USA > Vermont > Essex County > Guildhall > A history of Guildhall, Vt > Part 4
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When they started from Massachusetts their intention was to settle at Coos on what has since been known as the Great Ox Bow in Newbury, but arriving at this place they found it already occupied and quite a settlement; among the inhabitants here were Michael Johnson and James Pettie, who settled in that place in 1761; the same year Capt. John Hazen went to Newbury, from Haver- hill, Mass., for the purpose of looking the locality over; and the next year 1762, (two years before the Guildha Il settlers arrived) he, with men and materials, returned to that place ( Newbury) and built mills.
After finding settlers at this place they continued their journey northward, and April 19, 1764, crossed the stream since known as the Israels River in Lancaster, N. H. They pitched their camps on both sides of the Connecti- cut, on land now called the Stockwell Place on the New Hampshire side, and on land now owned by Mr. Benj.
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HISTORY OF GUILDHALL.
Benton and Mrs. Small, widow of the late Richard Small, on the Vermont side.
They continued to occupy these lands for some time, cutting and clearing off, and planting corn. The first year they planted seventeen acres, which was the first product of Indian corn in this region : Mr. Stockwell described it as being full of milk, and standing twelve feet high, the ears being as high as his shoulders. August 27, this, their first beautiful crop, was frozen through and completely spoiled.
Their stock of cattle almost doubled during the first season, and the first winter they lost all of them owing to the destruction of their fodder. The next spring they procured others from their native towns.
Their first houses were temporary camps or cabins, but the next year they built more substantial structures.
Mr. Stockwell finally located on the Lancaster side of the river, while Timothy Nash, who was more of a hunt- er and trapper, located on the land now owned by Mr. E. S. Freeman. George Wheeler commenced his labors on land near Fisks Pond, on the south side of which he pitched his tent. Mr. Rice also commenced upon the same meadow near the river. Mr. David Page never, as far as we can learn, made a permanent residence at either of these places, but he did much toward the success and advancement of the new
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ISTORY OF QUILDIIALL.
settlement, passing back and forth frequently, and in the course of the summer brought his daughter Ruth, then we believe seventeen years of age. Not long after, she became the wife of Mr. Emmons Stockwell.
Mr. Milton Cutler in his sketch in The "Vermont Gazetteer" says in regard to Mr. Stockwell: "He was said to be a man of iron constitution, weighing about 240 pounds, and insensible to fear; Mrs. Stockwell was in all respects qualified to be a companion and helpmeet suita- ble for him. In proof the following fact is adduced : Indians were quite numerous in these parts and they frequently called in small parties at the houses of the settlers to stay all night, and frequently to have a "drink" as they termed it. Their place of crossing the river was at this settlement, and the canoes of the white men their means when traveling by land and then call the "war- whoop" not in hostility however, Many times has Mrs. Stockwell on dark and rainy nights on hearing the Indian whoop, gone alone, with her firebrand for a light, taken the canoe over and brought the savages to her house. Their house was a general resort for the Indians, with whom Mr. Stockwell traded, purchasing their furs and giving various articles in return ; but his authority or that of Mrs. Stockwell they nevor disputed-the tapping of his foot upon the floor being sufficient to quiet them when most rude or riotous.
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HISTORY GUILDIIALL.
They raised a family of fifteen children, their third child being their first son, David Stockwell, who was the first child born in Guildhall, and when the youngest of the fifteen had reached twenty one years, not a death had occurred in the family. Mrs. Stockwell lived till her 80th year, and when she died her family could count 130 of her descendants then living."
The next addition to this settlement that we learn of was in the year 1775. Enoch Hall, Michael Amy, and James Rosebrook had advanced as far north as Colebrook, N. H., but when the Revolutionary war broke out, they were uncertain of the future actions of the Indians and Tories, and they concluded to return to their homes; they followed down the river until they reached the settlement at Guildhall, and Mr. Stockwell and others prevailed on them to remain here, and they made choice of this town.
