History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 41

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 41

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HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

leave the matter in the hands of the overseers. In 1818 but one overseer was chosen, Gen. Stevens. The town voted that "the overseer of the Poor be requested to afford that aid and assist- ance to any of the Poor (who may be entitled to a pention from government for services done and performed in the Revolution- ary War) in order for their names to be entered on the list of pensions." Steps were taken to secure a pension for James Haven, which were successful, and he disappears from the rec- ords of the town after 1822. It is possible that he and his wife returned to friends in the state from which they had emigrated. For many years they had been on the move, not knowing one year where they would be the next, and there is a great sense of satisfaction in the thought, that at last the services which he had rendered his country were to have some sort of recognition. Officers and those wounded had been pensioned before, but the United States pension law of 1818 gave the common soldier a chance.

The next year the town chose a committee to suggest the best way of disposing of town charges. The matter was left in the hands of the overseer to act according to his best judgment. Under the old plan expenses had almost continuously increased, reaching the sum of $557.26 in the report of 1819. The expenses the next year were somewhat smaller. In 1821 the town went on record in favor of paying the overseer for his services. The plan of leaving the care of the poor to him resulted generally in lessening the cost, but in 1828 the expenses jumped to $740.47. The next two years the cost was heavy, but did not reach this yearly figure.

The idea of a union workhouse corresponding somewhat to county poorhouses occurred to the voters of 1825, and they chose Rodolphus Dewey and Daniel Rix to confer with committees from Tunbridge and Sharon "on the expediency of the three towns uniting in building a poorhouse and making provision for the support of the poor of their respective (towns) in this way and ascertain whether such a measure would probably lessen the expense of such support." At her March meeting this year Tunbridge chose Nathaniel Kingsbury as a committee to confer with the committee from Royalton and Sharon. At an ad- journed meeting from March, 1826, Tunbridge voted to adopt the principle of a poorhouse as contemplated by law, and chose a committee to carry the same into effect. What action Sharon took has not been ascertained, but the project did not materialize.

At the March meeting, 1830, a proposition was made by Jacob Collamer for the consideration of voters as follows :

"Resolved, That the support of the poor of the town for the pres- ent year be now exposed for sale to the lowest bidder to support all now chargeable or that may become chargeable during the year of per-

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HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

sons now residing in town, and also that there be offered to the lowest bidder all those now chargeable, in single persons or in families, and on the result of those biddings the town to be at liberty to accept of whichever they see fit. Security to be given to the acceptance of the Overseer of the Poor."

The town adopted this resolution, but specified two families who were to be under the care of the overseer.

Then the competitive bidding began. Salmon Joiner made a bid of $474 for the whole of the poor, and individual bids aggregated $275, and the town naturally accepted the individual bids. There were ten or more persons dependent on the town for support at this time. However hopeful the outlook seemed for less expense, it was not realized, for with doctors' bills and other costs it was only about $43 less than the preceding year.

It was deemed best in 1832 to follow the plan of the pre- vious year. Andrew Backus made a bid of $390 for the whole number of indigent ones, which was accepted, though it exceeded by $21 the individual bids. The next year they "sold the poor in Gross to Joseph Johnson for $430. Voted to separate Mrs. from her children in selling the poor singly." The phraseology is misleading, as they accepted the individual bids amounting to $225.

Rodolphus Dewey had served as overseer several years. This year Jireh Tucker was elected. There were various expenses that the overseer had to meet, besides the boarding and care of the needy, and these were bid off in a lump by Horatio N. Free- man for $122. Mr. Tucker assumed the care of all the needy ones the next year, 1833, the individual bids being only $70 less, and it seemed less trouble and more satisfactory, probably, to leave the matter in the hands of one trusty person. Mr. Tucker seems to have "farmed out" different ones to other persons.

The only innovation on the method of caring for the poor in 1834 was the bidding on the risk of the possible out-of-town poor. This risk was bid off by Andrew Backus for $115. Whether Mr. Backus lost or gained on this transaction is not recorded.

