USA > Vermont > Windham County > Rockingham > History of the town of Rockingham, Vermont, including the villages of Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Rockingham, Cambridgeport and Bartonsville, 1753-1907, with family genealogies > Part 1
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Gc 974. 302 R59h 1137007
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTIONY
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01100 3149
-
ASCUTNEY MOUNTAIN IN DISTANCE VIEW FROM NORTH END OF BELLOWS FALLS VILLAGE
HISTORY
OF THE TOWN OF
ROCKINGHAM VERMONT
INCLUDING THE VILLAGES OF
BELLOWS FALLS, SAXTONS RIVER, ROCKINGHAM, CAMBRIDGEPORT AND BARTONSVILLE
1753-1907
WITH
FAMILY GENEALOGIES
BY LYMAN SIMPSON HAYES.
G AM
VE
LD TOWN MEETING HOUSE-178
0 R
MONT
SETTLED . I
753
PUBLISHED BY THE TOWN BELLOWS FALLS, VERMONT 1907
COPYRIGHT, 1907 BY L. S. HAYES.
PRESS OF FRANK S. WHITTEN LYNN, MASS.
1137007
TO THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF ROCKINGHAM
IN WIIICH MANY OF THE BEST YEARS OF HIS LIFE IIAVE BEEN SPENT AND AROUND WHICH CLUSTER TENDER MEMORIES OF HAPPY BUSINESS, SOCIAL AND FAMILY TIES THAT CAN- NEVER BE EFFACED THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED
By the Author.
-
LYMAN SIMPSON HAYES.
PREFACE
This volume originated in a series of short articles upon the early history of this locality written by the author in the summer of 1898 for the columns of the Brattleboro Phoenix, a daily newspaper published only during the Spanish war.
Early in 1903 W. C. Belknap, editor of the Bellows Falls Times, asked that the articles be rewritten and expanded for his paper. The first of the new series appeared in the Times May 21, 1903, under the title of " Historical Sketches," without a thought of the extent to which they would be pro- longed, or that they would lead to a volume of history. They were continued one hundred and eleven weeks, attract- ing attention in distant localities as well as at home, and requests early became urgent that the facts therein contained be preserved in more permanent and available form. Many details of important historical occurrences were incorporated in those sketches for which there is no room in this book, it having been necessary to condense carefully in order to accommodate the facts to the limits of the work and to include the genealogical records.
The annual town meeting of March, 1904, adopted a resolution naming a Town History committee consisting of Hon. A. N. Swain, Dr. E. R. Campbell and N. L. Divoll, and appropriated $500 for their use. No action was taken under this vote of the town, but a year later, when the town
·
vi
Preface
increased the appropriation to $3,500 and added to the former committee the names of James H. Williams (2d) and Foster B. Locke, the enterprise began to take form. After careful investigation, in July, 1905, the committee made a proposi- tion to the author for writing the book, and closed a contract for the printing and binding of the work with Frank S. Whitten of Lynn, Mass., who, as a young man, had learned the printer's trade in the office of the Bellows Falls Times, and who, for that reason, had an interest in the town and its inhabitants. To him belongs much credit for his watchful care, and for the excellent typographical appearance of the book.
The original plan did not include genealogies of families, but they were soon found to be the most valuable part of similar town histories, and their preparation has greatly increased the labor. Two hundred and forty-one families are recorded with more or less completeness, the data being furnished in some instances by descendants, and in other cases secured by the author from town and church records and from head-stones in cemeteries here and else- where. It is probable that there are errors -no similar book was ever issued without them, - but great care has been exercised to make them as few as possible. In this labor the days have lengthened into months, and the months into years of hard and discouraging toil, which none but those who have attempted similar work can appreciate ; but it has had its fascination and in some sense a recompense has been found in resulting pleasure. If it now meets with a fair measure of
vii
Preface
approval by the public the writer will feel in a measure repaid for the sacrifices made.
Many persons have shown appreciation and have rendered valuable assistance, - without which success would have been impossible. The members of the Town History committee have spent much valuable time, have been enthu- siastic over the task, and have been thoroughly loyal to the interests of the town. Especially has the chairman, Hon. A. N. Swain, shown a deep interest in the work. Its com- pletion is the fruition of a hope, many years ago expressed by him through the columns of his newspaper, that the story of the circumstances attending the early years of our historic and progressive town might at some time be recorded in a permanent volume in which the names of those persons, through whose noble struggles amid great hardships and privations its present prosperity was made possible, should be perpetuated.
