USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Castleton > Epitaphs of Castleton (Vt.) church yard > Part 2
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The last remains of Sally Eatef Daughter of Stephen D. & Jerush et d Eaton Died Ap' 13 AD. 1802 ing
Death is a debt from All' Gis Due Which I have paid and so must you
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h:" Born No! 9h AD. 1789 Æ 13th r ear.
i , This grave stone is a rough un- polished slab of green slate, smoothed on one side for the in- cription. It was engraved with a 1 ickknife.
ELIZABETH D. daughter of Elihu &. M. EATON died July 31. (825 ÆE. 23 Years.
Blessdl are the dead that die in the Lord.
Olive. wife of Milo Eaton. died lugt, 21, 1829. aged 23 years. SIL JO, ENOCH EATON Jr. son of ENOCH & ABIGAIL EATON. lied Sept. 25, 1828 aged 31 years
GILBERT EATON, DIED Sept. 25, 1832, Aged 35 Years.
Mrs. Louis wife of Mr. Emerson Furmer, .died April IS, 1821 ; Aged 44 years.
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This monument is raised, as a
sacred testimonial of her husband's affection.
Capt. PETER FISHER, died Dec. 10, 1330 In the 82 year of his age.
This languishing head is at rest ; It's thinking and aching are o'er ; This quiet, unmovable breast, Is heav'd by affliction no more.
OLIVE, vidon of PETER FISHER & daughter of B. & E. Career, died vy, 17, 1843, .E. 83 Yrs. 4 Ms. & 15 days.
Amazing scenes of bliss or unes, Death will to cu,ry one disclose, Engrossed by any thing beside
The soul ; the body to provide.
JULIA COLT, wife of LEON- ARD FISK DIED July 30, 1541. aged 36 years
"Be ye also ready."
OH ! RELENTLESS DEATII.
IN Memory of Mrs, Amie Fitch widow of Col. Eleazer Fitch late of Windham in the state of Connecti- cut who died August 25th 1790 in the 784 year of her age.
Let those who read this inscrip- tion remember death.
CONSTANTINE HI. FLAGG. born at Wilmington Vt. May. 1. 1809. died Castleton Nov. 21, 1832. His friends are fir he sleeps alone : No kindred's dust is near him strown ;
No brothers voice, no sisters sigh's Tell where love's buried treasure lies
In Memory of A. Tracy, son of Luther & Mercy Frisby, who died Oct. 18th 1707. 2. 1 years.
A morning power cut down de withered in an hour.
MERCY, wife of LUTHER FRISBY DIED Apl. 25, IS12, .E. 19 years. Erected by her Son N. T. FRISBY.
DANIEL FROST, died Oct. 14, 1887 aged 20 y'8 8 m.
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ROXANA. WIDOW OF ABRAM GAGE. DIED MAR. 1868 A. 75.
Elizabeth, daughter of Cyrus &t Mercy Gates, died July 6, 1795, in the 12," year of her age.
Mary, daughter of Cyrus && Mercy Gates ; died Dec," 1795; aged 3 days.
Ciarrissa daughter of Cyrus & Mercy Gates, died Feb. 27,^^ 1813; in the 13th year of her age.
Nathan, son of Cyrus & Mercy Gates died July 22, 1794; aged 9 days.
Cyrus, son of Cyrus, & Mercy Gates, died Nov. 12, 1799; in his 5ª year
Mercy, daughter of Cyrus & Mercy Gates died July 6,^^ 1793. in her 2,"d year.
WALTER RALEIGH. son of Walter R. & Frances Gilkey. born 15 April, 1825 ; died July 30, 1826.
Mary wife of Samuel Gillis, died Nov. 25," 1810, in the 53,4 year of her age.
Samuel Gillis, died Sept. 11". 1810, in the 56th, year of his age.
In Memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Gilmore, Relict of Mr. Jonathan Gilmore, who died Oct. 28. 1808 ; aged 71 years.
She was an early professor of re- ligion & adorned her profession by an exemplary life and conver 40- tion.
We mount the stage of life, Prove actors in the scene; Soon close the short account. Of threescore years and ten.
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MR. JONATHAN GILLMOR 'E whose pious and exemplary life to ir- minated in a happy and triumphant death March 30" 1799, in the 7.'", year of his age. .
The sculptured stone in vain et ys -
Thy worth dear Gillmore to imp irt An epitaph of nobler praise Is written on the feeling heart Yet ah ! accept this marble aid Thy virtuous memory to save For soon that record must be laid Beside thee in the silent grave.
