USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Gazetteer and business directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84 > Part 26
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TOWN OF ROYALTON.
The Indians who went down the east side of the river, having gone as far as the house of Capt. Gilbert, in Sharon, made captive his nephew, Nathan- iel Gilbert, and set out on their return. As they retraced their steps they fired every building within sight, devastated fields, destroyed cattle, wasted the garnered crops, and spread desolation and destruction with unsparing hand. They then retreated with their plunder and captives over the hills into Randolph, where they encamped for the night.
As the attack had been so sudden and unexpected, the inhabitants had not only been unable to combine for resistence, but had in many cases, through terrible fear, failed to exert the ordinary means of self-preservation. So many hours now passed since the first appearance of the Indians, that the alarm had spread far and near, and had caused the most intense agitation. As the news was borne through the villages that border the banks of the Connecticut, the bold father and the impetuous son, the hired laborer and the flourishing farmer, all who could be spared with safety, left their firesides and homes without further warning, and marched directly to the scene of plunder and devastation. By evening several hundreds of resolute men had collected at the place where the attack was first commenced, ready to adopt such measures as the emergency demanded. A company was organized, and Col. John House, of Hanover, N. H., made commander. The Indians were followed to their encampment ; but no blow was struck, as the savages threatened to kill all the captives, should they not be allowed to depart in peace, sending in the head of one to convince the company that they meant what they said.
Upon a review of the day, it was found that the Indians had killed two persons, taken twenty-five prisoners, burned one house in Tunbridge, two : houses in Sharon, twenty-one in Royalton, several in Randolph, and sixteen new barns, variously located, which were filled with hay and grain, that they I had slaughtered about 150 head of neat cattle and all the sheep and swine they could find, and had destroyed all the household furniture they could not take with them.
Many thrilling incidents of this occasion have been handed down to us, which there is not space to mention here, but the exploits of Mrs. Hendee mark her as the heroine of the day. After the attack had been made upon " her husband's house, she, by his advice, started for a neighboring dwelling with her little boy and girl. While on the road she was met by a party of Indians who took her son, but left her daughter with her. She determined, however, to rescue her son from the hands of his captors. Taking her little girl by the hand, she proceeded down the river on foot, until she discovered a large body of Indians stationed on the opposite shore. Wishing to find the officer in command, she set out to cross the river, and was prepared to ford the stream when she met an Indian who by signs asked whither she was going. Having made known to him her intentions, he in a fit of good humor or gallantry, or perhaps both, offered to take her over on his back. She
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TOWN OF ROYALTON.
refused his proposal, but allowed him to carry her child. The little girl pro- tested against this proceeding, declaring that "she didn't want to ride the old Indian ;" but becoming reconciled to the steed, the three entered the water. They had gone nearly half way across the stream, when the current becoming more rapid, the polite Indian, in order to reassure Mrs. Hendee, patted her on the shoulder and signified to her his readiness to assist her to the other side when he had taken her child over, provided she would wait upon a rock near by, whose surface was above the water. This time she did not reject the offer. Clambering up upon the rock, she there remained until he returned. True to his word, he then took her upon his back, and carry- ing her to the other side, placed her in safety by the side of her daughter.
Hastening to Lieutenant Horton, she implored him to restore to her the child. She was informed that he would not be hurt, but with others would be trained as a soldier. Not daunted at this reply, she continued her importunities until the British officer assured her he would release him. On the arrival of the company in whose charge the boy had been placed, Horton prevailed on the Indians to give him up to his mother. Having been suc- cessful in this undertaking, she endeavored to procure the release of her neighbor's children. At this juncture she was compelled, by the cruel threats and actions of one of the savage party, again to relinquish her son. A second time did she appeal to Horton for aid, and again succeeded in liberating her offspring. She now set out on her return, having in her charge her own little boy and girl, and eight boys whose freedom she had obtained. On reaching the stream, Mrs. Hendee carried two of the children across it on her back, one at a time, as she a little while before had been borne by the Indian. The rest forded the river together, their arms being placed around each other's necks, that they might the better withstand the force of the current. She was welcomed with great joy on her return, and for many years after lived to receive the oft-repeated thanks of those whose children she had been the instrument of releasing from a captivity whose terrors were akin to those of death.