Thomas Bellows Peck, A. B., of Walpole, N. H., who has given considerable attention to genealogical subjects, has placed the citizens of Rockingham under obligations because of his interest and assistance in the preparation of this volume, as well as by his work of transcribing and printing the records of the old town church mentioned on page 126, and also his later work, soon to be published, containing the vital records of this town from its organization in 1761 down to 1845. Both volumes are books of reference valuable to public libraries and to persons interested in the inhabitants of this town. Mr. Peck has greatly assisted the author by going
viii
Preface
over much of the manuscript and proofs of this History and making valuable suggestions. An hour of personal converse with him has never failed to be of advantage in a betterment of the work, and particularly in encouragement to the writer in hours when the magnitude of the labor induced despon- dency.
A personal feeling of responsibility for accuracy has been ever present with the writer, who has realized the purpose of the book to be the preservation of facts which must be the basis of future histories of the town, even in coming centuries. He can only say that he has done his best, and the book is now submitted for present and future use by
THE AUTHOR.
BELLOWS FALLS, VT., August, 1907.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION - RIVERS - EARLIEST CONDI- TIONS I
II. FIRST CHARTER FROM MASSACHUSETTS BAY PROV- INCE - NO SETTLEMENT MADE UNDER IT . 9 .
III. CHARTER GRANTED BY GOV. BENNING WENT- WORTH OF NEW HAMPSHIRE - ALL LAND TITLES DERIVED FROM TIIAT AUTHORITY . 14
IV. FIRST SETTLEMENTS IN TOWN -FEAR OF INDIANS CAUSED THEIR ABANDONMENT .
23
V. INDIAN OCCUPANCY- LOCAL EVENTS IN THE LAST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR 28
VI. RECORDS OF PROPRIETORS' MEETINGS 55
VII. ORGANIZATION OF TOWN GOVERNMENT - PERMA- MENT SETTLEMENT - FIRST TOWN MEETINGS 65
VIII. HOMES OF EARLY SETTLERS-HOW THE FIRST INHABITANTS LIVED - PRIMITIVE METHODS AND GRADUAL CHANGES . .
. S6
IX. EXTINCT TOWN OFFICES - EARLY LAWS AND PUN- ISHMENTS FOR CRIME - WILD ANIMALS . 95
X. THE FIRST MILL - DARK DAYS OF 17SO AND ISSI - LATE SPRING IN 17SO- POTASH AND PEARLASII MANUFACTURE -THE FIRST BURYING GROUND - LATER CEMETERIES .
109
Contents
CHAPTER PAGE
XI. THE FIRST CHURCH IN ROCKINGHAM 122
XII. FIRST TOWN MEETING HOUSES -FIRST MINISTER'S DWELLING 141
XIII. CHURCHES OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY - ALL EXTINCT EXCEPT " IMMANUEL " OF BELLOWS FALLS, 154