Mr. Gilmore lived in the town of Ira high up on the south side of the mountain. The high moun- tain on the north side of Cas- tleton River valley in that town still bears his name.
Everts, Son of Jumes & Sally Glass, died July 4. 1810; ayed 15 Months & 14 days.
Those lovely charmes That deck'd thy face, A Saviour's arms May yet embrace.
Sally Gleason died Sep. 5. 1813 Aged 26 years.
Pause here, and count thy duy And if they flee too fast, For thy sad thoughts to count Count every day the last.
in To .fr.
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HENRY J. PERRY Son of Sal- ma Gould. DIED June 11, 1851. 21. 17 Yrs & 6 ms.
For from a world of grief and sin, Eternally with God shut in.
CAPT. MOSES ODDARD,
died Jan. 5th 1809 ; ag, 53 years. Adam ofending brought the fall ! Christ obaying ransom'd all !
Sucred to the dead.
In memory of a son, of John and Chloe Goodwin, who died March 6, 1807 ; aged 4 mo. & 14 days.
In memory of George Henry, son of John and Chloe Goodwin, who died Aug. 3, 1823 ; Aged 1 year & 5 mo.
Sacred to the memory of JOIIN GOODWIN Esq. who died April 7, 1827 ; Aged 47 years.
Farewell to pain, and worldly care, Farewell to friends, and partner deur ; I leave you for a mansion where, No pains afflict - no grief, nor tears.
FREDERICA. 1. son of IRA LYDIA GORIIAM died March 14, 1832 aged 11 m.o' 14 days.
HIELEN M. daughter of IRA & LYDIA A. GORILAM, died Nov. 26, 1833, aged 3 months € 12 days.
LYDIA AUGUSTA1, wife of IRA GORHAM, died April 3, 1834 ; in the 36 year of her age.
Daniel Hunphrey, son of Jerod && Ascnath Gorham, died Nov. 3. 1815, in the 244 year of his Age.
This lasting marble shall declare, What souse and worth have ended hiere
Where mourning friends will long re- pair,
To case their anguish with a tear.
EDWIN T. son of EDMUND & MERCY GORHAM. died April 2, 1836 aged 8 yrs.
EDWIN T. 2ª son of EDMUND & MERCY GORHAM. died April 14, 1837 aged 8 mo.
O if parental care could save
Two lovely sons that was doomed to die.
Those virtues would seek the Grave Nor their lively forms here mould- ing lie.
DANIEL HIUMPIIREY, son of IRA & LYDIA A. GOR- HAM, dicd J. 30, 1834; aged 13 years & ? -ys. .
GEO. M. GORIIAM SON OF IRA & LYDIA GORHAM. BORN JULY 13, 1S24 : DIED DEC. 1, 1849.
IN memory of ASENATH, wife of Jured Gorham, died April 25, 1814, in the 80, year of her age.
In memory of Jared Gorham, acho died Dec. 25 1824, Aged 62 years
Lo! Beth'len's star illumes the durksome tomb, Foretells the glories of the world to come ;
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Life follows death, & bliss succeeds to woe ; Who dies to live, must live to die below.
. ELLON MARIAH daughter of S M. & R A. GRANGER dird June 22, 1832 aged 6 years,
Olive, Daugh. of Noadiah & Rachel Granger, died March 23, 1814 ; aged 4 years.
Frail as a flower, Our children fall, Beneath the power That form'd us all.
Wn, Cullen Died Oct. 11," 1804 ; aged 16 months. Marcia Died Jan. 25", 1807, aged 21 diys. Children of S. & B. Gridley.
Before we ceased to drop a tear, These infant,s tombs to view,
Death drop'd his dread commission here, And seiz'd our Cullen too ! Life's cruel foc again retu
And aim'd at Marcia's charms, A weeping mother's fondness spurn'd,
And snatch'd them from her arms.
Philenia died March 12th, 1799. Alfred April 6th, 1800. Children of S. & B. Gridley. Each aged 35 days.
Here wrapt in mournful sleep, Two Infant's relics lie;
Whose deaths Alas bid Parents weep
And taught them they must die. But had their days been years, Perhaps by sorrow led,
They might have view'd the tomb with tears And mourn'd their kindred dead.
Deacon EBER GRIDLE died March 1" AD. 1821 ; Ag. 45 years.
re- by sa- .
Tears, cease to flow ! Ye melted mourners know,
Your friend has pass'd the sea icoe,
His end mas peace : His footsteps trace ; Desire that heavenly grace,
That filled his soul, shone on his face, So grief shall cease.
