USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Hartland > History and anniversary of Hartland, Vermont > Part 2
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Even the Quakers-or Friends-served in the Revolution, either here or elsewhere. These were excused from paying church taxes in Hartland and allowed to continue attending church in Woodstock in 1790. "As to the denomination called friends," to quote from the town records, these were the names affixed to the release: Robert Anderson, Abner Brigham, Samuel Healy, Ebenr Paine, Ebenr Allyn, Joseph Marsh, Daniel Marsh, Roger Marsh, Seth Darling,
HARTLAND FOUR CORNERS, LOOKING NORTH FROM THE CHURCH.
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William Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Abel Marsh, Roger Marsh, Benjn Marble, James N. Willard, Seta (?) Russell, Isaiah Aldrich.
Among the active founders of the state of Vermont was Dr. Paul Spooner of Hart- land. He was appointed clerk of the Cum- berland County Convention Feb. 7, 1774, and, at that time, he, Esq. Burch and Jon- athan Burk, all Hertford men, were voted as a "Standing Committee of Correspond- ence to Correspond with the Committee of Correspondence for the City of New York." Paul Spooner helped to voice a protest against British taxation Oct. 19, 1774, at Westminster, and when the Cumberland County Congress assumed the duties of a Committee of Safety, Nov. 21, 1775, Dr. Paul Spooner of Hertford and Major Wil- liam Williams were chosen to represent the people of Cumberland (which included the present Windsor County) "in the honora- ble Provincial Congress, at the city of New York." At the November meeting, Capt. Joel Matthews of Hertford was recom- mended to be commissioned "Second Maj- or of the Upper Regiment." He received the commission.
Dr. Spooner was re-elected as delegate to Congress, chosen sheriff of Cumberland County, was made deputy-secretary of the famous Vermont Council of Safety, and was one of those that signed the Constitu- tion of Vermont, at the Windsor Conven- tion, July 2-8, 1777. He was a member of the Governor's Council for the new state until he was elected Lieutenant Governor, and was a judge of the Supreme Court of Vermont for many years.
Major Joel Matthews and Mr. William Gallup of Hertford were among the mem- bers that adopted the Constitution, and they had been among those who signed the revised Declaration of Rights. William Gallup, styled "Col." on an old Hartland map, was one of the members of the Con- vention that met at Dorset, Westminster, and Windsor. He assisted in framing the state Constitution, and was for a long time a member of the Legislature. Both he and Lieut. Gov. Spooner died in Hartland, and there they are buried. Jonathan Burk of Hertford was a member of the Committee of Safety and attended several of its meet- ings, but none of those following the form- ation of the state.
Hertford disapproved of including the New Hampshire towns east of the Connec-
ticut River as a part of the state of Vermont. There was a powerful coterie of political and military leaders in Hertford during the Revolution-one that would attract the .attention of young Vermonters, if the truly great work which they did so modestly were understood. Paul Spooner, William Gallup, his son Oliver, and Col. Oliver Willard were jurists. Mr. Dennis Flower's brochure on. "Hartland in the Revolution- ary War'' records a large number of sold- iers sent forth by the town and names sev- eral officers who lived at North Hartland. Toward the close of those troublous times, Major General Roger Enos, while com- manding all the military forces in Vermont from 1781 to 1791, lived in North Hart- land. (The name of the town was changed from Hertford to Hartland in June, 1782.) Further, the house which he built, known as the "George Miller House" still stands near the Ferry.
The "Haldimand Correspondence" was well understood by General Enos, also probably by other Hartland men, and ev- ery permissible turn of diplomacy was em- ployed to keep Britain at bay on the Can- adian border while negotiations were pend- ing for the admission of Vermont to state- hood. General Enos was made a Freeman of Vermont in Hartland, and the clerk's entry reads, "At a meeting of the Freemen of the Town of Hartland Septr the - 1782 Genrl Roger Enos Took the Oath provided for the Freemen of the State of Vermont.