XIV. CHURCHES ORGANIZED DURING THE 19THI CEN- TURY . 168 .
AV. ROCKINGHAM'S PART IN THE REVOLUTION, AND IN THIE ORGANIZATION OF VERMONT . 201
XVI. SCHOOLS 235
XVII. ROADS, POST-ROADS, TURNPIKES, HIGHWAYS · 257
XVIII. FIRST TOLL BRIDGE ACROSS THE CONNECTICUT, AND LATER BRIDGES 264
XIX. THE BELLOWS FALLS CANAL
278
XX. NAVIGATION OF THE CONNECTICUT · 293
XXI. POST OFFICES OF THE TOWN -LIST OF POST- MASTERS IN THE DIFFERENT VILLAGES 311
XXII. THE ERA OF THE STAGE COACH 318
XXIII. RAILROADS - TELEGRAPHI AND TELEPHONE 326
XIV. THE VILLAGE OF BELLOWS FALLS 313
XVI. VILLAGES OF SAXTONS RIVER - ROCKINGHAM CAMBRIDGEPORT- BARTONSVILLE AND LA GRANGE 367
XXVII. HOTELS 374
XXVIII. DISASTROUS FIRES - FRESHETS - BLIZZARD OF ISSS - CONTAGIOUS DISEASES - PECULIAR SEASONS 3SS
Contents
xi
CHAPTER PAGE
XXIX. EARLY PAPER-MAKING - PULP MANUFACTURE -
OTHER PROMINENT INDUSTRIES 412
XXX. NEWSPAPERS - PRINTING - BOOK-MAKING . . 429
XXII. BANKING - CONNECTICUT RIVER MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY 439
XXXII. MILITIA 449
XXXIII. THE WAR OF ISI2 .
458
XXXIV. DANIEL WEBSTER AT BELLOWS FALLS- MOUNT KILBURN CHRISTENED 463
XXXV. PUBLIC BENEFACTIONS
475
XXXVI. LIBRARIES 479
XXXVII. FREE MASONRY 483
XXXVIII. INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS 495
XXXIX. THE PERIOD OF THE CIVIL WAR 499
XL. ATTORNEYS AND PHYSICIANS OF THE TOWN . 520
XLI. TOWN OFFICERS, 1761-1906 . .
523
XLII. POPULATION AS SHOWN BY THE U. S. BUREAU OF THE CENSUS . 536
XLIII. CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS IN ROCKINGHAM . 544
XLIV. MISCELLANEOUS 55I
XLV. THE BUSINESS MEN OF OCTOBER, 1906
560
xii
Contents
PART II
GENEALOGIES
PAGE 567
ADDENDA. BELLOWS FALLS BOARD OF TRADE . S12
BELLOWS FALLS WOMAN'S CLUB SI3
LOCAL OPTION IN ROCKINGHAM . 815
ERRATA
SI6
GENERAL INDEX
S17
INDEX OF PERSONS
. . . . S23
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS
View from North End of Bellows Falls Village Bellows Falls from the South, in 1833 . .
PAGE . Frontispiece IS . 30 .
Indian Sculptures at Bellows Falls
Sculptures at Bellows Falls
31
Indian Rock, Brattleboro
33
Bellows Falls from Table Rock, in 1855
First Survey of Rockingham, in 1753 .
Rockingham, "Old Town" .
The Village Store of Rockingham
The Beaver Dam School Building
78
The Village of Saxtons River, about 1869
98
Birdseye View of Bartonsville and Valley of Williams River
IIO
Glimpse of Oak Hill Cemetery
120
Soldiers' Monument
120
Autograph Signature of Rev. Samuel Whiting
138
Old Town Meeting House, exterior
142
Main Entrance of Rockingham Meeting House
142 144 149
Plan of Rockingham Meeting House
150
170
Congregational Church of Saxtons River
170 186
Congregational Church of Bellows Falls Universalist Church of Bellows Falls
IS6
Catholic Church of Bellows Falls
186 186 186
Methodist Church of Bellows Falls
Commission of Captain Benjamin Burt, 1774
204
School District Map of Rockingham, 1869 .
No. I School Building, Cherry Street, Bellows Falls
236 240
No. 2 School Building, School and George Streets, Bellows Falls 240
No. 3 School Building, Atkinson Street, Bellows Falls
240
No. 4 School Building, Wells Street, Bellows Falls
240
No. 5, New High School Building, Bellows Falls
240
The First High School Building in Bellows Falls
242
Bellows Falls High School, Class of 1907
246
34 56 70 70
Old Town Meeting House, interior
Old South Meeting House at Saxtons River Union Meeting House of Cambridgeport Baptist Church of Saxtons River .
170
Episcopal Church of Bellows Falls
186
Baptist Church of Bellows Falls
xiv
Index to Illustrations
PAGE
Vermont Academy at Saxtons River, 1906
252
St. Agnes Hall
254
First Bridge over the " Great Falls " 266
The Tucker Toll Bridge
270
Steel Bridge across the Connecticut at Bellows Falls 276
High Pulpit and Sounding Board, Old Meeting House 276
First Seal of the Bellows Falls Canal Company 289
Seal of the South Hadley Falls Canal Company . 289
A Flat Boat on the Connecticut River .
296
Sign of the Toll Bridge at Bellows Falls, 1804 to 1904 Tariff of Toll at Bellows Falls Canal, 1818
302
Saxtons River Hotel, erected in 1817
320
Plan of Bellows Falls in 1824
344
Map of Bellows Falls in 1869
349
South Part of the Square in Bellows Falls, 1839
354
Saxtons River Village, 1907 .