In 1778, Eleazer Rosebrook and Samuel Page, and the next year, 1779, David Hopkinson, Reuben Howe and Simon Howe joined the settlement.
It was about this time that the proprietors proceeded to look after their interests, and to have surveys made of the township, by appointing and sending some of their numbers to this locality; when they entered this town, they found these squatters who were jealous of their rights, and rather rude contention ensued.
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HISTORY OF GUILDHALL.
We give one of the records which will show the litera- ture of that day, or of those particular persons :
"at a meetin of the Proprietors of the township of gilhall-holden by adjournment on the 10th day of Mar A D 1777 at the hous of Doctor Walter munsons in North haven County Timothy Andrus Chosin moderator Joseph Wooster Chosin- Clerk for the proprietors of said township.
Voted that they wod Locate and Lot the township of Gildhall-
Voted that Joseph Wooster-Abel llull & Samuel andrus should be a committe for the above purpose-and a Cordingly pursude our Business till being drove off from said town by the Inhabitants on account of expence our expence on the Road £18-o-o to twenty Days cach six shillings per day £18-0-0
to horsis hier 300 miles cach .C4-1-0
a true account of expenco
test-Joseph Wooster
Clerk of Gildhall -
Jos Wooster-A Hull-Saml Andrus Committe £40-1-0"
Meanwhile considerable many additions had been made to this settlement: the settlers were finally confirm- ed in their possessions by the Assembly of the new State of Vermont.
We will here give another copy of the record of a proprietors meeting:
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HISTORY OF GUILDHALL.
"Gilhall-Sept. 1st. 1783. at a Proprietors meeting of the township of Gilhall Legally warned and Convened at the House of mr James Rosebrook in said Gilhall then opened the meeting and maid a Choyce of Maj. Jonas Wildow for a Moderator and Joseph Wooster Clerk-
1-voated to adjourn this meting till wednsday next to be holden at Hous of Mr Philip grapes at two of the o'clock on said Day-then met a Cording to adjournment first voated to Run Lines Round the town and Locate & Lot the same-
2-voated that a Committee of seven be chosen to Lay out said town-
3-voated that Lieut Andrus be first
4-voated that Maj. Jonas Wildow be the 2
5-voated that Capt Luther Richardson be the 3
6-voated that mr Joseph Wooster be the 4
7-voated that mr Phillow Treet be the 5 8-voated that mr John Rich be the 6 9-voated that mr Abel IIull be the 7
then voated to adjourn this metin til thursday till nine of the o'clock in the Morning at the above mentioned Place then met a Cording to adjournment & opened the meting voated to tax themselves-then voted to Lay a tax of ten dollars on each original right to dofray the Charges a rising for Locating Lotting and Laying a roade through said town-
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HISTORY OF GUILDHALL.
Voted that Lient Andrus be a collector for said tax- voated they will ascertain the quantity of inter in said town & make a return of the same to sum future meeting.
Lastly voated to adjourn this meting to the first tues- day of November next at the hous of mr Philop grapes at one of the o'clock in the afternoon-this meetin is nd- journed &c. (signed) Joseph Wooster Clerk."
Nothing appears to have been accomplished pursuant to these votes of the proprietors in relation to locating and lotting the town, and its actual boun laries, as we have previously stated, were not established until 1785.
We will introduce one more specimen of the literature of those days, showing the efforts of the proprietors for locating and lotting the town, and for settling disputes that had arisen. This in form of an account running through quite a series of years.
"Timothy Andrus ajant at the Assembly of Vermont holden at Charlestown,* for the townships of Guildhall, Granby & & townships to the northward.
Expence 4 weaks myself & hors. .€15-0-0 in order to get the bounds Established between gildhall & Lunenburg.
andrus paid Davenport 3-0-6 Joseph Wooster ajant in rome of Capt Elijah Hinman sent to the Assembly of Vt.
