USA > Vermont > Early history of Vermont, Vol. I > Part 19
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JERICHO.
*2-33 Jerico
P. S.
--
*Province of New-Hampshire. GEORGE THE THIRD,
By the Grace of God, of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith &c.
To all Persons to whom these Pres- ents shall come.
Greeting.
KNOW ye, that We of Our special Grace, certain Knowledge, and meer Motion, for the due En- couragement of settling a New Plantation within our said Province, by and with the Advice of our Trusty and Well-beloved BENNING WENTWORTH, Esq; Our Governor and Commander in Chief of (95)
·
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EARLY HISTORY
Our said Province of NEW-HAMPSHIRE in NEW- ENGLAND, and of our COUNCIL of the said Province; HAVE upon the Conditions and Reservations 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 for ever, whose names are entered on this Grant, to bedivided to and amongst them into Seventy two equal Shares, all that Tract or Parcel of Land situate, lying and being within our said Province of NEW-HAMPSHIRE, con- taining by Admeasurement, 23040 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, Mountains and Rivers. One Thousand and Forty Acres free, according to a Plan and Survey there- of made by Our said Governor's Order, and re- turned into the Secretary's Office, and hereunto annexed, butted and bounded as follows, Viz. Be- ginning at the Southerly or South Easterly Corner of Essex at the Northerly side of Onion or French River (so called) from thence Easterly up said River so far as to make Six Miles on a straight Line, allowing the same to be Perpendicular with the South Easterly Line of said Essex from thence Northerly a Parralell Line with the south Easterly line of said Essex six Miles from thence Westerly about six Miles to the North Easterly corner of said Essex, from thence southerly by the Easterly Line of said Essex Six Miles to the place begun at
297
OF VERMONT.
-And that the same be, and hereby is Incorpor- ated into a Township by the Name of Jerico And the Inhabitants that do or shall hereafter inhabit the said Township, are hereby declared to be En- franchized with and Intitled to all and every the Priviledges 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 there- on, 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 *open-
ed and kept one or more Days in each *2-434 Week, as may be thought most ad-
vantagious to the Inhabitants. Also, that the first Meeting for the Choice of Town Officers, agreable to the Laws of our said Province, shall be held on the 14th July next which said Meeting shall be Notified by Mr. John Burling who is hereby also appointed the Moderator of the said first meeting, which he is to Notify and Govern agreable to the Laws and Customs 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 Priviliges and Appurtenances, to them and their respective Heirs
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EARLY HISTORY
and Assigns forever, upon the following Condi- tions, viz.
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 con- tained 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 carefully preserved for that Use, and none to be cut or felled without Our special License for so doing first had and obtained, upon the Pen- alty of the Forfeiture of the Right of such Grantee, his Heirs and Assigns, to Us, our Heirs and Suc- cessors, as well as being subject the Penalty of any Act or Acts of Parliament that now are, or here- after 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 alloted to each Grantee of the Contents of one Acre.
IV. Yielding and paying therefor 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
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OF VERMONT.
of December annually, if lawfully demanded, the first payment to be made on the twenty-fifth Day of December, 1763.
V. Every Proprietor, Settler or Inhabitant, shall yield and pay unto Us, our Heirs and Succes- sors yearly, and every Year forever, from and after the Expiration of ten Years from the abovesaid twenty-fifth Day of DECEMBER, namely, on the twenty-fifth Day of DECEMBER, which will be in the Year of our Lord 1773 One shilling Proclam- ation Money for every Hundred Acres he so owns, settles or possesses, and so in Proportion for a greater 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 Of- ficers as shall be appointed to receive the same; and this to be in Lieu of all other Rents and Ser- vices whatsoever.
In Testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed. Wit- ness BENNING WENTWORTH, Esq; Our Governor and Commander in Chief of Our said Province, the Seventh Day of June In the Year of our LORD CHRIST, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty three And in the Third Year of Our Reign.