Attest by Elias Weld Town Clerk."
He was an Episcopalian, and, with Maj. Gen. Benjamin Wait of Windsor, was in- fluential in having the church of that faith built at North Hartland about 1790. This is now the oldest church in town.
General Enos represented Hartland in the General Assembly several times, while he was frequently moderator of meetings in his own town. The records show him as moderator at a meeting March 28, 1782, where it was voted to " Divide said Inhab- itants into five Classes to raise the five Men Requred for the Ensuing Campaign;" also at another, May 3, 1785, where "Mr. Wil- liam Gallup was chosen to attend on a Com- mittee * to Affix on a place for * * the County Public Buildings," and where Mr. William Gallup and General Roger Enos were chosen by ballot as "Agents to attend at the General Assembly to pursue
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a request to said Assembly to Establish New York Charter in said Town of Hart- land." General Enos was moderator when the selectmen laid before the townspeople "the preambilating of the Line between the Town of Windsor & the Town of Hart- land as performed November, the Twenty- first and Twenty-Secont past (1786)." (The line between Hartland and Hartford was run in 1778.)
records, a division of the town was made into nine (9) school districts-probably the first division, the account of which, with early names, is very interesting. Many years later the number of pupils in the fol- lowing districts was reported thus: Dis- tricts : No. 1, 1803-77; No. 2, 1802-113; No. 3 ( omitted always) ; No. 4, 1807-66; No. 5, 1801-54; No. 6, 1801-65; No. 7, 1803-49; No. 8, 1802-64; No. 9, 1803
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THE NORTH HARTLAND-EVARTS PARK.
An Improvement Society organized in 1902 evolved this fine park from a village common, interlined with paths, driven over at random and with trees frequently used as hitching places. The work was completed in 1908, grading, fertilizing, seeding and fencing having been accomplished at a cost of $1200. Mr. Geo. P. Eastman, one of those who set out the maples and elms nearly 40 years ago, has proven an able President of the Society, having given freely of time and money, and protected the park from lawlessness and vandalism. This park elicits much praise from sum- mer visitors and tourists and the Society is justly proud of its work .- EDITOR.
At one of the meetings over which the General presided, Nov. 19, 1787,. "It was proposed to Choose a Comtt to see how the Ammunition was disposed of that was de- livered to Capt. Aaron Willard and others in the year 1777," and the vote passed in the affirmative. Then it was voted that "the Selectmen of said Town and their Successors in office be appointed * to look up the Ministry right and the School right (Episcopalian or Church of Eng- land);" also, that the town be divided into school districts.
On Dec. 3, 1778, as the entry is in the
-56; No. 10, 1801-76; No. 11, 1802- 40; No. 12, 1803-57; No. 13 1803-40; No. 14, 1803-48; No. 15, 1803-13; No. 16, 1802-24; No. 17 (reported for. the first time), 1811-21; etc. In 1790 the number of pupils in Dist. No. 5 (North Hartland) was 90.
At the same meeting where the division of the town into school districts was decided, Dec. 3, 1778, it was voted to raise a tax of "one penny on the pound * * in Mon- ey or Wheat at three shillings the Bushel to defray the costs of charge against sd Town for Ammunition procured for the
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aforesaid Town by Capt. Abel Marsh of Hartford."
Little is known in general about Revo- lutionary preparations in this section; but the common around the "Union Meeting House" at the centre of the town was one place where the "Minute Men" trained. Nor are there reminiscences of any moment about these brave "Green Mountain Boys." At North Hartland, it is said that the moth- er of two sons who were at the Battle of Bunker Hill heard the roar of conflict there, and it is thought that she was Mrs. Evans, the mother of Joseph and Moses Evans, who were at the famous battle.
