USA > Vermont > Windham County > Whitingham > Green leaves from Whitingham, Vermont: a history of the town > Part 6
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
Betsey & Jemima, Dau's of Mr. Clark died 1794. B.
Æ 6 ys, J. Æ 9 ys.
Nancy, dau. of Wm. Clark, died 1794 Æ 6 ys. Jonathan Shumway died Jan. 7, 1795 Æ IO. Polly Stockwell,. Died Jan. 14, 1795, Aged 2 years. Joel, Son of Jesse & Deborough Hull. Died Feb. 9, 1795, aged I day. 1
€
88
Green Leaves from
Mrs Sarah, first wife of Capt. Amasa Shumway : died June 12, 1795, Æt 33 years.
Fanny, Daughter of Jesse & Deborough Hull. Died Sept. 4, 1795, in her 4 year.
Cyrus, Son of Josiah & Millisent Brown. Died Sept. 21, 1795, Æ 2 years & 6 m.
Peter Brown, Son of Josiah & Millisent Brown. Died July 30, 1798.
Died May 18, 1800, Mrs. Abigail Wife of Mr. Gam- aleel Lyon, in the 76th year of her age.
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. Rev. xiv. 13.
Jacob, son of Francis & Precilla Porter, died Aug't I, 1800, aged 2 years.
James Shumway, died Feb. 4, 1801, Æ 20.
In memory of Mrs. Lydia, wife of Capt. Baxter Hall, who died in Whitingham Nov. 9, 1801, in the 43d year of her age. Death is a debt to Nature due, Which I have paid, and so must you.
Nathaniel, Son of Jesse & Deborough Hull, died Nov. 1, 1802, Æ 4 ds.
In memory of Mary, Ist wife of Capt. Samuel Parker, who died Dec. 19, 1802, aged 39 years.
Esther, Consort of Jabez Foster Esq. Died May 8, 1803, aged 47.
In memory of Catherine, 2d wife of Capt. Samuel Parker, who died Apr. 20, 1804, aged 28 years.
Whitingham, Vermont. 89
Mrs. Rhoda, wife of Mr. David Hosley, died 20 July 1806, Æ 21 years. *
Erected in memory of Mrs. Lucy, wife of Mr. John Otis, who died September 1807, Æ 74 years.
In memory of Mr, Caleb Murdock, who died May 26th 1809, in his 50th year.
Farewell my spouse and children dear, I've left this world of pain ; May virtue be your practice here, Till we do meet again.
In Memory of Moses Fuller, who died Feb. 26 A. D. 18II in the 36 year of his age. Farewell my wife & only son,
In pleasure we this world begun ; But alas ! 'twas all in vain ;
Four years I did on earth remain In sickness, sorrow and in pain, Then bid this world adieu.
In memory of Lieut. Walter Eames, who died Sept. II, 18II, in the 45 year of his age.
Lucy, wife of William Clark, died 4 Dec. 1811, Æ 54. In memory of Mrs. Betsey Fuller, wife of Mr. Moses Fuller, who died Aug. 30 A. D. 1812, in the 32 year of her age.
Farewell my loving child, My stay is short with you ; Prepare to meet your parents, For death will call for you.
In memory of Mrs. Lucy Goodnow, wife of Mr. Jesse Goodnow, who departed this life Dec. 29, 1812, in the 46th year of her age.
12
1
90
Green Leaves from
Alas she's gone, the clay cold hand of death, With ruthless force, has closed her final breath ; Her spotless soul triumphant wings its way, And now exults in realms of endless day.
In memory of Benjamin Winslow, who died April 1 I, 1814, Æ 56 years.
Cynthia, 2nd Consort of Jabez Foster Esq., died May 5, 1814, aged 64.
Francis Porter, died March 7, 1815, aged 66 years.
Death, thou hast conquered me, & by thy dart I'm slain ; Jesus Christ has died for me & I shall rise again. Mrs. Mary, 3d wife of Capt. Amasa Shumway, died March 7, 1815, aged 57 years.
Polly, wife of Hezekiah Murdock, died Aug. 29 1816, aged 59 years.
Behold this consecrated place Another relic doth embrace. Two tender offsprings, brothers dear, In death's embrace are slumbering near.
