History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 8

Author: Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925. 1n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co.
Number of Pages: 988

USA > Vermont > Addison County > History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 8

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The continuation and final close of the controversy with New York, subse- quent to the Revolutionary War, will be treated in another chapter.

HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

CHAPTER VI.

THE TIDE OF REVOLUTION.

The Trials of Vermont as a State -Settlements in the Several Towns Previous to the War of the Revolution - Resume of the Principal Events of the War as Related to Addison County - Captures of Prisoners- Close of the War - Vermont's Admission to the Union - Latest Events in the Controversy with New York.

W HILE the great quarrel with the mother country partially stayed the current of the land title controversy, it was still through a double revo- lution that Vermont, as an independent commonwealth, struggled into exist- ence - as stubborn resistance against what the people of the grants believed to be the tyranny of New York, and resistance against the tyranny of England. Few of the events of those " days which tried men's souls," however, can be properly said to constitute a part of the history of Addison county. Only a few permanent settlements had been made within its limits. "It is said that James McIntosh, a Scotchman, commenced settlement in territory now a part of the city of Vergennes, in the year 1766; and other settlements were made on the creek above the falls in New Haven, now Waltham, as early as 1769. Colonel John Chipman in 1766 made a small clearing on his farm in Middle- bury, but did not return to it with his family until 1773; and in the latter year several other families were settled in that town. It is said that in the charter limits of Middlebury there were thirteen families, and in that part of Cornwall afterwards annexed to Middlebury eight families, before the war. Colonel Philip Stone commenced preparations for a settlement on the border of the lake in Bridport in 1768, and several other families were settled in that town before the war. John Chartier, also, commenced some improvements on the south end of Mount Independence, in Orwell, some years before the war, but no permanent settlements, we believe, were made in that town till after the war. As stated on a previous page, John Strong, Zadock Everest, David Vallance, Benjamin Kellogg and probably a few others had made preparations for a set- tlement on the borders of the lake in Addison in 1765, and took possession with their families in 1766.1 A few other families were settled there be- fore the struggle for independence began. The first settlements, by families, in Whiting and Leicester, were in 1773; in Cornwall and Monkton in 1774; in Weybridge in 1775. In no other towns in the county had permanent set- tlements been made at that time ; and in the towns mentioned the number of families was small." 2

On the 19th of April, 1775, the first blood of the Revolution was shed at

1 There is a tradition that Peter Ferris settled on the lake shore in Panton in 1765, coming through the forest on horseback with his wife and infant son, Squire, from Bennington county.

2 Swift's History of Middlebury, pp. 80 and 81.

THE TIDE OF REVOLUTION.

Lexington. Less than twenty days later, May 7, a brave band of men num- bering two hundred and seventy (all but forty-six being “ Green Mountain Boys") had assembled at Castleton with Ethan Allen, subsequently to march on to the strong fortresses at Ticonderoga and Crown Point; then came Ben- edict Arnold upon the scene, claiming command of the expedition - the re- fusal of the volunteers to march under any commander save Allen - Arnold's sullen acceptance of second place. Hastily following this scene comes the de- mand of the stern old hero for the surrender of the fortress at Ticonderoga, and his immortal response to Captain de la Place, when asked by what authority the demand was made : "By the authority of the great Jehovah and the Con- tinental Congress ! "

Allen, in his own graphic account, speaks of this event as follows: "The authority of the Congress being very little known at the time, he [De la Place] began to speak again ; but I interrupted him, and with drawn sword over his head again demanded an immediate surrender of the garrison, with which he then complied, and ordered his men to be forthwith paraded without arms, as he had given up the garrison. In the mean time some of my officers had given orders and in consequence thereof sundry of the barrack doors were beat down, and about one-third of the garrison imprisoned, which consisted of the said commander, Lieutenant Feltham, a conductor of artillery, a gunner, two ser- geants and forty-four rank and file, about one hundred pieces of cannon, one thirteen-inch mortar, and a number of swivels. This surprise was carried into execution in the gray of the morning of the 10th of May, 1775. The sun seemed to rise on that morning with a superior luster, and Ticonderoga and its dependencies smiled to its conquerors, who tossed about the flowing bowl and wished success to Congress and the liberty and freedom of America. Happy it was for me, at that time, that those future pages of the book of fate, which afterwards unfolded a miserable scene of two years and eight months' imprison- ment, were hid from my view."

