USA > Vermont > Windham County > Whitingham > Some facts about the early history of Whitingham, Vermont > Part 1
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Gc 974.302 W587bu 1417498
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01100 6159
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE EARLY HISTORY OF WHITINGHAM VERMONT
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE EARLY HISTORY OF WHITINGHAM VERMONT
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SOME FACTS ABOUT C
The Early History of Whitingham Vermont
By HON. A. AUGUSTINE BUTTERFIELD
1
BRATTLEBORO THE VERMONT PRINTING COMPANY 1916
The Early 1417498 History of Whitingham
O OLUMBUS discovered some islands of America in 1492. When he first made known to Ferdinand and Isa- bella of Spain his discovery of land in the West, they were disposed to claim all the territories which might be found in that part of the world ; the King of Portugal, however, informed them that he considered even the West Indies, as be- longing to his crown, inasmuch as his subjects had first visited the Azores. The question was at last submitted to the Pope, who gravely decided that Portugal should have all the lands and terri- tories that might be discovered within a thou- sand miles of Europe, and Spain all that should be discovered beyond ; but neither England nor Holland nor even France was disposed to con- sent to this authoritative partition of the newly discovered regions of the West; and these powers subsequently took possession of different parts of
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North America, supporting their respective pre- tentions by long and bloody wars. The claims advanced by England were founded on the dis- coveries of John Cabot and his son Sabastian, Italian navigators residing in England, who were sent in quest of new countries, with an ex- pedition fitted out by the king, very soon after the discovery of the West Indies by Columbus. John discovered Newfoundland in 1494 and in 1497 ' Sabastian coasted from the northeastern part of the Continent nearly to the Gulf of Mex- ico. The French laid claim to Nova Scotia, on the ground of its having been visited and taken possession of in the name of their king, thirty years afterward, by an Italian navigator in his service named Verranzano. The first settlement attempted by them was in 1540 which was un- successful. The Dutch claim to the country about the mouth and along the course of the Hudson River was founded on the discoveries made by Hendrick or Henry Hudson who while in the service of the King of England, ex- plored these regions in 1609. During this year and previous to the discoveries of Hudson, Sam-
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uel de Champlain went down the west side of the lake which bears his name and was the first white man to see the mountains of Vermont. In 1620 the "Plymouth Council" was incorporated by King James I of England, and in that year the first Pilgrims came over and landed at Plymouth, Mass. Plymouth remained a sepa- rate colony until 1692, when it was united with "Massachusetts Bay." In 1628 the Plymouth Council granted the land between the Merri- mack and Charles Rivers and three miles north of the Merrimack and south of the Charles, and extending westerly to the "South Sea." Just where it was supposed that the South Sea was I cannot tell, but some writers call it the Pacific Ocean, and as the waters from these two rivers flowed into the Atlantic, of course on this theory they must flow from the Pacific Ocean. Mr. Endicott came over with three hundred persons to prepare for a still larger number and estab- lished themselves in Salem and Charlestown. At one time New Hampshire and Massachusetts were united under one governor, but in 1741 the line of separation, not having been previously
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ascertained, by order of the king in council it was to be run, beginning at a point three miles north of the mouth of the Merrimack and run- ning westerly in a similar curved line to the river and three miles northerly thereof until a point was reached three miles north of the great falls, thence due west until his Majestie's other provinces were reached. Much discussion has been had as to the "Great Falls" intended. Had the northern falls been taken, Brattleboro, Ben- nington and Whitingham would have belonged to Massachusetts. This survey was run by Rich- ard Hazen, and had he followed his orders-due west from the point he took north of Pawtucket Falls, Colerain and North Adams would have belonged to Vermont now-but Hazen, when at a point three miles north of Pawtucket Falls run a line west 10° north. Vermont at this time was an unknown wilderness, inhabited by savage beasts and still more savage Indians, except a fort or two had previously been builded, and a small settlement around each in the southeast part of the state, then supposed to be in Massa-
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chusetts, and along some streams, lakes and ponds where wild grass grew.
In 1741 Benning Wentworth was appointed governor of the Province of New Hampshire. It must not be forgotten that England and France were ancient enemies and had frequent wars : these wars usually disturbed the peace of the American Colonies, as the French were then established in Canada. A war, known as King George's war began in 1744 and ended in 1748.
