1
HISTORY
OF
EASTERN VERMONT
FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE CLOSE OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
WITH A BIOGRAPHICAL CHAPTER AND APPENDIXES.
BY
BENJAMIN H. HALL.
974.3 High
NEW YORK : D. APPLETON & CO., 348 BROADWAY. 1858.
82 6610 2.
1
-
Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by BENJAMIN H. HALL, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York.
1
tin/9/11
QELES-
1277092 PREFACE.
WHEN, six years ago, I began to make researches for the purpose of ascertaining at what time the first settlements were made in Vermont, on the banks of the Connecticut river, by the whites, it was my intention, if I put pen to paper, to write but a small book, and to treat only of the southeastern portions of the state. As I continued my investigations, I became convinced that it would be very difficult to carry out this plan in an intelligible manner, with- out introducing into my contemplated work much that would appear too general for its narrow limits. At the same time, I dis- covered that the disputes in which New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont were so long engaged respecting the jurisdiction of the latter state, exerted an influence at the time, which told on the progress and development of every town and village and hamlet in Vermont. I then sought for some publication containing a clear and full statement of these disputes. My search was unrewarded. I found that the Natural and Civil History of Vermont, by the learned Dr. Samuel Williams, was more particularly devoted to the discussion of questions of a scientific nature, and to a general account of the condition of the northern frontier of the United States, than to a specific description of the settlement and growth of Ver- mont. I found that the Natural and Political History of the State of Vermont, prepared by Col. Ira Allen, while in London, and printed at a London press, abounded in inaccuracies, and was only minute in the narration of affairs with which the author had been connected. I found that the Descriptive Sketch of the Present State of Vermont, by Dr. John Andrew Graham, was little else than a collection of unreliable, gossiping, entertaining letters, written more for self-gratification than to subserve any worthy or permanent interest. In the carefully collated History of Vermont, Natural, Civil, and Statistical, by the late Prof. Zadock Thompson, I found the evidences of thorough research and patient investiga-
vi
PREFACE.
tion, and much information illustrative of the natural resources of Vermont.
Failing in these efforts to find a clear statement of the subject on which I desired light, I judged it necessary to extend my own examination to sources hitherto undeveloped, and to accom- pany whatever I might write with an outline sketch of the jurisdic- tional controversy already referred to, that so the reader might not be ignorant of the causes which led to the internal commotions with which Vermont was for many years afflicted. Becoming con- vinced that the connection between the early history of the towns in the southeastern part of Vermont, was much closer than I had anti- cipated, I determined to enlarge my work so as to include in it the annals of the old counties of Cumberland and Gloucester. Having reached this stage in my proceedings, I was led to fix the western limit of my historical bailiwick at the Green Mountains, the natural division of Vermont.
In the pages that follow, I think I have rescued from oblivion many facts which the lover of American history will rejoice to know. The work, it is true, is local, but in it are described the character and deeds of a people who were pioneers in the march of civilization, patriots in the day of danger, useful citizens in the time of peace. In the preparation of this volume, I have collected a mass of unedited materials, from which the task would be com- paratively easy, to construct a history of the whole state. Such a history should contain, not only a narrative of all the warlike events which have occurred within the limits of Vermont, but a full account, also, of the controversy for jurisdiction, which began in 1749 and closed in 1791 ; of the skilfully designed but unsuccess- ful diplomatic efforts of the British government in Canada, for more than two years previous to the peace of 1783, to reduce Vermont to the condition of a Crown dependency ; of the struggles of Vermont for her own separate independence ; and of the manner in which, un- aided by Congress, she maintained her name, her rank, and her honor unsullied, until admitted into the Union as a sovereign state. Should an interest be hereafter awakened in the minds of the citi- zens of Vermont, to know more of the thoughts and acts of their virtuous, manly, and independent ancestry-an ancestry which I am proud to claim as my own-I shall not deny myself the pleasure of aiding in increasing that knowledge.
By far the largest part of this volume has been prepared from papers which have never before been consulted for their historic value. In the offices of the Secretaries of the states of Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, thorough and critical examinations have been made of the docu- ments and papers which are there preserved. The twenty-three
vii
PREFACE.
large volumes, called the "George Clinton Papers," which have been lately added to the New York State Library, at Albany, have been diligently consulted, and from them has been drawn much information that has never until now been made public. The letters and memoranda contained in these well arranged and carefully indexed volumes are invaluable to the historian, not only of New York but of Vermont also.
