Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887, Part 50

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Co., Printers and Binders
Number of Pages: 886

USA > Vermont > Essex County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 50
USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 50

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Thomas1, the ancestor of this branch of the family, came to America about the year 1635 He joined the church in Charlestown, Mass., in February, 1637-38, and was recorded in that town in 1637. He afterwards removed to Woburn, and, with his brothers and others, was instrumental in forming a church there in 1641. He died in Woburn, August 28, 1651. His wife Mary became the second wife of Michael Bacon, an ancestor of Rev. Dr. Leonard Bacon, of New Haven, Conn. Thomas2 removed to Billerica, Mass., married Mary Stimpson. He died February 25, 1720-21. His son, Jona- than3, married Hannah French. He served as a soldier in Dunstable and

410

TOWN OF BRIGHTON.

Groton, July, 1706. Abial4 married Sarah Smith, of Lexington, Mass. He died July 19, 1753.

Abial Richardson was one of the pioneer settlers of Waterford, Vt., com- ing from Royalston, Mass., in the latter part of the eighteenth century. He had four sons and five daughters, all of whom lived to middle life. The first death occurring in this large circle of brothers and sisters was that of the oldest, when the youngest was fifty-five years old. Jacob®, the oldest, was born in Waterford, Vt., in 1796. A pioneer's son, his childhood was passed amid the privations incident to the pioneer's life in a new settlement, and in the labor of converting the wilderness into fruitful fields. His education was mostly acquired in that best of all schools-that of experience, and he was a teacher for several terms. He became a farmer, as agriculture was the prin- cipal occupation of the people of that period, and was a steady, industrious, solid citizen. He married Irene Hovey, born in Waterford in 1802. She was the daughter of Asa Hovey, who emigrated from Royalston, Mass. (One of his descendants, Ebenezer Hovey, was the originator and builder of the first cable road which was operated in San Francisco, and afterwards con- structed those in Chicago.) Their children, all of whom attained maturity, were (1) Francis, (2) Freedom, (3) Helen S. (Mrs. Emmons Stockwell), (4) Jacob, (5) William A. Jacob Richardson resided in Waterford until 1835, when he sold his farm, purchased a place in Concord (whither he removed), and passed the residue of his life in that town. By his judicious manage- ment of his land, and by his industry and frugality, he was prospered finan- cially. On one of his farms in Concord, the first copper mine in this section. was discovered in 1865. Mr. Richardson was a man of sterling character, and had the confidence of his townsmen, and although his politics were in accord with the Democratic party, and in his community there was an over- whelming majority on the side of the Whigs, he held nearly every office of trust and honor in the gift of the people, not only in the town, but also of the county. He was an earnest war Democrat, energetic in raising troops and money, and exercised an important influence in the town, and was one of the most valued citizens. It is said of him that he was a man of "perfect habits." Kind in all of his social relations, he had a large circle of friends. He died in 1868, aged seventy-two years. Mrs. Richardson was an estimable christian lady, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church from her nine- teenth year ; a good wife, true mother, and a useful member of society.

William Abial Richardson7, son of Jacob and Irene (Hovey) Richardson, was born in Concord, Vt., January 6, 1847. He was born and bred a farmer's boy. The sons of Vermont, as of other states, who have achieved success in the various lines of business activity, have been reared on farms in nine cases out of ten. William had common school and academical educational advantages, made good use of them, and taught school. When twenty years old he went to Yonkers, N. Y., and remained there the summer of 1868, and was then called home by the fatal illness of his father. He married, Novem-

N. A.Richardson

4II

TOWN OF BRIGHTON.

ber 17, 1868, Halie E. Kenney, daughter of William and Mehitable (Noyes) Kenney, of Bethlehem, N. H. They have two children, Katie H. and Harry W. After his marriage, in company with his brother Francis, Mr. Richardson commenced, in the West Concord House, his long and successful career of hotel-keeping, and has since been continuously engaged in that business. He was landlord of the West Concord House for two years; American House, Lancaster, N. H., five years ; Union House, Littleton, N. H., seven years ; Stewart House, Island Pond (which he purchased in 1882), four years; and conducted West End Hotel, Orlando, Fla., one year, in connection with the Stewart House, and is now . proprietor of the Stewart House and Littleton House.

