USA > Vermont > Bennington County > History of Bennington County, Vt. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 40
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 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
44
346
HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
---
provided, it is thought best that the officers be recorded, although the year of their incumbency may not be given.
At another election at which Benjamin Johns was moderator, and Jeremiah French clerk, Thomas Soper was voted treasurer, Moses Soper and Gideon Ormsby, assessors, Benjamin Purdy, constable, Benjamin Johns, Gideon Orms- by and Thomas Soper, road commissioners. Again, William Marslı was mode- rator, Jeremiah French clerk, Martin Powell treasurer, Benjamin Purdy, Elia- kim Weller and - - Bulless selectmen, and Stephen Mead, constable. In 1768 Benjamin Johns was moderator, and Jeremiah French town clerk and treasurer; selectmen, Timothy Mead and Benjamin Purdy; constable, Jacob Odell. A saw-mill was in operation in the town in this year. In 1769 William Emes was chosen moderator, Jeremiah French, town clerk, Martin Powell, treas- urer, Eliakim Weller, Benjamin Purdy and Daniel Johns, selectmen; Jeremiah Whelpley constable, John Roberts and Jeremiah French, pathmasters for the main road, and Moses Soper and Daniel Johns for the east road; James Mead and Benjamin Purdy committee on roads.
"1 The first settlement in Manchester was made in the summer or fall of 1764, in that part of the town now known as the Purdy District. The first house was built by Samuel Rose, on the premises now occupied by John S. Pettebone, (now by John J. Pettebone). It is believed the houses built in 17642 were per- manently occupied the same year, but possibly the settlers, after completing their buildings, returned to Amenia for the winter, and first brought their fam- ilies to the township in the spring of 1765." Further the address aptly and truthfully continues: " Of the precise time of their arrrival, of the number of families that came together, of the circumstances which attended their journey and settlement, there is no record or tradition." .
Town Officers from 1771 to 1778.3-Moderator, William Marsh; town clerk, Jeremiah French ; treasurer, Martin Powel ; selectmen, Thomas French, Mar- tin Powel, and Eliakim Weller ; constable, Stephen Mead; pathmasters (both districts), Martin Powell, Samuel Rose, Nathan Whelpley, and Moses Soper ; committee on roads, William Marsh and John Roberts; fence viewers, Benja- min Purdy and Daniel Beckwith; pound-keeper, Jeremiah French. At a meet- ing, held in April, 1781, Thomas French, William Roberts and Pelatiah Soper were chosen a committee "to consult on some method to secure our land under the grant from New Hampshire."
1772-Moderator, William Roberts; town clerk, Jeremiah French; treasu- rer, Martin Powel ; selectmen, Pelatiah Soper and Martin Powel; constable,
' From the historical address of Hon. Loveland Munson, delivered in Manchester, Decem- ber 27, 1875.
Another authority says that the first frame house was built in 1769,
' This record does not give the names of all township officers for each year ; only those that held the leading positions.
347
TOWN OF MANCHESTER.
Nathan Whelpley; road commissioners, John Roberts, William Marsh and Samuel Rose, jr .; pathmasters, Benjamin Purdy, Martin Powel, John Soper and Samuel Sutherland; fence viewers, Samuel Rose, Benjamin Purdy, John Rob- erts and Daniel Beckwith. At this meeting it was "voted that hogs shall run free upon the common with good sufficient yokes;" also "that there shall be a pound built, and William Marsh be pound-keeper."
1773 .- Meeting held at William Marsh's house. Moderator, Samuel Rose ; clerk, Martin Powel; selectment, Jeremiah French, Nathan Whelpley and Ben- jamin Purdy; treasurer, William Marsh; constable, Stephen Smith; road com- missioners, William Marsh, Jeremiah French and John Roberts; pathmasters, William Marsh, John Roberts, Samuel Rose, jr., Benjamin McIntyre and Mo- ses Soper. In September the freemen voted "that we will not pursue the get- ting the jurisdiction back to New Hampshire at the present."