Fanny, Daughter of Jesse & Deborough Hull, died Sept 23, 1816, in her 4 year.
Jabez Foster Esq., who died June 25, 1818 aged 64. Anna, 3d Consort of Jabez Foster, Esq., died Aug. 21, 1818, aged 50.
In the yard near the Cutting place are the follow- ing, all within the present century.
Pheba, Dau. of Asa & Lucy Fairbank, died 9 Sept., 1806, aged I year & 6 ms.
1
-
Whitingham, Vermont. 9I
Sarah, wife of David Cutting, Died March 1, 1808, aged 44.
Infant Dau. of Asa & Lucy Fairbank, Died 15 Jan. 1809, aged 3 weeks.
Ezra G., Son of James G. & Stata Bemis, died Feb. 5, 1815, aged I year & 9 mos.
Louiza, Dau. of David & Sarah Cutting, died 29th March, 1815, aged 10.
Mrs. Joanna Waste, died 20 May, 1815, aged 72.
David Cutting Jr. died 28 May, 1815, aged 19.
In memory of Sally Smith, daughter of Mr. John & Mrs. Rebecca Brigham, who died July 30, 1815, aged 3 years and 7 months.
Asenath, Dau. of Levi & Polly Sumner, died 6 Aug., 1815, aged 7 years.
Sleep on sweet child and take thy rest ; God called you home when he thought it best.
In memory of Almira, daughter of Levi and Effa Lamb, who died Sept. 29, 1815, aged 4 years 2 months.
Mr. Bezaleel Waste died 2 Sept., 1818, aged 76. In yard near the Newell place :-
Jeremiah, son of Ambrose and Lydia Stone, died March 25, 1803, aged 9 days.
In memory of Joseph Carley, who died March 7, 1808, aged 92 years.
Lydia, wife of Ambrose Stone, died June 7, 1810, aged 38 years 8 months & 13 days.
92
Green Leaves from
Wilbury, son of Ambrose & Lydia Stone, died Jan. IO, 18II, aged 9 months.
Ambrose Stone died June 23, 1815, aged 46 years 3 months & 19 days.
In memory of Sarah Carley, who died Jan. 7, 1817, aged 88.
In yard near the Roberts place :-
Erected in memory of Mr. John B. Angel, who died Aug. 9, 1802, aged 32 years.
John Brown died March 27, 1809 aged 31.
Timothy W., son of Capt. Solomon & Mary H. Hunt, died July, 1819, aged 6 years.
The following inscriptions are the earliest found in the grounds hereafter named.
In yard near the Alfred Green place :-
Mary W. dau. of Wm. & Sarah Streeter, died Apr. IIth, 1826, aged 3 m. 10 d.
In yard near Jacksonville .-
Sarah, wife of Joseph Corkins, died Feb. 29, 1828, aged 34. In yard near Sadawga .-
Infant son of Henry & Emily W. Closson, died July 23, 1831, aged 2 days.
In yard near Rider Pond .-
James H. F., son of Lewis & Nancy Fuller, died May 27, 1842, aged 18 years 5 mo. & 3 days.
93
Whitingham, Vermont.
There are other places in town where persons have been buried, whose graves have been neglected for many years. Several graves on the farm now owned by J. S. Houghton, some of which are marked by marble slabs, may now be seen.
In 1863, Benjamin B. Parsons proposed to con- tribute a tract of land near the west end of Parsons Bridge, near the southwest corner of the town.
It was graded and put in proper order for use, by Rev. N. D. Sherman, John Parsons, Albert Sherman, Lyman Stockwell, the widow of Kingsley Blanchard, and Jesse Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler was the largest contributor. This lot was not conveyed by deed to any association or person, separate from the farm upon which it was located, and subsequently the Par- sons farm became the property of George Plumb, who contested the right to use his land for a burial place. The selectmen were then appealed to, but no satisfactory adjustment has been reached.
This lot contains 34 of an acre. Upon a monu- ment erected therein, may be seen this inscription :
THIS CEMETERY WAS FOUNDED BY
REV. N. D. SHERMAN, A. D. 1863.
