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Gc 974.302 R87h 1770003
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Go
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01100 3230
RUPERT, VT.
Historical and Descriptive
1761=1898
BY GEORGE S. HIBBARD.
THE TUTTLE COMPANY, PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS, RUTLAND, VT.
1770003
F
Hibbard, George Sayre. 84376
.4 Rupert. Vt .: historical and "descriptive, 1761-1898. By George Hibbard. Rutland, Vt., The Tuttle company :1899] 211 D. 24mm.
1. Rupert, Vt .- Ilist. 2. Rupert, Vt .- Biog.
1 Library of Congress
F59.RSHG 1-1656S 86403
F 84376.4
.
ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS IN THE YEAR 1899 BY THE TUTTLE COMPANY, RUTLAND, VT., IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, WASHINGTON.
86403
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTORY,
9
NAME,
13
EARLY SETTLEMENTS,
-
14
THE LAND CONTROVERSY, 20 -
THE REVOLUTION,
25
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS,
-
31
-
ORGANIZATION,
1
-
31
FROM THE REVOLUTION TO THE WAR OF 1812, 32
THE WAR OF 1812-15, 35
THE ANTI-MASONIC CRUSADE, 36
THE MEXICAN WAR,
37
THE ANTI-SLAVERY CAUSE, 37
THE CIVIL WAR, -
38
SINCE THE WAR, 40
POLITICAL PARTIES, 41
EDUCATION,
42
CHURCH HISTORY, 48
SOCIETIES, 61
LITERARY,
63
LYCEUMS,
65
MUSICAL, -
65
PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS, - 67
CLERGYMEN FROM RUPERT, 82
RESIDENT PHYSICIANS, 90
PHYSICIANS FROM RUPERT, 95
LAWYERS, -
- 100
PAGE.
GRANT,
9
4
Contents.
RUPERTITES ABROAD, 105
MERCHANTS, - 128
MECHANICS, ETC.,
-
132
CEMETERIES,
-
- 133
CHEESE FACTORIES,
136
RAILROADS, ETC.,
- 138
PUBLIC HALLS, - 139
MILITARY COMPANIES, - 140
COINAGE,
141
POPULATION, .
146
MARKETS,
147
PROMINENT EARLY SETTLERS, 148
THE MEN OF THE CENTURY, - 158
THE MEN OF TO-DAY, 190
DESCRIPTIVE,
207
ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHY, -
- 209
.
PREFACE.
It is expected that a book will have a preface; not that people usually care to read it, but because it is cus- tomary.^ If I consulted my own feelings, simply, none would be written. For years I had contemplated writing a history of my native town, but had carefully concealed the intention. By a curious coincidence, I was approached by one and another of our citizens and urged to do that which I so long had in mind. And thus the work was begun; begun with much more of hope and confidence than I have at the closing. I intended to write a book so perfect and complete that it would be an authority in all matters relating to our history, but I have come short of this. Something I have done, and could those who will read this book but know the difficulties under which it was written, the wonder would be that so much had been pro- duced. This is not the time or place to narrate my trials, and they are alluded to only as an explanation as to why I came short of what was intended. The only pleasant feature of the work (aside from the acquisition of knowl- edge, which is always a pleasure). has been the willing- ness of our towns-people to aid me by imparting such information as they possessed relating to our history. For this I thank them, one and all. As nearly all have con- tributed, it would seem best not to mention any by name
.
6
Rupert, Vermont.