He was a very devout man and an active member of the Congrega- tional church.
Azariah Griswold, died . 17, 1823 ; Aged 66.
Though in the ground my body lies, And i. & cold clods are o'er it prest, My soul Kas soar'd above the skies, There to enjoy Eternal rest.
JAMES C. GRISWOLD, DIED Sept. 24, 1842 ; aged 27 years.
He became insane and drowned himself in Lake Bomoseen.
POLLY wife of CALVIN GRISWOLD died April 2, 1832 aged 52.
Till to its center, this vast planet shakes,
And the archangel's trump proc'aims aloud,
Arise come forth the glorious morn- ing braks, Which night and death again shal never cloud.
CALVIN GRISWOLD Die Dec. 25, 1863, JE 84.
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OSCAR, son of D. & E. GRIS- VOLD, died May 15. 1838 22 y Lm 11 ds. F E ELSA, wife of HARVEY GRIS- TOLD, Died Dec. 14, 1847. A. 40 die RS.
Olive, wife of Azariah Griswold, died April 5, 1823 ; Aged 63.
Dear Children, why thus flow your tears, Why thus with sorro swells your breast, I've number'd out my tiresome years, My pains are o'er and I'm at rest.
SOLOMON GUERNSEY Died Jan. 5", 1789. Aged 46 years.
The Saint's belief Outlives the tomb.
He was the first merchant in Cas- tleton. Hle built the brick house where the Bomoseen House now stands, and dug the well just west of the building. Ile was a native of Connecticut.
SARAHI GUERNSEY died Oct. 6ª, 1804. aged 59 years. Tho' grace the just their friends shall meet, Where transport never dies ; Where JESUS' Smiles make joy complete And love outlives the skies.
SELAH GRIDLEY M. D. - BORN JULY 6, 1767. DIED 1827. BURIED 1. AT EXETER N. II.
BULAII LANGDON, WIFE OF
SELAH GRIDLEY M. D. BORN APRIL 26, 1769. DIED JUNE 26, 1854,
SOLOMON K. GUERNSEY Born Sept. 23, 1798 ; Died May 6, 1821. A beneficiary Student for the GOSPEL Ministry.
A pause in time, For nobler themes above.
SYLVANUS GUERNSEY, DIED April 3, 1855. ZE. S7.
Mr. Guernsey was born in Bethle- hem, Conn., Oct. 7, 1767, but came from Litchfield, Conn., to Castleton when a young man. . Ile was a wheelwright and cabinet maker. He made flax and wool spinning wheels in Castleton for many years.
IN memory of two Infant twin's, Son's of David & Deborah Hale, died Nov 13^^ 1809
In memory of tico Infant twins. Daughters of David && Deborah Hale, died april 7- 1811
Lucy, daughter of David & De- borah Hule died March 11, " 1813 ; aged 1 your & 5 days.
In Memory of John C. Hall, who died in Albany Feb. 12, 1813: In the 25,0 year of his Age.
NANCY, wife of ELIAS HALL, DIED FEB. 28, 1796, Aged 38 Years.
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MARY, wife of ELIAS HIALL, DIED FEB. 14, 1846, Aged SS Years.
LIUT. ELIAS HALL DIED JUNE 10. 1848, Aged 94 Years.
He was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War, and promoted to a lieutenant. He and his younger brother were taken prisoners by the British and taken to Ticonderoga, but soon after made his escape. His remains were interred with mil- itary honors.
JOHN HALL Capt. of the mili- tia in Castleton KILLED In an in- vasion by the British JULY 6, 1777 In the 55, Year of his age.
Death did not take place till Au- gust 6 1777. Ile was killed by a scouting party of British soldiers and Indians sent out by Col. Banm, about one half mile east of the vil- lage of Castleton, where the old stockade fort was afterwards built. He was born in Plainfield, Conn., in 1727 ; and came to Vermout about 1775.
JANE McLEAN. wife of NATHANIEL HART. Born July 15. 1776. Died Oct. 4, 1853.
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In memory of NATHANIEL HART, who died July 18, 1847, EE. 82 years & 2 mno.
He was one of the preceptors of the Rutland County Grammar School.
MARY wife of NATH,L HART. died March 13. 1830. aged 53 years. .
Sacred to the memory of MARTY ANN HART only child of Nathat's- iel Hart Esgr. who died Ang. 311 1824. aged 18 years.