One officer, Lieut. Samuel Bugbee, was retired by the town Sept. 7, 1790. Sev- eral soldiers who were with Gen. Stark at the Battle of Bennington rest in Hartland . graves, and the best inscription on any soldier's tombstone is that of Gardner Marcy, who lived in Fieldsville, Hartland, and built the Colonial mansion from which Mr. Maxwell Evarts of Windsor obtained a rare fireplace. The inscription reads:
GARDNER MARCY EsQ
Born in Woodstock, Ct. 1837-75 In early life a patriot and defender of his country Revered in his public and private stations : as a friend, true and faithful : as a husband, affectionately kind : as a parent, tender and beloved : as a man, honest.
There are nine grandsons and grand- daughters of the Revolution living in Hart- land, all descended from Hartland men: Grandsons: Messrs. Wm. J. Allen, Wm. W. Bagley, J. F. Colston, Charles E. Dar- ling, Elbridge Gates, Albert E. Gilson, H. A. Gilson, L. J. M. Marcy, and Andrew J. Stevens; Granddaughters: Madames Louise Bugbee, Rosaline (Flower) Clifford, Adelaide Crosby, Eliza Shattuck, Frances M. Spear, Adaline Sturtevant, Louise M. Sturtevant, Mary A. (Hodgman) Thayer, and Miss Clarine Gallup.
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There has been much discussion over the date of the building of the church at · the centre of the town. Mr. W. R. Stur- tevant thinks it was 1780. The author finds no exact statement to that effect, but references would confirm the date. For instance: In 1779 a committee was ap- pointed by the town "to fix a place for a meeting House spot," and "The Centre" was chosen; also, "three acres of land or thereabouts" were accepted from Mr. Bug- bee for a common. In that year it was
voted to hire ·Mr. Martin Tuller "on Pro- bation ten Sabbaths more and to pay him twenty shillings per day the old way," the meeting places to be at Dr. Spooner's barn and Col. Symes' barn.
The Rev. Daniel Breck, who served as chaplain in the Continental Army and who has always been called the first "settled minister," was living in Hertford in 1779, as is proven by a tax-list passed in to Mr. Elisha Gallup, the collector. It is written in Daniel Breck's own hand and reads-
Hartland th 20 79 to 6
I Pole
0
I Horse
4 -
0
I yeerling Colt I -
0
3 Cows
6 -
0
2 2 yeer olds .
2 -
0
2 yeerlings I - IO .
28 acres improved land 14 - 0
A true list, £ 35 - 0
DANIEL BRECK
From the heading of this list, it would seem that the name "Hartland" was used before it was formally authorized in 1782.
Daniel Breck's list suggests another, too good to be omitted, though it in no way concerns the church. It is :
A true list of all my Ratable Estate- one pole one heifer two years old. To the Gentle Listers of Hartland,
July 6th, 1799. OI-I 0 -9 0I -L
SAMUEL SMITH,
"Capt." Samuel Smith belonged to the "Troops of the Line" and served as one of Washington's Life Guard on the Hud- son after the attempts were made to cap- ture the great patriot.
The church at the centre of the town was Congregational largely at first, and its oldest book begins: "Hertford 6 Septem- ber 1779. This day the Church of Christ was gathered here in the presence of the Reverend Isaiah Potter, David Tuller, and Pelatiah Chapin & Chose Elias Weld Mod- erator & Clerk. Members- Joseph Grow, Elias Weld, John Hendrick, Samuel Ab- bott, Zebulon Lee, George Back, Joseph Grow Junr, Abijah Lull, Hannah Hen- drick, Rhoda Capen." Thus it is shown that a church spiritual existed in Hertford as early as 1779. Dec. 26, 1780, the town voted a salary to Mr. Nathaniel Merril of £30 annually the first three years, also "to set up a Dwelling House about 28 ft. square, one story, fine boards, clapboards and shingles."
مشاركات 00 08
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F
CENTRAL VERMONT RAILWAY STATION, EVARTS, AND MILL OF OTTAQUECHEE WOOLEN CO.
This may have been the house of one room in which Ebenezer Cotton, the choir- master, lived later, with its chimney built outside and its Cotton children within named after all the letters of the alphabet.