Of former residents, I may properly name some who have aided me: Mr. Le Grand Eastman, - Rutland ; Dr. S. S. Sherman, Chicago; Professor T. K. Wright, Elbridge, N. Y. ; Grove M. Harwood, Esq., Rutherford, N. J. ; Rev. F. H. Moore, New York; Mrs. Mary Trumbull, Green- wich, N. Y .; Mr. Sherman Weed, Pawlet. My thanks are due Mr. T. L. Wood, Assistant State Librarian. Various works have been consulted in the writing of this history, from some of which quotations were made. As I have invariably given due credit with each quotation, they need not be named here. When I began this work, I " doubted if material enough could be found for a readable, fair-sized history; but as I progressed, I found the ques- tion was what shall I select from among so much. It has been impossible in so small a work to notice all. Un- doubtedly it will be said some were passed by more deserving than some who were noticed. Quite likely this `- may be true. But the line had to be drawn somewhere, and leaving ont such ones was not intentional, but a necessity. I have endeavored to carry an even hand, and be just to all. Let no one take up this work expecting to find it free from errors. No such history has been written. Where information is gathered from so many sources, errors will creep in, however carefully it may be sifted. I shall esteem it a favor that all errors detected be reported to me for correction. Had the difficulties under which I labored been less, errors would certainly have been in proportion. The time for writing a com- plete history of Rupert has passed. Within a dozen years have died a number who remembered the early set- tlers-Col. Joseph Parker, Mrs. Ruby Moore, Miss Har- riet Harwood, Ira F. Sheldon, Dorson Eastman, Thomas
+
7
Preface.
S. Beebe-and with them perished a vast amount of valu- able information. Here, as in other matters, we best appreciate our advantages after we are deprived of them. I have rescued from oblivion much that was being lost ; have laid a foundation for a better history than could pos- sibly be written without it; and with a feeling of relief that the work has been accomplished, submit it to the criticism of those who will care to read it.
G. S. H.
PART I.
HISTORICAL.
INTRODUCTORY.
THE HISTORY of our town dates from the time when the governor of the province of New Hampshire, acting under the authority, and in the name, of the British king, called it into existence by an official document known as a grant. That document, in the quaint spelling and diction of the time, follows :
GRANT.
PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. GEORGE THE THIRD.
L. S,
By the Grace of God, of Great Britain France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith &c, To all Persons to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.
Know ye that We of Our special Grace, certain - Knowledge, and meer Motion, for the due Encourage- ment of Settling a New Plantation within our said Province, by and with the Advice of our Trusty and Well-beloved Benning Wentworth, Esq .; Our Gover- nor and Commander in Chief of Our Said Province of New Hampshire in New England, and of our Council of the Said Province ; Have upon the Conditions and Reser- vations herein after made, given and granted, and by these Presents, for us, our Heirs, and Successors, do give and grant in equal Shares, unto Our loving Subjects, Inhabitants of Our said Province of New Hampshire, and Our other Governments, and to their Heirs and Assigns forever, whose Names are entered on this Grant, to be divided to and amongst them into Sixty Eight equal
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10-010
Rupert, Vermont ..
Shares, all that Tract or Parcel of Land situate lying and being within our said Province of New Hampshire, contain- ing by admeasurement, Twenty Three Thousand & forty Acres, which Tract is to contain Six Miles square, and no more; out of which an Allowance is to be made for High Ways and unimprovable Lands by Rocks, Ponds, Mount- ains and Rivers, One Thousand and Forty Acres free, according to a Plan and Survey, thereof, made by Our Said Governor's Order, and returned into the Secretary's Office, and hereunto annexed, butted and bounded as fol- lows, viz. Beginning at the North Westerly Corner of Sand Gate from thence due North Six Miles thence due East Six Miles thence due South Six Miles to the North East Corner of Sandgate afore Said thence Due West by Sandgate to the Bounds first mentioned, And that the same be, and hereby is Incorporated into a Township by the Name of Rupert and the Inhabitants that do or shall here- after inhabit the said Township are hereby declared to be Enfranchized with and Intitled to all and every the Privi- ledges and Immunities that other Towns within Our Province by Law Exercise and Enjoy; And further, that the said Town as soon as there shall be Fifty Families resident and settled thereon, shall have the Liberty of holding Two Fairs, one of which shall be held on the
And the other on the
annually, which Fairs are not to continue longer than the respective following the said
and that as soon as the said Town shall
consist of Fifty Families, a Market may be opened and kept one or more Days in each Week, as may be thought most advantagious to the Inhabitants. Also, that the first Meeting for the Choice of Town Officers, agreeable to the Laws of our said Province, shall be held on the First Tuesday of November Next which said Meeting shall be Notified by Capt Samuel Robinson who is hereby also appointed the Moderator of the said first meeting, which he is to Notify and Govern agreeable to the Laws and Cus- toms of Our said Province, and that the annual Meeting for ever hereafter for the Choice of such Officers for the said Town, shall be on the Second Tuesday of March annually, To Have and to Hold the said Tract of Land as above expressed, together with all Privileges and Appurtenances, to them and their respective Heirs and Assigns forever, upon the following Conditions, Viz.