·It will be remembered that for several years Vermont was refused Admission into the Union, New York, New Hampshire and Massa- chusetts claiming the territory ; but those determined men who were at the hend of the new state protested ; they were determined to be independent, or nothing! Asother States claimed Vermont, and as many towns along the borders applied for admission into the new Sinte, she loo, commenced to make claims, and at one Hme several towns in New York and New Hampshire joined Vermont. As the State Assembly in those day's was held in various towns, thus we fud Int Charlestown, New Hampshire.
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HISTORY OF GUILDHALL.
hollen at Charlestown for the townships of gilhall granby
& Eight other towns Northerly Expence. .... .£15-0-0 Timothy Andres, Elijah Hinman appointed ajents to set- tle the dispute with Colo grout relative to gilhall & granby at the assembly of Vermont holden at benington Expence 5 weeks myself & hors £18-0-0 Joseph Wooster Expence to bennington while in Capt Elijah Hinman absents agreed upon by him self and and- rns for him to surve in his rome
Expence at that time £9-5-0
Timothy Andrus Expence in going to Coos to get the comittee that was appointed by the assembly of Vermont to assertain the boundaries of sundry townships begining with gildhall as may appear-sum time in June 1780 Expence myself & hors 5 weeks & dollars to be paid to the committee £20-0-0 another time sent to wait on said Committee.
Expence. £8-3-0)
all the above charges Lyes against the above menehend ten townships Except the first Committee that against guildhall only- March the 15-1799."
"The first settlers of this town, being mostly from Lan- caster and Lunenburg in Mass., they gave the same names to the two towns lying as they intended upon op- posite sides of the Connecticut River. According to their plans and as already previously stated Lunenburg was to inclu le nearly all of what was afterwards found to be the southern part of Guildhall, while Guildhall was supposed to include what is now the southern portion of the town of Maidstone; so that in early records we find some
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HISTORY OF GUILDHALL.
Maidstone men figure as citizens of Guildhall, and men of Guildhall as Lunenburg people. For a number of years after the first settlers started in there were no roads, and no settlement nearer than Newbury. As the nearest mills were at that place, no grain was carried there to be ground, although grain was sometimes purchased ground and brought to their homes: but most of their grinding was done with pestles and mortars. It will be interesting to note here these "grist mills;" they were manufactured from large hard wood trees, cut into short logs, which were sometimes two and three feet in diame- ter, and then hewed out to suit their desires. When com- pleted they presented a sort of one horse appearance in comparison with some of the complicate l affairs one may see in the large cities in this latter half of the nineteenth century: but they answered all purposes at that time. and they got along very nicely in that way for a number of years.
If we encroach upon any of our historians they will pardon ns. Thompson in his "Gazetteer of Vermont" published in 1$21, says in relation to Guildhall, "The first settlers suffered severe privations mul hardships for a number of years. They brought their grain and provi- sions from Northfield in Mass., a distance of more than 150 miles During the Revolutionary war they were in continual alarm, and frequently annoyed by the Indians and Tories who killed their cattle. plandored their houses and carried a number of the inhabitants into captivity."
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HISTORY OF GUILDHALL.
Thompson is by no means the only one who claims these facts, for most sketches and histories of this settle- ment tell the same story almost word for word; if the read- er will take the trouble to look this up, they will find we are quite correct in our assertions. These "latter day" historians undoubtedly take Thompson for authority, but "Thompson's Gazetteer" is far from being right, not only in this but in other cases as well; if you will read Rev. Grant Powers' "History of the Coos Country" you will see that he criticises him very severely.