The successful issues of Allen's other well-planned measures are familiar to all. Crown Point surrendered on the following day, with its entire armament and its small garrison of twelve men. Herrick made his capture of Skenes- borough, with Skene and his forces, besides several boats and a trading schooner. This success was crowned by the capture of two dispatch boats by Baker, which had been sent from Crown Point with the news of the fall of Ticonderoga. Amos Callandar was detached with a party to the fort at the head of Lake George, whence he soon after conducted the prisoners to Hart- ford.

The forts, so boldly taken, secured immunity against danger to the settlers here so long as they remained in the hands of the Americans; but on the 6th of July, 1777, came the retreat of the whole garrison before the advance of Burgoyne. The subsequent battle of Hubbardton, and still later that of Ben-

HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

nington, indeed all of the events of this great war, are too familiar subjects of general history to require detailed mention here.

After the retreat of the American troops from the disastrous expedition into Canada in 1776, and especially after General Burgoyne, in 1777, with his formidable army came up the lake, sweeping away every resistance before him, a large proportion of the settlers of Vermont deserted their farms and removed to places of greater safety at the south. The lake and its forts being in pos- session of the English, the whole country lying opposite was exposed to marauding and foraging parties of British, Indians and Tories, who plundered and carried off such movable property as was left behind and desired by them ; and in 1777, while the British were in quiet possession of the forts, before the surrender of Burgoyne in October of that year, several of the men were taken captives ; and such as remained in captivity until the occurrence of that event were then released.

But the most serious and extensive depredations on the inhabitants of the county were committed in the fall of 1778. In the early part of November a large British force came up the lake in several vessels and thoroughly scoured the country on both sides. Such of the settlers as had the temerity to remain on their farms until that time were taken prisoners, their property of every description was burned and destroyed, and their women and children left to take care of themselves as best they could, in their houseless and destitute con- dition. Not a town in the county, where any settlements had been made, escaped their ravages. The only building in Middlebury not wholly destroyed, except two or three in the southeast part of the town, which they seem not to have found, was a barn of Colonel John Chipman which had been lately built of green timber. This they could not set on fire, and tried in vain with their imperfect tools to cut down.

It is said that two hundred and forty-four captives were taken in the vicin- ity of the lake during that autumn, forty-four of whom were brought back in June, 1782, and exchanged as prisoners of war at Whitehall. Mention of many of these captures will be found in the chapters devoted to the history of the several towns.

The surrender of Cornwallis, at Yorktown, October 17, 1781, virtually put an end to the war, though it was not until the 19th of April, 1783, that, by order of General Washington, a proclamation announcing a close of hostilities with England was read in all the camps of the patriots. The war had ceased, although the formal ratification of the treaty of peace did not occur till Sep- tember 3 of that year. The "Green Mountain Boys," except for the family trouble with New York, were once more enjoying the blessings of peace. In 1789 New York acknowledged the independence of Vermont and endeavored to adjust all matters of dispute, having previously made grants to those who had suffered by adhering to her allegiance, while Vermont, in turn, paid into

THE TIDE OF REVOLUTION.

the treasury of New York thirty thousand dollars. On the 4th of March, 1791, Vermont was admitted as one of the Federal States, with the full rights and immunities belonging thereto.

