USA > Vermont > Rutland County > History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 40
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Another highway was thus described : " A Road in s'd town viz. : Begin- ning at Dennis Burghe's House, then running easterly on the town line till it comes to the Great Road, being two rods wide the town Line being the north side of s'd Highway."
The records of highways continue through a number of years, from one to a dozen being opened in each year.
A vote was taken at the meeting of this year on the acceptance of a " bill from Mr. William Roberts of 2,000 feet of Boards which was Laid in the Meet- ing-house." Williams Roberts was one of the large land-holders of the town and bought and sold a large number of tracts, but we do not find his name among the town officers; a fact accounted for, perhaps, by his having a pro- tracted suit with the town officials over the location of a certain highway ; for several years this contest was a source of much annoyance to the town. In 1781 Benjamin Whipple was empowered to " draw out of the town treasury money to assist him and those connected with him in carrying on his law suits against Wm. Roberts concerning a highway now in dispute." Roberts finally won his action, upon which thirteen of the prominent citizens protested that they would not pay " costs of court recovered at the Supreme Court," in the suit. The matter was finally settled in 1785 by Roberts relinquishing thirty- five pounds of the judgment recovered by him. At the meeting of 1780 an- other bill was accepted for the necessary charges of Benjamin Whipple, Ros- well Post and Gershom Beach for "attendance upon A late Convention," amounting to " 220 Continental Dollars." It was also "voted that the town will Build 2 pounds, namely, one Near Coll. Mead's House and the other on the Hill Near the East Side School-House." " Also made choice of a key- keeper for each pound, Namely, Coll. James Mead for one and Isaac Cushman for the other."
The next vote that engaged the attention of the meeting furnishes a quaint comment upon the manner of punishment for small offenders that found favor with the people of that day. It was "voted that the Selectmen Shall without Delay Erect Stocks and Whipping Post in some convenient Public Place." (See Chapter XVII.)
The following list of freeholders of the town appears in the records for 1780, and may be presumed to embrace all or nearly all of the male inhab- itants of any prominence in the town at that time, as well as some living in other localities : -
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HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.
Joseph Bowker, William Roberts, Reuben Harmon, Benjamin Whipple, James Mead, John Smith, Roswell Post, Gershom Beach, James Claghorn, Zebulon Mead, Silas Pratt, Benjamin Blanchard, John Forbes, Moses Hale, Daniel Squire, Jonathan Carpenter, Amasa Blanchard, Benjamin Johnson, Gideon Walker, Thomas Wright, John Smith, 2d, M. Whitney, David Haw- ley, Benedic Alford, Roswell Post, jr., Jehiel Nordway, Jonas Ives, Benajah Root, John Sutherland, Ebenezer Andrews, Abner Mead, Ezra Mead, Solo- man Purdee, Isaac Cushman, Rufus Delano, N. Whipple, Ebenezer Pratt, Asa Fuller, John Stevens, Nathaniel Blanchard, David Russell, Nathan Pratt, Sam- uel Williams, Thomas Hall, Gershom Beach, jr., Oliver Harmon, John Moses, John Johnson, William Post, Joseph Hawley, Henry Strong, Reuben Post, Zenas Ross, Thomas Lee, Gideon Minor, William Barr, Ichabod Tuttle, Joseph Lee, Nathaniel Sheldon, Phineas Kingsley, Jeremiah Dewey, Edward Waters, Phineas Spaulding, Asa Hale, David Whipple, Silas Pratt, jr., Grove Meeker, Timothy Boardman, Aaron Reed, John Daggett, Israel Harris, Daniel Reed, Josiah Hall, Soloman Beebe, Nathan Perry, Isaac Chatterton, Henry Mead, Alexander Beebe, Purchase Brown, Jude Moulthrop, Colburn Preston, Wait Chatterton, Hugh Barr, Aaron Parmelee, Jonah Moses, John Moses, jr., Thomas Moon, Allen Beebe, Christopher Bates, Nathaniel Gove, Reuben Pitcher, John Hitchcock, Amos Phelps, Ezekiel Beebe, Issacher Reed, John Austin, Jacob Ratts, Elias Munger, John Ramsdel, Samuel Murdock, John Claghorn, Joseph Porter, John Cook, Joel Roberts, Jared Watkins, Benajah G. Roots, Gabriel Cornish, Jabez Ward, John A. Graham, Elias Post, Samuel Campbell, jr., Ebenezer P. Tuttle, Joseph Clark, Lebeus Johnson, John Ketch- am, Joshua Pratt, David Strong, Jonathan Reynolds, Frederick Cushman, Simeon Wright, John Bissel, Elnathan Moses, Joel Post, Miles Baldwin, Clem- ent Blakesley, Ephraim Cheney, Isaac Jones, Daniel Hawkins, Nathan Os- good, William Hall, Adam Willis, James Button, Matthew Fowler, Samuel Prentice.