Mr. Richardson, however, has not confined himself to hotel-keeping, but has been largely engaged in livery, stage routes, and agriculture, and owns two farms in Concord, and, as he is a business man of more than average ability, he is successful in his various undertakings. Democratic in politics, as such he represented Littleton in the state legislature of New Hampshire, in 1880. During the term he was frequently called to the chair, and received the compliment of being one of the best presiding officers ever there. His graceful and dignified bearing especially fit him for such a position. He has often presided at political conventions, and was a delegate to the Democratic National convention at Chicago, in 1884, which nominated Grover Cleveland for president. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1876, and was the first to preside over La Fayette lodge, Little- ton, after its organization, in 1876. He is also a member of Littleton En- campment.

But it is pre-eminently as the genial landlord, friend and host, that we wish to speak of Mr. Richardson. He has conducted the Stewart House with such admirable success, that it will, undoubtedly, under his management, become a popular summer resort, and many of the prominent citizens of New England have sat around this hospitable board. The Littleton House, which he has lately purchased and re-fitted with the latest improvements, bids fair to be a successful competitor for travelers in that section. Mr. Richardson is the ruling genius over the varying interests and constant cares of his estab- lishments. Every department feels his impress, and his guests find in him the watchful landlord, and pleasant, courteous gentleman. He mingles with his guests, anticipates and supplies their wants without any apparent effort, and en- tertains them in such a manner that they feel completely at home. His good taste is manifested in making his house a restful and enjoyable place for the traveler. The charm and courtesy of the proprietor makes an atmosphere that attracts the guest again and again, and who that has enjoyed the comforts and hospitalities of his hotels would not join with us in the language of Shen- stone-

" Whoe'er has traveled life's dull round, Where'er his stages may have been, Will surely say, here have I found

The warmest welcome of an inn! "

412

TOWN OF BRIGHTON.

Levi Pinney, a son of Oliver Pinney, was born in Barnstead, P. Q. His father was a native of Vermont, and his mother, Hannah Morse, a native of Sandwich, N. H. Levi was born April 12, 1818, being one of a family of ten. When about two years old his parents moved to Holland, Vt., where he lived until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to Randolph, Vt., where he remained five years, then returned to Holland, lived there .until - 1867, when he moved to this town. He represented the town of Holland three years in the legislature, and this town one year.

David Haynes was born in Pittsburgh, N. H., a son of John L. Haynes, and one of a family of thirteen children. He married Maria S. Hopkins, who has borne him two children, Rosett E. and George A. Mr. Haynes is proprietor of a grist-mill, on road I.

Warren Mansur was born in Danville, Vt., June 23, 1800, and died in this town, January 24, 1885. He spent his early life with his parents, and when fifteen years of age he moved with them to Morgan, Vt. There he remained until 1861, being engaged in farming. He then moved to Charleston, where he lived until 1881, when he came to this town, where he remained until his- death. He married Jane A. Morse, rearing a family of fourteen children, eight of whom are living.

The First Congregational church of Brighton, located at Island Pond village, was organized by John Kilby, Harvey Coe, A. B. Garland and others, with eight members, February 28, 1852, Rev. John W. H. Baker being installed as the first pastor, in 1865. The church building was erected in 1854. It is a wooden structure, capable of seating 250 persons, cost $2, 160.29, and is valued at $2,500.00. The society now has thirty-three members, with Rev. Joseph N. Walker, pastor.

The St. James Roman Catholic church, located at Island Pond, was organ- ized in 1858, Rev. Father J. A. Dufresne being the first settled pastor. At its organization, the society had about fifty families as communicants. The church building, erected in 1858, will accommodate 500 persons, and is val- ued, including grounds, at about $6,000.00. The society has 150 families as communicants, with Rev. Father C. D. Trothier, pastor. In the autumn of 1886 the society is to open a school for the education of boys and girls, though principally intended for the latter.

The Grace Methodist Episcopal church, located at Island Pond, was or- ganized by its first pastor, Rev. Edwin S. Locke, with thirty-three members, March 10, 1876. Their church, a wooden structure, was built in 1878, at a cost of $2,200.00. It will seat 300 persons, and is now valued, including grounds, etc., at $5,200.00. The society has ninety-two members, with Rev. Wilbur S. Smithers, pastor.

Christ Protestant Episcopal church, located on South street, Island Pond, was organized in 1871, by Thomas Blaylock, with fifteen members. Mr. Blaylock was at that time a student in Bishop's college, Lennoxville, P. Q., and with the assistance of a retired English clergyman of the diocese of Que-

413:

TOWN OF BRUNSWICK.

bec, continued the meetings until 1875, when the first resident pastor, Rev. Daniel F. Smith, was installed. Subsequent to the organizing of this church no regular services had been held here, and all religious interests, if not dead, were very apathetic. This move greatly incited the members of other religi- ous societies to work. The church has a number of outside missions which are constantly growing in strength. Their house of worship, a wooden struc- ture, erected in 1874, at a cost of $9,000.00, will comfortably seat 250 per -- sons, and is now valued, including grounds, at $10,000.00. The society is composed of 250 members, with Rev. J. H. Sellers, rector. A Sunday- school is held regularly, with a membership of fifty-five.