A brief reference should be made to the later events in the great contro- versy with New York, which continued beyond the date of Great Britain's submission to the American arms. As previously stated, Vermont declared her independence at a convention held at Westminster on the 15th day of January, 1777; this convention was composed of delegates from all of the counties, and the formal declaration was adopted, "That the district of territory known by the name and description of the New Hampshire Grants, of right ought to be, and is hereby declared forever hereafter to be considered as a free and independent jurisdiction or state, by the name of New Connecticut, alias Vermont." At a later meeting, June 4, it was resolved that the State should be called Vermont. Another convention of delegates met at Windsor July 2, 1777, and adopted a constitution and took other steps towards perfecting the State government, and appointed a committee of safety for temporary purposes. This session was closed in haste when the news of Burgoyne's invasion reached the locality. On this account notice of the meeting of the Legislature and election was not given. The convention was again called together, the consti- tution revised, and the second Thursday of March, 1778, appointed for the meeting of the Assembly.

" Against all these proceedings the New York government sent to Congress their remonstrances. On the other hand, the Green Mountain Boys continued to urge their claims to be acknowledged as an independent State, and to be admitted into the Union. They claimed that, in declaring their independence, they only imitated the example of the Continental Congress; that the colonies were oppressed by the British government, and they had been oppressed by the British government. As early as the 15th of May, 1776, and before the declaration of American independence, the Continental Con- gress, recognizing the disordered state of the country, and the propriety of a legal organization before the adoption of such declaration, had 'Resolved, that it be recommended to the respective assemblies and conventions of the United Colonies, where no government, sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs, has been hitherto established, to adopt such government as shall, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and the safety of their constituents in particular, and America in general.' But Congress was placed in an embarrassing position, 'between two fires.' They saw the danger of irritating either party. Their proceedings were, therefore, vacillating in the extreme." 1

Meanwhile Vermont continued to adopt measures to perfect her State gov- ernment; the settlement of the State was progressing and the inhabitants were

1 Swift's History of Middlebury, page 77.

HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

becoming satisfied with the existing order of things, while the claims of New York became correspondingly hopeless and the sympathizers with them more uncomfortable. Vermont extended her jurisdiction and authority over all her inhabitants alike, the adherents to New York as well as others. In the year 1779 there were still many persons in Windham county who adhered to the claims of New York. These were taxed and drafted into service, the same as were others; some acquiesced in this order of things without resistance, while in other instances stringent measures were adopted to bring them to terms. At the session of the Vermont Legislature of February, 1781, " a general act of amnesty in favor of such persons " as had opposed its authority was passed ; upon which those persons submitted to the authority of the State and took an oath of allegiance. But the same persons and those who sympathized with them subsequently raised a formidable opposition to the recruiting of quotas of men in the several towns for the defense of the northern frontier, as ordered by the Legislature. For the purpose of abetting this opposition the New York government appointed several of the disaffected persons to civil and military offices, and they attempted to exercise the New York laws and authority over citizens of the State. Upon this Ethan Allen, at the head of a military force, was sent by the governor " to assist the sheriff of Windham county in the exe- cution of the laws." The sheriff and more than a hundred others, civil and military officers and privates, were arrested and brought before the courts, and five of them were sentenced to banishment and confiscation of property, and others to fines and imprisonment.

These acts led to new appeals from Governor Clinton to Congress for speedy interference. That body on the 5th of December, 1782, adopted reso- lutions severely condemning the action in Vermont, and requiring the people of that State "without delay to make full and ample restitution to Timothy Church, Timothy Phelps, Henry Evans, William Shattuck, and such others as have been condemned to banishment, or confiscation of estate, or have been otherwise deprived of property," etc. These resolutions were spiritedly an- swered by Governor Chittenden, denying the authority of Congress in the mat- ter, and the General Assembly also adopted a letter to Congress of a similar tenor.

These were among the last acts of interference in the affairs of Vermont by either Congress or the New York government. The Legislature of the last- named State in March, 1786, made the compensation which Vermont had re- fused to the sufferers above mentioned. At length, on the 15th day of July, 1789, the Legislature of New York gave up the hopeless contest, passed an act appointing commissioners with full power to acknowledge the independ- ence of Vermont and settle all existing controversies. On the 22d of October following Vermont appointed like commissioners. On the 7th of October, 1790, these commissioners agreed upon the State boundaries and terms of set-

FROM THE REVOLUTION TO THE PRESENT TIME.

tlement; the terms embodied the payment to New York of thirty thousand dollars, as stated, upon which all claims to jurisdiction on the part of New York should cease. On the 10th of January, 1791, a convention of delegates, chosen for the purpose, passed a resolution "approving, assenting to and ratifying " the constitution of the United States, and on the 18th day of February of that year Congress passed an act "that on the 4th day of March " following "the State of Vermont shall be received and admitted into the Union as a new mem- ber of the United States of America."