At the town meeting held the first Tues- day in Sept., 1789, it was voted "to give
the Rev. Daniel Breck a call to the work of the ministry in this town." He accept- ed, and lived the remainder of his days, until 1838, in Hartland. Graven on his tombstone are the words-
Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace.
CONCRETE DAM AND STORAGE RESERVOIR OF OTTAQUECHEE WOOLEN CO. Capable of developing about 700 horse-power.
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Mrs. Adaline Sturtevant, ninety years of age, has always lived in Daniel Breck's neighborhood, and Mrs. Phylura (Harlow) Bond, now ninety-one years of age, knew Elder Breck and his family well. She says . that "Rev. Father Breck" always wore at home a long black gown with scarlet fac- ings. She remembers his children by the names-Samuel, Daniel, Hannah, Abba, Dolly, and Lucy. Elder Breck always drove about in a chaise.
It seems from the following paper of the Moses Webster collection that Pomfret's revered missionary to the pioneers came to Hartland:
Received six shillings and eight pence of Moses Webster toward Mr. Aaron Hutch- inson preaching last summer.
March 24, 1784. PAUL SPOONER.
In early days, Hartland was always re- porting the laying out of roads, and there were, at least, three named roads-the "Old Post Road" on the Connecticut River, of which there is a map; the "Coun- ty Road," from Windsor to Woodstock over the hills and passing through Fields- ville, and the "Windsor and Woodstock Turnpike," which had two toll-gates- one near the Goodwin place and the other near the Hemenway place.
Readers may take an interest in a glimpse of an early;family through this letter sent by Mrs. Jerome H. Eastman and written by Mrs. Jennie (Brown) Smith.
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My grandfather (Solomon Brown) brought his bride from Connecticut on a famous saddle horse, giving ease of motion to the rider, being sure-footed and most tough and enduring -the bride rode on a pillion-a padded cushion which had a platform stirrup. They brought all their household effects along with them in saddle- bags; bread, jerked bear's meat, ham and cheese furnished food for the journey. They could while crossing the State of Massachusetts buy corn of the farmers for their horse but after reaching the wild woods of Vermont they could find but little for their horse to eat so let him browse. Some of the way there was no path, the way was marked by trees a portion of the distance and by slight clearings of brush and . thicket for the remainder. No stream was bridged, no hill was graded, and no marsh drained. The path led through woods which bore the mark of centuries and along the banks of streams that the seine had never dragged. Whenever they found a settlement they were always welcome to spend the night, but some- times darkness closed around them before "they saw the Smoke that so gracefully curled" and the shrieks of the catamount and owl made life hideous. At last they reached Hartland in the spring of 1782. Grandfather came to Ver- mont with the pioneers in 1780, to clear the land
and build a log cabin to make it possible to live amid the wilds of the Green Mountain State. They soon set their house in order, and selected a hollow tree near by where they kept their best wearing apparel where it would be safe in case of fire.
In the early afternoon one pleasant July day, grandmother, in petticoat and loose gown, donned her log-cabin sunbonnet and went out to weed her flower bed. Looking up, she saw a young woman emerging through the woods, at the edge of the clearing: she left her flowers at once and ran to meet her; she was carrying in her arms a boy baby eight months old and a girl of three summers was following on behind. The woman was a neighbor, the wife of a set- tler who was clearing up the farm where Fill- more Benjamin now lives-she was coming to make the young bride a visit, so they spent the afternoon together making plans for the future. They had a 4 o'clock tea; for even in those primitive days, they thought it necessary to be fashionable. The neighbor started for home long before the sun had set behind the woody hills, and grandmother was to accompany her part of the way-when they had gone about half a mile they heard a terrible howling, and looking through the forest they saw two big bears and a cub making dead set at them; they just ran for dear life, and that was all they could do-bruin soon caught up with them, and grabbing the baby with his savage teeth they soon devoured it while the women and little girl escaped unharmed. Some men near by who were burning logs started for the bears with a shot gun and killed one of them-the other left for parts unknown.