The first record of a town meeting bears date December 1, 1778, and the next March 23, 1779. At this latter meeting, Comfort Seaver was chosen town clerk ; Elias Stevens, constable ; and Isaac Morgan, Timothy Durkee and Comfort Seaver, selectmen. The first representative was Joseph Park- hurst, in 1788. Comfort Seaver and Abel Stevens were the first justices of the peace, chosen in 1786. The first born was Elias Stevens, Jr., about 1777. The first grist and saw-mill was built under circumstances as follows : December 18, 1775, the original proprietors, under the New York charter, con- veyed to Elias Curtis a parcel of land known as " lot 35 in the Dutch allot- ment," on condition that he should build a grist and saw-mill thereon, and also loaned him £233 to carry on the work, taking a mortgage on the property to insure the payment of the loan. The mill was completed in January, 1777, and was destroyed by the Indians in 1780. In 1782 it was rebuilt by Isaac
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21 3
TOWN OF ROYALTON.
Morgan and Huckins Storrs, of Lebanon, N. H., and with improvements and repairs at different times has been in use since, being now the property of M. S. Adams.
The first bridge across White river in the town was built in 1785. I spanned the river just opposite the present residence of John B. Braley, on road 30. Such an important event as the opening of this " Great Bridge" was of course thought worthy of a celebration a little out of the usual routine. Accordingly, Gen. Stevens, then Col. Stevens, proposed to furnish a barrel of rum to lubricate the throats of the celebrationists, provided they would grant him the honor of carrying the first load across the structure, and would chris- ten it " Steven's bridge." This boon was granted him, and when the event- ful day arrived he was on hand with his barrel of " celebration water." The " first load " consisted of a buxom lass of some 200 advoirdupois, perched astride the Colonel's shoulders. An axe soon burst in the head of the rum cask and the rum went down as the cheers went up.
Minot Wheeler came to Royalton, from Hollis, N. H., at an early date, keeping the old hotel at Royalton for a long time. He subsequently removed to Bethel, where he died in 1849, aged seventy-two years. Minot, Jr., the seventh of his ten children, born in 1814, settled on the old homestead, served the county as sheriff thirty-two years, was representative three terms and died in 1882. He reared a family of five children, only one of whom settled in the town.
William Pierce came to Royalton, from Connecticut, at an early day, locating about a mile south of the South village, where he died July 18, 1854, aged eighty-four years. Ira, the only one of his twelve children who settled in the town, died June 22, 1879, aged seventy-four years. One of Ira's two children, Mrs. Charles Slack, settled in the town.
Abijah Burbank, with his father, was an early settler, locating upon the farm now occupied by Samuel Robinson. He died in 1842, aged sixty-eight years. Lyman, the fifth of his seven children, died here in 1866, aged sixty- three years. Two of Lyman's three sons settled in the town.
Thomas Bingham, a lieutenant in the Revolutionary war, born in 1742, came to Royalton at an early date and located upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Harry A. Six of his twelve children settled in the town. Harry, the tenth child, died on the old homestead in 1862. -
Lemuel Ross came here, from New Hampshire, at an early date locating upon a farm on the line between Tunbridge and Royalton, and died here in 1822, aged sixty-eight years. Snell, the fourth of his nine children, resided here until twenty-six years of age, then removed to Tunbridge, where he died in 1869, aged seventy-seven years. Freeman, his third son, born in Tunbridge in 1823, now resides in Royalton.
Benjamin Day came to Royalton, from Hebron, Conn., in 1774, locating in the northwestern part of the town, where he died at an advanced age. Four of his eleven children settled here. Sylvester, his ninth child, born in
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TOWN OF ROYALTON.
1770, died on the old homestead in 1813, aged forty-three years. Two of his nine children settled here.
Isaac Pinney, from Strafford, Conn., came to this town in 1777, and in 1780 located upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Fordyce, where he died, in 1842, aged eighty-four years. Fordyce, born in 1817, is a son of Isaac, Jr., the second of Isaac's nine children. Isaac, Jr., died in 1870, aged eighty-four years.
Daniel Rix came to Royalton, from Connecticut, 1778, locating near the present site of South Royalton, where he reared a family of seven children. He became a large landowner, a prominent business man and a deacon of the Congregational church. His son Elisha was an infant when the family came here. He also became a prominent man, was president of the " turn- pike company " between Royalton and White River Junction, and also held many of the town offices. Four of his family of eight children are now liv- ing, two in this town. William, the fifth child, born in 1810, removed to the south in 1834, and remained until 1865. Edward Rix, youngest son of Elisha, born in 1820, now occupies the old homestead, on road 32.