1774 .- Freemen's meeting at Eliakim Weller's house. Moderator, Sam- uel Rose; clerk, Martin Powell; selectmen, Timothy Mead, Gideon Warren and Eliakim Weller; treasurer, William Marsh ; constable, Jeremiah French; road committee, William Marsh, Jeremiah French and John Roberts ; path- masters, south district, Gideon Warren ; middle district, John Roberts ; north district, Thomas Bull ; northeast district, Timothy Mead ; southeast district, John Soper. At this meeting it was voted "that we lay a petition before the General Assembly at New York to have our charter privileges confirmed ac- cording to our grant; and that William Marsh, Ebenezer Bristol, Martin Powel and Samuel Rose, jr., make the petition."
1775 .- At Martin Powel's house, moderator, Samuel Rose; clerk, Martin Powel; selectmen, Timothy Mead, Gideon Warren and Eliakim Weller; treas- urer, William Marsh; constable, Jeremiah French; road committee, William Marsh, Jeremiah French and John Roberts; pathmasters, Benjamin Purdy, south ; John Roberts, middle; Benjamin Hammond, north ; Jeremiah Whelp- ley, northeast; Stephen Soper, southeast; Daniel Johns, on road from his house to Dorset line, and Daniel Allen from his house to Winhall line. "Voted, that we do not think proper to pay a certain note given to James Breckenridge by William Roberts and Martin Powel, at Arlington, to enable him to hire money at Portsmouth; said Roberts and Powel being a committee at that time for said Manchester; and said Breckenridge never hired said money as proposed."
1776 .- Moderator, Joseph Lockwood; clerk, Martin Powel; selectmen, Na- than Whelpley, Benjamin Purdy, sr., and Stephen Soper; treasurer, John Rob- erts; constable, Seth Keyler; road committee, John Roberts, Martin Powel and Samuel Rose, jr .; pathmasters, Joseph Lockwood, John Roberts, Ebenzer Bris- tol, Philip Mead, Timothy Mead, sr., Daniel Johns and Seth Allen. "Voted, that Joseph Lockwood, Gideon Ormsby, Daniel Beardsley, and Martin Powel be a committee to act with the other committees upon the New Hampshire Grants with regard to the title of our land." "Voted, that Samuel Rose, sr.,
348
HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
William Marsh and Eliakim Weller be continued a committee of correspond- ence with the other committees of Charlotte county 1 for the ensuing year." At a freemen's meeting held February 17, 1777, at the house of Christopher Rob- erts, it was voted, "That William Marsh and Martin Powel be cliosen delegates to the convention at Dorset. Also voted that it is not best at present to raise a sum of money for a bounty for soldiers on the New Hampshire Grants."
1777 .- Moderator, Nathan Smith; clerk, Martin Powel; selectmen, Joseph Baker, Gideon Barber and Timothy Mead; treasurer, Gideon Ormsby; consta- ble, Seth Keeler; road commissioners, John Smith, Captain Nathan Smith and Thomas Barney ; committee of safety, Martin Powel, Gideon Ormsby, Thomas Bull, Stephen Washburn and Elisha Tracy. To this committee of safety were added in November, 1777, the names of Thomas Barney, Felix Powel and Jere- miah Whelpley.
1778 .- At the annual meeting officers were chosen as follows: Moderator, Nathan Whelpley; clerk, Martin Powel; selectmen, John Smith, Nathan Whelpley, Timothy Mead ; treasurer, Gideon Ormsby; constable, Jonathan Sexton ; road commissioners, John Smith, Thomas Barney, Nathan Smith ; committee of safety, Martin Powel, Stephen Washburne, Gideon Ormsby, Thomas Barney, Jeremiah Whelpley, Thomas Bull, Robert Loggan.