The men "burning logs" might have been doing so to make "salts" or soda, which, with corn, wheat, etc., was used as money. It seems that Spanish "milled dollars" and other denominations were used as current money, also English coins, Col- onial, Continental, and State coins and "scrip."
Hartland has counted many quaint char- acters among its citizens, but none more picturesque than Hadlock Marcy, Esq., the pioneer. He was born in Woodstock, Ct. in 1739, married a daughter of Rev. Abel Stiles in 1762, and came to Hartland early, where he died in 1821, forty-seven years after his wife passed away. He was a graduate of Yale College and could speak and write seven foreign languages. He was a lawyer and a travelling Baptist preacher, who always rode horseback ex- cept on Sundays, when he walked that his horse might rest. His genealogy says; "He was extensively known in Connecti- cut, New Hampshire and Vermont." He always dressed in black silk velvet made in Colonial style, with silver buckles. His grave is in Hartland Hill cemetery.
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William Marcy, Esq., was a cousin of Hadlock Marcy's, the father of Capt. Gard- ner Marcy, and the ancestor of all the Fieldsville Marcy's-five different lines of families. In 1778 he came with his family in an ox-cart from Connecticut to Hartland -early enough to find Indian relics on Lull Brook. One that his son Levi found, buried deep in leaves and mould, is now in the possession of his great, great grand- son Mr. Jason S. Darling. It is a perfectly .
curious cottage houses in Hartland is that occupied by Mr. Loreston Woodward, where the Jaquiths used to live, near the "Burk Stand." It has a wall-bed space built into one side of the parlor, any num- ber of queer cupboards, and is well worth visiting. Mr. H. H. Miller's old house at the Four Corners is filled with rare Colonial china and other antiques; while Miss Clar- ine Gallup's, an ancient farmhouse, has perhaps the most varied collection of any
REVIEW OF A HARTLAND MILITIA COMPANY JUST BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE CIVIL WAR. From a daguerreotype. The review took place in Harry Shedd's pasture at Foundryville.
preserved buffalo horn used for carrying powder, and it is carved with a border of crosses, an Indian bearing a tomahawk and a scalp, and with the name "Mechil." William Marcy's lot adjoined the lot "pitched by Tepe Dunham" before the days of deeds.
In those primitive times, almost every settler built him a log house preliminary to a better one, and Moses Webster, the Rev- olutionary soldier, is known to have made a bark house before he built his log cabin. One of the oldest fashioned and most
in town-manuscripts, books, china, linen, a scarlet cloak, gowns, coats, ornaments, etc.
A very old cottage is that owned by Mr. B. P. Ruggles at Foundryville, long occu- pied by C. W. Warren. It was said by Mr. Napoleon Luce to be the oldest frame house standing in his day. Its small win- dows have four tiny panes in the upper portion and nine in the under; its ceilings are very low in the older parts, and its construction is curious. Some think that the Fred White house, built by Samuel Williams in 1782, is older than the Warren
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house. The Capt. Dodge house, opposite the Mill Gorge, is almost as early as these; while the Lamb house, below, near Wind- sor, built in 1793, has never been remod- eled. The last is filled with rarely beauti- ful needlework done by Miss Harriet Lamb. The Gen. Roger Enos house at North Hartland must be contemporary with the oldest.
Many early houses show stone "wharf- ings" on which flowers were grown.
Among the fine mansions is "Fairview," once the home of Lieut. Gov. Spooner and later of Judge Cutts, now' owned by the Elisha Gates and Charles C. Gates fami- lies. From its verandah, seven towns can be seen across the valley of the Connecti- cut River.
