History of Newbury, Vermont, from the discovery of the Coos country to present time, Part 8

Author: Wells, Frederic Palmer, 1850- ed
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: St. Johnsbury, Vt., The Caledonian company
Number of Pages: 935

USA > Vermont > Orange County > Newbury > History of Newbury, Vermont, from the discovery of the Coos country to present time > Part 8

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Robert Hunkins

Samuel Hale

Thomas Johnson

Elihu Johnson

Haynes Johnson

*Documentary History of New York, Vol. iv. p. 209.

HISTORY OF NEWBURY, VERMONT.

Richard Chamberlin

Robert Johnston

Joseph Chamberlin

Jacob Kent

Abiel Chamberlin

Nehemiah Lovewell

Nathaniel Chamberlin

John Mills

Uriah Chamberlin

Stephens McConnell

Er Chamberlin

John Nutting

Ezekiel Colburne

Peter Powers

Abner Fowler

Simeon Stevens

Abner Fowler, Jr.

Ephraim Spafford

Jacob Fowler

Gideon Smith

Jonathan Fowler

Levi Sylvester

John Foreman

John Taplin, Jr.

Jonathan Goodwin

Daniel Tillotson

John Haseltine

Moses Thurston

Robert Haseltine

David Weeks

Daniel Hall

Ebenezer White

Enoch Hall

Joseph White

As families were large in those days, and there were many young men boarding in these forty-six households, an average of eight to each would give the population as about three hundred and fifty in 1770. All of these lived along the river road, or in houses reached directly from it. Mingled among the settlers, and not probably enumerated, were several Indians, who, although not worth much for steady work, gladly caught fish or hunted game, which they exchanged for the white man's grain and potatoes, and too often for the white man's fire-water. A few of them proved very efficient in the coming war.

In 1770, was the visitation of the army worm, whose ravages are so graphically described by Grant Powers. This pest destroyed all the corn and wheat between Northfield, Mass., and Lancaster, N.H. They were "millions upon millions," covering acres, completely hiding the walls and roofs of buildings over which they passed. About the first of September they suddenly disappeared, and not even the carcass of a worm was seen. Their description, as recorded by Rev. Dr. Burton of Thetford, tallies exactly with that of a similar pest which committed great depredations around North- ampton and Springfield, Mass., a few years ago.

In that year or the next, settlements began in the back parts of the town, says Mr. Perry; a Mr. Kelly began to clear land not far from where the Union meeting-house stands at West Newbury. About the same time George Banfield, Edmund and John Brown began a clearing on the road that runs northwest from the school- house on Rogers's hill. Just before the revolutionary war broke out, Samuel Hadley and Samuel Eaton settled on the farm which Col. John Smith and his descendants have owned for more than a century. Up to this time all the settlements in Newbury were along the river, and the opening of farms in the back parts of the town

"WHEN WE WERE UNDER THE KING."

was retarded and made difficult by the range of hills and broken country, of which mention is made in the first chapter of this volume. Had this tract, a mile or more in width, consisted of good farming land, gradually rising from the meadows, settlements would have spread back among the uplands. But the wilderness intervened, and the first settlers had to go four miles back from the river to find suitable land for farms. This range of hills has been a great obstacle to the development of the social, religious, and commercial prosperity of Newbury. The town has suffered by reason of the physical conditions which have prevented the establishment of a central village which should be a center of the common interests.

About the time that settlement began at West Newbury, Er Chamberlin commenced operations at Wells River. The ground now occupied by that village was then covered by a dense thicket of trees and fallen timber, through which Wells river found its way to the Connecticut by several channels. After a few years, having cleared some land, he built a dwelling-house and a sawmill. This part of Newbury is in the tract of five-hundred acres, reserved by Governor Wentworth, and called the "Governor's farm," to which, or a part of it, Chamberlin acquired a title.

The log meeting-house which had accommodated the settlers in their day of small things had now become too contracted, and perhaps the people felt that they were able to have something better. The warning for March meeting in 1770, contained an article "to see where the town will agree to meet on the Sabbath the spring and summer ensuing." There is no record of any action being taken, In 1771, the town was requested "to see if it will do anything to the meeting-house." No action is on record about that. It is believed that a meeting-house, or the frame of one, was put up in 1771, a little above Mr. Farnham's house on the "Little Plane," but the location being unsatisfactory, it was taken down, and set up opposite the cemetery on the Ox-bow. There is much obscurity connected with this building, both its location and uses have been the subject of dispute. At a special town-meeting, May 18, 1773, it was voted "to finish the meeting-house that is now raised, the owner giving in what is done." The meaning of this is not clear. It was also voted "that the notes that were given to build a meeting-house be given up, Captain Hazen giving up a bond which Haverhill took of Newbury for building the same." It is probable that these notes were payable in labor and materials, and that, the conditions being fulfilled, they were given up. The bond referred to seems to have been to the proprietors of Haverhill, as security for money advanced by them toward the building.