To the Hon. William C. Bradley, of Westminster, a statesman, a lawyer, and a man of letters, whose learning and ability have for a half century been the boast of his native state, I would make my grateful acknowledgments for the many personal recollections and family papers he has placed at my service, without which, indeed, this work would have been incomplete in many particulars. From the Hon. James H. Phelps, of West Townshend, I have received much aid and encouragement, and many MSS. of importance re- lating to the part which his ancestors bore in the intestine strug- gles that so long disturbed the peace of the state. For these manifestations of his kindness, and for the active interest he has ever evinced in the success of my labors, I own my obligation. I would also express my appreciation of the value of the assistance I have received from the Hon. Ferrand F. Merrill, of. Montpelier, the Hon. William M. Pingry, of Bethel, and other citizens of Ver- mont, whose services I may not have elsewhere acknowledged. To the skilful pencil of Larkin G. Mead Jr., Esq., of Brattle- borough, I am indebted for the drawings from which have been engraved several of the illustrations which adorn the work.
I cannot but indulge a hope that not only those who still remain among the hills and valleys of their native state, but those also who have wandered from the old roof-tree to find a home in the different sections of the Union, may receive some gratification from the perusal of the history of their ancestors.
Troy, N. Y., July 30th, 1857.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
First Settlements,
1
CHAPTER II.
Conflicts with the Indians, .
.
25
CHAPTER III.
Frontier Life,
.
53
CHAPTER IV.
The French War. Town Settlements,
81
CHAPTER V.
First Settlements,
104
CHAPTER VI.
Organization of Cumberland County, .
.
128
CHAPTER VII.
Progress of Organization,
159
CHAPTER VIII.
Legislation of the New York Colonial Assembly. Evi- dences of a Revolutionary Spirit, 187
CHAPTER IX.
The " Westminster Massacre," . · 209
X
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER X.
PAGE The First Years of the Revolution, 242
CHAPTER XI.
The Formation of the State of Vermont,
281
CHAPTER XII.
Opposition to the Government of Vermont,
308
CHAPTER XIII.
Conflict of Jurisdictions,
.
332
CHAPTER XIV.
Continuation of the Dispute. The Burning of Royalton, .
367
CHAPTER XV.
Enemies Within and Without, .
.
400
CHAPTER XVI.
The Civil Sustained by the Military Arm, .
427
CHAPTER XVII.
Attempts to Obtain the Interference of Congress,
456
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Disordered Condition of the South-Eastern Portion of
Vermont,
485
CHAPTER XIX.
The End of Resistance,
.
514
CHAPTER XX.
The Admission of Vermont into the Union, 541
CHAPTER XXI.
Early Laws of Vermont. Indian Inscriptions, .
566
BIOGRAPHICAL CHAPTER.
STEPHEN ROW BRADLEY, .
593
PAUL BRIGHAM,
602
CREAN BRUSH, .
603
THOMAS CHANDLER, .
633
JOIIN CHANDLER,
638
THOMAS CHANDLER JR.,
638
-
CONTENTS.
xi
PAGE
ELRANAH DAY, .
640
SAMUEL FLETCHER,
640
SAMUEL GALE, .
643
LOT HALL,
658
THOMAS JOHNSON,
666 669
SAMUEL KNIGHT,
673 675 677
JOSEPH LORD, .
WILLIAM PATERSON,
678 679 691
CHARLES PHELPS JR.,
692
TIMOTHY PHELPS,
693
NOAH SABIN,
694 697
PAUL SPOONER,
698 699 700
AMOS TUTE,
706
ROYALL TYLER,
708
SAMUEL WELLS,
718 725
JOSIAH WILLARD,
726
JOSIAH WILLARD JR.,
727
WILLIAM WILLIAMS, .
728
AZARIAH WRIGHT,
730
APPENDIX A.
The Equivalent Lands,
·
735
APPENDIX B.
Renewal of the Treaty,
736
APPENDIX C.
Township Number One,
.
.
738
APPENDIX D.
Proprietors of Westminster,
.
739
APPENDIX E.
The Fight at John Kilburn's Fort,
739
APPENDIX F.
Proprietors of Westminster,
·
.
742
APPENDIX G.
Division of Cumberland County into Districts, .
743
JOHN GROUT,
650
JOSEPH KELLOGG,
LUKE KNOWLTON,
CHARLES PHELPS,
SOLOMON PHELPS,
NOAH SABIN JR.,
JONATHAN STEARNS,
MICAH TOWNSEND,
DANIEL WHIPPLE,
xii
CONTENTS. APPENDIX H.
PAGE .
Census of January 16th, 1771, · 745
APPENDIX I.
The " Westminster Massacre," . · · . 746
APPENDIX J.