Marion E. Sherman, daughter of Rev, N, D, and Selina Parsons Sherman, who died Sept. 8, 1863, aged 6 years, was the first person buried in this lot, which now contains 47 graves, the last being that of E, W. Robertson, who died March 25, 1887. This spot is known as the Parsons Burying Ground.
1
94
Green. Leaves from
The following death records, previous to the present century, though incomplete in many respects, may be of interest. The ages are remarkable, indicating that those who died during the first twenty years. of the town's existence, were mainly children.
Date. Age.
1778, Sept. 14, Charles, son of Charles and Rebecca Dodge, Id. 1782, June 3, Mary, dau. of Benj. and Hannah Blodgett, June 29, Mariam, dau. of John and Dorcas Rugg, Aug. 19, Jonathan Ransom.
Oct. 5, Mary Dix. Id
Dec. 16, Jonathan, son of Isaac and Sally Lyman, 3d.
1783, June 15, Clarrissa, dau. of Benj. and Polly Lyman.
1784, Feb. 20, Daniel Ransom.
1785, April 27, Enoch, son of Thomas and Anne Hunt, 7y. July 8, Mary, wife of John Nelson.
1786, Jan. 17, Abigail Rugg. Feb. 14, Jonathan Edgecomb.
1787, Aug. 28, Luther Fuller, 2y.
1788, Jan. 31, Seraphine, dau. of Amasa and Sarah Shumway, Iy. March 19, Samuel, son of Jabez and Esther Foster. Oct. 7, Clara, dau. of Levi and Chloe Shumway, 4m.
1789, June 15, Polly Nelson, 5У.
1790, May 1, Samuel Sellon Jr., зу.
1792, April 16, Elkanah Day, Iy.
1794, Feb. 13, Sally Ransom, 2y.
Jan. 9, Nancy Clark, 6y.
April 20, Sally, wife of Joshua Newell.
1795, Jan. 27, Esther, dau. of Jabez and Esther Foster. Feb. 25, Mary dau. of Oliver Cook, 8y.
Marbh 3, Jerusha, dau. of Oliver Cook, 3y.
Sept. 27, Terzy Day.
1798, June 1, Leafy, dau. of Josiah and Hannah Willis. June 21, Sally Clark.
Whitingham, Vermont. 95
1799, July 17, Joseph, son of Josiah and Hannah Willis. 1800, Aug. 15, Samuel Sellon.
Nov. 13, Nancy Wheeler, Iy.
WHITINGHAM GORE.
No special effort seems to have been made, even by individuals, to promote the cause of education or establish schools in Whitingham, previous to the present century, nor was the subject publicly alluded to except by way of argument in support of some petition, before 1796.
About this time a tract of more than 5,000 acres of land, situated in the southwestern part of Whiting- ham, was granted to 16 persons, divided into 16 shares, and incorporated into a District called Whi- tingham Gore. One hundred acres were set apart for the support of a college at some place within the State of Vermont, one hundred acres for the use and support of schools within said District, and one hun- dred acres for the support of the first minister who should be settled within the District. .
From the terms of this grant we may readily infer that religion and education were beginning to attract the attention of the people. The town had then been settled more than a quarter of a century, but it ap- pears that this large tract of land was unoccupied and unclaimed, apparently waiting for the pulsations of civilized life to develop within its borders the arts of peace, and stimulate a love for industrial pursuits.
1
96
Green Leaves from
L. S.
THE GOVERNOR COUNCIL AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FREEMEN OF THE STATE OF VERMONT.
TO all People to whom these presents shall come, GREETING.