The old records of the county court tell us that in 1773, the August term of the Court of Common Pleas was held at Robert Johnston's Inn, and that, on the third day they adjourned to inspect "the building intended for a Court-House and jail in this township."

HISTORY OF NEWBURY, VERMONT.

It goes on to say that the court-house was a frame building, with a tenement for the jailer, but the jail was of logs. The court seems to have been pleased with what had been begun, and appointed (whether to be raised by tax, or by subscription is not stated ), £400, to finish the building in part, and for other purposes "not to be over niee in doing it." The court-house and the meeting-house, appear to have been one and the same structure, and is sometimes called in the town records "the State-House," sometimes "the Court-House" and onee at least, as the "Meeting-house."

There is extant a bill of Thomas Johnson's against the town, dated February, 1773, in which some of the items are for shingles and for timber of various dimensions. If we suppose that this timber was used in the construction of the meeting-house, its size would seem to have been about forty feet by fifty, and fourteen feet in height of post.

The town had voted on the 14th of May, 1773, "To build a gaol 28x14 feet, one story high." Very little is known about this building, but it is believed to have stood baek of the court-house, on the brow of the hill. One which was constructed in another part of the state about that time, was built with an inner, and an outer wall of logs, the space between the walls being filled with earth and stone. This jail, seems to have been little used and fell into decay, as at the June term of Orange county court, held at Thetford in 1783, Abner Chamberlin, sheriff, represented that for want of a "Common Gaol" he was under an "intolerable burthen" for lack of a place to safely keep the persons committed to his custody. It was also represented to the court "that there is at Newbury in this county an ancient building which was formerly occupied by this county when under the jurisdiction of New York as a Common Gaol." The county records go on to say that it being represented that this "ancient building" might be obtained, the sheriff was directed to repair to Newbury, and agree with its owner for the building, which he was to put in proper repair for a "Gaol" at the expense of the county. It seems that it was put in proper repairs as in Spooner's Vermont Journal sometime in October of that year a reward was offered for the apprehension of one James Marston of Fairlee, who had "broken out of the Gaol at Newbury." This jail, or a successor, was standing and used for the purpose of a prison as late as 1794, for the autobiography of Mrs. Asa Bayley mentions it as containing prisoners in that year.

It appears that the meeting-house was not completed for some years, as on May 27, 1776, the town voted "To build pews and seats in the meeting-house on the vacant ground." It seems that some had built pews at their own expense, but that a large part of it was seated with benches, as the old one had been. It was voted "to sell the pews and seats when built, at vendue," and Ephraim Webster, Jonathan Goodwin, Jacob Kent, Simeon Stevens, and Dudley

NEWBURY VILLAGE-LOOKING SOUTHEAST. [FROM NEWBURY SEMINARY SOUVENIR. ]

"WHEN WE WERE UNDER THE KING."

Carleton were chosen a committee to perform the same. It was also voted "that Haverhill shall have opportunity to bid off the pews and seats if they shall think fit." This building, the second of the town and church, was used as a place of public worship about fifteen years, until the building of the "Old Meeting-house" in 1788. In it met the legislature for the October Session of 1787. It continued to be used for a court-house until the county-seat was removed to Chelsea in 1796, after which a school was held in it at one time. It was taken down by Col. Thomas Johnson in 1801, and the materials used in the construction of a building commonly spoken of as "the old court-house," which stood near the present schoolhouse in the Ox-bow district. The old people used to say that in this early meeting-house, the men were seated on one side, and the women on the other. On one occasion Mr. Powers was disturbed by some whispering which was going on, and, pausing in his sermon, rebuked the brethren for their unseemly conduct in the house of God. Whereupon one of the deacons arose, and informed the minister that the whispering was not on their side of the house, but came from the women's side. "Ah, then," sighed the good man, "it is of no use for me to say anything," and went on with his discourse. It will be observed that our forefathers never used the word church to designate the building employed for religious worship. It was always the "meeting-house," and the church was a body of religious believers which met in it.