By HIS EXCELLENCY'S Command, With Advice of COUNCIL,
¿ T Atkinson Jun' Secry
Prov New Hampr June 7th 1763 Recorded According to the Original Charter under the Prove Seal
T Atkinson Junr Secry
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EARLY HISTORY
*2 -- 435 *The Names of the Grantees of Jerico (Viz)
Edwd Burling
James Burling
Thos Burling
Walter Burling
Saml Burling
Benja Burling
John Sackett
James Sackett Junr
John Sackett Junr
Danl Wiggins
John Wiggins
Danl Wiggins Junr
Willm Wiggins
Benja Wiggins
Willm Latham
Danl Latham
Lancaster Burling
Amos Dodge
Amos Dodge Junr
Arthur Jarvis
James Jarvis
James Jarvis Junr
Charles Jarvis Philip Brasher
Abrm Brasher
Willm D Peyster Junr
Morris Earle
Barnard De Forcest
John Bates
Amos Underhill Junr
David Underhill
Soloman Underhill
Edmd Underhill
Saml Laurence
James Laurence
Thos Grenell
Thos Grenell Junr
William Mercier
John Dyer Mercier Philip Burling
John Bowne
John Vermilve
Nichs H Bogart
John Martine
Jereah Martine
John Guerinaux
Peter Tetard
Saml Gillat
Charles Davis
Stephen Davis
John Davis
James Davis
James McCreedy
John Cornell of Flushing
Henry Matthews
Saml Averil
Collo Saml Barr
Joseph Blanchard
Dr John Hale
Thos Grenell Senr;
Benja Jarvis
John Burling
Benja Bill
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OF VERMONT.
Hon John Temple, Theo: Atkinson, Mk H& Went- worth Esqrs.
HIS EXCELLENCY Benning Wentworth Esqr a Tract of Land to Contain Five Hundred Acres as marked B-W-in the Plan which is to be Account- ed 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 Establish'd, One Share for the First settled Minister of the Gos- pel, & One Share for the benefit of a School in said Town-
Province of New Hampr June 7th 1763
Recorded according to the Back of the Original Charter of Jericho under the Prov Seal
¿ T Atkinson Jun Secry
The town contained 23,040 acres. By an Act of the Legislature, Richmond was incorporated Oct. 27th, 1794, and a part of Jericho, together with a part of Williston, and a part of Hunting- ton (then called New Huntington) were taken to make that town.
The town is well watered with springs and brooks. The Onion or Winooski River (in the early history of Vermont called the French River) washes the southwestern boundary. Brown'sriver enters the town at the northeast from Underhill and runs through the town into Essex. Lee River also takes its rise in the town of Underhill, enter- ing Jericho in the east part, and running through the town the distance of six miles, and unites with Brown's River at the village of Jericho in the west part of the town. Mill Brook enters the town
£
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EARLY HISTORY
rom Bolton, and runs into Onion River about half-way from Richmond to Essex. Jericho is a good farming town, and well adapted to raising most kinds of grain and grasses.
In the early days of Jericho there were but few families that had come to settle there to fell the forest and to establish homes for themselves. Those that first came were poor and had to struggle with poverty, and hardships incident to a pioneer life, and were exposed to cruel treatment from the British and hostile Indians, and were re- quired to be watchful to guard against capture by the enemy. At first there were a few families who settled in the south part of the town near Onion River, and a family by the name of Joseph Brown settled on Brown's River near Underhill in 1774. On Oct. 16, 1780, hostile Indians from Can- ada, inspired and aided by the British, made their way to and burnt the village of Royalton, and on their return the party divided on Onion River near Bolton, one division going down the river to Lake Champlain and made their way back to Canada, while the other division passed over through Jeri- cho to said family of Browns on Brown's River. Be- fore the Indians had found the residence of the Brown family, a man by the name of Gibson who had been hospitably entertained by Brown for some time, while hunting in that section, fell into the hands of the Indians. He told the Indians if they would let him go, he would lead them where they could get a whole family. The Indians agreed to this and were led by Gibson to the house of Brown; six savages entered the house and took
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OF VERMONT.
prisoners Mr. Brown and his wife and two chil- dren, (not their own,) who were living with them at the time. A man by the name of Old residing with Brown, seeing the Indians enter, jumped from a window and escaped to the family of Rod- erick Messenger living in the south part of the town near Onion River. At the time the Indians reached the house Brown's two boys, Charles and Joseph, of 14 and 12 years of age respectively, were not at home. When the two boys returned home at night they were also taken prisoners by the Indians laying in wait for them. The Indians after securing their prisoners, killed the cattle, sheep and hogs belonging to Mr. Brown, set the house on fire and started for Montreal. The pris- oners suffered much on their journey through the woods, from fatigue and hunger. On their arrival at St. Johns, they were sold to British officers at eight dollars per head, and by them retained as prisoners nearly three years and kept at hard la- bor as servants for their masters, and were allow- ed but miserable fare. The said sons, Joseph and Charles, fled from the British service and imprison- ment in the spring of 1783, and returned to their Jericho home, where their father and mother joined them when they were released upon the declara- tion of peace between Great Britain and the United States.