11
Historical.
i. That every Grantee, his Heirs or Assigns shall plant and cultivate five Acres of Land within the Term of five Years for every fifty Acres contained in his or their Share or Proportion of Land in said Township, and continue to improve and settle the same by additional Cultivations, on Penalty of the Forfeiture of his Grant or Share in the said Township, and of its reverting to Us, our Heirs and · Successors, to be by Us or Them Re-granted to such of Our Subjects as shall effectually settle and cultivate the same ..
ii. That all white and other Pine Trees within the said Township, fit for Masting Our Royal Navy, be care- fully preserved for that Use, and none to be cut or felled without Our special License for so doing first had and obtained, upon the Penalty of the Forfeiture of the Right of such Grantee, his Heirs and Assigns, to Us, our Heirs and successors, as well as being subject to the Penalty of any Act or Acts of Parliament that now are, or hereafter shall be Enacted.
iii. That before any Division of the Land be made to and among the Grantees, a Tract of Land as near the Centre of the said Township as the Land will admit of, shall be reserved and marked out for Town Lots, one of which shall be allotted to each Grantee of the Contents of one Acre.
iv. Yielding and paying therefore to Us, our Heirs and Successors for the space of ten Years, to be computed from the Date hereof the Rent of one Ear of Indian Corn only, on the twenty-fifth Day of December, annually, if lawfully demanded, the first Payment to be made on the twenty-fifth Day of December, 1762.
v. Every Proprietor, Settler or Inhabitant, shall yield and pay unto Us, our Heirs and Successors yearly, and every Year forever, from and after the Expiration of ten Years from the above said twenty-fifth Day of Decem- ber, namely, on the twenty-fifth Day of December, which will be in the Year of Our Lord 1772 one shilling Proclama- tion Money for every Hundred Acres he so owns settles or possesses, and so in Proportion for a great or lesser Tract of the said Land; which Money shall be paid by the respective Persons abovesaid, their Heirs or Assigns, in our Council Chamber in Portsmouth, or to such Officer or Officers as shall be appointed to receive the same; and this to be in Lieu of all other Rents and Services what- soever.
12
Rupert, Vermont.
In Testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed. Witness Benning Wentworth, Esq; Our Governor and Commander in Chief of our said Province, the 20th Day of August In the Year of Our Lord Christ, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty one And in the first Year of Our Reign.
B. WENTWORTH
By His Excellency-s Command
With Advice of Council,
THEODORE ATKINSON
Prov New Hampr August 20th 1761
Recorded According to the original under the Prov Seal THEODORE ATKINSON Secry.
The names of the Grantees of Rupert Viz
Capt Samel Robinson, Elisha Billings, Aaron Baker, Eb- enezr Phelps, Gideon Lyman junr. David Glazier, Experi- ence Johnson, Naomi Lyman, Jacob Dexter, Nathanel Wright, Ebenezr Clark, Selah Wright, John Fay, Wil- liam Johnson, Jona Warner of Hardwick, Daniel Warner of Do, William Kenada, John Downing Esq, John Ham- mond, Ithamur Strong, Samel Billings, Nathaniel Phelps, Martin Phelps, Gideon Lyman Esq, Barnabas Fay, Elijah Lyman, Charles Spafford, Joseph Thomas, Jona Fasset, John Allen, Jonas Fay, Timo Lyman Junr, Benja Fay junr, Thos Johnson, John White, Josiah Willard, William Blunt, James Nevin Esq, Ebenezer Strong, Joseph Hally Esq, Asael Billings, John Baker, Stephen Fay junr, Phineas Lyman, Josiah Glazier, John Phelps, Meshech Weare Esq, Phineas Lyman junr, Ebenezr Wright, Daniel Allen, John Wright, Stephn Fay, Samel Hunter, Jacob Knowlton, Judah Weeks, Ezra Leonard, Leonard Robinson, Eleaz Hammond, Capt James Gowen, Eb- enezr Phelps, Samel Marshall & Ithamus Strong.
