History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 31

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Royalton > History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911 > Part 31

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No one can say when work on the bridge began or when it ended. It probably began some time before all the money was raised, and was not ended Feb. 5, 1787, when a committee was chosen to consult the managers of the lottery to see what sum to petition the General Assembly for as a land tax for the use of building the "Great bridge." The Governor and Council con- curred, Feb. 21, 1787, in passing a bill granting Royalton a two pence land tax for finishing the bridge over White river. There were many who failed to pay their taxes for bridges, and es- pecially for the one over the river, and their land was sold to meet the requirement. Though the fathers seem not to have told their sons, nor the sons their sons, when the bridge was

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finished, they did hand down a tradition of an incident connected with its completion that gave name to the bridge, by which name it will probably always be known.

It is said that one Stevens was anxious for the honor of carrying the first load over the bridge after its completion, and he used the strongest and most persuasive inducement to se- cure his end. He promised to give a barrel of rum for the priv- ilege, which was granted. When they had gathered to celebrate the event towards which they had been working for three or more years, he swung a buxom lass on his back and trotted over to the other side of the river. As the story goes, the head of the barrel went in, and the cheers went up as the rum went down, and to this day the old bridge is called Stevens bridge. It is difficult to think of the dignified Gen. Elias Stevens serving as a donkey for a giggling girl, and there was only one other Stevens in town so far as is known, and that was Esquire Stevens, the Abel Stevens, who was the first town clerk, but then, even the staidest men have done some grotesque things under excitement and the added stimulus of whiskey.

Though the location of the bridge had its advantages of narrowness and solidity, these were more than offset by the obstruction that was pretty sure to follow a freshet or the break- ing up of the ice in spring, when the swirling mass would ram against the primitive abutments, which in all likelihood were made of logs. It occasions no surprise, then, to read that on Aug. 18, 1789, the selectmen were instructed to repair the abutments of the "Great bridge." The bridge over the Second Branch had required repairing in 1788, and again in 1790, June 20th, the selectmen were directed to repair this bridge, and also the one over the "main River in ye easyest & best man- ner for ye good of ye town," and to dispose of the bridge over the mill pond in the best manner for the good of the town. It must have been rather discouraging to see for the third time the object of their care and pride tottering on its foundations, and Yet again they timber by timber go sailing down stream. turned courageously to its repair on September 20, 1791, and chose a committee to repair the "great bridge, and to dispose of the plank to the best advantage." Once more the town records must be supplemented by facts found elsewhere. The legislative committee on petitions reported Oct. 24, 1791, that the following petition ought to be granted :

"To the Honbl Genl Assembly of the State of Vermont Now sit- ting

the petition of the Inhabitants of Royalton in the County of wind- sor Humbly Sheweth that the bridge over white river in the sd Town of Royalton is so far out of repair that it is rendered impassable and that the repairing the same would be very difficult unless the Ex- pens or some part thereof could ( -? ) in the Pattronag of the Publick &

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that the sd bridge being on the great Road from the eastern part of this State & New Hampshire to the Northern Part of the State into canada & that the sd White River being impassable at certain seasons of the year, Your Petitioners therefor pray their case may be taken under your wise consideration & either by a Lottery or in Some other way your Petitioners may be Enabled to Raise the Sum of one hundred & fifty pounds to be laid out in repairing sd bridge in such a way and under such regulations as your Honors Shall think may be safe & Expedient & as your Petitioners in duty bound shall ever pray

Calvin Parkhurst."

The bill was passed and approved by the Governor on the 28th of October, except the amount is then stated to be one hundred pounds. In a torn piece of paper filed with Spooner's Vermont Journal in the Williams library, Woodstock, the following was found:

"Drawing of Royalton Great Bridge Lottery

The Publick are informed that the drawing of Royalton Great Bridge Lottery will commence on the 11th of September next, at my house in Royalton.

Aug. 14, 1792."

Sam. Searle, Manager.

This suggested that a search for the files of the Vermont Journal might reveal more of the history of the bridge lottery. A remarkably full and well-arranged collection of Vermont newspapers in the State Library gave the opportunity desired. The following additional information was derived from this source.

"Royalton Lottery.