In 1835 the single bids of $380 were accepted. An ad- journed meeting was held, at which Nathan Kimball introduced the following resolution :

"Resolved that the Selectmen of the town of Royalton be hereby authorized & directed to purchase or hire at their discretion a farm in said town suitable and sufficient for the employment of the paupers in sd town, with stock and tools for the management of the same, one year. Also that the selectmen are further authorized to hire a good, faithful and industrious man & woman to oversee and conduct sd farm & paupers, the sd Selectmen to purchase or hire, and have ready sd farm, stock, tools, furniture, beds and provisions on the day of our next annual March meeting, and present their account in relation to the same on sd day."

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A. C. Noble, Jonathan Kinney, and John Francis were a committee to attend to this matter and see what could be done. At the next March meeting, 1836, they accepted the report of this committee. For that year they adopted a resolution which called for bids for caring for all the poor one year, and also for five years, also a bid by individuals for the ensuing year. They accepted David Wheelock's bid for five years' support at $575 a year. Mr. Wheelock was authorized to prosecute and defend suits for and against the town, provided he saved the town harm- less from damage and cost. The town was thus relieved from yearly action in the matter of supporting the poor.

The report of the committee in 1836 regarding the purchase of a town farm could not have been favorable, as no action was taken to secure a farm until the expiration of the five-year con- tract with Mr. Wheelock. Then in 1841 the town accepted the resolution offered by John Francis, which was practically the same as the one acted on five years before, which was to call for bids. The individual bid won this time. "Jireh Tucker bid off Mary Cummins at $25.00 for one year commencing March 10, 1841." Ann Perkins went to Stephen Freeman at $69; Jacob Kimball to Jireh Tucker at $40; Betsey Emerson to Horatio N. Freeman at $46; "Misses" Chaffee to Stephen Freeman at $67; "Misses" Buckland to Elijah Barnes at $74. The bids were for one year.

They had now fully resolved to make some other arrange- ment for caring for the town's needy ones, and readily endorsed the resolutions introduced by Edwin Pierce, which called for the purchase of a farm, and the collection of the surplus revenue remaining, as much as needed, to apply on the purchase. Harry Bingham, Edwin Pierce, and Josiah Douglass were the com- mittee to carry this resolution into effect. The voters were called together Dec. 11 of the same year, and passed over the article relating to the purchase of the town farm. Probably the ex- pense was greater than anticipated. The article was again in- serted in the warning for the March meeting, 1842. It was to see if the town would further instruct the committee appointed to buy a town farm. This committee had taken a deed from Jonathan Kinney for 206 acres, paying therefor $3,100. The date of transfer was Oct. 9, 1841.

The committee reported that in addition to the farm they had purchased 694 pounds of pork and 234 pounds of beef, but not neat stock, utensils, etc., and they would give a verbal reason for this neglect, if required. It was voted to leave the disposi- tion of the town farm to the overseer. This year, 1842, David Wheelock, overseer, secured Asaph Button and wife for care- takers at the farm. From the selectmen's orders it is shown

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that they were paid $200 for their services, and the whole bill for the year was $658.60. It must be remembered that consid- erable of this amount was paid out for stocking the farm.

In 1843 the town voted that the overseer "exercise person- ally all the duties appertaining to said office including the care of the farm except that if he wishes to take the farm into his own occupancy he shall make a bargain with the selectmen." The next year Stillman Lawton and wife had care of the farm, receiving therefor $170, as specified in the overseer's account. Mr. Lawton seems to have been sick some of the time and unable to attend to his duties, and Mr. Wheelock "docked" his salary. The town voted that he should receive his full salary. The ex- periment of running a town farm resulted the second year in a considerable reduction, the full cost above the avails of the farm being $424.14.

The matter of caring for the insane came up in 1844. It was left to the good judgment of the overseer and selectmen. Royalton has always been humane and liberal in caring for the insane poor. There has never been any large number of cases of this kind at any one time, though it has, probably, had its share of such unfortunates. They have generally been cared for by friends.

In 1845 the selectmen were the overseers. Charles Russell had been paid for the year ending March of that year, $300 for care of the town farm. It had been an expensive year, and they evidently hoped to devise some way of lessening the expense. It was "Voted, That the Selectmen manage & dispose of the Town farm and all matters connected with the support of the paupers either by putting the same up at public auction or by hiring the same done as they may think best for from one to five or even seven years."