Squire C. Cleveland came from Connecticut in 1795, and located upon the farm now owned by Seth Morley, 2d, whose wife, Anna, is a grand- daughter of Mr. Cleveland.
Philip Howard, from Bridgewater, Mass., came to Royalton in 1794, locating in the northern part of the town, where he died in 1860, aged ninety years. Two of his eleven children, Charles and Elisha, settled in the town. Silas W., sixth child of Elisha, born in 1845, now resides on road 45, corner 56.
John Root came from Connecticut about 1795, and located upon a farm near the center of the town, and from there removed to the farm now occu- pied by his grandson, John T., where he died in 1834, aged seventy-three years. John T. is the fifth child of Stephen E. Root, born in 1829.
Benjamin Cole came from New Hampshire in 1795, and located upon the farm now occuped by George Harris. He reared a family of seven children, and died in 1842, aged eighty-one years.
John Bliss, born in 1772, came from Massachusetts in 1796. He first located upon a farm in the western part of the town, then removed to a farm on road 33, where he died August 29, 1859, aged eighty-six years. Two of his seven children settled in the town. Charles W., son of John A., born in 1814, now resides on road 33.
Elisha Pierce came to this town about 1800, and located upon a farm on road 22, where he died in 1830, aged sixty-three years. Only one of his seven children, Edwin, settled in the town. Edwin was born in 1800, and died here in 1873. His widow still survives him, aged seventy-seven years. Only one of their children, Mary M., is living.
John Hinkley, from Northfield, came here about 1800, and located in the southern part of the town, where he died in 1870, aged eighty-four years.
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TOWN OF ROYALTON.
Only one of his seven children, James M., settled in the town. He resides on road 21.
James Fay, from New Hampshire, came to Royalton, previous to 1800, and located in the southern part of the town, where he died in 1832, aged sixty-three years. Charles, the eleventh of his twelve children, born in 182I, has always resided here. He has one child.
Arunah Adams came from Connecticut to Royalton about 1800 and set- tled in the western part of the town, about three miles above Royalton village. He had a family of four children. Forest Adams, born in 1805, the second child of Arunah, was one of the leading citizens of the town, being elected town treasurer for thirty years. His death occurred in 1880. Of his family of four children, three are living, Frederick B., deceased. Martin S., engaged in the lumber trade, represented the town in 1878.
Gideon Crandall, came to Royalton from Connecticut, previous to 1800, and located on road 3, near where his grandson, Douglass R., now resides. The latter's father was Tracy, one of Gideon's nine children.
Thomas Clark, born in England, came to Royalton about 1800. Two of his three children are now living, the eldest, Chester T., on road 47.
Calvin Goff came to Royalton from Pomfret, Vt., about 1803, reared a family of five children, and died in 1865, aged seventy-nine years. Phineas H., his first child, born in 1810, died in 1881. Harry B., twin brother of William, born in 1818, resides on road 41.
Dr. Joseph A. Denison, a native of Connecticut, came to Royalton in 1815, locating upon the place now owned by his son, Dudley C. He was one of the early physicians of the town, and was largely sought by neighboring towns. He died in 1855, aged eighty years. He had a family of six children, only two of whom, Dudley C. and Rachel C., are living. The former is a popular lawyer and has held many of the town offices.
Reuben Dodge came to this town, from Claremont, N. H., about 1820, and died here in 1860, aged sixty-eight years. Nine of his twelve children settled in the town. Denison D., his fifth child, born in 1827, resides on road 12. Chester B., the seventh child, born in 1835, resides on road 6.
Craton Belknap, son of Chester, born April 14, 1821, now resides on road 32. He had a family of four children.
Austin Brooks came to Royalton at an early date and located upon the farm now owned by his son, Selden S., on road 20}, where he died in 1880, aged eighty years.
Benjamin Spaulding, son of Azial Spaulding, an early settler in Sharon, came to Royalton in 1823, and died in Canaan, Vt., in 1851. His nine children all settled in this town.
William Shirlock, born in Ireland, came to Royalton in 1831, and located upon a farm on road 9, where he still resides.
James Davis came to Royalton, from Randolph, Vt., in 1837, locating on road 20, where he still resides. He was the town representative in 1849, and has also held other offices of trust.
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TOWN OF SHARON.
James Doyle, a native of Ireland, came to Royalton from Woodstock, about 1847, locating upon the farm he still occupies. He has a family of seven children.