Opinions respecting a Separation from New York, 755
APPENDIX K.
The Recompense in Lands, .
.
.
757
APPENDIX L.
Division of the $30,000, ·
761
LIST OF THE CIVIL AND MILITARY OFFICERS OF CUMBERLAND AND GLOUCESTER COUN- TIES, · . 762
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
SARTWELL'S FORT, .
26
COMMEMORATIVE STONES,
65
THE GRAVE OF MRS. JEMIMA TUTE,
76
THE GRAVE OF CALEB HOW, .
77
COURT-HOUSE AT WESTMINSTER,
185
THE WESTMINSTER MEETING-HOUSE,
211
THE GRAVE OF WILLIAM FRENCH, .
214
FAC SIMILE OF THE SIGNATURE OF THOMAS CHANDLER,
217, 633
218, 678
JOHN NORTON'S TAVERN, ·
221
FAC SIMILE OF THE SIGNATURE OF THOMAS CHANDLER JR., 235, 638 487
HENRY EVANS,
487
TIMOTHY CHURCH,
488
INDIAN SCULPTURES,
587
INDIAN SCULPTURE, . 9
587
LOCALITY OF THE SCULPTURES,
" INDIAN ROCK,"
588 590 593
STEPHEN ROW BRADLEY, .
FAC SIMILE OF THE SIGNATURE OF STEPHEN ROW BRADLEY,
CREAN BRUSH,
.
.
.
FAC SIMILE OF THE SIGNATURE OF CREAN BRUSH,
66
SAMUEL FLETCHER,
640 643 650
LOT HALL,
658 673 677 679
TIMOTHY PHELPS,
693
NOAH SABIN, .
694
NOAH SABIN JR.,
697
66
PAUL SPOONER,
698 700 708 708
= MICAH TOWNSEND, ·
ROYALL TYLER, .
FAC SIMILE OF THE SIGNATURE OF ROYALL TYLER,
66
SAMUEL WELLS,
718
WILLIAM WILLIAMS,
728
66 AZARIAH WRIGHT, .
730
PAUL BRIGHAM,
593 602
603
ELKANAH DAY,
640
SAMUEL GALE,
JOHN GROUT, .
66 SAMUEL KNIGHT,
= JOSEPH LORD, .
CHARLES PHELPS,
603
¥
WILLIAM PATERSON, ·
.
WILLIAM SHATTUCK,
-
CHAPTER I.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
Early Divisions of Eastern Vermont-Cumberland County-Gloucester County- Champlain's Voyage Squakheag or Northfield-Philip's Wars-Indian In- cursions-King William's War-Burning of Deerfield-The March to Canada- Attempts of the English to reduce Canada-Port Royal captured-Treaty of Utrecht-Equivalent Lands-Great Meadow-Order to build a Block House above Northfield-Timothy Dwight-Fort Dummer-Its Defences-Indian Soldiers-Chaplain-Joseph Kellogg-Scouting Parties-Skirmishes-Peltry Trade at Fort Dummer-Journal of James Coss-Rev. Ebenezer Hinsdell- "Scaticook" and Caughnawaga Indians-Treaty at Fort Dummer.
VERMONT is divided into fourteen counties. Of these Windsor and Windham, situated in the south-eastern part of the state, comprehend nearly the same territory that under the govern- ment of New York was known, during a part of the last cen- tury, by the name of Cumberland county. This county was the first established in Vermont, then called the New Hamp- shire Grants, and probably received its name from Prince William the Duke of Cumberland, who in 1746 met with dis- tinguished success in opposing the rebels in Scotland.
Its boundaries, as declared in the act of establishment passed by the Legislature of the province of New York, on the 3d of July, 1766, were described as " beginning at the west bank of Connecticut river, opposite to where the division line between the province of the Massachusetts Bay comes to the aforesaid river ; thence running on a direct line, about twenty-six miles, to the south-east corner of the township of Stamford ; from thence, on a direct line, about sixty miles, to the north-east corner of the township of Rutland ; thence north, thirty-one degrees east, eighteen miles ; thence easterly, to the north-west corner of the township of Linfield ;* thence easterly, along the north side of
* Now the township of Royalton.
1
2
HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT.
[1766-1781.
the townships of Linfield, Sharon, and Norwich, to Connecticut river aforesaid ; thence, along the west bank of the said river, to the place of beginning."