Too pure for earth, To Heaven has flown ; And left her friends to mourn. On the urn are engraved the fol- lowing words: " Weep not for me."
OLIVIA daughter of GIDEON HART. Conn. died Muy 14, 1830, aged 23 years.
In Memory of Mr. Ebe Hartwell, who died April 2,nd aged 67 years.
Here lies my kind companion dear, A mould'ring back to clay;
For death, on him has laid his hand, And summonds him away. . But thro' the goodness Lord, of the
I trust he's won the prize ; Let Angels guar, his sleeping dust, Till Jesus bids it isc.
LOVISA. wife of JOSEPII IIAWKINS. died Sept. 22 1839 and years.
JOSEPH HAWKINS died jun. 14 1835 aged 76 years.
Sally, Daughter of Zechariah ( Sally Hawkins, died Dec. 2ª 180; aged 7 weeks & 4 days.
Thus fades the flower nipt by the frozen gale, Tho' once so sweet so lovely to our eyes.
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ste SALLY wife of ZECHARIAH atAWKINS died Nov. 3 1822 in un + 41' year.
Er. In
elč MARVIN J. Son of J. L. & Ada- nude HEWITT, died Sept. 24, 1845, 5. 17 Mos & 6 Ds.
JOHN D. Son of J. L. & Ada- line HEWITT, died March 1, 1839, ZE. 1 Y'r. 2 Mo & 6 Ds.
GEORGE WELLS son of L. Wells & Helen M. HIBBARD, DIED Aug. 27, 1848, Aged 13 months.
God's will be done.
EMILINE, Daughter of E. & E. A. Higley, Born Sept. 22, 1810, Died June 20, 1817.
Her opening morn, serene and · bright,
Once smil'd, and promis'd long delight :
Soon deuth, in darkness, veil'd her duy, And scept her tender life away.
Columbus, third son of Erastus && Esther A. Higley, died April. 12, 1815 ; Aged 1 year & S months.
He peaceful sleeps, Affection weeps ; JESUS will come, And rend the tomb.
Esther Higley, Relict of Dea. Brewster Higley, Died at Tinmouth Sep. 28. 1812 ; Aged 73 years.
Releas'd from sin, from pain, & car., The soul exulting laves her clay
And sours above to JESUS where, His glory beams ETERNAL Day.
ESTHER ANN, third daughter . of E. & E. A. HIIGLEY, born Jan. 25, 1808 ; died March 4, 1825.
LEAVITT NELSON Son of H. O. & S. G. HIGLEY Born, Sept. 19. 1836. Died Nov. 26. 1837.
The Lord hath taken away.
Rev. NELSON HIGLEY born Oct. 6, 1803 died March 19, 1832
Deacon BREWSTER HIG- LEY Was born in Simsbury ( Con.) March 14^^ AD. 1735, Died April 11" 1805.
We mount the stage of life,
Prove actors in the scene,
Soon close the short account
Of three score years and ten : But when the trumpet's sound
Awcakes the sleeping dust,
Eternal youth will crown
The triumph of the just.
Miss Emma Higley of Middle- bury, Vt., a great granddaughter of Dea. Brewster Higley has furnished the following account of him and his family :
Brewster Higley was born in Simsbury, Conn., March 30, 1735. He was the eldest son of Dea. Brewster Higley, who was the eldl- est son of Brewster Higley, the third son and fifth child of Capt. John Higley, one of the original settlers of Simsbury. Capt. John
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is mentioned in the charter of the town signed by Gov. Treat, "14th of May 1685, by virtue of power to me granted by our late Soverign Lord, King Charles the Second of Blessed memory !"
Capt. John had settled in Sims- bury, in 1680, bought a farm of Capt. Wolcott, and the house where his son Gov. Roger Wolcott was born. Afterwards Gov. Jonathan Trumbull, a grandson of Capt. Hig- ley was born in the same house. This house and farm were the carly home of Brewster 1st, 2nd and 3d, and here each brought his bride. The last marriage is thus set forth in the town records of Simsbury :
"Ap. 7, A.D. 1757 Brewster Hig- ley the 3d, son of Brewster Higley the 2nd, and Esther Owen daughter of John Owen and Esther Humph- rey Owen his wife were joined in marriage by John Humphrey Esq Their grandfather's name is Brew- ster, and grandmother's name Es- ther. Their father's name is Brew- ter, and mother's name Esther, so that there are three generations from grandfather and grandmother to grandson and granddaughter all of one name for male and one name . for female : three generations all living ! May the divine blessing rest on them and theirs to the latest posterity ! " The town clerk was the good Deacon and Judge Owen the father of the bride.