The First Congregational church, located at Royalton village, was organ- ized in the autumn of 1777, the first pastor being Rev. John Searl. The first house of worship was erected in 1784, followed by another in 1790, and the present building was erected in 1839. It is a wood structure capable of seating 450 persons, and valued, including grounds, etc., at $5,000.00. The society has eighty-two members, with Rev. W. D. Smith, pastor.
St. Paul's Episcopal church, located at Royalton village, was organized in 1835, Bev. Nathaniel Sprague being the first pastor. The church building was erected during that year, and is now valued at $1,600.00. Rev. M. P. Stickney is the present pastor of the society.
The South Royalton Congregational church was organized February 14, 1868, with twenty-two members, Rev. D. W. Fox being the first pastor. The church building was erected during that year, a structure capable of seating 220 persons, and now valued, including grounds, at $5,600.00. The society now has sixty members, with Rev. W. D. Smith, pastor.
S HARON lies in the northern part of the county, in lat. 43º 47' and long. 4° 35', bounded north by Strafford, in Orange county, east by Norwich, south by Pomfret, and west by Royalton. It contains an area of 23,040 acres, and was chartered by Gov. Wentworth, of New Hampshire, August 17, 1761, to John Taylor and sixty-one others, in sixty-eight shares. Its original area is still maintained, except that a small portion of Pomfret was set off to it October 20, 1807.
The surface of the town is rather uneven, though not so much so but that large acres of excellent agricultural land is left, yielding large crops of corn, grain and grass. White river flows through the southern-central part of the town, in an easterly direction, affording some excellent mill-sites. It also receives numerous minor tributaries from the north and south, some of which also afford good mill-privileges. The geological structure of the territory is made up entirely of rocks of the calciferous mica schist formation, which, owing to their rapid disintegration, constantly add depth and strength to the soil. Easy facilities for transportation are afforded by the Central Vermont railroad, which passes through the valley of White river.
In 1880 Sharon had a population of 1,012, and in 1882 it was divided into eleven school districts, and contained eleven common schools, employing four male and twenty female teachers, to whom was paid an aggregate salary of $1,202.18. There were 429 pupils. attending common school, while the entire cost of the schools for the year, ending October 31st, was $1,327.75, with A. C. Sherwin, superintendent.
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TOWN OF SHARON.
SHARON is a pleasant little post village located near the center of the town, on White river and also a station on the C. V. R. R. It has two churches (Baptist and Congregational), one hotel, two stores, and several manufacturing establishments.
J. S. Quimby's saw and planing-mill, located on Quimby brook, was built in 1871. Mr. Quimby employs five men in the season and turns out about 250,000 feet of lumber per annum.
C. E. Jones's grist-mill, located on road 21, has three runs of stones and does custom and merchant work.
William H. Blake's saw and shingle-mill, located on road 21, was built about 1843, and came into Mr. Blake's hands in 1880. He manufactures about 75,000 shingles and 300,000 feet of lumber per annum.
J. Q. Adams's saw-mill, located on Mitchell brook, was purchased by him in 1880. Mr. Adams employs six men and manufactures 1,000,000 feet of lumber per annum.
The first settlement of the town was made by Isaac Marsh, Willard Shep- ard, Robert Havens and a Mr. Parkhurst, from Connecticut, probably in 1764, as they came on just in time to save the grant by complying with the require- ments of the charter, the proprietors allowing them 320 acres for making the said settlement. Mr. Marsh located where his great-grandson, Joel H., now lives, and the others located in the northern part of the town. During that summer, each built for himself a log house and made a start towards clearing a farm. In the autumn it was decided that one of the number should remain during the winter, while the others should return to Connecticut. This duty fell upon Mr. Marsh, and the others departed, about Thanksgiving week. Not long after Mr. Marsh was visited by a Canadian Indian and his family, who came to this locality to hunt and trap during the winter. The family consisted of the Indian, his squaw and four children. The whole family lived with Mr. Marsh that winter, occupying one half of the house and Mr. Marsh the other. During the following winter Mr. Marsh and one other of the party returned to Connecticut and the others remained in the town, and the next summer their families came with them. Joel Marsh, son of Isaac, came on and settled on his father's farm and made the town survey. He became a prominent man in town affairs, holding the office of justice of the peace, etc. His son Elias was the first child born in the town, and received one hundred acres of land from the proprietors, in honor thereof. Timothy, eighth child of Joel, was born here in 1786, and three of his children are now living, though only one, Joel H., in Sharon. From this time forward the settlement increased so that in 1771 the town had sixty-eight inhabitants, and in 1791 it had a population of 569.