The warning for town-meeting in March, 1798, contains the following article, "To see if the town will repair the Old Court- House, so that it may be of some advantage to the inhabitants, and take some method to do the same." It was voted, "To choose an agent to take care of the Old Court-House, and receive a lease of the land on which it stands from Gen. Jacob Bayley, for the use of the town and that Daniel Farrand, Esq., be agent." It was also voted "that said agent lay out a sum not exceeding fifteen dollars in making necessary repairs in and about said house." There is nothing to show that any work was done upon the building, and a few years later it was taken down.

Rev. Grant Powers tells us that, in one of the earlier years, the proclamation for Thanksgiving did not reach Newbury till after the appointed day had passed. The people, however, decided to keep the feast, but it was discovered that there was no molasses in the settlement. A supply being expected from Charlestown, the day was postponed to await its arrival, but, after waiting several weeks, the desired article not having appeared, Thanksgiving was kept without it.

CHAPTER XI.

BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.

SETTLEMENT OF RYEGATE - THE "SCOTS AMERICAN COLONY."- THE INCHINAN MEETING .- JAMES WHITELAW .- DAVID ALLEN .- DR. WITHERSPOON .- WHITE- LAW'S JOURNAL .- PURCHASE OF RYEGATE .- ITS SETTLEMENT .- MILLS BUILT AT BOLTONVILLE .- SETTLEMENT OF BARNET .- WILLIAM WALLACE .- FIRST TAVERN .- FIRST ROAD .- ROAD TO WELLS RIVER .- CHAMBERLIN'S FERRY .- PORTER'S FERRY .- EARLY HOUSES .- WILD BEASTS .- ANECDOTES .- CHURCH GOING .- BAD ELEMENTS .- COUNTERFEITING .- GLAZIER WHEELER. .

A GATHERING of farmers and artisans at Inchinan, in far-off Scotland, on the 5th of February, 1773, was destined to have unforeseen consequences upon the future welfare of Newbury. The most important event, affecting this town, between its own settlement and the revolutionary war, was the colonization of Ryegate. The latter town, settled by the Seotch, shares with Barnet, the honor of being the only towns in Vermont established by colonies from beyond the Atlantic. So large a proportion of our Newbury people are of Scoteh deseent, that a particular account of this enterprise seems to be a part of our history.

This Association, called the Scots American Company, which is sometimes spoken of as the Inehinan colony, was formed for the purpose of purchasing land for settlement in North America. At this meeting, artieles of agreement were signed, and two men, James Whitelaw and David Allen, were selected to go to America, and examine, and purchase land. Mr. Whitelaw, in after years one of the most prominent men in Vermont, was well educated, a surveyor, a man of rare judgment, business ability, and good sense. David Allen was a farmer, then thirty-three years of age, Whitelaw being only twenty-four. They left Glasgow March 25, 1773, and arrived in Philadelphia on the 23d of May. They were met by Alexander Semple, whom they had known in Scotland, who introduced them to Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon. This gentleman,

BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.

whom we have mentioned before, was one of the most distinguished men of his time. He was born in Scotland in 1722, and became president of Princeton College, in New Jersey, in 1768. In 1776, he was a member from New Jersey of the Continental Congress, in whose debates he took a prominent part, and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He visited Newbury several times, and preached here more than once.

Dr. Witherspoon informed Whitelaw and Allen that he owned a township of land on Connecticut river, in the province of New York. This he would sell them, on favorable terms, but advised them to see all they could of the country before purchasing any- where. Whitelaw and Allen visited the Mohawk valley, and crossed this state to Charlestown, N. H., where they saw Mr. Church who was joint owner of Ryegate, with Dr. Witherspoon, and arrived at the latter place on the 25th of June. They spent several days in examining the land, then returned to New York, and spent about three months in traveling through the middle and southern colonies, going as far south as the interior of North Carolina.

On the first of October they purchased the south half of Ryegate, for which place they set out, and reached Newbury November 1st, where they conferred with Gen. Bayley about their purchase. A week later, they were joined by James Henderson, a carpenter, who had been sent on by the Scots American Company. At that time there were no settlers in Ryegate, except Aaron Hosmer, who had moved across the line from Newbury. John Hyndeman, from Scotland, had already reached the place, and by the end of January they had two houses up and finished. In May there arrived from Scotland, David Ferry, Alexander Sym and family, Andrew and Robert Brock, John and Robert Orr, John Wilson, John Gray, John Shaw, and Hugh Semple. "In August, David Allen set out to return to Scotland and all the colonists attended him to Gen. Bayley's in Newbury, and James Henderson went along with him to Newburyport, where he took leave of him," says Whitelaw's journal.