K NOW YE That whereas that whereas our worthy friend Mr. Amos Green and Company to the number of sixteen have by petition requested a Grant of unlocated Land within this State for the purpose of settlement. We have therefore thought fit for the due encouragement of their laudable design and for other valuable causes and considerations us hereunto moving, do by these pres- ents in the name and by the authority of the freemen of the State of Vermont give grant unto the said Amos Green & Company the tract of land hereafter bounded & described to be divided into equal shares as follows Viz : Samuel Moulton, Thomas Day, Sam- uel Day, James Howard, Seth Howard, Benjamin Nelson, Benja- min Blodgett, Benjamin Blodgett, Jr., Samuel Nelson, Solomon Moulton, Asaph White William Nelson, Thomas Blodget, Abisha Blodgett & Daniel Wallace, reserving three hundred acres out of said tract of land for the following public uses Viz : one hundred acres for the use and benefit of a College within this State, one hundred acres for the use and support of a school or schools within said tract & one hundred acres for the use and support of the first settled minister of the gospel within said tract of land to be dis- posed of for the sole & exclusive purposes aforesaid in such way and manner as the Proprietors or Inhabitants of said tract shall judge proper the same to remain unalienable & the rents profits & moneys arising therefrom shall be appropriated to the several uses aforesaid and the said three hundred acres shall be divided into three equal parts & be so laid out within said tract as to be equal in quality and in such situation as will best answer the purposes for which they are reserved-Which tract of land hereby given and granted as aforesaid is bounded & described as follows Viz :
BEGINNING at the south west corner of Whitingham at a maple tree standing in the north line of the State of Massachusetts Bay 24 perches west of the west bank of Deerfield River & running south 81 degrees & 30 minutes east 290 chains to a spruce tree marked O standing in the south line of Col. Fitches grant-then
Whitingham, Vermont. 97
north 81 degrees & 30 minutes west 290 chains to a stake & stones then south 8 degrees & 30 minutes west 174 chains & 50 links to the bounds began at, containing five thousand & sixty acres & eigh- ty perches, Bounding south on the State of Massachusetts Bay east on Col. Whitings patent north on Col. Fitches patent and west on Reedsborough and that the same hereby is incorporated into a dis- tiict by the name of WHITINGHAM GORE and that the inhabitants that do or shall hereafter inhabit said district are declared to be enfran- chised and entitled to all the priviledges and immunities of citizens & exercise all legal power & authority in support of their internal · right as fully & amply and (?) other incorporated districts within this State do by law exercise and enjoy.
To HAVE AND TO HOLD the said granted premises as expressed in the aforesaid grant with all the privileges & appurtenances there- unto belonging & appertaining to them & their respective heirs & assigns forever upon the following conditions Viz : that each pro- prietor of the said district of Whitingham Gore his heirs or assigns shall plant & cultivate five acres of land & build a house at least eighteen feet square on the floor or have one family on each respect- ive right within the term of four years from the time of surveying the out lines of said Gore on the penalty of the forfeiture of each respective right or share of land not so settled & improved as afore- said and the same to revert to the freemen of this State to be by their Representatives regranted to such persons as shall appear to settle and cultivate the same that all pine timber suitable for a Navy be reserved for the use and benefit of the freemen of this State.
In Testimony whereof we have caused the seal of this State to be affixed at Rutland this 20 day of October Anno Domini 1796 & in the 20th year of our independence.
WITNESS our well beloved Thomas Chittenden Esquire Governor of our said State Captain General & Commander in Chief of all the Militia of the same.
By his Excellency's command } Truman Squire Secretary.
THOMAS CHITTENDEN.
13
98
Green Leaves from
When the State of Vermont came to exercise perma- nent jurisdiction over the New Hampshire Grants, the town of Whitingham was in an uncultivated con- dition, and most of the Land Grants issued by the State, in Whitingham, were made in consideration of the advancement of agricultural pursuits, and cover a period of 16 years, from 1780 to 1796, inclusive.
By reference to the original grants it will be seen who were the favored petitioners :-
1780. Silas Hamilton, Thomas Sterns, John Butler, James Roberts, Abner Moor, James Angel, Charles Dodge, and Eliphalet Hyde.
1781. Robert Bratten, and seven others whose names are unknown.
1782. Samuel Wells.
1787.
Jonathan Hunt and Arad Hunt.
1796. Amos Green, Samuel Moulton, Thomas Day, James Howard, Seth Howard, Benjamin Nel- son, Benjamin Blodget, Benjamin Blodget Jr., Samuel Nelson, Solomon Moulton, Asaph White, William Nelson, Thomas Blodget, Abisha Blodget, and Daniel Wallace.
The critical reader will not require to be reminded of the fact that the state of Vermont always respect- ed the early New York charter, and did not fail in a single instance to locate all those grants in Whiting- ham-not in Cumberland.