The annual meeting for 1781 was appointed to be held at the meeting- house, but was adjourned to the "store house in Fort Rainger " (Ranger). This was the name of the fort erected at Center Rutland, as before described. The selectmen were Captain John Smith, Ist, Captain John Smith, 2d, Colonel James Claghorn, John Johnson, and Moses Hale. Joseph Bowker was elected town treasurer ; John Forbes and Ebenezer Pratt, constables ; Isaac Cushman, John Johnson and Roswell Post, listers ; John Forbes and Ebenezer Pratt, col- lectors of rates; Gideon Minor and William Roberts, grand jurors ; Asa Fuller and Silas Pratt, leather sealers ; William Barr and David Kingsley, " tything- men "; Henry Strong and Nehemiah Whipple, " haywards"; Jeremiah Dewey and Aaron Miller, " horse branders." These quaint titles indicate that there were numerous officers deemed necessary in that early day that have safely been dispensed with since; not only this, such a record is a cheerful comment
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upon the political situation in the last century, long before the unseemly scram- ble for office had begun, and when there were scarcely enough freeholders of real intelligence in the town to fill the offices, and a man possessed of marked administrative ability could have at least two offices, if he wanted them.
It was at this meeting of March 17, that "the Articles of Union agreed upon Between the Committees of the Legislature of the State of Vermont and the Committee of the Convention of the New Hampshire Grants at Windsor in February, 1781," were accepted by vote. At the meeting held in June, of this year, the citizens " proceeded to exhibit their accounts as individuals against the town, which was read before the town and Each one objected ags't, upon which the town [inhabitants] mutually agreed to Relinquish all those Demands and Begin Anew in the World-Which was confirmed By Each Creditor signing a Receipt in full from the town." This was an act prob- ably without precedent at the time, and that has certainly seldom been repeat- ed since in any town.
A good deal of attention was paid to religious matters in that year. Rev. Benajah Roots had, undoubtedly, ceased regular preaching before that time, and we find that at a meeting held in July it was " voted that Esq'r Bowker and Mr. Gid'n Minor Shall wait on Mr. Mitchell and thank him for his Labours for the town the last Sabbath." It was also voted " to apply to Mr. Mitchell to come to preach among us as soon as his Circumstances will Admit of it." A tax of one penny on the pound was voted " towards supporting the gospel among us." To this early and active interest in the spread of religion, coupled with a no less active interest in the cause of education, how much of the intel- ligence and morality that pervades all Vermont communities may be attrib- uted ? One of the meetings of this year was held at the house of John H. John- son, " inholder in s'd town "; John Smith, 2d, was made moderator and it was voted " that Mr. Gid'n Minor, John Johnson and Joseph Bowker, esq., shall act as a Committee To indeavor to provide a preacher of the gospel for this town "; and in December it was " voted to hire the Rev. Mr. Bell to preach in Rutland one 3d part of the present winter." A wholesome restraint was placed upon the millers of the town (although, let us hope, it was not neces- sary), by a vote " that all Millers in this town that takes more Toll than the law Directs, that the town will assist the authority in prosecuting the same to effect."
In the land transfers of this year appear the names of David Hawley, David Parkhill, Asa Edmunds, Daniel Squires, Miles Baldwin, Thomas Lee, Samuel Beach, Jonathan Carpenter, Samuel Campbell, Eli Brown, Jared Watkins, Reuben Sackett, and some others, of whom little else now remains of their memory.
The records describe the town boundaries as follows: "Beginning at the northwesterly corner of Shrewsbury, thence north 4 deg., east 52 miles; thence
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HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.
west 40 deg. north (north 86 deg. west), 72 miles; thence south 4 deg. east 52 miles to the northwesterly corner of Clarendon ; thence east 4 deg. south (south 86 deg. east) 62 miles on the line of Clarendon to the first bound." These boundaries are more definitely described in a later page.