The said Charles, the eldest boy that was cap- tured, was the father of Zina Brown, formerly .a Methodist minister, and Luther Brown who form- erly lived in the brick house near the cemetery a little east of the village of Underhill, and the other
304
EARLY HISTORY
boy, Joseph, was the grandfather of. Henry M. Brown, who now lives near the place where the two boys were captured.
The first three settlers, and who came from the western part of Massachusetts, were the said Joseph Brown, Senior, Roderick Messenger already referred to, and Azariah Rood, who settled in town in 1774.
The town was organized March 22, 1786, at a meeting warned by John Fassette, Judge of the Supreme Court. At this meeting James Farns- worth was chosen Moderator; Lewis Chapin, Clerk; Peter McArthur, Constable. At another meeting held June 13th, 1786, Azariah Rood, Joseph Hall and Jedediah Lane were chosen Select- men. Jedediah Lane was the first Representative of the town to the General Assembly and was elected Nov. 29, 1786.
Among the early settlers were David T. Stone, who came to town about 1791, from Connecticut, Gaius Pease and George Brutts came to town about the same time and all settled on Lee River. The fol- lowing, a well authenticated incident, is related of these three men who believed in exact justice. One Casey, who lived in the same neighborhood, for some offence took his son to the woods at night, and after a dreadful whipping left him tied to a tree until his screams brought the neighbors to his relief in the early morning. Notice was given of the transaction to the executors of the law, in this case, who appeared at the abode of Casey. the next night, and with the "beech seal" and raw- hide well laid on sought to change the disposition of Casey.
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OF VERMONT.
Among the early settlers were John Lyman, the father of John, (who was Clerk of the town for many years,) and Daniel who lived in Jericho for many years and till their death after the death of their father; David and Jedediah Field who came to Jericho from Guilford, Conn., about 1797, Mar- tin Chittenden, Nathaniel Bostwick, John Lee, Caleb Nash, Benjamin Day, Polli C. Packard, Jesse Gloyd, Jesse Thompson, James Marsh, Isaac Ben- ham, Oliver Lowrey, Truman Barney, Truman Galusha, Nathaniel Pliny, Lemuel Blackman, Elias Bartlett, Hosea Spaulding and Timothy Bliss.
One of the first roads that was built through Jericho, was built, as it was a custom in those days in a direct line over high hills, ran from what is now called Underhill Flatts to Onion River, over the hill and by the now farm house of Eugene Her- rick, and crossed Lee River near where W. R. Ma- comber now lives, and from there over the hill and by where Arthur K. Morse now resides, to Onion River.
It may be of some local interest to record where persons who were for a long time citizens of the town, resided. It will not be my purpose to be def- inite as to the time when such person's residence commenced or when they removed or died; nor will it be practicable for the writer, to state the res- idence of the inhabitants before 1857, when he be- came a citizen of the town, but will state the res- idence of the persons hereafter named from about the year 1857 to about 1870. On the road lead- ing from Jericho to Onion River, Daniel Lyman and
28
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EARLY HISTORY
his son Charles H., owned and lived on the farm where Mrs. E. L. Sargent now resides, and Horace Babcock a little east of the same road on land now owned by Wert Brigham. David Hutchinson lived on the farm where his son James H. Hutchin- son now lives; Orin Crane resided on the nextfarin to the south. Orley Thompson owned and lived upon the farm a little east from said road, that is now owned by Hosea Wright.
On the road running up Onion River Rufus Bishop lived on the place where Daniel B. Bishop now lives, and the said Daniel B. resided on his farm a little farther towards Richmond. Leet A. Bishop resided a long time on the farm now occu- pied by E. C. Fay, and until he removed to Willis- ton. George Goodrich lived on the road leading from the Leet A. Bishop place to Jericho Center, on the farm now owned and occupied by Edgar L. Barber. On the cross road leading from the said Leet A. Bishop place to the road leading from Jeri- cho Center to Richmond there resided Sylvester and Cyrus Tarbox on the farm where the survivor Cyrus now lives; and about one-half mile to the east of said Tarbox farm resided Solomon Powell on a farm which he afterwards sold and removed therefrom.