In October came John Waddell, James Nelson, Thomas McKeith, Patrick Lang and family, William Neilson and family, David Reid and wife, Robert Gemmell and son, Robert Tweedale and wife, Andrew and James Smith. On the 22d, two weeks from their arrival, Andrew Smith died, the first death in Ryegate.

Mr. Whitelaw tells us that by the beginning of December all the settlers had houses built for themselves, on their lots, and were well pleased with their situation. Most of these first settlers located near what is now Ryegate Corner, or in the Whitelaw neighborhood, and as a great many Newbury people are descended from them, their names, and the time of their coming are here given.

In January, 1775, Mr. Whitelaw purchased of Jacob Bayley, all that part of lot No. 120 in Newbury, that lies north of Wells

HISTORY OF NEWBURY, VERMONT.

River, in what is now Boltonville, with one-half the mill privilege, and James Henderson began to frame a sawmill and a grist-mill. In August, the frames of the grist-mill and the first framed house were raised, and about the beginning of October the frame of the sawmill was put up. On October 28th, the grist-mill was set going but the sawmill did not begin work until the middle of July afterward.

The first marriage was that of James Henderson and Agnes Symes, and eight days later that of Robert Brock and Elizabeth Stewart.

This settlement of Ryegate by the Scotch, was of untold value to Newbury, and the whole state, as it introduced into the New England community a new element, possessing to a remarkable degree the qualities of thrift, energy, and profound religious convictions. The early colonists were followed by others, many of whom settled in Newbury. The first comers endured many hardships, but they proved themselves equal to any emergency. The soil of Ryegate and Barnet is of the very best in Vermont, and in a few years the colonists attained a reputation as skillful husbandmen, which their descendants continue to hold at the present day.

Already, some of the first comers were selling out in Newbury, and moving into new towns. In 1770, Daniel, Jacob and Elijah Hall, with Jonathan Fowler, began to clear land in Barnet. In the same year the chief proprietors of that town engaged Col. John Hurd, of Haverhill, to build a saw-mill and a grist-mill, receiving for the work one hundred acres of land, which included most of what is now Barnet village. In 1774, settlers from Scotland, under the leadership of Col. Alexander Harvey, began to come into that town. Gen. Bayley, in a letter written about 1770, says that the whole country was rapidly filling up with a very desirable class of settlers, and what had, ten years before, been a howling wilderness was fast being turned into fruitful farms. All these newer settlements depended upon Newbury as their market and base of supplies. In 1774, or perhaps the year before, Col. William Wallace came from Scotland, and opened a store in a building which stood very near where Mr. Henry W. Bailey lives, on the Ox-bow. Before that time all purchases from the older towns had been made by people who went to the distant markets with their own teams, and brought up goods for their neighbors. Mr. Wallace was trained to mercantile pursuits, and soon did a very large business, which extended with the progress of settlements, almost to Canada.

Mr. Perry says that the first tavern in Newbury was opened by Col. Thomas Johnson after he built his new house in 1775, but it is certain that Col. Robert Johnston kept an inn three or four years before that time.

The first road in town was, of course, along the meadows, but

BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.

the present river road does not follow the old path very closely. The earliest settlers built their houses upon the meadows, from which they were driven by the great freshet of 1771. Their first efforts as a community, were to make such roads as they could, by which the inhabitants could communicate with each other. A path followed by the settlers toward Bradford, gradually became passable for ox-teams, and was formally surveyed and accepted by the town, June 14, 1773. At the same time the road to Wells River was surveyed, and the record reads curiously to the present generation. "From a certain brook [the tavern brook at the top of Ingalls' hill] near the upper meadow near where a road was marked by the committee for highways, near where Nathaniel Chamberlin lives, thence northeast about four rods east of said Chamberlin's house as we have marked, having Mr. Er Chamberlin for our pilot, to Wells River, about fifty rods below said Chamberlin's mill." This road, through which the selectmen had to have a guide, turned off from the present river road at the top of Ingalls' hill, went west of the first range of low hills, and came out upon the present river road at the freight depot yard. The old houses along the river road were moved down from that ancient highway, which can still be traced. This river road, from Bradford to Wells River, was the only one laid out and accepted by the town, before the revolutionary war began.