In the early conveyances of land in Whitingham, the rights supposed to exist under the Charter were
1
99
Whitingham, Vermont.
carefully quitclaimed, showing how this whole subject was understood at that time; and there are numer- ous land owners in town to-day who can trace their titles directly to the New York Charter, to a time when Col. Whiting and others released their rights for a consideration; and what is more convincing, these rights were held under the Charter and sold since the town was organized and the state govern- ment established. Such was the case with Eleazer Fitch when he sold to Daniel Wilcox, in 1786, and with Nathan Whiting when he quitclaimed his right in the north half of Whiting's grant to William An- derson, the same year. Any lawyer or layman, not overcharged with stupidity, will comprehend this matter at once.
The Centennial Address, delivered at Whitingham, Aug. 18, 1880, contains the following sentence:
The Charter granted in 1770 is now the charter of the town, recognized by the State, and in full force.
Two or more ignorant persons, in their egotism, have thrust themselves before the public, evidently expecting to win applause, by their silly criticisms of the above statement. They claim that this charter was illegal and void.
The fact that this alleged illegality was not discov- ered for more than a century, and even then, patent- ed by two or three disappointed pessimists, amply answers all propositions of this sort. Every lawyer,
100
Green Leaves from
familiar with the history of Vermont, knows that the charter of Whitingham was legal when granted.
It is also claimed that the State government super- ceded the charter, while the Revolution obliterated every vestige of British authority then existing; even annulling all chartered rights and titles.
The supreme courts of several states, and of the United States, have settled this matter so plainly as to convince all those who are willing to acknowledge themselves below their Creator.
The supreme court of Massachusetts has decided, and confirmed its decision, that persons and corpo- rations now hold their titles by virtue of English charters, granted before the Revolution.
In the celebrated "Dartmouth College Case," in which Daniel Webster won a national reputation, as a lawyer, this question was fully settled.
Dartmouth College had been chartered by the King in 1769, and in 1816 the New Hampshire Legislature undertook to alter the charter and reor- ganize under the law. The Supreme Court of the United States decided that the charter was a contract then in force, and that its alteration by the State would be unconstitutional and void.
This settles the whole question. The Charter of Whitingham was a contract, made by and between two or more parties. The Constitution of the Uni- ted States provided for its survival, and it is in force to-day.
1
IOI
Whitingham, Vermont.
There is one other notable fact connected with the history of the tract of land now known as Whiting- ham. All laws, resolves, charters or grants, passed, issued or promulgated by any public authority, state or town, since 1770, recognize no such town as Cumberland; and history conclusively shows that such a town never existed in this locality. Whoever assumes that such a town did exist here, must admit that the inhabitants thereof were as near the "dunce block" a century ago as some dilapidated egotists are at the present time, for their documents were dated at Whitingham, and their contracts and other busi- ness transactions were made in the same town.
I have recently seen some original documents, found among the effects of Silas Hamilton, who was one of the first settlers of Whitingham. He was also one of the first selectmen, and the first repre- sentative to the Assembly of Vermont.
If Whitingham was Cumberland previous to the promulgation of the Charter, these documents show how early it was respected by the inhabitants of the town, who forthwith adopted the charter name and have continued it to the present time.
Whitingham, Nov. 21, 1771.
, I, James Carey, for Value Received, promise to Pay the sum of six pounds Lawful money of the bay Province on or before the first Day of June 1772. N. B. Sd sum is to be paid in clearing of Land, viz., to cut Down the wood and Pile up the small stuff fit for Burn- ing, and cut up all the wood twelve feet in Length, excepting 40 trees, said Land to be cleared in Whitingham for Silas Hamilton at the time above sd, as witness my hand.
102
Green Leaves from
If Whitingham had no legal existence in 1771, ex- cept through a bogus charter, as some have claimed, how does it happen that those who lived there knew no other town in which to make and date their con- tracts? What reason had they to drop the name of Cumberland if the new name was illegal and void?
November ye 5th, 1776.
This day gave Silas Hamilton full power to sell my house and possession in Whitingham on T. Etharnton's [Etherington] Patent, and to Return the sum of ten Dollars worth of Neat Catel by the Last of May 1777, to me the subscriber as witness my hand.