CHAPTER VII.

FROM THE REVOLUTION TO THE PRESENT TIME.

The Beneficent Reign of Peace - Advance of Settlements - The Second War with Great Britain - Its Chief Causes - Effects in Addison County- Defense of the Mouth of Otter Creek - The Battle of Plattsburgh - Local Effects of the War - The "Cold Summer " - Agricult- ural Pursuits Early in the Century - The First Newspaper - The Panic of 1837-38 - The Rail- road Era - The Period of Prosperity Preceding the Civil War.

S NETTLEMENTS advanced and general prosperity was inaugurated through- out Western Vermont during the period immediately following the decla- ration of peace between Great Britain and the United States, and particularly after the final settlement of the difficulties with her sister State of New York. This reign of peace and prosperity was, however, to be once more disturbed by the mutterings of war on the border of the State, which for a time checked her growth.

The causes which led to the second war with Great Britain are well under- stood, and a brief reference to them and to the events which transpired in this immediate vicinity will serve the purpose of these pages. Causes of complaint against the mother country had existed for several years, and as early as 1809 led to the passage by Congress of a law interdicting all commercial intercourse with Great Britain. On the 3d of April, 1812, Congress laid an embargo on all shipping within the jurisdiction of the United States for ninety days, and on the 18th of June following an act was passed declaring war with Great Britain. The principal causes which led to the adoption of this measure were declared to be the impressment of American seamen by the British, and the plundering of American commerce.

On the assembling of the Vermont Legislature in October, the governor, Jonas Galusha, in his message urged the members to second the measure of the general government, and provide means for defending the borders and for sustaining the national rights and honor. The Assembly majority concurred in the sentiments thus expressed, while a minority entered a protest. A law was

HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

passed prohibiting all intercourse between the people of Vermont and Canada, without a permit from the governor, under penalty of $1,000 fine and seven years' confinement at hard labor in the State prison. A tax of one cent per acre was laid on the lands of the State, in addition to the usual assessments, and other acts were passed relating to the payment of the militia.

These regulations proving oppressive to the people, many of the supporters of the war went over to the opposition. As the election of 1813 approached, both parties exerted their utmost endeavor to preserve their ascendency. No governor was elected by the people. The Legislature elected a governor whose opinions were in direct opposition to the war. The laws relating to the sup- port of, and providing ways and means for, the war were repealed. The party spirit ran so high that opponents branded each other with opprobrious epithets. The impartial administration of justice was endangered. Opposition to the measures of the government became so strong that the laws of Congress, especially the act relating to customs duties, were treated as a nullity, and so general became the practice of smuggling cattle and other supplies into Canada and bringing out goods of English manufacture in return, that it was regarded less as a crime than as a justifiable act.

The people of Addison county were in no degree behind those of other sec- tions of the State, nearer to the scenes of actual hostility, in the virulence and bitterness of their political animosities. So far was the question of peace or war with England carried into the political contests between the rival parties, that it became the chief topic of contention and the source of the bitterest en- mity. Families and friends were separated and stood in hostile array against each other ; a man's politics constituted his passport or his mark of rejection at his neighbor's door, and matters reached such a pitch that the dread of civil commotion hung heavily on the minds of the more considerate portion of the community.

Men of prominence in the political field were arrayed against each other on the question of war or peace, and in the wake of the leaders followed the masses, lending the influence of acts and speech to one side or the other. Rumors of every nature were abroad. The news was disseminated with almost telegraphic rapidity, flying from town to town by express riders and speeding from one scattered settlement to another, throughout Western Vermont.