Besides the farm Brewster Higley had charge of a saw mill, cider, and cider brandy distillery ; was consta- ble and tax collector. Then as the days of minute men came around he kept the roll of those present at each training day and the fines due for absence and for not bringing guns in order, etc.
His own name is on this roll, arY carefully folded in a large book a commission as ensign with Go. . ,ind Trumbull's signature dated 2P Sept. 1777, and an accompanyi! record of service in the campaig the that ended with Burgoyne's surre . (" der.
How his interest in the Vermont Colonies was first awakened we wan but conjecture.
An intimate friend, Capt. Noah Phelps, was in the Connectiont Company that came with Arnold to Castleton, and held the famous Council of War on the Village Green, before the taking of : ... deroga.
The oldest son is said to been with Ethan Allen in the Can- ada expedition in the summer and fall of 1775 ; and so we conjecture, he might have been one of the fifty who came up with Phelps to help take Ticonderoga.
Mrs. Higley's sister Theresa mar- ried Noah Smith, and they came to Manchester, Vermont, in 1715.
In October, 1778, Brewster Ilig- ley b- . ght of Ephriam Buel a farm of 523 acres, bounded east by the farm of George Foote's; south by Gers* ike's; west by Samnel Mouleon's; north by Whitlock Ilill. There was standing on it a rude log cabin. Twelve hundred pounds was the price paid for this home in the wilderness, the next year after Burgoyne's invasion with its attend- ant tory and Indian outrages.
In May of 1779, the family went up and took possession. We must stop and look at them. Brewster forty-four years of age, in the prime of his manhood, six feet tall and broad shouldered, high forchead, high cheek bones, keen eyes, strong,
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en'n face, clear headed, brave, with cender heart that he must keep pler and was a little ashamed of. y. Higley, forty; Brewster the _. est son, just twenty ; Louise enteen, a brave, bright witted of: intelligent girl, the pet and comrade of her brother ; Anne the timid one of the band, fifteen; Zil- pah, thirteen; Delight, ten; Eras- tus, seven; . Esther not quite four, and Iola the yearling baby.
The family goods and chattels were packed in ox carts, Mrs. Ilig- ley and Louise rode horses and car- ried the younger children in their arms, and on pillions behind. The elder children walked with their father and two nephews Amasa Alard and John Case.
When the roads became im- passable for the loaded carts, Brewster sent his son on with the mother and children, to guide them on to the journey's end, and bring back the horses to help with the loads. But after they had gone his imagination suggested so many possible perils, that he walked the whole night and overtook the party just as they were mounting their horses for the next day's journey. Louise was the first to discover him and relates how her heart was light- ened as she saw him leaping from one fallen log to another and answered his cheery "hallo."
The Castleton account book be- gins with the entry "June 1779, for two bushels of wheat, £15 (50 dol- lars) George Foote." $25,00 a bushel for seed wheat ! ! "Ten pounds of flour 1s. Sd.," is the next entry; then "a bushel of Indian corn 28. 6d." Under date of May 1780, we find this significant entry ;
"Nehemiah Hoyt, Dr. To four shillings cash for wolves."
And so the new house is begun. A larger log house was soon built which Mrs. Caswell remembers as standing behind the old red house in her childhood days. It was built in 1795.
The well and spice apple tree are all that now (1886) remain on the spot of this first house in the wild- erness, although we have various and sundry articles that were brought from Connecticut with them. The book-case and some of the books, some crockery, the gun, apothecary scales, etc. The seed of the spice apple tree was brought from Connecticut, by Mrs. Higley, also Long Stemt then called "Hog Stye," from its nearness to pig pen.
But we can scarcely, with the most vivid imagination, realize what a wilderness they had come into. The nearest neighbors were Gers- hom Lake, Richard Bentley, Sam- uel Moulton, and the dwellers in the fort,* the Footes and Cogswells. All the time they were in danger from foraging parties of British, Tories and Indians. Each spring to help in the sowing the crops came the rumors of another invasion like Burgoyne's.
One foraging party came and slept on the kitchen floor while the mother and daughters baked bread for them all night, finding it diffi- cult to pass from moulding board to brick oven and not step on some body.
Once the word came from the fort that a skirmishing party might be along, and there was packing in
* The fort was not built till 177S
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hot haste, while horses loaded with feather beds, blankets, silver spoons, and children, were led off Poultney- wards to be ont of the way ; and calves, chickens and pigs were con- veyed to a hiding place.