We do not claim the carly settlers had a "soft time" or were not annoyed, but they were only severely annoyed in one or two individual instances. They were of course new-comers, and had to put up with the hardships of the times and no more. Why did they bring their grain and provisions from Northfield, Mass., when, as we have shown to be the case, there was a comparatively old settle- ment at Newbury and Haverhill, where they had mills erected ete? The Proprietors of course annoyed them to quite an extent, and also the tories, but the Indians were usually friendly and committed no acts of hostility, and were only troublesome in making pretty free use of set- tlers' houses. They took rather more liberty in calling at houses where the men were absent, but authority of the lady of the house was almost always acknowledged. However on one occasion they became so troublesome while calling on Mrs. Eleazer Rosebrook that she drove them from the house, but one squaw who at the time, was quite intoxicated appeared
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HISTORY OF GUILDHALL.
unable to move. Mrs. Rosebrook caught her by the hair of the head and drew her from the house. This was too rough handling for the squaw, and recovering herself threw her hatchet just as Mrs. Rosebrook was closing the door, cutting off the wooden thumb piece of the latch : the next morning after recovering from her "drunk," recollecting her actions of the night before, she returned to the house of Mrs. Rosebrook and confessed her fault, asked her pardon, and promised to behave better in the future.
We find that a very peenliar circumstance took place during the early settlement, and we insert the "Complaint of Enoch Bartlett," made in 1780, which we take from the "N. II. Town Papers," and which explains itself. "To the Honble the Council and Representatives of the State of New Hampshire in General Court Assembled.
The Petition Memorial And Address of Enoch Bartlett of Haverhill Humbly Shews .-
That your petitioner has lately Suffered Much injury by a Sort of Banditti who in Contempt of all laws did at Northumberland in the County of Grafton in Said State in September last without Any color or right commit a most horid revenge, by entering Upon his Your petition- ers GRIST MILL And SAW MILL, in Said Northum- berland (lately erected or repaired at a great expence) And cut and destroy'd the wheels Shafts &C And took Away all the Iron Work of Said Mills, Mill Stones and other Gear and a Quantity of Boards and Carried them a Cross Connectient River into the State Cilled Vermont.
HISTORY OF GUILDIIALL. 77
And improved them for other Mills - And have Since when demanded refused pay for the Damage done. And Further Says that he cannot Suppose that his affairs (the not the most trivial) will alone put, you Upon Action on the affair; But that a due considera- tion of the many Instances of Fraud, Injustice and op- pression that prevails in that County Since the laws were Suppress'd-will influence You to make the Necessary Provisions Pray'd for And he As in duty bound Shall ever pray.
June 22, 1780.
Enoch Bartlett."
In these revolutionary times, while the inhabitants of these settlements were to some extent annoyed by the Indians and tories, and not knowing what might happen, Col. Ward Bailey and others erected a Block House, which in cases of necessity was used as a defensive resort. This building was composed of white pine logs of large size, lewed square, and stood near where Mr. Cobb for- merly resided and on land now owned by Mrs. S. A. Hall: it was, for those times, a very strong fortification, and was a great protection to the settlement. It was after- ward used as the first jail of the county.
We take from the New Hampshire Town Papers a petition for soldiers; it shows how the men of this com- munity stood in those days. They meant to protect their families and property. Their petition bears date of July 6, 1776, two days after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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HISTORY OF GUILDHALL.
PETITION FOR SOLDIERS.
"Whereas we the inhabitants of Lancaster, Northumber- land, Guildhall & Stratford are fully sensible of the dan- ger of being attacked by the Canadians which are the worst of Enemys & although some of our neighbors have Quit the ground, yet we the Subscribers Do Jointly & severly promis & ingage to Stand our ground providing the Honbl Counsell sees Fitt to grant our request That is this, that you will pleaso us your petitioners so far as to apoint Mr. JEREH AMES of Northumberland our friend & Neighbor, Commander of our Fort which with a great Deal of fatage we have almost accomplished and Likewise for him the sd Ames to have orders to inlist as many men as the Honr Cort in their Wisdom will see fit, we do ingage to inlist ourselves & obey his orders as long as he is stationed in uper Coos and Com- mander of the fort.