On the road running from Richmond to Jericho Center Jesse Gloyd has resided many years near Richmond line, where he and his son now live. About half a mile north from the last named place Dea. Ezra Elliott resided on the farm where George E. Cunningham now resides. Lewis Marsh resided for many years a little north of the Elliott farm,
307
OF VERMONT.
and Harvey Ford lived on the north bank of Mill Brook as you go north on said road. Subal Palmer lived at the top of the hill a few rods north of the Ford place and kept spruce beer for sale, and for a sign indicating what article he had to sell, he had placed over his door, "Spruss Bier." A little further towards the Center Henry Borrow- dale lived on his large farm, where S. W. Hoyt now lives. At the forks of the road where the Mill Brook road connects with the road to Rich- mond John T. Clapp lived many years, and till he removed to Jericho Corners. A little to the north of the Clapp place where the road is lined with handsome maple trees, there resided Dana Bicknell, where B. G. Brown now resides. Said Bicknell af- terwards removed to where his children, Dustin and Emma now live. On the same street Josiah Townsend formerly resided. Russell French re- sided in the brick house north of the Bicknell place, where his son Warren F. French now lives.
On the Mill Brook road there lived Rollin M. Clapp, A. S. Wood, Lyman Hall, and William Nealy. There lived on the East hill on the road leading across said brook, Harvey Field on the farm where his grandson Robert Field now lives. Silas J. Haskins, Ansel, Daniel, Zenas, and Horace Nash lived at Nashville.
Martin Howe, Theodocia and Lavina Monroe, and Harry Hoskins lived on the road running from Nashville to Lee River. There lived on the road leading from Nashville to West Bolton Judge An- drew Warner on the farm now occupied by Charles and Willie Bentley. Hubbel B. Smith lived at the
308
EARLY HISTORY
end of a spur of a road where Newell Story now lives. Further east on the main road leading to Bol- ton there lived Chauncey Abbott. Benjamin B. Hatch lived on the farm where Moses Leary and his son now live; Billings Stroud lived on the same road near Bolton line. On the road leading towards Jonesville there lived Chesman Johnson and John McAndlass. Nathan Smith lived at the end of the spur of road leading north from near the Moses Leary place.
South from Jericho Center near the Cemetery Hoyt M. Chapin lived, and on the same road run- ning round to the Richmond road there lived Hen- ry Gibbs and Nathan Richardson. Nathan Benham lived on the farm where his son-in-law, H. H. Hall, now resides. On the road running north-easterly from the Common there lived William Bartlett; and Norman Wight lived at the north end of that road. James Morse lived and carried on mercan- tile business at the south side of the Common un- til he moved on to his farm, where Arthur K. Morse now lives. Elias Bartlett lived a little north of the Common, on the road leading to Jericho village. Joel B. Bartlett lived at the west side of the Common near the store where George Styles has since resided. E. H. Lane was for a long time a merchant, doing business on the west side of the Common. Hosea Spaulding lived in the red house north of the village on the road towards Jericho, where Wells Lee now owns, and John Chambers lived at the corner of the road a little north of the said Spaulding place; Martin Bartlett, the land surveyor, owned and lived on the farm now owned by Isaac C. Stone.
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OF VERMONT.
William Johnson, Hira A. Percival, Phillip Car- rol and Bryan Reddy lived on the Plains on the south road leading from Jericho to Jericho Center, and Alexander Miller lived east of the Plains on the hill where Henry Smith now resides. Charles Hil- ton lived on the hill on the road leading from the said Miller place to Onion River where Carl Schill- hammer now lives, and where W. R. Macomber formerly lived. Vincent Varney lived on the road leading from the said Hilton place to Jericho Cen- ter on the farm where Sarah Varney and Jed Var- ney now reside. On the road from there to Onion River there lived James Morse. John Smith; and Gordon Smith lived where he now lives. On the road leading from the said Miller place to Jericho . Center Everet W. Johnson lived a little east of said Miller place, and James Graham resided on the farm where Oliver H. Brown now lives.