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 a Glebe for the Church of England as by Law Estab- lished, one Share for the first settled Minister in said Town, one Share for the Benefit of A School in Said Town.
Province of New Hampr August 20th 1761
Recorded from the Back of the Original Charter for Ru- pert Attestr Theodore Atkinson Secry
------
13
Historical .- Name.
DUE EAST SIX MILES.
$
DUE NORTH SIX MILES.
A PLAN OF RUPERT.
DUE SOUTH SIX MILES.
B. W.
.
DUE WEST BY SANDGATE SIX MILES.
OF SANDGATE N. W. CORNER
N. E. CORNER OF SANDGATE.
·
Province of New Hampr August 20th 1761 Recorded from the Back of the Original Charter for Rupert.
THEODORE ATKINSON, Secry.
NAME.
THE TOWN was probably named for Prince Rupert, of England, grandson of James I., and nephew of the unfortunate Charles I. In the Civil War of 1642-9, Ru- pert was one of the ablest commanders of the Royal forces. The territory in British America, formerly known as " Rupert's Land," was also named for him, he being first governor of the trading company to which it was granted. He died in 1682, the latter part of his life being
14
Rupert, Vermont.
devoted to scientific pursuits. Rupert postoffice is one of six in the United States, and the oldest, with possibly one exception. It is sometimes spelled Ruppert and Ruport, but incorrectly.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
THE GATHERING, sifting and arranging matter for a town history, always difficult, is doubly so in this case, by reason of lack of early records. Josiah Cass, second pro- prietor's clerk, being a loyalist, fled about the beginning of the Revolutionary struggle, carrying away some of the records. In fact, some assert Cass took all the records, and that what we now possess of the early ones were ob- tained from a record of them kept in Bennington ; but this is doubtful. Again, during the most stirring years of the struggle for independence, either no records were kept, or lost, or destroyed; so of that period we have almost nothing. Nor is this all. A period of about eighty years, following the Revolution, is likewise blank, and later on, I shall give what is supposed to be the explanation. The reader can now understand some of the difficulties con- fronting the author. The record of the first known meet- ing of the proprietors follows :-
" Bennington, April, 16th, Anno Domini 1765
Then the proprietors of Rupert met by the appoint- ment of a Warrant as here inserted.
Province of ) Whereas application hath been made New Hamshire , to me one of his Majesty's justices of (Seal)
1 the Peace, by more than one sixteenth part of the Proprietors of Rupert to call a meeting for said Propriety-In consequence thereof these are to warn all the Proprietors of Rupert to meet at the house of Capt. John Fafset Innholder in Bennington, on the six-
+
15
Early Settlements.
teenth day of April next at ten o'clock in the forenoon, to act on the following articles :
First to choose a Moderator,
Second
a Proprietors Clerk,
Thirdly "
a Treasurer,
Fourthly“
a Collector,
Fifthly " a Committee or Committees as shall be thought necefsary for said Propriety.
Sixthly, To see if the Propriety will run round the Town & lay out a Division of land to each Proprietor.
Seventhly, See if they will raise money to defray charges arising in said Propriety, & to act anything else thought necefsary at said meeting.
Given under my hand and seal at Bennington the second day of February in the fifth year of our reign Anno Domini 1765.
SAMUEL ROBINSON.
This Warrant was in the public Prints three weeks succefsively.
Attest Saml Robinson jr. Proprietors Clerk."
" At the House of Capt John Fafset, Innholder in Ben- nington, at time & place as mentioned by Warrant.
First. Made choice of Samuel Robinson Esq, Mod- erator.