July 0, 1776.
THOMAS BLODGETT JAMES CURTISS
NATHAN CASWELL SAM'L. NASHI
DAVID LARNED SAM'L. PAGE
ARCHIPPA BLODGETT
ABIJAHI LARNED
ABNER OSGOOD EMMONS STOCKWELL
MOSES QUIMBY
DIES RAWYER
JOSIAH BLODGETT
WARD BAILEY ABEL LARNED
JOSEPII BARLOW 1 JAS. BLAKE
JOHN TRICKLY
ELIEZER
ROSEBROOK - ABNER BARLOW"
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HISTORY OF QUILINIALL.
The first house constructed in the village was made of logs on land near the corner of the Essex House.
In 1799 there were twelve settlers' lots in town occupied by cleven men whose names we give, also the number of lots occupied by them, and the present owners' names, viz: -No. 1, Col. Ward Bailey-including the tract now occupied by the village, westerly to land now occupied by C. E. Benton, and northerly to the Maidstone line. -- No. 2, James Rosebrook-including Nelson Call's farm, und land owned by Frank Hall, Geo. Hubbard and Thos. H. Hubbard.
-No. 3, D. Hopkinson-including the farm now owned by John B. Drew, and a considerable portion of the plain owned by Messers Haskell and Long.
-No. 4, Samuel Howe-now owned by A. A. Gray.
-No. 5, Ezra Rosebrook-now owned by Messers Bow- man and Stevens.
-No. 6, Same as No. 5.
-No. 7, Col. Jonah Gront and Edward Bucknam-now owned by G. T. Fellows, B. B. Benton and Mrs. Small. -No. 8. Same as No. 7.
-No. 9, Reuben and Simon Howe-now owned by Wm. and Henry Heywood.
-No. 10. Samo as No. 9.
-No. 11, George Wheeler-now owned by D. Y. Clark. -No. 12, Benoni Cutler-now owned by Geo. S. Bovec, John Hubbard and Z. Woods.
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HISTORY OF GUILDIIALL.
These grants to the settlers contained 100 acres cach, and in the case of No. 12, 400 acres. The reason for this difference was the grant by the proprietors in 1787 to Abner Osgood and Ward Bailey of 300 acres, in consider- ation of the large expense incurred by them in building mills on Spauldings Brook, since known as Mill Brook. Mr. Os- good had 200, and Mr. Bailey 100 acres extra. Mr. Benoni Cutler bought this traet of land, including the mills and the stream on which they were erected, so the stream is frequently called Cutler's Mill Brook.
Very few of the numerous descendants of the twelve first settlers are at present residing in Guildhall; and no families bearing the name of Hopkinson, Howe, Grout or Bucknam.
The settlement had a thrifty growth, and has proven to be a good one : in no town of the same size can be found a more enterprising, intelligent and independent people, than those who are still in the good old place.
The oldest person. we believe, who has died in the town, was Mr. Calvin Hubbard, who died in September 1854, aged 93 years and 5 months. His wife died in September 1857, and was 93 years and 2 months old.
The oldest person now living in town is Mr. Zephaniah K. Washburn who is in his 86th year, of whom more will be said in another chapter.
CHAPTER V.
'Transactions of the Town-Warning for the first Town meeting March 1s: 1785-First Record of Town meeting-List of Town officers elected at this meeting-Pound Districts-List of Repre- sentatives to Vt. State Legislature-"Governor's Right" sold for Taxes-Village laid out --- Population --- Town Officers for 1885- Politics of the Town.
The first record of a town meeting is dated 1785, but it appears that the town had been previously organized, as this meeting was called by the selectmen of the town, (who of course, must have been previously chosen.) We give what appears on the town clerk's record.
"Guildhall March 1st, 1785.