The meeting of 1782 was held at the house of James Mead. The officers were: Town clerk, Joseph Hawley; town treasurer, Joseph Bowker; select- men, Joseph Bowker, Benjamin Whipple, Roswell Post, James Mead and Thomas Lee. At the meeting of June 19, it was " voted that Colonel James Mead shall Repair the old meeting house and Charge the Town for the same." In November it was " voted that the Selectmen shall go and view and Deter- mine where the road shall go from the Great Bridge crossing Otter Creek to Clarendon line leading towards Joseph Smith's." Captain John Smith, Ist, and his son John, with Samuel Williams, were directed to assist in the work. Some of the highways laid out were not satisfactory to the people; a fact that is not strange when the difficulties attending the proper laying out of a high- way in a wilderness is considered, with the limited facilities then in existence. As an example of dissatisfaction with a road, it was voted in December of this year " to not accept a Road Running from the Road by Colonel Mead's to Benjamin Whipple's Hogpen." If Whipple's hogpen was the real destination and end of this highway, it is scarcely to be wondered at that it gave dissatis- faction. The building of bridges over streams in the town was of little less importance in early times than the opening of roads. The bridge across Otter Creek near James Mead's we have alluded to ; it was built in 1776. At the meeting of July 29, 1783, we find that it was voted "to Build 2 bridges across East Creek, one at or near the fordway near Lieutenant Hale's and the other Between Jonathan Carpenter's and Mr. Beach's." A tax of one-half penny on the pound on the list of 1783 "to be paid in labour, grain, beef, pork or plank," was voted to pay for these bridges. At the annual meeting of this year the selectmen were made a committee to divide the town into school districts and it was voted " that the selectmen shall erect stocks near the Meet- ing House." It was in this year, also, that the inhabitants saw the desirability of having a better house of worship, and in September a vote was passed "to Erect a Meeting House Near where the Old Meeting House now stands, as shall be agreed upon."
A convention was held in 1783 for the consideration of the new county. There seems to have been a difference of opinion among the various towns as to the number of towns to be included in the county, and at the meeting of Oc- tober Rutland refused by vote " to comply with the Resolves of a convention lately convened on county affairs : Concerning the number of Towns to be in- cluded in the county." The meeting also voted to " comply with the resolves of the afore-mentioned Convention concerning the place for the Court House and Jail." The officers for 1783 were: Town clerk, Joseph Hawley ; treas-
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urer, Joseph Bowker ; selectmen, Benjamin Whipple, Thomas Lee, Jona Car- penter, John Johnson and Samuel Williams.
For the year 1784 the following officers were elected : Town clerks, Joseph Hawley and Timothy Boardman; treasurers, Joseph Bowker and Asa Hale ; selectmen, Captain Z. Mead, Captain Israel Harris, Ensign John Johnson, Samuel Williams and Moses Hale. The most important action of the author- ities this year is indicated by the following in the proceedings of the May meeting : " Voted that Ensign John Johnson and Mr. Benjamin Blanchard be Committee to treat with Colonel James Mead with Respect to ground for a Burying yard and get a Deed of it." This action resulted in the procuring of the ground now embraced in the old burial lot at Center Rutland, where many of the fathers and mothers of Rutland sleep - too many of them in unmarked graves.
It is manifestly impossible for us to follow in detail the action of the town authorities from year to year; nor would such a record bear much of real in- terest, except the settlement of an occasional question or the passage of a measure of importance. As for example, upon the question of the division of the town into two parishes (or societies, as they termed it), which came up in 1788. The people of Rutland voted on this subject that "Samuel Campbell be agent to oppose the Division of the town of Rutland into two societies, be- fore the General Assembly at the next adjourned session at Bennington, and John Johnson, Timothy Boardman and Andrew Crocker be a committee to draw a remonstrance or Petition for the agent to lay before the House of General Assembly." In spite of this action, however, the town was divided in October of that year.
The inhabitants had already accumulated considerable live stock and saw the necessity of so branding animals that the property of the various owners should not be lost. As early as 1784 we find the following as an example of so-called " ear-marks," adopted in the towns: John Smith recorded his ear- mark as " a Half crop the under side the Left Ear."
" Samuel Williams' Ear-Mark is A Crop off from the Left Ear."
"Asa Fuller's Ear-Mark is a half Penny on the upper side of the left Ear."
" Thomas Hale's Ear-Mark is a Hole in the Right Ear."
" Lieutenant Roswell Post's ear-mark is A Swallows Tail in the Right ear and a Half penny the under side of Left Ear."
" John Johnson's ear-mark is a slit in end of Right Ear and half Penny the upper side of the same."
Many of the ear-marks stand on the records as simply rude drawings with the owner's name attached. The necessity for these brands is shown in the great number of "strays " that are described in the records. As early as 1781 we find that Lieutenant " Moses Hale of s'd Rutland, took up A Stray Heifer supposed to be two years old, With A Crop on the Left Ear, the Colour be- ing a Mixture of Red and White, of which the owner is not known."
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HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.
