USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Ludlow > History of Ludlow, Vermont > Part 18
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).
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Mr. Warner began to learn the printer's trade in 1845, and worked on the first news paper published in Ludlow. He worked continuously at his trade with the exception of six months when he worked in a chair shop in East Templeton, Mass. He died June 11, 1912.
Wheldon, Benjamin F., son of Benjamin Wheldon, was born in Springfield, Vt., Apr. 10, 1846. He attended only the common schools. He came to Ludlow Aug. 1, 1867, and was
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engaged most of his life after that time in the tin and hard- ware business. He was a "hustler" with good business capa- bilities. May 22, 1872, he married Myra A. Marsh, of Ches- ter, Vt., and had six children; Gertie, born Aug. 25, 1873, died July 17, 1879, James H., born Dec. 10, 1876, Frank M.
B. J. Wheldon
born Apr. 2, 1879, Perley E. born July 6, 1882, Richard S., born Nov. 7, 1888, Belno M. born March 30, 1894. Mrs. Wheldon died Mar. 31, 1894. She was a very amiable woman and esteemed by all who knew her. May 31, 1899, Mr. Wheldon married Mrs. Mary J. Crane of Ludlow, who died May 4, 1902. Mr. Wheldon died Dec. 14, 1911, killed by an explosion of a gasoline tank.
Walker, Herbert E. son of George E. and Ann A. (Wilder) Walker, was born in Ludlow, Vt. on May 13, 1866. His father owned the Harness & Collar Shop. Mr. Walker was educated in the Ludlow public schools. He married Ina A. Thomson March 25, 1890. They have one child George F. Walker born on October 30, 1891. Mr. Walker played in the Band and Orchestra for sixty years. He purchased the
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Agan Shoddy Mill in 1920 and his son is associated with him, doing business under the name of H. E. Walker & Son. Mrs. Walker was a very popular teacher in the Ludlow schools for forty years.
Woodward, Norris H., son of Herrick Woodward, was born in Ludlow, Oct. 12, 1856. He attended the com- mon schools and graduated from Black River Academy in 1876. He followed the preceps rather than the example of King Solomon, and never allowed his admiration for the fair sex to lead him into matrimony. He entered the meat and provision business in 1887. He also for several years, bought cattle, sheep, hogs and poultry for the Boston market. He died Aug. 23, 1911.
Norris Woodward
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APPENDIX
In looking through the old record books and other mat- erial he had gathered, we found many interesting articles. In this appendix we are copying some of them which we think will be of interest to the reader.
We find that the Dutch, who settled at New York after 1609, were invaded by the English who took over that territory. Whereupon King Charles the 2nd, granted a Charter of all the lands from the Delaware to the Hudson River. Later Governor Clinton acquainted Gov. Wentworth, that this Province (New York) was bounded eastward by the Connecticut River; and was called Cumberland County. Later when King George the 3d commissioned Gov. Went- worth, 1741, as Governor of New Hampshire, the King issued Charters describing his Province, as reaching west until it met the King's other Govt's. Thus bounding N. H. at a line 20 miles east of the Hudson River, extending northerly to Lake Champlain, that being the east bound of New York. This was as ordered by the Charter Title to the Duke of York. No doubt the difference between these two lines, which included the State of Vermont, was not clear to the King, which later brought up a contro- versy between Governors Clinton and Wentworth, which had to be settled by King George and his Council.
In laying out the townships, no doubt the western bank of the Connecticut River was surveyed, and the corners of those towns westward, were designated from there.
Thus Ludlow was chartered but no survey was made at that time, even under the Governor's orders as was provided; however the town was marked off on a crude map.
Later at a meeting of the proprietors of Ludlow, held in Wallingford, Vt., on the second Monday of Oct. 1761, it was voted that Phineas Bradley, Isaac Doolittle, Josiah Newell, Amos Lee, Samuel Hitchcock and John Newell, Jr. proceed as soon as may be, to the township of Ludlow, and survey the township according to the Charter, lay out substantial bounds at each corner, mark trees and lay bounds in each line at convenient distances, take a view of the mountains, rivers, lakes and lands, draw a
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plan of the same and report their doings at the next meet- ing, so on December 10, 1761 in compliance to this order they proceeded to do so. Thus Ludlow was bounded on the North by Saltash, now called Plymouth, on the East by Cavendish and Flamstead, now Chester, south by And- over. On May 31st, 1785. At a proprietor's meeting it was voted that the said Joseph Fletcher be made a member of a committee to lay out highways in Ludlow, and later on Oct. 15, 1789, a petition from several persons was made praying for a lottery for the purpose of repairing the roads in Ludlow, Cavendish and Jackson's Gore, was presented but no definite action was taken.
The first annual Town Meeting was held in Ludlow on the 31st day of March, A. D. 1792. In accordance with the Charter, Capt. Elakim Hall being Moderator. The fol- lowing officers were elected. Jesse Fletcher, Town Clerk. Three selectmen, 1st Jesse Fletcher, 2nd Jonas Hadley, 3d Elihue Ives. Town Treasurer, Josiah Fletcher. Constable Simeon Reed. Issac Powers, David Lewis, Jonas Holden Listers. Joseph Greene, Leather Sealer. Thomas Bixby, Pound Keeper. John Hadley, Grand Jurerman. William Caldwell, Tithingman. David Bixby, Fence viewer. Wil- liam Caldwell, Silas Proctor, Levi Bixby, Nathanel Pin- grey, Simeon Reed, Surveyors of Highways. John Hadley, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
In old days hogs were allowed to run at large, and in case of any damage done to a neighbor, was taken care of by the Hogwards who acted as referees. A Tithingman was a man or officer to enforce SUNDAY observance and order.