In January, 1749, Governor Wentworth chartered a town six miles square in the territory now Vermont, in which he never had any right or authority whatever, and named it in honor of himself, Bennington: and the fees and emolu- ments were such that his cupidity was stirred. In 1750 he chartered Halifax, in 1751 Wilming- ton and his avarice was such that when he was stopped by the decision of the king in 1764 he had chartered somewhere 130 towns and this, too, in face of the claim of the governor of the Province of New York and his protest thereto.
War was again declared by England against France in 1756, though in fact the English and
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French people in America had really begun the war in 1754. This war lasted until 1763, and is known as the French and Indian War, though sometimes one or two of the preceding wars were known by the same title and name. The formal treaty of peace was signed at Paris, Feb- ruary 10, 1763. During this and former wars incursions were made through this territory into Canada and the soil and timber became known to the people of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut. As the army was disbanded there was no further need of many of the officers : these were reduced, and in October, 1763, the king in council ordered that ungranted lands be granted to these reduced officers. At some time, probably under the direction of New Hampshire the township of Cumberland had been surveyed, but we are unable to learn that any charter had ever been granted by that name or lands granted in that territory by that prov- ince. Many of these reduced officers petitioned to have their land set out there. A captain seems to have had three thousand acres, a first lieuten- ant two thousand and a second lieutenant one
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thousand. Some of these officers expressed anxi- ety to have their lands set out in Cumberland or elsewhere. We are told a large number asked for land in Cumberland. Nathan Whiting made his request as follows :
"TO THE HONORABLE CADWALLADER COLDEN, EsQ., his Majesty's Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America.
THE PETITION of Nathan Whiting late a cap- tain in one of his Majesty's Independent Com- panies of Foot
Sheweth That your petitioner served in Amer- ica during the late war, and being entitled to the Bounty which his Majesty has been gra- ciously pleased by his Royal Proclamation of the 7th October, 1763, to extend to such reduced officers as have so served in America.
Your Petitioner therefore prays his Majesty's grant to him and his Heirs of the quantity of three thousand acres of a certain Tract of Vacant land vested in the Crown lying on the west side of Connecticut River adjoining to the present Line between this Province and the Province of Massachusetts Bay and formerly laid out into
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a Township by the Province of New Hampshire by the Name of Cumberland Township, but which has been since vacated and the Land re- assumed, under the Restrictions prescribed by the said Royal Proclamation. And your Peti- tioner shall ever pray &c."
N. WHITING."
New York, IIth June, 1765.
CERTIFICATE OF GENERAL GAGE.
"These are to certify to all to whom it May Concern, that Captain Nathan Whiting, hath served in America during the war, & is now a reduced officer.
Given under My Hand at Head Quarters in New York this 18th Day of April, 1764. THOS. GAGE."
Indorsed "II June
Petition of Capt. Nathan Whiting for 3000 Acres of Land in pursuance of the King's Proclamation, 1765, July 8."
Read in Council and Granted."
Nathan Whiting also made another petition of the same date as the other as follows :-
"TO THE HONOBLE CADWALLADER COLDEN, ESQR., his Majesty's Lieutenant Governor and
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Commander in Chief of the Province of New York and the territories depending thereon in America.
THE PETITION of Nathan Whiting in behalf of himself and nine other persons humbly
Sheweth That there is a Tract of Vacant un- patented Land Vested in the Crown lying on the west side of Connecticut River adjoining to the present Line between this Province and the Province of Massachusetts Bay and formerly laid out into a Township by the Province of New Hampshire by the name of Cumberland Township but which has since vacated and the Lands reassumed. That your Petitioners intend if they can obtain a Grant of Ten thousand acres of the said Tract of Land to make a speedy and effectual settlement thereon
YOUR PETITIONERS therefore humbly pray that Your Honours will be favorably pleased by his Majesty's Letters Patent to grant to each of them respectively and to their respective Heirs and Assigns the Quantity of one thousand Acres of the Tract of land above described under the Quit Rent Provisions Limitations and Restric- tions prescribed by his Majesty's Instructions.
And Your Petitioners will ever pray &c.
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New York, IIth June, 1765.
N. WHITING in behalf of himself and the rest of his associates.
(Indorsed)
"IIth June, 1765.