Another such rumor one dark night caused timid Annie to spring from her bed and rush with her lit- tle sister Esther, Mrs. Caswell's mother (Mrs. Sylvanus Guernsey) to the woods. They curled down behind a log and shivered with cold and fear till daylight and the elder brother's cheery whistling as he hunted for them, assured them the danger was over for that time.
In the spring of 1782, these ru- mors of a new invasion from Can- ada, assumed such a definite shape, that it was decided to send Mrs. Higley and Mrs. Lake each with an ox cart and load of young child- ren to Connecticut to stay till better times. Some of the party were young enough to enjoy the trip no doubt, but baby Harley, the first Higley born in Castleton (Oct. 9th 1781) did not ; and her Insty cries were long remembered by the dwel- lers along the road side. . Louise volunteered to stay and keep house for her father and brother. She was not afraid. The brother at this time was a member of the garrison at the fort. Louise earned a barrel of flour by baking bread for the garrison that summer. Mr. Hall in his lectures on the " Forts of Ver- mout" tells how the commandant spent his evenings at Mr. Brewster Iligley's quite often, and one night staid so late as to be locked out ! This story fits in with a family tra- dition, that some connnandant at the fort stole away the heart of the fair Louise, and then went away and
forgot her. So that when she mar by the minister's son at West Ruti sa- (Benajab Guernsey Roots), Jan., 1783, she did not give him; first love. The brother married same year " the girl he left behin in Connecticut, and brought ame bride to a house just west of this father's, about where the Harris house now (1886) stands.
The coming of a :nan of so much intelligence, property, and execu- tive ability to the little new settle- ment was duly appreciated by his townsmen. We read of him at once as moderator, justiec of peace, town clerk, committee to engage minis.' ter, arrange for singing school (both paid by the town), draw up papers to the General Assembly, resolu. tions, etc., etc. The original draft o; some of the papers we have, this one for example :
"To the Honorable General As sembly of the State of Vermont, il their adjourned session at Benning ton, Jan. 31, 1782, the Petition o the Inhabitants of Pittsford an Castleton " "Inmibly showeth tha your petitioners in their Frontie situation for several years past hav. been obliged to remove with thej families and effects being Gratel exposed to the Enemie's Scouts of which account the Improvement s our farms and other business he very much suffered. Notwithstany ing your Petitioners have not onį. Paid their Proportionate Part f. the Support of War, but have lik wise born the additional burden frequently scouting for our ov Safety. These circumstances wi many others induce your Petition to Pray that this Honorable Go eral Assembly will Please to I
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en'pt the Present Inhabitants of Castleton and Pittsford, from the Provision and Land Tax for the year ensuing."
As Justice' of Peace it was one of his duties to solemnize and keep a record of marriages. Thirty-four are recorded in his book between the dates 1781 and 1792, also the Prayers offered before and after the marriage.
In 1784 the Congregational Church was formed and two years later the grand squabble began about where the new church should be built, whether upon the fort ground where the old one was, at Castleton Corners, near Landlord Remington's or elsewhere. Brew- ster Higley offe . the land where
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- the old cemet( is ar" the ground pin front of it, .. ". so helped settle Ethat point. Afterwards he gave n the land opposite the church green o,for a parade ground. He and Mrs. b Iligley united with the church in lc1790. In 1793, he was chosen the h second deacon.
Pi The last decade of the century Wsaw the disintegration of the large j"family. We have chronicled the h'the marriages of Brewster 4th and LLouise, Annie's followed in Sept. ar22, 1785. Then Delight married erEnos Merrill in 1789. The father fahimself officiated at these three chelder daughters' weddings.
In 1794, occurred the death of giDea. Brewster Higley (2nd), in twConnectient. Quite an amount of laproperty came to the Castleton fam- buly in the distribution of his estate. po1 bushel of silver coin as part of enais estate was expended for gold concads for each of the eight daugh- IRters and in journeying about with
the invalid Zilpah, first to Connecti- ent, then to the recently discovered springs at " Sarratogna." She con- tinned to decline however and died 30th March 1798.
Meantime the elder son had a sharp attack of the Western fever, made a journey on foot, by the aid of Capt. John's compass to the wilds of Virginia and Ohio, and among thre deaths in his record book the father puts down in grim grief and disappointment : " July 27th, 1779, Brewster removed with his family, viz : wife, three sons and three daughters with a desire to go to the Ohio, as I suppose."
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