Some of the poor had been disposed of by the town paying a certain sum to their friends, who relieved the town of further responsibility. In a warning for a meeting on Dec. 16, 1845, one article was, "To see if the town will vote a sum of money to enable Mrs. Buckland to go West with her son or any other of the paupers to go to their friends, or otherwise provide for themselves provided a sufficient indemnity be given for their support." This was acted upon favorably. There seems to have been an exodus to Oregon about this time, as the following resolution indicates : "Resolved to submit the case of such Town Paupers as request the town to assist them by giving them a small sum of Money that they May go to Oregon with their friends, to the Selectmen, that when they shall ascertain all the circumstances in relation to the case, shall act as they deem ad- visable for them and for the Town." Sixty dollars was voted

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HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

for Mrs. Buckland, and she was taken away. One or more mem- bers of this family had been supported by the town for sixteen years. Mr. Harry Bingham had a charge in the "Poor Ac- count" of that year of $1.25 for one day attending the Mormons. Whether or not that had anything to do with the exodus to Oregon cannot be stated.

In 1845 the voters elected Jonathan Kinney, Lyman Ben- son, and Jireh Tucker a committee to sell all or a part of the land belonging to the town farm, which lay on the west side of the Branch road, and six acres were sold to Herman Bement Feb. 11, 1846. That year the selectmen were the overseers. The warning for a meeting Sep. 1st of that year called for action regarding the leasing of the town farm for a longer term than one year. A committee composed of Sidney S. Smith, Joseph A. Denison, Jr., and John L. Bowman were chosen to examine records and ascertain the expense of caring for the poor both before and after the purchase of the town farm. The voters were called together again on Dec. 12, when the committee prob- ably reported, but the report is not in evidence. It could not have been very favorable for running the farm. They voted that the selectmen contract for the support of the poor and for all expenses on that account,-except foreign paupers, regard- ing whom they were to use discretionary powers,-for a term of from three to ten years, the use of the farm, stock, tools, and furniture thereon to be in part payment of the yearly debt. A contract was accordingly made with John L. Bowman for $600 for the year. The bill which was audited at the end of the year was $904.71.

One item on the bill looks as if the overseer followed the custom of people who bag a cat which they wish to get rid of, then quietly drop it a mile or two from home. He has a charge for carrying one of the unfortunates "to the north line of Barn- ard." Whether the overseer of Barnard was there with open arms, or whether the poor man had to wander on until some kindly hand took him in, will never be known.

The first detailed inventory of personal property at the town farm was made in 1847, showing that it amounted to $757.54. This inventory was a necessary preliminary to leas- ing the farm to John L. Bowman for a term of seven years from the fifth day of March, 1847, for $600 annually. Mr. Bowman assumed all expenses, except that for foreign paupers. There was a proviso that, if the town should elect to take the risk at its next March meeting, Mr. Bowman was to have $125 annually, and give a bond of $3,000 to secure fulfillment of contract. "Foreign" as applied to paupers was to mean paupers from

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foreign nations. Mr. Bowman drew orders in March, 1848, for "caring for the poor the past year," $1,599.27.

Foreign paupers were encouraged to leave. Chauncey Sal- isbury was paid $5 "for getting John the Scotchman to take the cars for Scotland." How near Scotland the $5 took him is not stated. It was the advent of the railroad that brought in this foreign population. In 1853 there was a bill of $50 for the sup- port of "the Irishman," who must have been especially distin- guished or the only one in town. At a meeting of Dec. 17 of that year it was voted that there should be an investigation of the affairs of the town farm, and a report made at the next March meeting. The taxpayers were evidently restless, and dissatisfied with conditions. The doctors' bills for foreign pau- pers for which orders were drawn March 31 and April 2, 1848, amounted to $337.29. There had been an epidemic of fever among the men working for the railroad, and many of them died. A considerable number are buried in the Sharon ceme- tery at the mouth of Broad Brook. They rest in the rear of the yard without headstones.

The committee of investigation reported that it was not wise for the town to dispose of the farm, that it was a desirable one for the purpose. There were then seventeen persons de- pendent on the town for support, and thirteen of these were at the town farm. The sum total of the ages of eight of these was 606 years, averaging nearly seventy-six. The committee re- ported that they had had a better offer than the terms of the Bowman contract, and advised accepting it, but the advice was turned down. It is difficult to see how the town could honor- ably nullify the contract with Mr. Bowman. A long, loose reso- lution was offered, which really meant that the selectmen could sell or do almost anything else they pleased with the town farm. The heads of some of them were long enough to have it amended so as to preclude a sale, and then it was passed.