For raising One Hundred and Fifty Pounds for the purpose of repairing the Great Bridge in Royalton, on the great road leading from New Hampshire to Canada, &c., granted by the General Assembly of this State, at their present session in Windsor-consisting of 2200 Tickets at One Dollar each-713 of which are benefit tickets drawing prizes of the following value, viz.

1 prize of 100 Dollars, is 100

4 25

4 100

680

1360

2 2200 Dollars in Tickets 1700 Paid out in Prizes

500 to make Repairs as above

Cash or Wheat at 3s per bushel, or Neat Stock at cash value (where a large number of Tickets are purchased) will be received in payment for Tickets; as also Notes for the same, to either of the managers .- Prizes to be paid in like manner, in 20 days from the completion of the drawing of the said Lottery.

As the design of this Lottery is to promote the good of the public, and the sale of the Tickets, as to price and payment, being adapted to the lowest circumstances, as well as to that of the most opulent, with about two blanks to a prize; and especially with the prospect of obtain- ing several valuable prizes, it cannot be doubted but all persons whose local circumstances do admit, will wish to become adventurers con- sequently a speedy sale of the tickets may be expected, on which the

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drawing will commence a list of prizes made out and published in the Vermont Journal in due time. Those persons who do not apply to either of the Managers to receive their prizes within six months after publishing the same, will be deemed as generously giving them to the undertaking

Samuel D. Searle Zebulon Lyon Managers

Benjamin Parkhurst

Nov. 1, 1791"

This notice was made out three days after the grant of the lottery. The sale of tickets went on with sufficient rapidity, so that the drawing was set for Sep. 11th of the next year, as already stated. Before that time another notice was inserted in the Vermont Journal to this effect :

"The Managers of the Royalton Great Bridge Lottery request all those who have receipted Tickets to dispose of them as fast as possible -and make returns to them in five weeks from this date, as the drawing will probably commence as soon as conveniently may be after that time .- Those who have not purchased, are invited to become adventurers.

Samuel Searle, Manager.

Royalton, July 4, 1792"

A quite careful scrutiny of the files of the Vermont Jour- nal for the rest of the year, 1792, failed to show any list of those drawing prizes. The litigation which followed may have ren- dered the list uncertain, yet it would seem that the method of notifying successful "adventurers" was to be through the news- paper, and not by private message. The first notice of the draw- ing was in the issue of August 20, and the one seen in Wood- stock was in the issue of September 3, 1792.

Through the courtesy of Mr. Walter E. Perkins of Pomfret, a cut of one of the tickets of this lottery is shown in this book in connection with other relics. Who had the ticket is not known, or whether it was a "fortinet" ticket or not. Dr. Searle says in his advertisement that a few tickets are left, and can be had if applied for immediately. The office of manager was no sinecure. The justice courts of Hon. John Throop of Pomfret show that considerable litigation arose after the drawing. Some- times the managers were the plaintiffs and again the defendants, but it is noticeable that the managers generally lost whichever position they held. The trouble seems to have been in con- nection with prize tickets. One case only is quoted :

Roialton January 21st AD 1793 at a Justice Windsor ss

"State of Vermont 1 Court held on sd Day Present John Throop Justice a Peace for sd County cause brought by Samuel D Serls of sd Roialton a maniger of Roialton grate Bridge lottery vs Timothy hibard of Bethel in the county aforesd on a note of hand the cause being called the Defendant defends Pleads and says that the Plff writ (?) ought to abate and be dismit for two Resons first because

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HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

that Asa Child Did not return (?) on the writ where the Defendant lived Secondly the writ was not served agreeable to the law of the State but against the law passed October 1792 repeling the Depurt- aging for the serving of writs which took place December last Past by order of the Legislature of this State and the Defendant desires liberty to alter his Plea and the Defend Prays for Judgment the De- fendant for himselfe this court is adjourned to thursday the 24 Day of Instan January at the Dwelling house of John Throop in Pomfret in the county aforesd at one of the clock afternoon then the court will Declare Judgment and the Parties are to take notice accordingly John Throop Justice a Peace."

In this suit the defendant won his case. It was declared that he held a "fortinet ticket," and he got a balance of six shillings. The records in these cases reveal that Zebulon Lyon and Benjamin Parkhurst were co-laborers with Dr. Searle in the management of the lottery.