368
Cambridgeport Village, from the Hill .
370
Cambridgeport School House
370
Cambridgeport Main Street, looking west
. 370
Cambridgeport Main Street, looking east ( 2)
. 370
Cushing's Store at Cambridgeport
370
Cambridgeport Hotel
370
Bellows Falls Stage House, erected 1816
374
Sign of the " Old Morgan Tavern," 1799
376
House of Rev. Samuel Whiting
378
" Mansion House," or " American House," 1826-1867 378 Island House, erected in 1851 380
The Square after the Blizzard of March 12, ISSS . 406
The Square after the Blizzard of March 12, 18SS . 408
Bill Blake's First Paper Mill at " The Forest," 1824 414
Canal Company's Saw Mill, " Under the Hill " 460
Birdseye View of Bellows Falls, 1905 .
480
Section of The Square in Bellows Falls, about 1869 554
Glimpses in the Business Section of Bellows Falls (9) July 2, 1907 560
374
"Old Morgan Tavern," erected previous to 1798
302
INDEX TO PORTRAITS
PAGE
PAGE
Alexander, John F. 500 Allen, Ellen Rebekah 600
Atkinson, John 280
Babbitt, George H. 582
Ball, Franklin P.
584
Barber, Calvin L. 808
Barry, Daniel Kellogg 796
Barton, Jeremiah, Jr. .
592
Billings, Samuel Lewis . 596
Billings, Susanna (Divoll) 596
Blake, Betsey (Robertson) 600
Blake, Henry S. . 600
Blake, Polly ( Wait)
600
Blake, Schuyler
600
Blake, Dr. Seth M. .
. So8
Blake, William Bill
600
Blake, William H.
600
Bolles, Francis A.
534
Brown, Amos H.
806
Butterfield, David
772
Campbell, Hon. Alexander, M.D., 610
Campbell, Dr. Daniel
478
Campbell, Dr. Edward R.
534
Cannon, Barney, Jr.
616
Chase, Rt. Rev. Carlton 610
Conant, William
772
Cragin, Dea. Samuel S. 716
Derby, Albert
584
Divoll, John L. 646
Divoll, Josiah B. .
646
Divoll, Manasseh
646
Eddy, Charles B.
· 530
Farr, Norman H.
816
Farnsworth, John A. .
500
Fleming, Col. Alexander
658
Fleming, Samuel Carey
658
Flint, Wyman
· 400
Fraser, Col. Alexander
770
George, Dr. Ozias M.
534
Granger, Sanford
SOS
Grant, Gen. Lewis Addison 664
Gray, Oscar D. . 84
Green, Anna A. (Tucker) 770
Green, Edward II. .
770
Green, Henry Atkinson 770
Green, Henry Francis
440
Hadley, Preston H.
534
Hayden, Rev. Lucien
786
Hayes, Lyman Simpson Preface
Henry, Hon. William 440
Hoit, Theophilus
500
Holton. Dr. Henry Dwight . 520
Howard, Charles E.
534
Howard, Luther G.
682
Howard, Sarah Burr (Damon ) 682
Hyde, Col. Russell
684
Johnonot, Mary Elizabeth
600
Johnson, Henry Chamberlain 530
Johnson, William H.
530
Morgan, James Burt
. 716
Murphy, Edward D.
796
Nichols, Dr. Samuel
716
Olcott, Oscar D.
684
Osgood, Elliot R. 530
Perry, George .
. 500
Ray, Myron H.
534
Read, Lavant M.
534
Robertson, John .
796
Sabin, Elisha Stearns 746
Sabin, Henry Wells
746
Sabin, William Cullen
746
Scofield, Benjamin .
. 500
Sheafe, Col. Nathaniel T. 684
Smith, Ammi .
756
Smith, Benjamin, Jr.
· 530
Bridgman, Jabez D.
530
Campbell, Julia A. (Hall) 478
Campbell, Rhoda (Corey) 610
xvi
Index to Portraits
PAGE.
PAGE.
Smith, Charles 534
Stone, Alvah A. 760
Stoughton, Gen. Charles B. . 762
Stoughton, Gen. Edward H. . 762
Stoughton, llon. Ilenry E. . . 762
Stoughton, Laura E. (Clark) . . 762
Swain A. N. . 432
Swain, Mrs. A. N. 432
Taylor, Captain Walter 716
Tucker, Catherine Ilay (Geyer ) . 770
Tucker, Nathaniel
770
Wales, Stephen R.