B RUNSWICK lies in the eastern part of the county, in lat. 44 43', long. 5° 18', and is bounded northeast by Bloomfield, east by the Connecticut river, southwest by Maidstone, and west by Ferdinand. It has an area of 14,617 acres, originally chartered by Benning Wentworth, October 13th, 1761.

The surface of the town is rough and picturesque. The Nulhegan river runs across the northwestern corner of the town, this being the most rapid' portion of the stream. Paul stream is a beautiful stream of pure and limpid water, taking its rise in the towns of Granby and Ferdinand. In its course through Brunswick it affords many good mill privileges. Upon this stream the first mills in Burunswick were built by Ithiel Cargill. Wheeler stream has two branches, North and South, that unite about a half mile from its . junction with the Connecticut. There are eight ponds in the town, viz. : Cranberry, Little Bog, Dennis, Paul Stream, Tuttle, Wheeler, Little Walker and Mineral ponds. The Brunswick springs, perhaps, more than anything else, have given the town a name and a place among the resorts of summer tourists. The springs are celebrated for their high medicinal qualities. In 1869, to furnish accommodations for the guests drawn hither, the Brunswick Springs House was erected by C. & E. F. Bailey, and has since enjoyed a liberal and increasing patronage. The house has accommodations for one hundred guests, and is located on the west bank of the Connecticut, two. miles from the Grand Trunk Railway station of North Stratford, N. H. Directly in front of the house is the beautiful lakelet, Mineral Pond, noted for its lilies. About one hundred feet in the rear of the house are the springs, six in number, and each pouring forth a quantity of water quite dis- tinct in analysis from the others. Several beautiful groves of white pine trees are in the immediate vicinity.

In 1880 Brunswick had a population of 193. In 1885 it adopted the town system of schools. Its two common schools, with twenty-four scholars, were taught during 1886 by three female teachers, who received an average weekly salary, including board, of $4.12. The entire income for school purposes .

414

TOWN OF BRUNSWICK.

was $166.00, while the total amount expended was $164.80, with J. D. French, superintendent.

BRUNSWICK is a small post village situated in the eastern part of the town.

The St. Johnsbury Granite Co., R .. W. Laird, prop., has many extensive granite quarries in this and Caledonia county, the most celebrated of which is located in the northern part of Brunswick, and covers an area of about twelve acres. The granite from this quarry is known as the " Brunswick Crystal Granite." A side track runs from the Grand Trunk Railway to the quarry, where the stone is loaded on cars and taken to the works at St. Johns- bury. There it is inanufactured into fine monuments, statuary, etc., and shipped to all parts of the country, and to foreign countries. The company received the highest award at the Centennial in 1876, for work made from this granite.

David Hix and Abram Gile were the first settlers in Brunswick, about the year 1780. Hicks commenced on a farm afterwards owned and occupied by Joshua R. Lambkin. He was a cooper by trade and did little towards clearing the farm. He was captured by the Indians and carried to Canada, where he remained two years and three months. Abram Gile commenced settlement on the Wait Bow, but remained in the town only a short time. Most of the settlers in the town before 1800, who cleared their farms and remained permanently, were John Merrill, Joseph Wait, Nathaniel Wait, Philip Grapes, Joshua R. Lambkin, Gideon Smith, David Hyde and Reuben Hawkins. There were some other temporary residents of whom little is known.

The town was organized March 31, 1796. The meeting was held at the house of Nathaniel Wait, when the following list of officers was elected : David Hyde, moderator ; Joseph Wait, clerk ; Joseph Wait, David Hyde and John Merrill, selectmen ; Reuben Tuttle, constable ; Philip Grapes, Nathaniel Wait and Joshua Lambkin, listers; Jacob Schoff and Gideon Smith, high- way surveyors ; Nathaniel Wait and Gideon Smith, fence viewers ; and Joshua Lambkin, pound keeper. Joseph Wait, the first representative from the town, was elected the 6th of the following December.