Petition of Nathan Whiting and nine others for 10,000 Acres of Land in the County of Albany No. 9 Cumberland."
It turned out that there was not 10,000 acres at that time ungranted, or voted to be granted, although the Council voted to grant this 10,000 acres. The 3,000 acres and a patent afterward issued to Nathan Whiting on his personal peti- tion, in the southeast corner of the town 178 chains north and south and 178 chains east and west, 2,000 acres were granted to James Edding- ton west of Whiting's patent-178 chains north and south and 118 1/2 chains east and west, 2,000 acres to Thomas Gamble west of Eddington of the same size and shape, 1,000 acres in the north- east corner of the town to Thomas Etherington 59 chains north and south and 178 chains east and west, 2,000 acres south of the last above to John Nordburg 118 chains north and south and
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178 chains east and west, 3,000 acres to John Walker west of the two last named patents, 177 chains north and south and 178 chains east and west, 2,000 acres to Dennis Carleton west of Capt. Walker's patent 169 1/2 chains north and south and 124 chains east and west. Some very reputable people have protested that these grants were not valid, notwithstanding this territory had been decreed to belong to New York in 1764, because of the king's prohibition of 1767; but all these lands had been petitioned for, the peti- tions presented to the Council, referred to a committee which had reported favorably and the Council had voted the patents, for all the land in this town before the king's prohibition reached here.
WHITINGHAM.
On the 27th day of January, 1767, a petition was presented to the Lieutenant Governor of New York by Nathan Whiting, Samuel Fitch, Eleazer Fitch, James Smedley, David Baldwin, Andrew Myers, Samuel Whiting, Robert Aiton, Amos Hitchcock and Nathan Haines Whiting
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for a grant of a township which was referred to a committee, who reported favorably and the petition was granted. The patent was ordered to issue but for some reason the matter was de- layed for nearly three years. On the 26th day of January, 1770, Col. Nathan Whiting renewed the petition in behalf of himself and his asso- ciates, setting forth that the lands prayed for were vacant and had never been granted. The following is the second petition of Col. Whiting and the one on which the grant was made and the patent issued .- Jillson's Green Leaves.
PETITION.
TO THE HONORABLE CADWALLADER COLDEN, ESQUIRE, his Majesty's Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of New York and the territories depending thereon in America,
In Council.
THE PETITION of Colonel Nathan Whiting in behalf of himself and his Associates Humbly
Sheweth That your petitioner and his Asso- ciates on their former petition obtained an order of his Excellency Sir Henry Moore with the ad-
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vice and consent of the Council bearing date the twenty-seventh day of January one thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven for granting to them and their heirs the Quantity of Ten thou- sand acres of a certain Tract of Land lying on the West side of Connecticut River known by the name of the Township of Cumberland. That they have since procured an actual survey of said Land and find the vacant Land to contain only the Quantity of Seven thousand acres. That the same though part of the Lands formerly claimed by the Government of New Hampshire have not been granted by that government but still remain Vacant and vested in the Crown. Your petitioner therefore humbly prays that the Let- ters Patent ordered on said former Petition May issue for the Quantity of Land found to be va- cant, and in the Names of Nathan Whiting, Samuel Fitch, Eleazer Fitch, James Smedley, Andrew Myers, Robert Aiton and Samuel Bo- yer, who are all the persons at present interested in the Premises. And your petitioner in behalf of himself and his Associates Doth further pray that the said Seven thousand acres together with the following Tracts granted to or Surveyed for reduced Officers, to wit: three thousand acres granted to the Petitioner Nathan Whiting, two
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thousand acres Granted to Lieutenant James Eddington, two thousand acres Granted to Lieu- tenant John Nordburg, one thousand acres Granted to Lieutenant Thomas Etherington, three thousand acres surveyed for Captain John Walker, two thousand acres surveyed for Lieu- tenant Thomas Gamble and two thousand acres surveyed for Lieutenant Dennis Carleton may be erected into a Township by the name of Whit- ingham with the usual privileges. And your petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever pray &c. New York, 26th January, 1770.
NATHAN WHITING in behalf of himself and his associates.
A long certificate, of several pages, was made to this petition and signed Cadwallader Colden, Andrew Elliot and Alex Colden. Cadwallader Colden was Lieutenant Governor, Andrew El- liot Receiver General and Alexander Colden Surveyor General.