2d. Chose Samuel Robinson jr, Proprietors' Clerk. 3d. Samuel Robinson Esq, Proprietors' Treas- urer.
4th. Chose Capt John Fafset, Samuel Robinson jr. & Moses Robinson afsefsors for said Propriety.
5th. Chose Thomas Dunton, Proprietors' Collector.
6th. Voted Capt Jehiel Hawley, Thomas Dunton & Samuel Robinson jr. be a Committee to run round the Town and lay out the first Division in said Township.
7th. Voted, the first Division be fifty acres to each Right, to be laid out in such plan & form as the said Com- mittee think best.
Sth. 'Chose Eleazer Wallis & Jonathan Fafsett chain- men for laying out the first Division.
9th. Voted to raise three shillings on each Right of land.
10th. Voted, the method for raising meetings in future, that six Proprietors making application to the Treasurer, or Clerk, & his Notification posted up in Ben- nington, Shaftsbury & Arlington fourteen days before the
-
16
Rupert, Vermont.
Meeting, shall be a legal warning for calling a meet- ing for the future.
11th. Voted to adjourn this Meeting to the eigh- teenth day of May next to this House at one o'clock in the afternoon.
Accordingly adjourned.
Attest SAMUEL ROBINSON, Proprietors' Clerk.
At a Proprietors' meeting held at the house of Capt. John Fafsett, in Bennington, June 25, 1766, the commit- tee appointed to lay out the first division, reported as fol- lows: "That they had run the East line of Rupert & understood the other lines were run & had made bounds to upwards of fifty lots on the best body of land in said Town as they supposed, & by reason of York's pretending jurisdiction, desisted doing anything more, but made a plan of the whole where & in the form we liked best."
This first division, being fifty acre lots, was undoubt- edly laid out in that part of the town since known as East Rupert, in the valley of the Pawlet or Mettowee river. Here was the first settled community in town, probably in the year 1767. Of these first settlers, the names of Barna- bus Barnum, Isaac Blood, Amos Curtis, Jonathan Eastman and Reuben Harmon have been preserved.
At this meeting, June 25, 1766, " Voted to give the first settlers in Rupert fifty acres of land to be laid in the undivided lands as an encouragement to the first families that goes on."
And the result as follows :- " June Sixth 1768.
Survey of a fifty acre lot given to Jonas Powers as encouragement to him, being first settler in Town; situated in the southwesterly part of the Town, in a place called White Creek Meadow." This date is of the survey, not the settlement, of which no record is given ; but must have been in 1767, or earlier ; probably 1766.
The first proprietors' meeting in town is believed to have been held at the house of Barnabus Barnum, on the "East side," May 18, 1768. Reuben Harmon was chosen moderator, Josiah Cass, clerk, Jonathan Eastman, treas- urer. Of the proceedings I note the following :
17
Early Settlements.
" Voted to lay out a second Division of lots to each Proprietor by pitches. Voted three shillings on each Right for making roads and other necessary charges. Voted to draw a lottery to determine the chances of pitch- ing, and Mr. Jacob Fisk to have charge, being disinter- ested. Voted that all the lots or pitches laid out on what is called white Creek Meadow shall not exceed sixty rods wide."
This determines, I think, the location of these second division lots, which were to be sixty acres each.
At a meeting at Barnums, 2d Tuesday of Septem- ber, 1768, voted, "That in case our adjourned meeting shall die our method for raising meetings for the future shall be by one eighth part of the Proprietors making ap- plication to the Clerk & his advertising it in Rupert and Bennington fourteen days before meeting."
The settlement of the " White Creek Meadows " was probably about 1770. This region is now known as West Rupert. Adjoining Salem, N. Y., it was on the frontier during the land trouble period. Among the prominent early settlers were Robert Cochran, Aaron Rising and Ol- iver Scott. Cochran was a leader in the "Grants," and will be noticed later. Scott built the first grist-mill in this region, about 1773. It was situated on White Creek ; its location being where the road from West Rupert to He- bron crosses the creek, near the Delaware & Hudson Rail- road crossing. Meeting, held at Simeon Graves', 2d Monday in April, 1769, voted, "That the road through the East meadow shall be three rods wide."