On the 9th of April, 1778, was held a meeting of the freenien, agrceable to a resolution of the General Assembly of the State, at which time the officers chosen at the last preceding election were continued in office for the remainder of their term. This action was necessitated from the fact that during the year 1777 Vermont, through her Assembly, had declared her independence as a State, although it was several years afterward that the National Congress rati- fied that action and received Vermont into the Union of States. The acts of Assembly made provision for other town officers beside those formerly chosen, and at this meeting they were selected as follows: Listers, Martin Powel, Gid- eon Ormsby ; grand jury, Thomas Barney, Thomas Bull, Timothy Mead; tith- ingmen, Jeremiah Whelpley, Gideon Ormsby, John Smith ; additional select- men, Benjamin Purdy and Nathaniel Boorn. "Voted to offer a bounty for nine men to guard the frontier to the northward; and that 'Lieut.' Gideon Ormsby and Martin Powel be assessors to make a rate to raise $1,450; and that Chris- topher Roberts and Robert Loggan be collectors to gather said rate."
At a meeting held at the house of Anna Weller, in 1778, the following officers were chosen : Moderator, Captain Nathan Smith; clerk, Thaddeus Har- ris; representatives to General Assembly, Captain Gideon Ormsby and Stephen
1 By reference to an earlier chapter tn this work the reader will observe that while the gov- ernment of New York was claiming ownership and jurisdiction over the soil of Vermont the territory was divided into counties ; and all that part thereof north of the north line of Arling- ton and Sunderland townships, and between the Green Mountains and the Hudson River was designated as Charlotte county. It was organized in the year 1772.
349
TOWN OF MANCHESTER.
Washburne. At another meeting held in August, 1778, Martin Powel was chosen justice of the peace. Captain Jesse Sawyer was moderator of the meeting.
On the 8th of December following a meeting was held at which Major Jere- miah Clark of Shaftsbury, Captain Daniel Smith and Moses Robinson of Ru- pert, were appointed a committee to select a place for a meeting-house ; said house to be thirty feet square. At this meeting it was voted that Thomas Bar- ney, John Smith and Nathaniel Boorn be a committee to build the meeting- house.
1779 .- Meeting held at Anna Weller's. Moderator, Nathan Whelpley ; clerk, Martin Powel ; selectmen, Benjamin Purdy, John Smith, Thomas Bar- ney, Jeremiah Whelpley, Nathaniel Boorn; treasurer, Captain Gideon Orms- by; surveyors of highways, Daniel Purdy, Christopher Roberts, Benjamin Hammond, Arthur Bostwick, Samuel Beman, Stephen Smith, Philip Mead, Benjamin Huling; listers, Martin Powel, Captain Gideon Ormsby, Arthur Bost- wick; leather sealers, Martin Powel and Nathan Collins; collector and con- stable, Jonathan Saxton ; grand jury, Dr. John Page, Gideon Barber, Captain Thomas Bull.
At a meeting held June 14 it was voted to build a meeting-house forty by thirty-six feet and two stories high, as near Christopher Robert's houses "as the ground and circumstances will admit." The building committee were Na- thaniel Boorn, Lieutenant Thaddeus Munson, Captain Zadoc Everest, Captain Stephen Pearl and Captain Thomas Bull. In September, 1779, Martin Powel and Captain Gideon Ormsby were chosen representatives to the General As- sembly.
In January, 1780, the freemen voted to raise one thousand pounds to sup- ply the town treasury ; and the selectmen were authorized to draw upon the fund thus created for the purpose of sustaining the militia upon the "northern frontier."
1780 .- Annual spring election. Moderator, William Hine ; clerk, Martin Powel; selectmen, Thomas Barney, John Smith, Nathan Boorn, Arthur Bost- wick, Samuel Pettebone ; treasurer, Captain Gideon Ormsby ; constables, Jere- miah Whelpley, Thaddeus Munson; listers, Captain Gideon Ormsby, Martin Powel, Lieutenant Arthur Bostwick, Jonathan Saxton, Captain Thomas Bull, Nathaniel Collins; grand juror, William Hine. At the fall election Gideon Ormsby and Martin Powel were chosen representatives to the General As- sembly.