SAMUEL DARBY.
A military order, dated "Windsor 5th of June 1777," signed by "Samuel Fletcher, Colo." is addressed "To the Capt., or the Inhabitants of Whitingham," calls for its quota of men, "to march to Rutland for the defence of the Frontier of this State, the same to serve two months from the day they march unless sooner discharged." On this order is a memoranda giving E. Davis, Nathaniel Davis, Eliphalet Gustin, Robert Bratten jr., Robert Nelson, John Nelson jr., Benjamin Nelson and William Nelson credit for ser- vices rendered under the order.
Why did James Carey, Silas Hamilton, Samuel Darby, the Military Authority of Vermont, and the above named soldiers, with such singular unanimity, adopt the name of Whitingham, if no such town existed? It did exist, and beyond all question was organized under the New York charter, on the first Tuesday in May, 1771. It has been claimed that the
Whitingham, Vermont. 103
first town meeting was not held till March 30, 1780., and the Centennial was celebrated with that under- standing; but since that, facts have been developed showing a much earlier organization of the town.
This is shown by the business transactions of the prominent men of the town, by military orders and responses thereto, and by documents signed by town officers, previous to 1780. It is also shown by some of these documents that the town was well known by its present name within two years after the date of its charter, seven years before the State claimed to exist, and twenty years before it was admitted into the Federal Union.
It is plain that this town was not known as Whiting- ham till it was so named by the charter; and the fact that business transactions were dated at Whitingham, within eight months from the time the charter was signed, is almost conclusive proof that the municipal machinery was put in working order as soon as the charter was made known to the inhabitants and an organization could be effected.
On the following page is a Warrant, issued by the selectmen of Whitingham, by authority of the Free- men of the State, two years before the first town meeting of which there is a record.
This Warrant was served by a Constable of the town, and the proper return duly made, showing that the municipal government was in working order long before 1780.
104
Green Leaves from
Robert Bratter
Whitingham Top, 8, 1718. To The Hunt Conta for I own Day the autority of the women of the State of Carmen you are hereby Requiert to take the body of John Nelfon Iwar and Man" Wellen and Bring them forthe with before us filet men of the godown. at the house of Roberto Brothers in T' Journ to Antune to a Complaint oif there Honoured Father for a Breach of the peace as set forth un Said from plant said against them herein fail Not. and make hetum. here of of your down go to no CHlas Hamilton
1
Whitingham, Vermont. IO5
Intelligent persons are not apt to date their contracts and other documents in a town that has no legal or corporate existence. This warrant and the return thereon indicates both.
The officers who made, and served this precept were evidently well informed as to their duties, their work indicating years of experience.
88 Mitinghasse, Sept 10. 1178 this is to Certify that I have. Execut Said warrant according to Luca Der Me The Hunt Cont
All dispute about the "township of Cumberland" is forever settled, when we take into account the fact that the county of Cumberland, organized in 1766, covered this tract of vacant land. As a matter of. course it took the county name, in the absence of any other, and continued to be called Cumberland till it was erected into a township in 1770.
The census promulgated in 1771 was taken before the town was chartered, at the time it was surveyed, while it was vacant, unorganized and unchartered.
Since March 12, 1770, it has been known as Whi- tingham and nothing else.
During the early years of the town's existence, when money was extremely scarce, with no market nearer than Greenfield, the inhabitants fell in with 14
-
IO6
Green Leaves from
such customs as prevailed in many parts of the state where strange devices were resorted to, such as
GAMBLING BY LOTTERY,
for the purpose of raising money for religious pur- poses. Churches, roads and bridges, were built, loss by fire repaired, the state debt paid, by lottery.
These lotteries were not only legalized by towns, but the state was concerned in the same demoralizing business. Vermont has passed twenty-four acts granting lotteries for various purposes, the first being dated Feb. 27, 1783, and the last one Nov. 8, 1804. Nov. 8, 1792, an act was passed granting a lottery to raise £150, for building a bridge over Deerfield river at Readsboro. I am glad that no church was ever built or repaired in Whitingham with money raised by lottery.
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.