The "Conant House," on the plain, was built by James Gilson, a soldier of the Revolution, considerably over a century ago, from bricks made on the ground, after the early custom. Its hand wrought timbers are fastened by wooden pins. The Judge Steele mansion was built by David Sumner, Esq., on the brow of a hill com- manding views of river-valley and moun- tain. In its yard is much shrubbery; while in its Colonial hall, unoccupied, still hangs the family coat of arms.
There were many separate settlements early, each with its saw-mill, tavern, and blacksmith shop. Some settlements added a cider-mill. At North Hartland, there was a place where hand-made cloth was heckled with teasels, and there were two rope-walks, just why, the author does not know; but, as two sea-captains lived in town after the War of 1812-Capt. James O'Hara and Capt. John Hammond, their influence may explain the matter.
From 1778 until about 1870, with some interruptions the June training of Hart- land's militia-men was an established fea- ture of the town's life, and the military re- ports of men equipped for service, previous to the War of 1812 are very numerous. The earliest report in the town records is dated 1808. The Webster family has the original documents of Capt John Webster and of many other Captains but the author has never seen one of Capt. David Sum- ner's Company-the one that served at Plattsburg. A surprising number of Hart- land men prepared for the War of 1812.
A "Resolution" entered in one of the town books by Daniel Breck, town clerk, declares, "That we will never submit to foreign or domestic outrage. That we will do our utmost to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections, & repel in- vasions, and to this end 'praying the God of armies to make bare his arm' we pledge our lives and Fortunes & our sacred honor."
All the old flint-locks were brought out, and they were many.
Only a few of those who actually went to war have been determined. Among them were: Messrs. Perkins Bagley, Thomas Bagley, Joseph Burk, Daniel Childs, Eldad French, Jonathan Hodgman, William Liv- ermore, Joseph Livermore, Isaac Morgan, Sr., Isaac Morgan, Jr., and Dr. Friend Sturtevant.
A brief item accounts for three men thus:
Capt. Webster : We have enlisted 3 men out of your Company Hial Paul, Otis fish, Perez W. gallup witch I return their names to you.
LIEUT. DODGE.
( To be continued.)
With superior pictures of the Celebration and other views
THE STRANGER. (A bird-lover's latest)
From the topmost boughs of the tallest trees, Where the green seems to graze the blue, Fall the crystal notes of a bird unseen, Whose voice to me is new.
Like a minstrel lilting a joyful lay The bewitching song is heard, And I look aloft with a wistful gaze To see the unknown bird.
But the breezy leaves with sunbeams flecked Contrive their guest to screen, Till I go my way, but listening still To the song of the bird unseen.
I can give the name of many a bird, And tell how each is dressed, And I love them all, but I think, just now I love this stranger best.
-Henry Crocker.
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AN UNDEVELOPED WATER POWER. SUMNER'S FALLS, ON THE CONNECTICUT, AT HARTLAND, VT. Engineers have estimated, it is said, that a 12 foot dam at this point would develop as much power as is supplied at Lawrence, one of New England's largest manufacturing centers.
New Series
CHAS. R. CUMMINGS, Editor and Publisher
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION. VT
DECEMBER, 1913.
History and Anniversary of Hartland
BY NANCY DARLING
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CHAPTER TWO
STATE OF VT. TO HIEL PAUL SECY Greeting
You are hereby ordered in the name and by the authority of the State of Vt. immediately to warn those persons whose names are hereunto annexed to meet on the company parade at Hartland meeting House on thursday the 2nd day of February next at 12 Oclock for the pur- pose of raising our proportion of one hundred thousand men according to an act of Congress and there wait for further orders, thereof fail not but a due return make of your doing there- on according to Law. Dated at Hartland this 23d day of January 1809.
CONSIDER ALEXANDER, Captain.
Serj. Benjamin Campbell
Orea Rawson
Do Hiel Paul
David Badger
Capt. Seth Tin(k?)um
Abijah Benjamin
Oren Liscomb
Elijah Green
Amos Ashley
Samuel Healey Jr.
Dan Marsh
Eiida Sabin
John Stevens
William Sabin
Zenas Webster
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