The first child born in town was George W. Hix, son of David Hix. The first marriage recorded was that of Joseph Merrill and Susannah Day, October 28, 1799. In 1798 the proprietors voted the right to pitch 400 acres of land to any proprietor who built a saw-mill and grist-mill here within the following eighteen months. July 25, 1799, this privilege was voted to Ethiel Cargill, on condition that the mills were completed in December. He built the mills on Paul stream, about eighty rods above the present river road. In 1824 he sold the mills to Benjamin Brown. Other saw-mills have been built by D. M. Smith, J. M. Johnson, D. H. and T. C. Beattie, and others.

The first division of the town into school districts was made in 1818, by which three districts were made. The second term of the court in Essex county was held in Brunswick, in David Hyde's barn. The presiding judges

415

TOWN OF CANAAN.

were Daniel Dana, Mills De Forest and Samuel Phelps. The first road was surveyed by Eben W. Judd, in 1790.

For religious instruction the inhabitants have been almost entirely limited to the personal perusal of the Bible, and the preaching of the Methodist itinerancy. Classes were early formed by that church, but no house of worship was erected, and but one clergyman was ever located in the town- ship.

Gideon Smith and Elizabeth (Amy), his wife, came from Connecticut about 1780. He bought several lots of the first division just below the mouth of Paul stream, on the Connecticut meadow, where he built a log house. This land is now included in the farm of his grandson, Daniel M. Smith. His was one of thirteen families who were listed in Brunswick in 1796, and one of the officers chosen at the organization of the town in that year, and afterwards many years. His son Daniel was born in Brunswick, March 30, 1786. Gideon Smith was the father of four sons and three daugh- ters, viz : Gideon, Arnold, David, Daniel, Elizabeth, Nancy, and one, name not known. Mr. Smith died in 1801. Gideon, Jr., lived in Guildhall, and his son Elec A. lives in Maidstone. Daniel spent his life in Brunswick, on the homestead, to which he added largely during his life. He was a carpen- ter by trade, and served the town in many capacities. He married, first, Betsey Wait, and second, Anna Smith, of Stratford, N. H., who bore him three sons and two daughters. He died November 19, 1862. His second son, Daniel Monroe, was born January 1, 1825, and has always lived upon the homestead. He was engaged in the lumber manufacture about six years. He served as town representative in 1854-55, and has held other offices of the town, including that of town clerk nineteen years, and postmaster nearly thirty years. He married, first, Harriet A. Rolfe, who bore him four children, and second, Elizabeth M., widow of Royal W. French.

C ANAAN lies in the extreme northeastern corner of the county and state, in lat. 44° 57', and long. 5° 22', and is bounded north by Hereford, in Canada, east by the Connecticut river, southwest by Lemington and acres.

Averill. It has an area of little over twenty-nine square miles, or 18,700 It was chartered by Vermont to John Wheeler and others, February 25, 1782, but had previously been granted to Jonathan and Arad Hunt, and William Williams. The town of Norfolk which was chartered to Bezaleel Woodward, February 27, 1782, was annexed to Canaan, but both being small townships leaves Canaan still smaller than most of the towns in the state.

The town is watered by Leach stream, Willard brook and other small streams, which affords some good mill privileges. Leach stream is about two rods wide at its junction with the Connecticut, and flows from Leed's

416

TOWN OF CANAAN.

pond which is partly in Canada. There are some fine meadows on the Con- necticut and much good land in other parts of the town.

In 1880 Canaan had a population of 637. It adopted the town system of schools in 1885. In 1886 it had five common schools, taught during the year by one male and eight female teachers, who received an average weekly salary, including board, of $9. 18 and $6. rt, respectively. There were 173 scholars, four of whom attended private school. The entire income for school pur- poses was $752.31, while the total expenditures were $783.48, with Henry W. Lund, superintendent.

CANAAN is a post village located in the eastern part of the town.

SOUTH CANAAN is a post village located in the southern part of the town.

The town was settled by Silas Sargeant, John Hugh and Hubbard Spen- cer, who moved their families into town in 1785. As a frontier town it was subjected to considerable disturbance during the War of 1812. It was in this town that one Beach was shot by John Dennett, an officer of customs, a fuller account of which is found in the County Chapter. Much feeling was shown in the different broils attendant on the collection of revenues, and the prevention of contraband articles of war being smuggled to the enemy.