THE CHARTER OF WHITINGHAM.
George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, De- fender of the Faith, and so forth.
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To all to Whom these Presents shall Come, GREETING :
Whereas our Loving subjects Nathan Whit- ing, Samuel Fitch, Eleazer Fitch, James Smed- ley, David Baldwin, Andrew Myers, Samuel Whiting, Robert Aiton, Amos Hitchcock and Nathan Haines Whiting by their humble Peti- tion presented unto our late trusty and well be- loved Sir Henry Moore, Baronet, then our Cap- tain General and Governor in Chief of our Prov- ince of New York and read in our Council for said Province on the twenty-seventh day of Jan- uary which was in the year of our Lord one thou- sand seven hundred and sixty-seven, did set forth among other Things that there was a certain Tract of vacant unpatented Land vested in us lying on the West side of Connecticut River, ad- joining to the present Line between our said Province and the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and commonly called or known by the name of Cumberland, and that the Petitioners did in- tend if they could obtain a grant of ten thousand acres thereof to make a speedy and effectual settlement thereon. And therefore the Petition- ers did humbly pray our said late Captain Gen- eral and Governor in Chief to grant to each of the petitioners and their respective heirs; the
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Quantity of one thousand acres of the said Tract of Land which Petition having been then re- ferred to a Committee of our Council for our said Province. Our said Council did afterwards on the same day in pursuance of the Report of the said Committee humbly advise and consent that our said late Captain General and Governor in Chief should by our Letters Patent unto the said Petitioners and their heirs the Quantity of ten thousand acres of Land described in their said Petition under the Quit Rent Provisoes Limitations and Restrictions prescribed by our Royal Instructions :
And whereas the said Nathan Whiting in be- half of himself and his associates hath by his humble Petition presented to our trusty and well beloved Cadwallader Colden Esquire our Lieu- tenant Governor and Commander in Chief of our said Province and read in our said Council for our said Province on the thirty-first day of January now last past, set forth, that the Peti- tioner and his associates had procured an actual survey of the Lands aforesaid and find the vacant Land to contain only the Quantity of seven thou- sand acres :
That the same tho' part of the Lands formerly claimed by the Government of New Hampshire
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have not been granted by that Government but still remain vacant and vested in us: And there- fore the Petitioner did humbly pray that the Letters Patent ordered on the said former Peti- tion might issue for the Quantity of Land so found to be vacant, and in the Names of Nathan Whiting, Samuel Fitch, Eleazer Fitch, James Smedley, Andrew Myers, Robert Aiton, and Samuel Boyer, who are all the Persons at present interested in the said Lands, and further that the said seven thousand acres of Land together with the following Tracts (part of the aforesaid Tract called Cumberland) granted to or surveyed for reduced officers to wit: three thousand acres granted to the Petitioner Nathan Whiting, two thousand acres granted to Lieutenant James Eddington ; two thousand acres granted to John Nordbergh; one thousand acres granted to Lieu- tenant Thomas Etherington; three thousand acres surveyed for and since granted to Captain John Walker; two thousand acres surveyed for and since granted to Lieutenant Thomas Gamble and two thousand acres surveyed for and since granted to Lieutenant Dennis Carleton, might be erected into a Township by the name of Whit- ingham with the usual privileges; on reading and due consideration whereof it was ordered
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by our said Lieutenant Governor and Com- mander in Chief with the advice and consent of our said Council that the Letters Patent ordered on the said former Petition should issue in the names of the said Nathan Whiting, Samuel Fitch, Eleazer Fitch, James Smedley, Andrew Myers, Robert Aiton and Samuel Boyer for the Quantity of the said Lands so found to be vacant, and that the same together with the several other Tracts above mentioned be erected into a Town- ship by the name of Whitingham with the usual privileges granted to other Townships within our said Province : In Pursuance whereof and in obedience to our said Royal Instructions, our Commissioners appointed for the setting out all Lands to be granted within our said Province have set out for them the said Nathan Whiting, Samuel Fitch, Eleazer Fitch, James Smedley, Andrew Myers, Robert Aiton and Samuel Bo- yer, all that certain Tract or Parcel of Land within our Province of New York, situate and being on the West side of Connecticut River in the County of Cumberland, being part of a larger Tract heretofore called and known by the name of Cumberland. Beginning at the north- east corner of a Tract of three thousand acres of Land granted to the said Nathan Whiting as a