Meeting at Reuben Harman's, 2nd Thursday in Oct, 1769, voted, " That the road through White Creek mead- ow & up the Mountain Northeasterly be four rods wide."
In this vote, we see, I judge, a purpose to unite the two earliest settled sections of the town, the Mettowee and White Creek valleys.
· The next part of the town to be settled was the Indian River valley. The names of Smith and Harmon are as- sociated with this settlement. Dr. Sheldon, in his sketch of Rupert, for the Vermont Historical Magazine, says
18 .
Rupert, Vermont.
Martin Smith was the first settler, in 1773. But he also mentions an encounter, in 1772, between New York officers and a party of settlers, "headed by one Harmon, near Indian River." I conclude from this and other evidence, the first settlement in this region was not later than 1772, and may be earlier. The settlement of that part of the town now known as " Rupert Street," or " Up Town," as called by the residents of West Rupert, was probably, by a gradual extension of the settlements from the White Creek meadows, up its main branch. And "Kent Hol- low." which holds the head waters of the creek, in a simi- lar way. The early settlers of Rupert were mainly from Connecticut, with sprinklings from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and New Hampshire.
Dr. Sheldon's estimate of them follows: "The early settlers of this town, like most pioneers, were a hardy, rough, stalwart, uncultivated and illiterate class of men. They came here with bold hearts and strong hands, to fell the forests, subdue the lands and make homes for them- selves, but cared little for the refinements of civilized so- ciety and were very deficient in mental culture." But the qualities they possessed were in demand at the time ; with- out them they would have failed; for never were pio- neers more sorely tried than those who settled Vermont.
Returning to the proprietors' meetings; I find no records after the meeting at Reuben Harmon's, October, 1769, until a meeting at the house of Mr. Daniel Smith, innholder, in Rupert, April 6, 1773. " Voted to lay out a 3rd division of lots to be of 100 acres each. Voted Mr. Jeremiah Ingraham shall draw the lottery for pitching, be- ing disinterested. Voted Mr. Robert Cochran's Right (Asael Billings original Proprietor) shall stand as surveyed sometime last fall, as a reward for services done the Pro- priety, necessary roads to be deducted." The articles of this meeting relating to laying out the third division, are here given because of the quaint language and odd ways of these early settlers.
19
Early Settlements.
"Choose Ensign Nehemiah Harmon to inspect the laying out of the third division.
9th Mr. Robert Cochran for same purpose.
10th Josiah Cass committee for same.
11th Mr. Daniel Smith likewise.
12th Mr. Reuben Harmon in like manner."
There were six divisions of lots to proprietors, or suc- cessors; but I shall note them no further than the fourth. We now come to the last record of a meeting before the Revolution; and, with it Cass, who carried away our records, disappears from our history. It is as follows : "Rupert, 18th of May, 1773.
Having met agreeable to adjournment the 6th of April last, finding nothing worthy of action, adjourned the meeting to the first Tuesday in October next at one o'clock P. M. at this house.
JOSIAH CASS Proprietors' Clerk."
All the meetings on record, held in town, up to this time, were probably on the " East side," though not known positively so. The places of meeting, however, make some known to a certainty. This section appears to have taken the lead in government affairs for the first twenty years. In closing the part of our town history devoted to its early settlements, I append a summary of them: First settler in town, Jonas Powers, in southwesterly part, near Salem; date unknown, but prior to 1767. General settle- tlements: Mettowee valley, not later than 1767; White Creek valley, not later than 1769; Indian River valley, not later than 1771. Though following these valleys in the early settlements, it is believed the settlers did not lo- cate their houses in them, to any great extent, but back from the streams on higher ground. The immediate vi- cinity of the streams, at this time, was too swampy for the location of homes or roads. Here, as in all parts of the State, the first houses were of logs (Dr. Sheldon calls them log huts), and continued to be the prevailing type for many years. The last were built, probably, be-
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