Samuel Weeks .- Weeks is a Devonshire name. It has been variously written, as Wick, Wyke, Week, Weekes and Weeks. The Weeks family in England did not spring from obscurity, and they were entitled to armorial bearings. Leonard Weeks came from England in company with two broth- ers, one of whom settled in Falmouth, now Portland, Me., and one in Rhode Island. Leonard made his home in Greenland, N. H., and married Mary, daughter of Deacon Samuel Haines, of Portsmouth. They had four sons, John, Samuel, Jonathan and Joshua. Mr. Weeks was an influential man, holding positions of responsibility and trust in the colony. He is spoken of as "one of the men who stood rather for Massachusetts than the crown." His name became a prominent one in all the public movements of the time ; and in the early history of Greenland, after its incorporation as a town, his sons' names appear on all important petitions, etc., as interested and public spirited citizens. Some of their descendants removed to Belknap county, N. H., settling in Gilmanton and Gilford, and one of these, Samuel Weeks, married Abigail Moody, of Gilmanton, and, in the year 1803, the tenth day of November, their fourth child, Samuel, was born in Gilmanton. The fol- lowing spring, March, 1804, Samuel Weeks and wife, with their young chil- dren, moved to Canaan, Vt. There were none of the comforts, or what would be considered at the present day the necessities, of civilized life sur- rounding them in their new home, but with the resolute will which character- ized the grand old pioneers of American civilization, they went earnestly and' hopefully to work. Mr. Weeks lived in Canaan till his death, at the age of eighty-two. His wife also died there, aged seventy-two. Of their ten chil- dren only Samuel and his sister, Mrs. Sarah Brooks, of Prairie Du Sac, Wis., now survive. Samuel was early educated in the school of labor, with but lit-

417

TOWN OF CANAAN.

tle suplementary education at the common schools. He remained with his parents on the farm until he was twenty-six years of age, when he married, March 29, 1829, Gennett, daughter of Joseph and Naomi (Chamberlain) Hilliard. She was born in Colebrook, N. H., January 8, 1810. Her ma- ternal grandfather was Capt. James Chamberlain, a man of fine personal appearance, and well known throughout the colony and state of Connecticut. He was a devout and consistent churchman, and with Gen. Jenks and others, organized a church parish for worship according to the forms of the mother church of England. He was noted as a peace-maker, and belligerent parties would end their quarrels by agreeing to leave the matter in dispute to " Cap'n Chamberlain," as he was familiarly known. We quote from the " Early His- tory of Tolland, Conn. : " "James Chamberlain commanded a company of cavalry one or two tours of duty during the War of the Revolution. He came to Tolland, from Coventry, about the year 1772. He was one of the representatives to the general assembly, October session, 1775." Through her Chamberlain ancestry, Mrs. Weeks is connected with the Clevelands, of which family President Grover Cleveland is so distinguished a member. Joseph Hilliard, her father, was in early life a resident of Tolland, Conn., and afterwards removed to East Windsor, where he built, in connection with his father-in-law, Capt. Chamberlain, a vessel called "Coaster," and loaded it with merchandise for Charleston, S. C. Mr. Hilliard was a tall, well propor- tioned man. The family came to Connecticut from Massachusetts.

The old doctrine of heredity holds true with regard to Mrs. Gennett (Hil- liard) Weeks. She is a tall, fine looking lady, bearing her years with grace and comeliness ; is remarkably intelligent, fluent in conversation, with a never- failing fund of valuable historical information. She possesses great persever- ence and industry. During the last summer she has carded, spun, colored and wove a woolen bed-spread, a feat to be accomplished by but few of the present generation. The four children of Samuel and Gennett (Hilliard) Weeks are : (1) Ann M. (Mrs. John Martin), resides in West Stewartstown, N. H., and has five surviving children,-Charles W. (he has two children, Mel- vin and Emma), Albert, Gennett, Jennie and Samuel; (2) Charles 'Hilliard, a hotel keeper in Canaan, married Mrs. Elizabeth (Emery) Fletcher, and has three children, Hannah J., Gertrude E. and Hattie L .; (3) James A., resides in Canaan, married Caroline M. Rideout, and has nine children now living, Charles F., Bertha M., James A., Lizzie B., Carrie J., Samuel A., Anna M. and Winifred; (4) Emma J., married Daniel Heath, resides in Canaan, and has four children, Samuel T., Ada M., Daniel W. and Frank Healy. After his marriage Mr. Weeks built a house on Canaan Hill, near his father's home (where William Morrill now lives). Here he remained for three years en- gaged in farming, then sold his property and removed to Colebrook, N. H., and made his residence for the next three years on the farm belonging to his wife's mother. He then purchased a farm in West Stewartstown, on which his daughter, Mrs. John Martin, now lives, and for twenty-six years he was a

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887, Part 50

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Co., Printers and Binders Number of Pages: 886

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Co., Printers and Binders
Number of Pages: 886