. 772
Wales, Stephen R. B. 772
Webb, Carlton E. 530
Webb, Col. Ethan Bradford 610
Webb, Joshua Hobart SoS
Wentworth, Col. Asa, Jr. 440
Wheeler, George B. 534
Whiting, John Goldsbury 786
Whiting, Crissana (Bailey ) . 786
Wilbur, Rev. William N. . 786 Williams, James Henry ( ist) · 440
Wolfe, William S. 796
History of Rockingham
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION - RIVERS - EARLIEST CONDITIONS
The township of Rockingham lies in the northeastern corner of Windham county, Vermont, in latitude 43°, II', longitude 72°, 32', bounded north by Springfield in Windsor county, east by the west bank of the Connecticut river, south by Westminster, and west by Grafton and a small part of Athens.
Bellows Falls is an incorporated village lying in the extreme southeastern portion of the town, and is one of the larger and more important manufacturing villages of Ver- mont. There are four other villages and postoffices in the town, viz. : Saxtons River, Rockingham, Bartonsville, and Cambridgeport.
The altitude of the town at its lowest point, the level of the railroad at Bellows Falls station, is 282 feet above the sea. The surface is greatly diversified, the elevation of the higher portions in the north and west sections, upon which some of the best farms are located, reaching a height of 800 to 1,000 feet.
The Connecticut river washes the entire eastern boundary of the town, the line of vegetation on the west side of the river being the dividing line between Vermont and New Hampshire. Broad and valuable meadow lands extend nearly the entire length of the town in this valley. The extensive and valuable water power at Bellows Falls is the principal source of industry and wealth to the entire town- ship.
2
2
History of Rockingham
The main tributaries of the Connecticut, each in turn hav- ing several branches of its own, are the Williams and Saxtons rivers.
The former is so named from the fact that Rev. John Williams of Deerfield, Mass., March 5, 1704, preached near its mouth the first Christian sermon ever delivered within the limits of what afterward became the State of Vermont. Williams river has its source in Andover, Windsor county, enters the town at its northwest corner, flowing in a south - east course, and empties into the Connecticut about half way between the north and south boundaries of the town.
About one and one-half miles from its mouth was located the first saw and grist mill in town, of which hardly any trace is now visible. Five miles from its mouth at Lawrence's Mills is a valuable water power which for over a century has been utilized for varied manufacturing interests.
At Bartonsville, six and one-half miles from its mouth, in the extreme northwest corner of the town, there were for many years previous to the flood of October 4th, 1869, extensive mills which were ruined by high water at that time and never rebuilt.
Saxtons river rises in the town of Windham and also takes a southeasterly course through Rockingham near its southern boundary, emptying into the Connecticut in the town of Westminster a few rods south of the town line. Tradition has for many years said that it derived its name from a sur- veyor named Saxton, who, while surveying the town line between Rockingham and Westminster, fell into the stream while it was very high, and was either drowned or had a narrow escape.
The accuracy of this tradition is disproved by the fact that as early as the year 1724, and before any surveys were made in this vicinity, the record of a scouting party from Fort Dummer under Capt. Joseph Kellogg, on November 30, reads ; they "came to Sexton's River, six miles from ye mouth of it, which empties itself at ve foot of ye great falls, and then came down till they came to ye mouth of it and so
3
Rivers of the Town
returned." The first survey of town lines in this section was made by a committee of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1736.
Near the mouth of this river, various mills have been located since the early settlement of the town in the 18th century. At the present time there is only the paper mill of Blake & Higgins. Three-fourths of a mile from its mouth, at "The Forest," have been at various times important mills, at one time two paper mills, and at other times, woolen factories. The power is not used at present. Half a mile farther up the stream is a fall at which extensive woodworking mills were early located, now utilized by the basket manufac- tory of Sidney Gage & Co. At Saxtons River village, five miles from its mouth, are three valuable water powers which have always been the basis of the prosperity of that village. Three miles farther up the river, and eight miles from its mouth at the village of Cambridgeport, for nearly 100 years have been located mills of varying importance.