It is not easy to determine whether the bridge was put in thorough repair, "re-built,"' at this time or not. In May a committee was chosen to repair the bridge for the "time being." In October of that year, 1792, it was voted to raise a tax of fifteen pounds in cash and another tax of fifty-two pounds in wheat at five shillings a bushel to be paid by the first day of November, "to pay such contract as ye Town have entered into. " There is no record of any other undertaking that would require this outlay, but they reconsidered the vote. If the bridge was rebuilt, it lasted but a short time. At an adjourned meeting at the house of Elkanah Stevens Oct. 20, 1795, it was decided to take some measure for re-building "ye Great bridge in this Town." Elkanah Stevens, Daniel Gilbert, Abel Stevens, and Luther Fairbanks were chosen to view "ye place for building sd bridge at ye mouth of ye first branch and where ye bridge now stands & make an estimate of ye cost of building at each place & make report at ye next adjourned meeting." The commit- tee reported Nov. 7th that in their opinion a bridge at the mouth of the First Branch might be built for £400, and a bridge where it then stood for £200. On Dec. 8, they voted to build the bridge where the old one stood, and chose a committee to see what could be raised by subscription. Evidently this committee succeeded in an encouraging degree, for Feb. 16, 1796, they chose Elias Stevens, Abel Stevens, and Daniel Tullar to rebuild "ye great bridge or ye bridge over white river in sd Town where ye old bridge now stands in ye easiest & best manner for ye good of ye Town." John Flint was later chosen in Mr. Tul- lar's place, and Luther Fairbanks and Zebulon Lyon added to the committee.

On December 6th the bridge seems to have been completed. They met at Elisha Bartholemew's and voted to dismiss the ar- ticle in the warning to see if the town would raise a tax to de-

SITE OF STEVENS BRIDGE AND HANDY FORDWAY. First bridge in Royalton across White River.

FIRST BRIDGE AT SOUTH ROYALTON ACROSS WHITE RIVER.

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fray the expense of building the bridge, but the selectmen were instructed to draw on the town treasury in favor of Elkanah Stevens for what should appear to be due towards the build- ing of the bridge after deducting as much of the subscriptions as were thought to be collectable, which seems very much like trying to draw water from a dry well. In less than two years there was another call for a new bridge, but it was not built at that place. Recapitulating the history of the Stevens bridge, it may be assumed that it was first built in 1787, chiefly by lot- tery; that it had to be repaired within two years; that it was repaired in 1790; that it was rebuilt in 1792, again by lottery, that it was necessary to re-build in 1795, and this time the money was raised by subscription chiefly, and Elkanah Stevens either took the contract or furnished the balance needed to pay for it; that repeated disasters to the bridge led to the choice of another place.

Before following the history of the new bridge, the bridges over the two branches claim attention. They too had proved elusive, slipping away in part or in whole without warning. In September, 1796, a committee was chosen to estimate the cost of re-building the bridge over the mouth of the First Branch. As no previous mention of this bridge is found, it is pretty con- clusive evidence that it was one of the three bridges first built in town. A few days after this meeting it was voted to build the bridge and raise a tax of three pence on a pound for the purpose. In 1797 the bridge over the Second Branch needed re-building, and the selectmen were directed to call on Daniel Rix, Elisha Bartholemew, and Ezra Benjamin for highway work that could be spared out of their districts and use it in re-build- ing this bridge, which was "nigh the mouth."

It is probable that the "Great bridge" was only repaired, when it was said to be re-built, and like the old lady's stocking, which she "footed up" one year, and gave a new leg the next, it was not thought of as a really new bridge. In a deed of 1798 it is spoken of as "Stevens bridge."

On May 28, 1799, Daniel Clapp, Jacob Smith, John Billings, Isaac Skinner, and Elias Stevens were chosen a committee to see what was to be done about building a bridge over White river. This committee reported June 25th, that they employed Mr. Lamb of Montpelier for the purpose of inspecting the different places "in contemplation for building bridges," and he said he would build the bridge at Mr. Walbridge's for $1000, but would not warrant the same for that sum, that there would be no essential difference between that spot and the place against Mr. Wheeler's, that he would build a bridge below the fordway leading to the center of the town for a thousand dollars and

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warrant the same for ten years, that the expense of building several rods above the fordway would not vary much from the expense below. Mr. Lamb made no particular offer as to the old place, as he said others had offered to build a bridge there cheaper than he could do. As to the place by Capt. Gilbert's, Mr. Lamb stated it would cost more at that place than at either of the places mentioned before, as the distance across the river would be greater.