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reduced officer ; and runs thence along the North Bounds of the last mentioned Tract, and the North Bounds of a Tract of Land granted to Lieutenant James Eddington and the North Bounds of a Tract of Land granted to Lieutenant Thomas Gamble North eighty degrees West four hundred and fifteen chains, then South ten degrees West one hundred and seventy-eight chains to the Line run for the Bounds of the Massachusetts Bay Government; then along the said Line North eighty degrees West sixty-five chains; then North ten degrees East three hun- dren and ten chains and two rods to a Tract of two thousand acres of Land granted to Lieuten- ant Dennis Carleton; then along the South Bounds of the last mentioned Tract South eighty East one hundred and twenty-four chains to a Tract of three thousand acres of Land granted to Captain John Walker; then along the West Bounds of the last mentioned Tract South ten degrees West seven chains and two rods. Then along the South Bounds of the said last men- tioned Tract, and the South Bounds of a Tract of two thousand acres of Land granted to Lieu- tenant John Nordbergh, three hundred and fifty- six chains, then South ten degrees West one hun- dred and twenty-five chains to the Place where
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this Tract first began, containing six thousand nine hundred acres of land and the usual allow- ances for highways: and in setting out the said Tract of six thousand nine hundred acres of Land our said Commissioners have had regard to profitable and unprofitable acres; and have taken care that Length thereof doth not extend along the Banks of any River otherwise than is conformable to our said Royal Instructions as by a certificate thereof under their hands, bearing date the first day of this Instant Month of March, and entered on Record in our Secre- tary's office for our said Province among other Things may more fully appear, which said Tract of Land set out as aforesaid according to our said Royal Instructions. We being willing to grant to the said Petitioners their heirs and as- signs forever. Know ye that of our especial Grace, certain knowledge and Meer Motion, we have given, granted, ratified and confirmed and Do by these Presents for us our heirs and suc- cessors give, grant, ratify and confirm unto them the said Nathan Whiting, Samuel Fitch, Eleazer Fitch, James Smedley, Andrew Myers, Robert Aiton, and Samuel Boyer, their heirs and assigns forever, all that the Tract or Parcel of Land aforesaid, set out, abutted, bounded and de-
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scribed in Manner and Form as above men- tioned, together with all and singular the Tene- ments, Hereditaments, Emoluments and Appur- tenances thereunto belonging or appertaining. And also all our Estate, Right, Title, Interest, Possession, Claim and Demand whatsoever of in and to the same Lands and Premises and every Part and Parcel thereof : and the Reversion and Reversions, Remainder and Remainders, Rents, Issues and Profits thereof and of every Part and Parcel thereof, Except and always reserved out of this our present Grant unto us, our heirs and successors forever, all Mines of Gold and Silver, and also all White or other sorts of Pine Trees fit for Masts of the growth of twenty-four inches Diameter and upward at twelve inches from the Earth, for Masts for the Royal Navy of us, our heirs and successors. To have and to hold one full and equal seventh Part (the whole into seven equal Parts to be divided) of the said Tract or Parcel of Land, Tenements, Heredita- ments and Premises by these Presents granted, ratified and confirmed and every Part and Parcel thereof with their and every of their appurte- nances (except as is herein before excepted) unto each of them, our Grantees above Men- tioned, their heirs and assigns respectively to
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their only proper and separate use and Behoof respectively forever as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants. To be holden of us, our heirs and successors in fee and common socage as of our Manor of East Greenwich in our County of Kent within our Kingdom of Great Britain. Yielding, rendering and paying there- for yearly and every year forever unto us, our heirs and successors at our Custom House in our City of New York unto our or their Collector or Receiver General there for the Time being on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary commonly called Lady Day the yearly rent of two shillings and six pense Ster- ling for each and every hundred acres of the above granted Lands and so in Proportion for any lesser Quantity thereof saving and except for such Part of the said Lands allowed for Highways as above mentioned in Lieu and stead of all other Rents, Services, Dues, Duties and Demands whatsoever for the hereby granted Lands and Premises or any Part thereof. And we being Willing according to the Prayer of the said Petitioners to create and make the said Tract of Land hereby granted a Township with such other of the adjacent Lands as are included and comprehended within the Bounds and
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