Warnings Out
We learn that years ago in England they had a law called Warnings out, somewhat like our present Zoning Law; From the New England History, Reg. of Jan., 1938, Page 46 you may find a reference to an ordinance passed by the people of Charlestown, Mass. which the following was copied from the early records of that town, it may give you some idea of what warning out means. At a meeting of the Select Townsmen of Charlestown the 24th
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day of the 11th month (Jan.) 1653. Whereas it is found by dayly experience that Towns are brought under great burthen and charge by their inhabitants receiving and entertaining of strangers into their Housen and families without the knowledge or consent of the selectmen. And whereas it may be of very great inconviency and extreme charge for the future of the town.
It is therefore ordered by the Townmens this 24th day of the 11th month 1653 that no inhabitant of this towne called Charlestowne shall sell or lett or dispose of any House lott, or house in sayd town to a stranger whosoever to inhabitate amongst us without knowledge and consent of sayd selectmen.
Also it is ordered that no inhabitant of said towne shall receive any families ould or younge into their said Houses to Abyde with them above a week's tyme without appro- bation from the selectmen aforesaid or security from sayd person or persons so receiving any families to bear the town harmless and to save it from all charges and damage that may come by such persons so residing with them. And if any person of this town not with standing this shall be delinquent, then every such person for the first offense to forfeit ten shillings, and for every week after ten shillings more as long as they shall bee so defective.
John Greene-Town Clerk.
From this we can fully understand why Warnings Out was adopted in Ludlow Town, and the record shows from Nov. 13, 1805 until Dec. 9, 1817 this was carried on, both to single persons as well as families.
BOUNDARIES
Regarding the bounderies of Ludlow as mentioned in the Charter. You will notice that Ludlow was bounded on the north by Saltash, in 1797 this name was changed to Plymouth. On the east by Cavendish and Flamstead. On Feb. 22, 1754 Governor Wentworth granted a charter under the name of Flamstead to the town now known as Chester. Later this charter was forfeited through non-fulfillment
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of the conditions named in the charter. A second charter was granted Nov. 3, 1761 under the name of New Flam- stead. However this charter was declared illegal in the controversy between Gov. Wentworth and Gov. Clinton of New York, through a decision handed down by King George the third, who upheld the claims made by Gov. Clinton that the west bank of the Connecticut River was the boundary line between New Hampshire and New York. Therefore under date of July 14, 1766 a third charter was granted by Gov. Clinton in the name of Chester.
On the south bounded by Andover. This town was divided on Oct. 26, 1799 and the west part was taken over to help make up the town of Weston. That is why it is now bounded on the south by both Andover and Weston. On the west bounded by Jackson's Gore, this name was changed to Mount Holly in 1792.
TOWN REPORTS
In the annual town report of Ludlow dated Feb. 20, 1856 it shows the town debt as $1142.45. The population for the whole town numbered 1,581, and it showed 786 of these lived in the corporation.
In the report for the year 1859 the town was in debt $4470.86 and in the report dated Feb. 15, 1862 near the start of the Civil War there was a balance against the town for $3,489.78. But if the town farm with the personal property had been sold at the appraisal it would have shown a balance in favor of the town of $676.25.
In the town report of Feb. 20, 1866 it shows the town in debt $17,016.22. However this was largely caused by the paying of the soldier's bonus and $4 per month to its draft- ed men. In the town report of 1867 it shows the town in debt $14,067.07. In the report for the schools the average wages paid male teachers was $25.25 per month, and its female teachers $9.25 per month. It was observed that the average wage paid the female teachers was far less than that of males, yet it was generally conceded that the
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female teachers were equally efficient, if not better in most schools. The number of families in town was 397.
In the early settlement of Ludlow they first built log cabins, then later came frame buildings. The frame work was joined together by wooden pins. Holes had to be bored for the pins. The first augers for boring these holes were made by the blacksmiths, it was called a Pod-Auger. This had a straight channel or groove like the half a bean pod, hence its name. On the end through the center from the top of the channel to the bottom was a slit with one edge raised, with a tip to form a cutting edge. This could be sharpened when needed. This would cut into the wood by using considerable force. Later man's ingenuity pro- duced a faster cutting auger similar to a ship auger, with a clearance through its center for the shaving to pass through. Then later came one with an outside groove like the present day type.
Referring to the way water was conveyed by pump logs to farm buildings from springs. They used the following kinds of wood, cedar, hemlock, spruce, pine and bass-wood. The logs were cut 6 to 10 feet long, and were about four inches in diameter, with a hole bored through the center the entire length, usually about 11/2 inches in diameter. They used a Pump-log Auger for this purpose. They were made in different lengths from 31/2 to a little over 10 feet. With the long type they could bore the entire length, but with the shorter kind they had to bore one end past the center, then from the other end bore to break into the first hole at the center. In boring if the two holes did not break true in the center a long firing rod was heated red hot and any obstruction was burned out. The boring end of the auger was about 9 inches long with a seven-eighths inch diameter from there to the handle, which was made of wood and about 30 inches in length.
After boring, a large wide tapered reamer was used to ream out one end of the hole. Then a chamfering tool, with a wooden body and handle, with a center pilot to hold it true was used to point the other end of the log to the same angle, so that one log fitted tight in the end of
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the next log without coupling or packing. Some were cham- fered with hand tools and sealed with pitch and oakum. The usual price paid for boring, tapering and chamfering laid in a trench dug by the land owner, was 25 cents per rod. But those were the days when the country Doctor charged for "visit and medicine" seventeen cents, which was the old shilling of sixteen and two-thirds cents, six to the dollar. Later water was conveyed through a soap- stone pipe line, cut 2 inches square and 2 feet long with a one inch hole. The ends were sometimes fitted with a tap- ered hole at one end and chamfered to fit at the other end. Others used a metal coupling.
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