They accepted the report, and voted to take some measures to build a bridge "near ye center of ye Town," and to build it by subscription, and to appropriate all the money which "shall re- main due from ye Town of Ellington after paying costs of prosecuting the suit against Ellington for the purpose of build- ing a bridge in ye center of the Town," conditioned on the sum subscribed combined with the balance from Ellington being sufficient, and that the bridge be built in eighteen months. Jacob Smith, Zabad Curtis, Zebulon Lyon, Gardner Rix, and Elias Stevens were a committee to procure subscriptions, and when enough were procured they were empowered to employ some person to build the bridge. The voters kept an eagle eye on their committee, and in the warning for a meeting in March, 1800, they proposed to call on this committee to make report of their doings, and "if they have not pursued the votes of the Town with respect to that matter then to reconsider sd Votes." Their suspicions seem to have vanished before the meeting, and they did not call on the committee. On November 18th they voted to accept the bond which the bridge committee took of Leonard Lamb for the building of the bridge.

Mr. Lamb, then, was the architect. No repairs of any amount were called for on this structure for some years. In 1809, $250 were laid out on it in repairs. Two decades had not passed before there was need of a new bridge. Perhaps this was the bridge which played a trick on Dr. Denison, Senior. He was coming home one night from a Broad Brook trip. During his absence the north abutment of the bridge tipped over, and a sec- tion of the bridge fell down. The faithful old horse went on and trotted down the steep incline, tipping the Doctor into the river. He gathered up his saddle bags and walked home, while his horse followed the river bank and the lane by the schoolhouse, both reaching home at the same time. A meeting was called by petition for Dec. 22, 1818. A motion to raise $2000 for build- ing a bridge was lost, likewise one for raising $1000, but they chose a committee to make a draft of a bridge, to calculate the probable expense, to circulate a subscription paper, and to re- port later. On Feb. 2, 1819, it was voted to give $400 toward building a bridge where it then stood, provided it should be built

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on two stone piers, and a stone "buttment" on the west shore were put in agreeable to the draft of the committee. The money was not to be applied to this purpose, until after the bridge was in every way "completed and finished, for the space of four months, and then and not till then the treasurer is authorized to pay over the above sum of $400." Therefore, we may con- clude that the bridge was completed the middle of December, 1819, when Garner Rix was given three orders amounting to $400 for the building of the bridge.

A change in location did not remove the necessity for fre- quent repairs on the bridge. The turbulent river had a habit of responding in a destructive way to freshets, and so we find in a warning for a meeting Feb. 12, 1824, this clause: "To see whether the town will raise money to repair or rebuild the bridges in town which have been destroyed by the late freset." At an adjourned meeting, Mar. 15th, it was voted that the sum of $400 be paid out of the town treasury to the order of the se- lectmen towards building a bridge across White river near Royalton village, "provided a sufficient number of men will advance their highway taxes to be credited to them for succeed- ing years to build said bridge to the acceptance of the select- men." Jan. 1, 1825, Amos Robinson, contractor, received four one hundred dollar orders through Jacob Collamer, agent, for building the bridge across White river in the village, and it may be supposed that the balance was credited on the highway bills.

The town does not seem to have been called upon for much outlay on the village bridge from this time until the Royal- ton and Woodstock Turnpike Company assumed its risk, and the town obligated itself to pay yearly the sum of twenty-five dol- lars to said company. The bridge was in need of extensive re- pairs by 1838, as the Turnpike company seem to have been lax in fulfilling their contract. The town met on December 18th of that year to consider the repairing of the bridge, and instructed the selectmen to act on their contract with the Turnpike com- pany, and repair the bridge if they thought best. The select- men were also directed to act on a resolution of Samuel Blodgett, which directed them to pay the company the annual sum of $25 due September 14th for keeping the bridge in repair, and also the sum due in September, 1833, with interest thereon, which had not been paid.