On the 14th of September, 1780, Captain Silas Goodrich, Captain David Lee, Dr. Lewis Beebe, Captain Thomas Barney and William Hine were chosen a com- mittee to prepare a remonstrance to lay before the General Assembly relative to the shire towns in the county. The committee was directed to send a cir- cular letter to the northern towns of the county to instruct their representa-
350
HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
tives relative to a certain grant made to the town of Bennington for building a court-house and jail. (This latter part of the resolution was subsequently re- scinded).
At a meeting held February 19, 1781, Captain Silas Goodrich and Dr. Lewis Beebe were appointed a committee to prepare a vote (resolution) relative to pay- ing militiamen that had turned out on alarms. It was as follows :
" Resolved, That each soldier who turned out in the last three alarms be en- titled to receive three shillings per day during the time they were in actual ser. vice ; and officers in the same proportion ; and for horse service at two pence per mile," etc.
1781 .- Meeting at Martin Powel's. Moderator, Major Gideon Ormsby ; clerk, Martin Powel ; selectmen, Arthur Bostwick, Nathaniel Boorn, William Hine, Timothy Bliss, Captain Silas Goodrich ; treasurer, Major Gideon Orms- by ; listers, Captain Thomas Barney, Martin Powel, Captain Thomas Bull, Jon- athan Saxton, Nathaniel Boorn ; grand juror, Major Gideon Ormsby.
Fall election, 1781 .- Representatives, Martin Powel and Dr. Lewis Beebe.
1782 .- Town election : Moderator, William Hine; clerk, Martin Powel ; selectmen, William Hline, Arthur Bostwick, Jared Munson, Captain Thomas Bull, Timothy Mead; treasurer, Gideon Ormsby ; first constable, David Staun- ton ; second constable, Robert Loggan ; listers, Israel Bostwick, Enoch Wood- bridge, Timothy Pearl, John White, Andrew Richardson ; grand jurors, Na- than Richardson and Timothy Bliss ; Christopher Roberts was chosen brander of horses; also to keep the key of the pound. In this year it was voted to raise two hundred and fifty pounds " in hard money and produce " for the purpose of raising ten men for service. At the fall election Gideon Ormsby and Thomas .Bull were chosen representatives.
In the spring election of 1783 Jonathan Brace was chosen moderator ; Mar- tin Powel, clerk ; Timothy Bliss, Thomas Bull and George Sexton, selectinen; Major Gideon Ormsby, treasurer ; listers, Andrew Richardson, John White, John Smith, Barnabas Hatch and Martin Powel ; grand jurors, Joseph Dixon and Jeremiah Wait. During the fall of this same year Major Gideon Ormsby and Timothy Bliss were chosen representatives to the General Assembly. The town this year was divided into five school districts.
į
1784 .- Moderator, George Sexton ; clerk, Robert Loggan ; selectmen, Ar- thur Bostwick, George Scxton, Jocl Ross ; treasurer, Jared Munson; constable, Robert Loggan ; listers, Timothy Mead, jr., Jolin Aiken, Reuben Purdy, Sam- uel French, jr., Nathaniel Boorn ; grand juror, Daniel Jones.
1785 .- Moderator, Jonathan Brace ; clerk, Martin Powel; selectmen, John White, John Smith, Timothy Mead, jr .; treasurer, Jared Munson ; constable, Robert Loggan ; listers, Captain Thomas Bull, Jonathan Aikin, Dr. William Gould, Captain Thomas Barney and Joseph Dixon ; representative, Major Gid- eon Ormsby.
------
351
TOWN OF MANCHESTER.