At the March meeting of 1857 it was voted to sell a part of the town farm lying between the highway and the Branch, and to give only a quitclaim deed. The selectmen for the year 1848 had given a deed of one and one-fourth acres of land from the town farm to Josiah B. Powers, then of New York. There had been no special vote authorizing them to do this. It may be that they thought the vote of 1845 gave them all the author- ity needed, as all the land then specified does not seem to have been sold. The town, however, was jealous of its rights, and repudiated the sale. Mr. Powers had a good deed from the selectmen, duly recorded, and he did not propose to give it up. The town brought suit, and Mr. Powers made David Powers of Boston his attorney, in February, 1856. An arrangement was

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effected by which Mr. Powers deeded the land to the town, and the suit was withdrawn. By the vote of 1857 the selectmen had the power to sell a small piece, but no record is found of their having done so.

In the warning for the March meeting, 1858, an article was inserted to "see if the Town will appoint a Committee to confer with a committee of the town of Bethel with reference to selling an undivided half of the Town Farm to the Town of Bethel." An examination of Bethel records does not reveal any action by that town on this subject. The article was passed over in- definitely in Royalton, but it shows that there was still agitation over ways in which the cost of maintaining the poor could be lessened.

Some of the buildings on the town farm had been moved when Mr. Bowman first took charge. The town at its March meeting in 1859 voted that the selectmen be instructed and empowered to build a house on the town farm, not to exceed $1,000 in cost, besides what building material and labor could be obtained from the farm, and it was built that year. It was so built at a cash cost of $914.72.

Another attempt was made the following year to get a vote for selling one acre from the town farm between the highway and the Branch, but it failed.

In 1865 the selectmen were chosen to act as overseers of the poor. Whenever the expense bill grew to large proportions, then the taxpayers would change from selectmen to overseer or vice versa, but it was generally no more beneficial than the changing from the domination of one political party to another is effective in reducing the cost of living. Another effort was made in 1868 to diminish the cost of maintaining the poor by combining two or more towns. The warning for that year con- tained the following: "To see if the town will unite with the towns of Stockbridge, Bethel, Barnard, and Rochester in the support of Towns Poor." It was passed over indefinitely.

The alternation of selectmen and overseer went on for a few years. In 1870 Joseph W. Bailey was chosen, and proved to be the right man for the place. He was re-elected success- ively until about 1881. In 1879 the selectmen were instructed by the voters to give him charge of the town farm, and also in 1880. That year he tried to be excused from serving, but he was too useful, and they would not excuse him.

The attempt to make the farm support the resident paupers was rarely, if ever, successful. For many years a man was hired to carry it on, and the town took all the risk. In 1893 the cost above the products of the farm was $924.66. A com- parison by years would not be just or truthful, unless all the 24

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conditions were stated. Some years considerable outlay has been required on the buildings, and in other years, the re-stocking of the farm has helped to swell the expense column. Then, too, the number of persons at the farm has varied greatly, and the cost of maintaining the needy ones away from the town farm. Doctors' bills vary from year to year.

At one time a large dairy was provided in the hope, doubt- less, that returns would more than compensate, but that did not prove to be the case. In 1902 the inventory of personal prop- erty at the farm reached $2,975.75. The expense above farm products was $971.01. The next year the expense above re- ceipts was almost $1,000.

For some years after 1903 the farm was leased, and the lessee was to have the use of it with stock and all equipment, by assuming the taxes and the care of four or five paupers on the average, and agreeing to return the property in good condition. The cost was less than in the years immediately preceding, but, as a rule, not less than it was in many years when a man was hired. The amount of stock was considerably reduced, and when the overseer in 1908 reverted to the old plan of hiring a man to carry on the farm, it required no small sum to re-stock the farm.

In later years the selectmen, and George Ellis and Charles E. Black have acted as overseers. Mr. Black is serving his sec- ond year. The inventory of personal property at the town farm for 1909 was as follows: Live stock, $804; produce, $381; pro- visions, $108.57; tools, furniture and wood, $610.30; total, $1,903.87. On the farm is a good house, two barns, and other necessary outbuildings. At present there are but two resident persons needing help at the town farm.