When the subject was brought before the Lords of the Privy Council, in order that the "royal approbation or disallowance" might be signified, the King, on the 26th of June, 1767, de- clared the act of the New York Legislature by which the county of Cumberland was established, void, and the Governor of the province of New York was ordered to act in accordance with this decision. Numerous applications were now made to the Crown for a new charter, and the inconveniences to which the inhabitants of the disfranchised county were subjected, through the want of a due administration of justice, were plainly set forth. In consequence of these representations, the King, on the 19th of March, 1768, re-established the county of Cumber- land, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Province of New York, within the following limits :-
" Beginning at a point on the west bank of Connecticut river, opposite to where the line run for the partition line between our said provinces of the Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, touches the east side of the same river, and running thence west, ten degrees north on a direct line about twenty-six miles to the south-east corner of a tract of land called Stamford ; thence north, about thirteen degrees east on a direct line fifty-six miles to the south-east corner of the township of Socialborough in the county of Albany, in the south bounds of a tract of land formerly called Rutland; thence north, about fifty-three degrees east on a direct line thirty miles to the south-west corner of the township of Tunbridge ; thence along the south bounds thereof and of Stratford and Thetford about eighteen miles to Con- necticut river aforesaid, and thence along the west banks of the same river to the place of beginning."
By an act of the Legislature of New York, passed March 24th, 1772, the boundaries were again changed, as will appear from a description of the limits then constituted. "Beginning on the west bank of Connecticut river opposite the point where the partition line between the colonies of the Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, touches the east side of the river, and extending from thence north eighty degrees west until such line shall meet with and be intersected by another line proceeding on a course south ten degrees west from the north-west corner of a tract of land granted under the Great Seal of this colony, on
3
EARLY DIVISIONS OF THE STATE.
1766-1781.]
the 4th day of September, 1770, to James Abeel, and nine other persons, and extending from the said point of intersection, north ten degrees east until such line shall meet with and be in- tersected by another line to be drawn on a course north sixty degrees west from the south-west corner of a tract of land granted under the Great Seal of this colony, on the 13th day of November, A.D. 1769, and erected into a township by the name of Royalton, and running from the last-mentioned point of intersection south sixty degrees east to the west bank of Connecticut river, and so down along the west bank of the river, as the same river winds and turns to the place of begin- ning."
On the 1st of April, 1775, other alterations were made, and the western portion of the county was so extended as to be bounded by a "line, beginning in the north boundary line of the province of Massachusetts Bay, at the south-west corner of the township of Readesborough, and running thence along part of the westerly bounds thereof, to a certain tract of land, granted to George Brewerton, Junior, and others, and erected into a township by the name of Leinster; thence along the southerly and westerly bounds of the said tract of land, to the north-west corner of the same ; thence on a direct course to the south-easterly corner of the township of Princetown; thence along the easterly bounds of the same tract, as it runs to the north-easterly corner thereof; and thence on a direct course to the southerly corner bounds of the township of Hulton, where it meets with and is intersected by the west boundary line of the county of Cumberland, as established" by former acts. By this change, the townships of Readesborough, and what are now Searsborough, Somerset, and Stratton, were added to Cumberland county.
At the first session of the General Assembly of Vermont in 1778, the state was, on the 17th of March, divided into two counties. The territory lying on the west side of the Green Mountains was called Bennington county, and that on the east side, Unity county. The latter name was on the 21st of the same month changed, and that of Cumberland was substituted. By an act of the Legislature, passed February 11th, 1779, the division line between these two counties was fixed. Com- mencing at a point in the south line of the province of Quebec, fifty miles east of the centre of the deepest channel of Lake Champlain, it extended south to the north-east corner of the
4
HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT.
[1766-1781.
town of Worcester, and along the east lines of Worcester, Middlesex, and Berlin, to the south-east corner of the latter town; thence on a straight line to the north-west corner of Tunbridge, and on the west line of Tunbridge to the south- west corner of that town ; thence in a straight line to the north- west corner of Barnard ;* thence on the west line of Barnard and Bridgewater and the east line of Shrewsbury to the south- east corner thereof; thence west to the north-east corner of Wal- lingford; thence south on the east lines of Wallingford, Har- wich, t Bromley, Winhall, and Stratton, to the south-east corner of the latter, and west on the south line of Stratton to the north-west corner of Somerset; thence south on the west line of Somerset to the south-west corner thereof; thence east to the north-west corner of Draper ;§ thence south on the west lines of Draper and Cumberland| to the north line of Massa- chusetts. Cumberland county was bounded on the south by the north line of Massachusetts, on the east by Connecticut river, and on the north by the south line of the province of Quebec.