The time of the organization of the town does not appear on the records ; but the first meeting held in which an election appears on record was March 12, 1776, when Benjamin Spaulding was chosen town clerk ; Roswell Mor- gan, constable; and Joseph Parkhurst, Daniel Gilbert and Joel Marsh,
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TOWN OF SHARON.
selectmen. The first record of a freemen's meeting is of that held March 3, 1778, when twelve persons took the freeman's oath, and Daniel Gilbert was elected to represent the town in the first legislature, to be held at Windsor on the 12th inst. March 10, 1778, William Hunter, Capt. Ebe- nezer Parkhurst and Lieut. Elias Stevens were chosen a committee of safety. The first justice was Joel Marsh, appointed in 1786, holding the office twenty- five years. In 1780 the growth of the town was greatly retarded by the Indian invasion of that year, spoken of in connection with the history of Royalton.
Simeon Howe purchased of the proprietors, in 1764, a tract of several hundred acres of land in Sharon. Some time after this he rented the prop- erty to a man by the name of Downer, who occupied it for several years. After the close of the Revolution, Mr. Howe came on and claimed his prop- erty, but the tenant refused to give it up, claiming the property as his own. No law at that time could enforce the refractory tenant to give up the property, so Mr. Howe decided to take the law into his own hands, and proceeded to pummel Mr. Downer until he was glad to cry quarter and give up the land to its rightful owner. Descendants of Mr. Howe still occupy portions of the land.
Jonas Bruce, from Petersham, Mass., came to Sharon at an early date and located on one of the river farms, but subsequently removed to the farm now occupied by Harry Bruce, where he died in 1849, aged ninety-three years. The present occupant of the old homestead is a grandson of Jonas, born in 1820. He has reared a family of four children.
Ashbel Ladd, a native of Connecticut, came to Sharon about 1786, locat- ing in the northern part of the town. Ralph, the fourth of his seven chil- dren, born in 1790, lived most of his life on the old place. Ralph had three children, one of whom, Chester B., resides on road 29.
Rodman Mosher, a native of Connecticut, came to Sharon in 1790. Abijah C., born in 1792, lived here until his death, in 1875. One of his two children, Albert B., born in 1817, now resides on road 36.
Sparrow Snow, a native of Massachusetts, came to Sharon about 1800, locating at Sharon village, and followed the clothier's trade. Five of his seven children are living, two in Sharon.
John Chambers came from New Hampshire to Sharon, with his parents, previous to 1812. He was a cabinet-maker and reared eight children. His fifth child, S. Webb Chambers, now resides on road 56.
Eleazer B. Baldwin came to Sharon in 1842. He is now located on road 42. He reared a family of ten children, has held many of the town offices, etc., and is a respected citizen.
Henry Chamberlin, from Unity, N. H., and later from Strafford, Vt., came to Sharon in 1828, locating at the village. In 1844 he removed to West Ran- dolph, and died there in 1851. He reared a family of ten children. One of these, Rev. Edward B., a Congregational clergyman and graduate of the Uni- versity of Vermont, class of 1848, resides on road 21.
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TOWN OF SPRINGFIELD.
Amasa Watkins, a native of Ashford, Conn., located in Reading about 1790. Zera, the fourth of his eight children, born in 1799, has been a resident of Sharon forty-eight years.
Abial Bugbee, a Revolutionary veteran, came to Pomfret from Pomfret, Conn., in 1788, where he became a prominent man. He reared a family of nine children. Rufus, the youngest son, died on the old farm. Of his family of seven children, five are living, and one, Austin, in Sharon, on road 40.
William Quinby came from New Hampshire to Norwich in 1828. William, Jr., the fourth of his five children, resided here until his death, in 1867. James F. and Clara F., children of William, Jr., still reside here.
Edward K. Baxter, M. D., of Sharon, was born at Barton, Vt., February 3, 1840, a son of Harry Baxter, late of that town. He came to Sharon in 1853. Mr. Baxter received an academic education at Kimball Union Academy, of Meriden, N. H., studied medicine with Drs. Dixi and A. B. Crosby, of N. H., attended lectures at Dartmouth Medical College and at the college of Physi- cians and Surgeons of N. Y., and graduated at Dartmouth Medical College in 1864. He has been assistant physician at the Hartford, Conn., Insane Retreat, and at Sanford Hall, Flushing, L. I.
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