1786 -Moderator, Timothy Bliss; clerk, Martin Powel ; selectmen, Gideon Orisby, Timothy Mead, jr., Major Nathan Smith; treasurer, Jared Munson ; constable, Thaddeus Munson ; listers, Timothy Bliss, John Smith, Daniel Purdy, Truman Powel, George Sexton ; grand jurors, Josiah Sheldon, Robert Ander- son; representative elected in the fall, Silas Goodrich.
1787 .- Moderator, Silas Goodrich ; clerk, Martin Powel; selectmen, Gid- cont Ormsby, Timothy Mead, jr., and Job Giddings; treasurer, Jared Munson : Ist constable, Thaddeus Munson; 2d constable, Andrew Anderson; listers, Jo- seph Dixon, Daniel Ormsby, Silas Goodrich, Jonathan Aikin, David Lee, jr .; grand juror, Samuel Hitchcock.
1788 .- Moderator, Enoch Woodbridge; clerk, Martin Powel ; selectmen, Gideon Ormsby, Timothy Mead, jr., Job Giddings; treasurer, Gideon Orms- by; constables, Thaddeus Munson and Samuel Sutherland; listers, Shadrock Danks, David Lee, Captain Jonathan Aikin, Joseph Dixon, Daniel Ormsby ; grand juror, John Smith.
The names of the above persons have been provided for this chapter, not solely for the purpose of making a record of the town office holders, but for the additional reason that the names of many of the pioneers of Manchester may be recalled which otherwise might be forgotten. And there were others, un- doubtedly, who were among the early settlers, and whose names are not men- tioned in the foregoing record ; persons who were as fully and thoroughly iden- tified with the early history of the town as those mentioned, but who took no part in the affairs of town government. It will not be out of place in this con- nection to furnish the names of freemen found in one of the ancient records of the town ; but as to why the names were placed there there appears no satis- factory explanation. The roll purports to contain the names of qualified free- men with such additions as were made from year to year, as new settlers be- came qualified or young men became of full age. It is thought, however, that this roll is but partial, or at least that it has imperfections. The entry com- mences with the year 1778 and continues to the year 1800. The additions for each year are indicated as the list will show. This may be of value in deter- mining the names of some of the pioneers of the town, and for that purpose it is used here, although the names of inany have already been given.
1778 .- Thomas Barney, William Sexton, Daniel Allen, Martin Allen, Tim- othy Soper, - Allen, Nathan Smith, - Hammond, Gideon Barber, Na- than Whelpley, Daniel Beckwith, Jeremiah Whelpley, Timothy Mead, jr., Gid- eon Ormsby, William Drew, Pelatiah Soper, Solomon Soper, Thaddeus Harris, John Selleck, Samuel Beeman, Philip Reynolds, Benjamin Purdy. Christopher Roberts, Benjamin Vaughn, Eleakim Demming, Eleazer Albee, Stephen Wash- burn, Timothy Page, Charles Collins, Daniel Purdy, Christopher Collins, James Vaughn, Robert Loggan, Elijah McIntyre, William Bedell, Stephen Smith, Benjamin Purdy, jr., Jonathan Sexton, Samuel Sutherland, Arthur Bostwick,
352
HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
Lorain Larkin, John Smith, Thomas Bull, Joseph Baker, Nathaniel Bourn, Ben- jainin Bean, Captain Zadoch Everest, Captain Jesse Sawyer, Moses Sperry, Jesse Graves, Bernard Bourn.
March 29th 1779 .- Jared Munson, George Smith, Thaddeus Munson, Ste- phen Pearl, William Hine.
March 2d 1780 .- Samuel Pettebone, Timothy Bliss, Aaron Mason, Samuel Hull, Seth Pettebone, Simeon Hine, David Lee, jr., Daniel Shaw, Timothy Pearl, Nathan Richardson, Andrew Richardson, jr., Nehemiah Hine, John White, Abel Pettebone, Jonathan Ormsby, Truman Powel, Israel Bostwick, Enoch Woodbridge, Peter Pixley, Jeremiah Wait, Captain Giles Wolcott, Captain Si- las Goodard, Daniel Arnold, Asa Farrand.