Allen Balch owned and lived on the farm where W. W. Ring now lives on the Lee River road lead- ing up said river from Jericho village; Milton Ford lived where Matthew J. Tierney resides; Addison M. Ford lived where he now does; T. Chittenden Galusha resided where John Schillhammer now lives. Henry B. Percival lived on the farm where W. I. Byington now lives; Lyman Stimson lived on the farm now owned by Sidney S. Thomson, and carried on the wheelwright and blacksmith business. Robert Gibson lived and carried on the shoe and boot making and repair business for many years and until he died, a little east of the Stimson place near the bridge. Asa Church lived at the corner of the roads where the Lee River road crosses the road leading to Underhill.
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EARLY HISTORY
Lucius L. Lane lived up the river on the farm where L. H. Chapin now resides, and Reuben Lee lived on the farm now occupied by his son-in-law, Luther M. Howe. Silas Ransom lived on thefarm now occupied by B. B Mattimore; Cyrus Lane lived on the farm now owned and occupied by Martin V. Willard and son George. Ezra Kinney lived near the school house. Antoine Laflash lived where Frank E. Kinney now does; Hiram Stone lived on the farm where James Morse now resides. Simeon Pease, Benjamin Joy and Thomas Choate lived on the road running from Lee River near said Hiram Stone farm to Underhill Center. Said Pease lived where Ezra J. Brown now lives. On the Lee River road, Leonard Pease lived on thefarm now known as the McGinnis farm.
Nehemiah Prouty lived in the two story house adjoining the Leonard Pease farm. David Benson lived where his widow resides, and Edgar Barney owned the saw-mill and lived on the premises there situated, where J. E. Burrows now resides. There lived on the upper road running from Lee River towards Underhill Center Isaac Smith and P. B. Smith his son; Stephen Hale lived on a farm on the same road leading to West Bolton, where John McGee now lives. Benial McGee, a litegous man, lived in the north-east corner of the town. James Martin lived where F. N. Fuller now lives, and on the same road F. A. Fuller, D. W. Doncaster lived for many years. Alva Pease lived on the farm where his son, Frank W. Pease, now resides; Leon Gauvin lived in the brick house on the same road, and Oatis Church lived on the farm next to Bolton line.
.
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OF VERMONT.
On the road running from Lee River to Under- hill Flatts (so called) Ezra Church lived on the farm where Asa Church now lives; Cyrus Packard lived where his son Harrison now resides, and Ed- mund Martin lived on his farm situated on the road leading from the Packard farm easterly to Lee River.
Homer Rawson lived where he now resides, on the corner of the roads, one leading northerly on to the Cilley hill (so-called.) Dr. Jesse Thompson lived where James McLane now lives, and C. M. Spaulding lived where Clark R. Varney resides, and Henry Oakes lived where Albert Cilley since lived till he died. Uzziel S. Whitcomb lived where James Hanley now lives, and Hiram Martin lived on the farm where Nelson A. Prior now resides, and Oliver Lowrey in the next house to the east of the Martin place, while Albert Lowrey owned and occupied the farm where his son, O. J. Lowrey, now lives, and George P. Howe lived on the farm now owned by Ira Hawley; Arthur L. Castle lived for many years and till he died, on the farm now owned by Irving A. Irish, and Selah Babcock a few rods to the east, adjoining the Castle farm. Lucius S. Barney lived on the farm now owned by his son, Truman B. Barney; and Hiram B. Day on the farm now owned by Elmer G. Irish.
Joseph Brown resided on the farm where his son Henry Brown now lives, on the road leading to Jericho Center; and Albert Gleason lived on the farm now owned by his son, I. R. Gleason. Rex- tus Orr lived on the middle road running south from the said Hiram B. Day farm, and on the same
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EARLY HISTORY
road, about a mile to the south, Newell Marsh lived, on the farm that was afterwards owned by Martin H. Packard, and now owned by M. B. Small. Abijah Whitton and his son, John P. Whit- ton, lived on the first farm on the road leading south from the said Albert Lowrey farm; Rollin M. Townsend lived where Loren Jackson now lives, on the same road; and Harvey Booth lived on the farm where his son, Hawley C. Booth, re- sides; while Hiram Booth lived on the farm where William Schillhammer resides. Julius H. Hapgood lived on the farm now owned by S. A. Hale on the Race-way road.
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