This is to Notify and Warn all the freemen of the Town of Guildhall to meet at the Dwelling House of Mr. Jacob Shuff, on monday the 14th day of March at Ten o'clock in the Morning in order to make choice of Town officers and act on other articles (viz) first to chose a Moderator to govern sd meeting.
2 To choose Town Clerk ..... 3d., To choose selectmen. 4 To choose Town Treasurer 5 To choose a Constable & all other Town officers Necessary ...... 6 To sce if the Town will Raise money for making and mending Highways. ..... 7 To choose Highway Surveyors. .....
8 To make choice of some suitable man for a Justice of the Peace Jacob Shuff John Rich Selectmen." Abijah Larned S
It will be seen that these selectmen are all really Maid- stone men; we have already explained the cause of this.
9
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HISTORY OF GUILDIIALL.
"Guildhall March 14th, 1785.
Then met at the House of mr Jacob Shuff according to the within Warrant and opened the meeting, made choice of Ward Bailey for Moderator to Govern said meeting, and adjourned said meeting to the House that Abraham Gilds now lives Dwells in, in Guildhall on the 25 day of this Instant march at one o'clock in the after- noon-by order of us-Selectmen Jacob Shuff. John Rich. Abijalı Larned.
Met on the twenty fifth day of March 1785 according to adjournment & openod the meeting & proceeded according to the Warrant.
2. Made choice of John Rich Town Clerk.
3. Made choice of John Rich for the first Selectman.
4. Made choice of Abner Osgood Second Selectinan.
5. Made choice of John Hugh third Selectman.
6. Made choice of the Selectmen to serve for Listers this Present year.
7. Made choice of Micah Amy Town Treasurer.
8. Mado choice of Abijah Larned Constable. . . .
9. Voted to raise forty Pounds Lawful money to make and mend High ways.
10. Voted to give six Shillings pr. man by day for Highwaywork.
11. Voted to give thrto Shillings for one Pair of Oxen per day on highwaywork.
12. Made choice of Abijah Larned for highway Surveyor.
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HISTORY OF GUILDHALL.
13. Made choice of John Rich Junr. highway Surveyor .. 14. Made choice of Jas. Rosebrooks Highway Surveyor .. 15. Mado choice of Abner Osgood Sealer of Weights & measures
16. Made choice of Benj. Biram, Hog Rief & fence viewer
17. Made choice of Abner Osgood Justice Peace. .. 18. Voted to accept the Town Book bought by John Rich for sd Guildhall-These may certify that the within, or the foregoing, & the above Votes & Articles mentioned one for the Present year pr me.
- JOHN RICHI, Town Clerk. Guildhall, April 4th., 1785."
We find that at the March meeting in the year 1799, tho Town was divided into two Pound Districts; Mr. Theophilus Cutler was the keeper of the North, and Mr. Wm. Rosebrook for the South.
"GOVERNOR'S RIGHT" DISPOSED OF.
As has already been showu on pages 61 and 62 of this book, whenever Gov. Wentworth, British Governor of New Hampshire, granted a town charter, he reserved for himself 500 acres of land, usually in the south east corner of the town; this was termed the "Governor's Right". Wentworth was a loyalist, and when the Revolutionary war broke out was obliged to abandon the country in- cluding these "Rights."
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HISTORY OF QUILDIIALL.
In the year 1798 the "Governors Right" in Guildhall, which was in the southeast corner of the town, was sold at vendue for taxes; the land was bid off in sections by Haynes French, Elcazer Rosebrook, Jeremiah Eames, Jr., Jesse Hugh and Gerard Clark. All this tract afterwards became the property of David Hopkinson, was subse- quently owned by his sons David and Joshua, and is the land now occupied by Wm. H. Rhodes and Wm. Hopkins. VILLAGE LAID OUT.
"Whereas application having been made in writing by more than seven Freeholders Inhabitants of the town of Guildhall, to the Selectmen of said town, requesting them to lay out and establish the limits and bounds of a Village in said town, agreeable to the Law in such case made and provided.
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