In the laws of Vermont, passed October, 1780, the county of Cumberland, as just described, was referred to as being divided into the half-shires of Cumberland and Gloucester, the division line between them being nearly identical with the northern boundary of what is now Windsor county. By an act of the General Assembly of Vermont, passed in February, 1781, "for the division of counties within this state," the county of Cum- berland, as established in 1778 and 1779, was subdivided into the counties of Windham, Windsor, and Orange. Connecticut river being the eastern boundary, and the division line on the west from Quebec to Massachusetts, remaining as fixed in February, 1779, all the land south of a line "beginning at the south- east corner of Springfield, thence running westerly on the south line of said Springfield and Chester to the east line of Bennington county," was erected into the county of Windham. The land included between the north line of Windham coun- ty, and the north lines of the towns of Norwich, Sharon, Royalton, and Bethel, was called Windsor county. Orange county comprehended all north of this to the Quebec line. Various changes have since been made in the limits of Wind-
* In the printed act Bradford. Barnard was undoubtedly intended.
+ Now Mount Tabor.
§ Now Wilmington.
# Now Peru.
Į Now Whitingham,
5
EARLY DIVISIONS OF THE STATE.
1766-1781.]
ham and Windsor counties, by the addition of towns, and from other causes which it will be of but little benefit to record here.
After the second establishment of Cumberland county by New York in 1768, immigration to the "Grants" increased, and the north-eastern part of that territory became the abode of a mixed and heterogeneous population. The more peaceable and intelligent portion of the inhabitants, being desirous of a county organization, presented their request to the Council of New York, and on the 16th of March, 1770, an ordinance was passed, establishing as a separate county, by the name of Gloucester, " all that certain tract or district of land, situate, lying, and being to the northward of the county of Cumberland, begin- ning at the north-west corner of the said county of Cumber- land, and thence running north as the needle points fifty miles ; thence east to Connecticut river; thence along the west bank of the same river, as it runs, to the north-east corner of the said county of Cumberland on the said river, and thence along the north bounds of the said county of Cumberland to the place of beginning."
On the 24th of March, 1772, by an act "for the better ascer- taining the boundaries of the counties of Cumberland and Gloucester," these limits were changed, and thenceforth Glou- cester county was bounded " on the south by the north bounds of the county of Cumberland ; on the east by the east bounds of this colony ; on the north by the north bounds thereof; on the west, and north-west, partly by a line to be drawn from the north-west corner of the said county of Cumberland, on a course north ten degrees east, until such line shall meet with and be intersected by another line proceeding on an east course from the south bank of the mouth of Otter creek, and partly by another line to be drawn and continued from the said last men- tioned point of intersection, on a course north fifty degrees east, until it meets with and terminates at the said north bounds of the colony."
After the establishment of Vermont as a " separate and inde- pendent" jurisdiction, the counties of Cumberland and Glou- cester, by an act of the Legislature, passed March 17th, 1778, were merged under the name of the county of Unity, which name was changed to Cumberland on the 21st. This large county, comprising the whole of Eastern Vermont, was subdi- vided in February, 1781, and Windham and Windsor counties
6
HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT.
[1609.
were established with limits nearly identical with those by which they are now bounded. At the same time, the re- mainder of the territory east of the mountains, and extending to the Canada line, was formed into a county by the name of Orange. From Orange county, Essex and Caledonia coun- ties and a portion of Orleans county were taken on the 5th of November, 1792. At a later period other encroachments were made by the formation of Washington county; and thus, by gra- dual curtailment, Orange has been reduced to its present limits.
It will be seen by the boundaries which have been recited, that much doubt prevailed as to the true western line of Cum- berland and Gloucester counties. Certainty on this point is of but little consequence, except geographically, as the events which form the HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT were mostly confined to the towns lying east of those composing the most western tier .*
The territory now comprising the state of Vermont, although noticed by Champlain in his voyage in 1609, when he dis- covered the lake that bears his name, was probably never visited by him. In the account which he gave of the explora- tion of Lake Champlain, passing reference is made to the Green Mountains and to the plains which lie at their foot. "Con- tinuing our route along the west side of the lake, contemplating the country, I saw," said he, " on the east side very high moun- tains capped with snow. I asked the Indians if those parts were inhabited. They answered me, yes, and that they [the inhabitants] were Iroquois, and that there were in those parts beautiful vallies, and fields fertile in corn as good as I had ever eaten in the country, with an infinitude of other fruits, and that the lake extended close to the mountains, which were, according to my judgment, fifteen leagues from us. I saw others to the south not less high than the former; only that they were with- out snow." This is undoubtedly the first information on record in regard to the scenery, condition, and inhabitants of Vermont, and like the accounts which were generally given by the Indians to the early travellers in the New World, contains, in some
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