It was noted under the subject of roads that the Turnpike company turned their road back to the bridge at North Royalton, after the town had built a new bridge there, and thus shirked their responsibility for keeping the village bridge in repair. They could claim that the town on its part had not fulfilled its

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contract to make annual payments, and to take the wind out of their sails, this proposition to proffer the deferred payments was doubtless made. On Mar. 4, 1839, it was voted that the selectmen be directed to see if the Woodstock Turnpike Com- pany had a right to turn their road across the bridge near Jacob Fox's. The next May a committee was appointed to repair the bridge by rebuilding two reaches and repairing the other, and the abutments and piers, and the selectmen were to furnish the funds. The committee reported in December that the work had been done at a cost of $587.70 by Jabez Lyman, Jr. and Daniel Rix, 2nd, they being the lowest bidders. John Francis was appointed as agent, who, after obtaining legal advice, if it was thought advisable, was to prosecute the claims of the town against the Royalton and Woodstock Turnpike Company. What the result was is not known, but Mar. 8, 1841, a vote was taken to repair the bridge, provided the Turnpike company neglected to do it, which looks as if the town still had a claim on the com- pany. An abutment was built that year costing $359.04. When the turnpike became a free road in 1842, of course the town became responsible henceforth for all its bridges.

When the Royalton and Woodstock Turnpike Company was incorporated in 1800, its route in Royalton was over a road already laid, but it came to the river at North Royalton where there was no bridge, only a fordway. It is understood that the company built the first bridge there, probably very soon after incorporation, and that it was near Jacob Fox's. As has been seen, the bridge like the town bridges suffered from the erratic action of the stream, though it may have been some- what more substantial, and have needed less repairs. When the company turned their road over the hills by the Bradstreet place and down to the village bridge, this bridge at North Royal- ton was in all probability unsafe for travel, and the fordway not far from it would have to furnish the means of crossing there. Jacob Fox had land on both sides of the river, and he and others as well, no doubt, chafed over this inconvenience.

Those in favor of a bridge at North Royalton secured the in- sertion of an article in the warning of Feb. 23, 1831, "to see if the Town will vote to raise money to build a bridge across White River near Mr. Fox's." This article was dismissed at an ad- journed meeting, March 8th, and the selectmen were directed to take individual security of the Turnpike company as further security against loss by risk of the village bridge. Mr. Fox was not accustomed to submission, and called out the road com- missioners to change the road survey up the Second Branch and to order a bridge built near him. The commission rejected his petition regarding the road, but ordered a good permanent

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bridge to be erected across the river, on the place where the last bridge stood near Mr. Fox's tavern, and gave the following di- rections : "The abutment on the westerly side is to be built with stone, & the earth to be dug out under that part of the abutment nearest the water several feet deep, & if the earth should prove sandy when excavated, to place good timbers at the bottom of sd excavation for a foundation to build sd abut- ment on-a double trussel to be erected in or near the center of sd River, whose bed piece is to be about sixty feet long, and good & sufficient braces extending from sd trussel both up & down sd River, sd trussel and braces to be planked on both sides & filled with stones-both abutments to be of equal height and to be raised from one to two feet higher than the one now is which stands on the easterly side of sd River, the timber part or frame of sd Bridge to be eighteen feet wide, if the easterly abutment will admit, all of which is hereby ordered to be built by sd town of Royalton & completed on or before the first day of December in the year of our Lord 1832."

The town decided on Nov. 30th to have the selectmen enter an appeal. A committee was chosen to examine the ground for a bridge and to solicit subscriptions therefor, to ascertain the expense of an arched bridge, and to report the first Tues- day in January. They met on that date and adjourned sine die. At the March meeting, 1832, they "Resolved that the town appoint an agent to prosecute the appeal which is entered from the decision of the Road commissioners order for building a bridge across White River near Jacob Foxes, & also to negotiate with the Royalton & Woodstock Turnpike corporation to give up their right in the bridge across sd River in Royalton Village by paying them a reasonable stipulated consideration for their repairs of sd Bridge, & for making a road to the old turnpike at Williams' meadow, & sd corporation take the responsibility of building a bridge near sd Foxes, & report his doings to the next meeting." Their agent, Jacob Collamer, reported Sep. 4, 1832, but the report is not recorded. He was probably un- successful, as they voted that the moderator should appoint a committee of three to nominate a committee of five to "ascertain what will be the cost of a plank arch bridge there (at Jacob Fox's) & to take such further measures in relation thereto as they shall think proper, but not to build a bridge until they make report to the town."

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History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 31

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280