Notwithstanding this hostility, even up to the brink of civil war, the spirit of patriotism and devotion to the Union burned in every soul with its accus- tomed fervor. All were ready when the hour of trial came to defend the country with their lives, if necessary, from external foes ; and when the British army and fleet moved out of Canada to Plattsburgh, to crush our defenses there and invade the soil of a sister State, that moment the bitterness and clamor of party were hushed and, so far as the grounds of contention were concerned, hushed forever.

FROM THE REVOLUTION TO THE PRESENT TIME.

On that occasion the people of Addison county, without distinction of party and in common with the people of adjacent counties, volunteered their services to repel the common enemy. With such weapons as they had at command they hurried from their homes, and within a few days after the first alarm were on their way to join their New York friends on the banks of the Saranac. But few of the volunteers from this county reached Plattsburgh, as the news of the battle and the decisive American victory met them on their way, and they quietly returned to their homes and disbanded.

Addison county occupied a conspicuous position in the War of 1812. Ver- gennes was looked upon as a very important point for the defense of the bor- der, if the State should be invaded, as well as being admirably situated with relation to the lake for a fleet headquarters. The mouth of Otter Creek was fortified with breastworks and a detachment of troops posted there. This po- sition was attacked by the British flotilla on the 10th of May, 1814, the attack- ing fleet comprising five sail and eight row galleys; but they were repulsed without loss to the Americans. The force of the latter consisted of only one hundred and ninety men, commanded by Captain Thornton, of the artillery, and Lieutenant Cassin, of the navy. Vergennes1 was an early ship-building point of importance, and it was here that MacDonough's fleet was fitted out, consisting of the brig Eagle, the schooner Ticonderoga, and the ship Saratoga, which were to win such a glorious victory on the beautiful lake.

Into the details of the chief events of the War of 1812 it is not the province of this work to enter; they are found on the pages of general history from many able pens. Many local incidents connected with the contest will be found detailed in the subsequent town histories.

The battle of Plattsburgh was fought on the IIth of September, 1814, and many Vermont men took part in it. A large number from the various towns of Addison county were enrolled and hurried to the front. These particulars will be found in their proper place in the pages devoted to the town histories.

After the battle of Plattsburgh nothing further occurred in this vicinity worthy of particular mention during the war. In October the Legislature as- sembled. No governor had been elected by the people; Martin Chittenden was accordingly again elected by a small majority. Many accusations were made against the governor, a number of which were presented from Rutland county, because the militia was not ordered out for the defense of Plattsburgh, instead of being called out as volunteers. He replied that a call upon our patriotic citizens for their voluntary services was, in this case, considered to be the only method by which timely and efficient aid could be afforded.

1 During the period of non-intercourse with Great Britain manufacturing enterprises sprang up with great rapidity about the Falls of Vergennes, among which were a blast furnace, rolling-mill, grist- mill, saw-mills and fulling-mills, wire factory and forges, and not less than one hundred and seventy- seven tons of shot were cast here during the war. (See history of Vergennes in later pages of this work.)

HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

The war had ceased; the gloom which had hung over the people disap- peared, and a general congratulation prevailed, as the soldiery returned to their homes as citizens, and again turned the implements of war into instruments of husbandry. The violence of party spirit declined ; the sentiment of the people became united, and the peaceful pursuits of business were renewed.

Notwithstanding the naturally deleterious effect of this war upon the gen- eral growth and prosperity of the county, these features were not entirely wanting. A glance at the census returns, however, will perhaps give some idea of what the war meant. In 1800 they show the county to have had a population of 13,417 souls, an increase of 5,810 during the preceding decade, and from 1800 to 1810 they show an increase of 6,575 ; but from 1810 to 1820, which included the period of the war, the increase was only 476, while during the next decade, ending with 1830, the increase suddenly leaps again to 3,470 souls.

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History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 8

Author: Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925. 1n Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co. Number of Pages: 988

Author: Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925. 1n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co.
Number of Pages: 988