Richard Chamberlin settled by the river bank, on Musquash meadow, and there kept a boat on which he ferried men and teams to and from the Haverhill side. The road which went to the "Old Ferry," and to the first bridge across the river, is the same which descends to the meadow, on F. E. Kimball's farm. It may be that some infringement upon his monopoly caused the town to vote June 1, 1773, "That Mr. Richard Chamberlin take care of the ferry that is by his house acrost Connecticut river and receive the profits of his ferrying for three. coppers per man and horse, and one copper per man, and allowing the use of his boat on the Sabbath for Haverhill and Newbury to pass and repass to the public worship of God the boat being made good, this vote to continue till further orders." This was not the first trouble which Chamberlin had about the ferry. Some time, not far from 1770, Col. Asa Porter was granted, by the legislature, the sole right to keep a ferry within three miles, in a straight line, from the Little Ox-bow. He then resorted to some measure not now known, to make trouble for Chamberlin. In 1772, Thomas Johnson appeared before the General Court at Portsmouth, with a petition from Richard Chamberlin for a continuance of the ferry, "which he had maintained ever since the settlement of Newbury and Haverhill." A committee was appointed to investigate the matter, and found that Chamberlin's ferry was of convenience, and accomodated a different part of Haverhill from that of Col. Porter. So the

HISTORY OF NEWBURY, VERMONT.

petition was granted. The action of the town may have been in regard to some phase of the ferry dispute, but Chamberlin and his sons maintained and kept the ferry, until the bridge was built in 1796. At a town-meeting, May 28, 1776, it was voted, "To lay a rode to the river nigh the potash, through Dudley Carleton's land, after Haverhill has laid out a rode against it to the river." This is the farm road that passes through the Ox-bow.

By the year 1775, several frame houses had been erected. From what can be gathered, it is probable that there were, at that time, more houses between "the narrows" as the ridge where the railroad areh now is, was then called, and the mouth of Cow Meadow brook, than there are now. But life and property were exposed to dangers in those days, from which both have long been free. Children, and sometimes older people, were lost in the woods, and everybody had to turn out and hunt after them. Most farmers suffered an annual loss by the ravages of wild beasts. Wolves prowled about the farms, and were constantly on the watch for sheep. Men were living thirty years ago, who eould remember when the sheep on the meadows had to be gathered at night into seeure yards near the dwellings, to keep them out of reach of these rapacious but cowardly animals. Bears came down from the hills and devoured swine. One Sunday, three bears came into Col. Kent's house while the Colonel was gone to meeting, but out of respect for the day, or for the lady, who was alone, departed quietly.

One of Riehard Chamberlin's girls, who had been aeross the river in her father's boat, returned in the dusk of the evening, and, after pushing the boat into the stream, found that an animal in the further end, which she had supposed to be a dog, was a young bear. The girl screamed, and the bear leaped over the side of the boat and disappeared with a great splash. Which was most alarmed, the girl or the bear, is not known. A bear seen on Kent's meadow was pursued by several men, who followed his trail out to what is now called Wallace Hill, where he took refuge in a great tree, completely sereened by the dense foliage and gathering dusk. Desirous to seeure his skin with as few bullet holes as possible, and, at the same time to save their powder, the men decided to watch the tree all night. They sent one of their number for refreshments, and kindled a firc, beside which they passed the night. In the morning they proceeded to dispatch the bear, but found that Bruin, desirous to keep his skin for his own use, had contrived to depart unheard in the darkness! The remarks of the hunters are not preserved.

In the carly days, a bounty was placed upon the heads of bears, wolves, and wild eats. Bears were not so much dreaded as wolves. They were slower, and were not dangerous when not hungry. In winter they were out of the way. The mcat of a fat bear was no

Photo. by Corliss.

OVERFLOW ON KENT'S MEADOW, APRIL 16, 1895.

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History of Newbury, Vermont, from the discovery of the Coos country to present time, Part 8

Author: Wells, Frederic Palmer, 1850- ed Publication date: 1902 Publisher: St. Johnsbury, Vt., The Caledonian company Number of Pages: 935

Author: Wells, Frederic Palmer, 1850- ed
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: St. Johnsbury, Vt., The Caledonian company
Number of Pages: 935