In the early part of the last century there were many saw mills and carding mills located on the different brooks and tributaries to these rivers in this town, the remains of which can still be seen in several localities. All records and traditions show that in the years of the early settlement of the town there was a much greater volume of water in each one of the streams than at the present time. The oldest inhabitants at this time vary in their judgment of the average quantity of water now as compared with their earliest recollections. Different individuals place the average at the present time at from 35 to 65 per cent of that in the time of the early settlers. The larger streams, in addition to a greater volume of water, had a different appearance owing to the slopes of the valleys being uncultivated and therefore less gravel and sand wash- ing into them. The channels were narrower, deeper and less subject to changes of bed. The dense forests on all the watersheds tended to equalize the flow of water, which was retained by the soil. The extremes of high and low water were not as great, nor the changes as sudden, as now.
+
History of Rockingham
Vermont was uninhabited territory, lying between the two opposing peoples, English and French, who were often at war, and was used as a great thoroughfare through which most of their expeditions were made and on which many of their battles were fought. Most of these incursions and most of the travel of those times was by the water-ways of the larger rivers, because of the impassable condition of the mountains and forests. The Connecticut river was the main artery through which most of these parties passed, and so the "Great Falls," as the falls where Bellows Falls is now situated were called, became especially well known. In coming from Canada sometimes the French and Indians came nearly the whole distance down this river; at other times they came through Lake Champlain, up the Winooski and down the White, to its junction with the Connecticut ; others came up Otter creek and across to Black river, reaching the Con- necticut just above Charlestown, or from the south end of Lake Champlain across to the Williams or West rivers, returning by the same route.
Although the topography of this town has many peculiarities of hill, dale, plateau and terrace, the latter in all sections being particularly noticeable, we enjoy the especial distinction of two long stretches of a well-defined old sea beach that were left here in the receding of the waters ages ago, although the town is over one hundred miles from the present bounds of the "Great Deep."
In the "Geology of Vermont," published in 1861 under authority of the Legislature, Professor Hitchcock says under the head of "Ancient Sea Beaches ": "In Rockingham Center, on Williams river, there is a very distinct beach at the village upon the south side of the river, it appears in the form of large rounded hills, which continue westward in the form of a bank upon the side of the hill. Upon the north side of the river, it extends back in the shape of an arc of a circle, as if it were the shore of a small bay. Its height is estimated to be from 600 to 700 feet above the ocean."
5
Old Sca Beaches
Also, "In Rockingham, between Saxtons River village and Cambridgeport, upon the north side of the river, there is some resemblance to a beach upon the hills above the terraces."
Professor Hitchcock gives a very plausible theory as to how these came to be left so high above the sea, and gives an interesting account of the ten different and well-defined terraces seen about Bellows Falls in the valley of the Connecticut, and at all the points along this river. He works out in reasonable manner the proof of his statement that the whole Connecticut valley was once a great lake above Bellows Falls, ages after the sea itself had receded, and that the rocks here had once interposed a barrier because of which the water, now flowing down the Connecticut, at one time actually was drained through the Merrimac river.
The following quotation from his long article serves to show the theory upon which he bases his judgment.
"On the east side of Connecticut river at Bellows Falls, Kilburn Peak rises very precipitously 828 feet above the river at the top of the falls, and crowds close upon it ; while on the west side the country rises rapidly towards the Green Mountains, to a still greater height. One can hardly look at the narrow passage of the river through this gorge, without awakening the inquiry whether it has not been worn out by the river, or some other agency. If so, the valley above this spot must once have formed a lake, which, accord- ing to the present levels, would be 800 feet deep. Starting with Kilburn Peak and going northeasterly, we shall find the watershed between the Merrimac and Connecticut valleys extending almost in a straight line to Franconia, and then turning more to the right to Mount Washington. The lowest point in this ridge south of the White Mountains above Connecticut river is at Lebanon, 822 feet above the river at Bellows Falls. On the Vermont side of the river the country rises to the Green Mountain ridge and the lowest depression in it south of the latitude of the White Mountains, is on the Vermont Central railroad at Roxbury which is 930 feet above the river at Lebanon; the lowest point on the Rutland & Burlington road at Mount Holly being 1,350 feet above the river at Bellows Falls. Hence if the Con- necticut valley above Bellows Falls had been filled with water to the height of 722 feet above the present level of the river, the water would not have flowed out laterally either into the valley of the Merrimac, or of Lake Champlain. Nor can there be any doubt that there is a barrier on the north, high enough to prevent communication with the valley of the St. Lawrence.
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