March, 1781 .- Truman Mead, Robert Nichols, John Dagget, Amos Rich- ardson, Richard Hemenway, Isaac Burton, Elias Giles.
January, 1782 .- William Woodbridge, Daniel Ormsby, Billy Hatch, Tim- othy Crittenden, Reuben Smith, Prentice Storer, Solomon Collins, David Purdy.
March, 1783 .- Abel Phelps, James Hotchkiss, John Langdon, DanielCham- pion, Cornelius Havens, William Bennett, Isaac March, Barnabas Hatch, Jo- siah Sheldon, Jonah Danks.
September, 1783 .- Samuel French, jr., Jacob Ornisby, Dornan Dunn, Abel Bristoll, Asa Weller, Jabez Washburn, Caleb Sheldon, Job Giddings, Thomas Bull, jr., Josiah Terry, Joseph French, John Roberts, Charles Bulless, Benjamin Roberts.
September 5, 1786 .- Joseph Prindle, Richard Mclntyre, Eli Freeman, Obediah Vaughn, Aaron Sexton, Jeremiah French, James Hennessey, Ed- mund Wood, John Jones, John Hopkins, Wallace Sutherland, Elijah Burton, Isaac Bull, Ebenezer Weller, Nicholas Wood, Henry Bulless, Samuel Benedict, Joseph Raymond, Isaac Tafft, - Parker, - Squires, Noah Smith, Stephen Smith.
September, 1787 .- John Drew, Ezra Benedict, Nathaniel Bourn, jr., Samuel Powel, Ezra Blakeslee, John Loggan, John Palmater, Amos Bourn, John Hoga- boom, Perez Walton, William Gates, Benjamin Hicks, Duncan Dunn, Moses Soper, Ephraim Koile, Joseph Edmunds, Simeon Eells, Caleb Smith, Jonathan Benedict, John Slocum, James Holt, Daniel Sperry, Isaac Squires.
September, 1788 .- Henry Hewitt, John Roberts, jr., - Barney, Joseph Jones, Nathan Richardson, Samuel Hitchcock, Josiah Lockwood.
September, 1792 .- Timothy Brown, jr., Jedediah Smith, John Vanderlip, Edward Holmes, Thomas Patterson, Richard Jones, Israel Wood, Warren Mun- son, - Munson.
March 4, 1793 .- Walter Horenden, John Sidway, Ebenezer Hitchcock. Stephen Stoddard, Jacob Odel, jr., Samuel Elwell, Samuel Purdy, Abel Har- ris, Robert Loggan, jr., Roswell Jones, Stephen Soper, David Brooks, Samuel Strait, Isaac Whelpley, Daniel Sutherland, Roger Sutherland.
-----
1
353
TOWN OF MANCHESTER.
Last Monday of June, 1793 .- Captain Jesse Hollister, Zadoc Bates, Will- sun Jameson, 2d.
September, 1793 .- George Britnall, Richard Hennessey, jr., Solomon So- per, John Roberts, 3d, Nicholas Houghter, Charles Thomas, Lazarus Beard- ley, John Pierce, John Allen, Nathan Andrews, Thomas Soper, Joseph Durn, George Tankard, William B. del, James Nevens.
September, 1794 .- Oliver Jewell, Ephraim Munson, Asa Loveland.
December, 1796 .- Robert Pierpont, Robbins Buqueth, Erastus Abbott.
September, 1797 .- Benjamin Bowers. Patrick O'Hara, - Richardson, Daniel Vaughn, Charles D. Hurd, William Gould, jr., Dudley Mason, Benja- min Purdy, 3d, Stephen Bourn, Lyreus Giddings, Eli Mallett, Andrus Collins.