Silas Williams

J. Collamer

Elias Stevens Daniel Gilbert

Jeman Duster

Isaac Morgan IJaac Skinner

Elen Brews to

Wiem Vaterman Food Marth The Bighan

Garner Rix queaus terandal James M. Culver Azessarhbum

Zebulon Lyon William Elipha Ment Elipha Rent un 6 owner John Billings Asa Dessin Darius Dewey John Kimball

Timothy Durkee

Martin Tullar Lyman Benson Calvin Wheeler Oliver Curtis Elisha Midler

Ebenezer Woodard

Jun Jimothy Thepan

FAC-SIMILE SIGNATURES OF EARLY SETTLERS.

Mement

THE TUM3 OF THE Rev MARTIN TULLA.

Ipho,

In Memory of. the Rov John Searle, who died Jub 5" 1787 in the 67 year, his

October 16 1786

At 23 years

I am not aitstred of the Gospel

age

Coda nto Solution 70

PETER RVSTO.

DIED

1918

South Royalton Cemetery. First settled Minister. Gen. Stevens and wife in So. Royalton Cemetery.

Old Sharon Cemetery where Mrs. Hendee was supposed to have been buried. Rev. Martin Tullar and Zebulon Lyon buried in North Royalton Cemetery. Pember, buried in Randolph. Peter Button buried in Button Cemetery.

In Memory Thomas Pember A Son of thịnh & Hannah Pember who was killed by the Indians in Royalton

Having served food und Wis Generation As a Minister of the Gospel Ten years inDerty. (Con) And twenty years inthis Towin, Died suddenlyOct Ir 1813. aged do years

was k

Nov

CHAPTER XXIII.

CEMETERIES.

The proper care of the last resting places of those who have gone before us is a duty incumbent upon the citizens of every town. To ask the question, "What does it signify?" or to say that it is a matter of mere sentiment, indicates a nature not far removed from the brute creation, and even some of them have the finer instinct which prompts them to care for their dead.

The laws of Vermont make provision for the yearly ex- penditure of a certain amount by the towns in the care and pres- ervation of their cemeteries, but, like many other laws on the statute books, little notice will be taken of it unless public sen- timent calls for its enforcement. It is, indeed, a sad com- mentary on man's indifference to the labors and sacrifices of the early settlers of any town, when the stones marking their rest- ing places are allowed to fall, break to pieces, and crumble away, oven be used in making fences, and thus allow all trace of the graves of our forefathers to be lost.

In past years the town of Royalton has probably taken as good care of her cemeteries as the majority of towns. In the last year the selectmen have done much to improve the condition of the burial lots. Yards have been cleaned of their rubbish, and some of the stones which had fallen have been re-set. If each successive year the good work goes on, our cemeteries will be a credit to the civilization of the town.

There is little doubt that a considerable number of the early residents of Royalton sleep in unmarked graves outside of any cemetery, and their last resting places will never be exactly known. Because of so many unmarked graves even in the burial lots, it cannot be positively stated which lot is the oldest in town. The earliest date recorded on a headstone is April 12, 1779, which marked the grave of Rufus Rude, but which is now broken and lying by the fence. This is in the South Royalton cemetery. There is, however, on record the death of Martha, daughter of Medad and Abigail Benton, which occurred Aug., 1778, and a stone with the inscription, "Martha," stands beside Lieut. Me- dad's, but it has sunk so far that the further inscription cannot

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HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

be seen. This is also in the South Royalton cemetery. This burial ground was laid out on the farm of Elisha Kent.

The earliest record in the North Royalton cemetery is Dec. 27, 1779, the date of the death of Lorene, daughter of Lieut. Timothy Durkee. The oldest inscription in the Branchview cemetery is dated Mar. 16, 1791, and is on the headstone mark- ing the grave of Betsey Woodward. Other headstones bearing early dates are, Betsey Storrs', who died Aug. 7, 1794, buried in the Howe cemetery; Dea. Ebenezer Dewey's, who died Oct. 19, 1794, buried in Dewey cemetery; Olive Pixley Coy's, who died Sep. 15, 1795, buried in Branchview cemetery. None of the other cemeteries have any stones today older than 1800. As the first settlements were in the south part of the town, it is prob- able that the South Royalton cemetery is the oldest in town.

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History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 41

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