September, 1798 .- - Iloar, - Purdy, - Bullers, 2d, - Howc, - - Doughty, Nathaniel Backus, Samuel Sutherland, Josiah Burton, Elijah French, Abel Rose, Daniel Cumber, Napthala Glazier, Charles Southwick, Matthew Loggan, Frederick Dedrick, Timothy Harris, Benjamin Sutherland, James Underhill, Josiah Pierce, James Cook, Ralph Buckley, Ezra Darby, David Truman, John Britnall, Oliver Buckley, Asel Hawley, Abraham lloga- boom, Abraham Smith, Pelatiah Soper, Isaac Rose.
December 4, 1798 .- Jesse Southwick, Josiah Reynolds, Elias Richardson, Thomas Farr, John Buck, Stephen Washburn, Simeon Kimpton, Jabez Haw- ley, Smith Purdy, Timothy O'Brien, Daniel Hammond, Wells Richardson, Samuel Burton, David Purdy, Seth Curtis, Alexander McCollum, John Fay, Levi Colley, Jacob Mead, George Wightman, John Austin, Noah Palmer, Samuel Dewey, William Chapman, Joshua French.
March 27, 1799 .- Martin Roberts, Seth Smith, William Fuller, Russell Colvin.
September, 1800 .- Moses Giddings, Benjamin Bulless, Truman Purdy, Thomas Richardson, Charles Bulkley, Silas Hubbel, John Wheaton, Seth Spencer, Benjamin Conkling. Joseph Bulkley, Leonard Foster, David Vaughn, Samuel Pettebone, jr., Converse Gilbert, Alexander Joslin.
It is believed that the foregoing record of early town officials and the roll of fre. men includes the names of a great majority of the residents of the town of Manchester prior to the year 1800. They were the pioneers upon whom fell the burden of the work of clearing the land and cultivating the soil. They had not to contend against the American Indian for possession of the country here- abouts, as that form of pioneer hardship was endured by the settlers of New York and other provinces to the south and west. But the owners of the land in this region, those who held title under the grants of Benning Wentworth, as governor of New Hampshire, were compelled to suffer trials and persecu- tions from an enemy less murderously inclined than the Indians, though no less determined and obstinate in action.
'Scarcely had the settlers under the New Hampshire Grants become fully 45
354
HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
possessed of their lands than conflicting and adverse claims of title were inter- posed that were not finally settled until after the War of the Revolution had closed, and until after Vermont had declared her independence as a State, and that independence had been ratified and confirmed by the Congress of the United States. And instead of passing through an "era of unexampled pros- perity " the sturdy pioneer was compelled to leave farm and shop, and repel the adventurous invaders who sought to deprive him of all his possessions; and from the year 1766 until after the close of the war all was uncertainty and doubt, and constant turmoil and strife. But notwithstanding all these hinder- ances the town, from the very first, enjoyed a steady, continuous growth in pop- ulation and improvement, so that in the year 1791 it contained residents to the number of 1,296, and in 1800 of 1,397.
The reader will remember that the town of Manchester was granted by the governor of the province of New Hampshire by the advice and consent of council, to grantees therein named for the purpose of encouraging settlement and improvement on the lands granted; and it will be remembered also that none of these grantees, according to the best knowledge upon the subject, ever became actual residents upon the soil, but sold their rights mainly to persons from New York province, and later to pioneers of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Under the royal charter from the king of Great Britain the governor and provincial council of New Hampshire believed their territory to extend over and include this region, while by virtue of a similar charter from Charles the Second to the Duke of York, in 1664, the governor of New York claimed as that province, "all the land from the west side of the Con- necticut River to the east side of Delaware Bay; and it was on account of these conflicting claims that the inhabitants of this town and elsewhere upon the grants were subjected to annoyances, hardships, and attacks from those who sought to deprive them of their title and possession. 1
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.