February 20, 1782, " Found Between Coll. James Mead's and Lieut. John Sutherland's mills on the Bank of Otter Creek by David Buckland of Neshoba, a common fox steel trap which was hanging to his Dog's leg of which the owner is not known." This entry indicates both the honesty of the finder and the prevailing custom of placing on the town records the various announce- ments for the public at a time when newspapers were scarce.
In September, 1784, it is stated that there was " taken up by Silas Pratt a dark Rone Mare about 7 years old, No brand, a starr in her forehead, a dark mane and Tail a shoe on one fore foot about 14 hand high Trotts and Paces of which the owner is not known."
The meeting held in June, 1789, was one of considerable importance through the adoption of one measure intimately connected with the final adjustment of the land lines in the town. Briefly stated, a preamble was presented at the meeting setting forth in substance, that on account of the loss of the early records, it was found impossible to lay out lots so as to do justice to all of the settlers in the town ; therefore it was resolved that twenty rights or shares of land be laid out together in the northwest corner of the town, viz .: The orig- inal rights of Benjamin Melvin, Ephraim Adams, Oliver Colburn, Elijah Mitch- ell, Thomas Blanchard, Joseph Case, John Hine, John Dandly, Thomas Dain, Reuben Nimbs, Nathaniel Foster, Nehemiah Houghton, Josiah Willard, jr., Abraham Scott, Joseph Hammond, Michael Medcalf, Sampson Willard, Solo- mon Willard, Prentice Willard, Samuel Wettimore, " being their equal shares in the town except their rights in the town platts."
It was further voted that fifteen rights be laid out together, viz .: The orig- inal rights of John Murry, Caleb Johnson, Nathan Stone, Wing Spooner, Joel Stone, Samuel Stone, jr., Abner Stone, Samuel Stone, Enos Stevens, Susanna Johnson, Elizabeth Stevens, Joseph Willard and Aaron Willard ; the boundaries of this tract are as follows: " Beginning at the southeast corner of the 20 rights, then running south 86 deg. east 856 rods 20 links to or near the Governor's Lot, then north 4 deg. east, 1013 rods, 18 links, thence north, 86 deg. west, 856 rods 21 links to the northeast corner of the 20 rights, thence south 4 deg. west, 1013 rods 18 links to the beginning."
It was further voted that five rights or shares be laid out together, viz: The original rights of Elijah Hinsdell, Samuel Stevens, Joseph Ashley, jr., Moses Field and Joseph Ashley,1 the boundaries of which were as follows : " Beginning at the northeast corner of the 15 rights, thence north 4 deg. east, 357 rods 2 links, thence north 86 deg. west, 856 rods 21 links ; thence south, 4 deg. west, 357 rods and 2 links; thence south 86 deg. east, 856 rods 21 links, to the place of beginning."
It was further " voted that Timothy Boardman, William Post, Thomas Lee, Samuel Campbell and Col. Claghorn be a committee to lay out 200 acres of
1 In the spelling of the names mentioned in these records we follow the writer thereof.
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land, with an addition of 6 acres to each 100 acres for an allowance of highways, to the original rights of all in the charter of the town of Rutland whose names are not inserted in the above votes, including all the public rights, and also to run the outlines of the above 20, 15 and 5 rights and make proper and legal surveys of all lands so laid out and make a return of their doing at the next meeting."
Under this action, there were the three separate divisions made ; the first one into lots of two hundred acres each ; the second of one hundred and the third of fifty acres. Hence we find that at a meeting held in 1790 it was voted that a tax "of one pound be lade on each Right of land belonging to the Pro- prietors of Rutland, public Rights excepted, to defray the charges that have arisen for loting [lotting] out two Divisions, the first 200 acres and the 2d 100 acres to each right, and for making a plan of said survey and other incidental charges." Although the third division to which we have alluded is not men- tioned in this vote, it was subsequently made. At several of the meetings, be- ginning in 1790 the proceedings consisted of almost nothing else than the vot- ing of lands under these divisions, thus conferring or renewing titles. The lots laid out under this survey are shown on the old parchment map on file in the town clerk's office at Rutland, and from which a large share of the names are obliterated. It is probable that the first map was made on paper by Joel Rob- erts, as in November, 1790, a vote was passed that " Joel Roberts be allowed one pound ten shillings for assisting in completing the plan of Rutland." Thomas Rowley made the survey, which was not entirely finished until 1792; for his service or a part of it (for it seems impossible so small a sum would have fully paid him), he was voted one pound, thirteen shillings and six pence In the same year (1792) Joel Roberts, Asa Hale and Jared Watkins were made " pro- prietors' agents to take cair of the undivided lands that belong to the pro- prietors of Rutland, to see that the lumber is not Distroyed or carried away and to prosecute those who trespass according to law." In the voting of lands to the proprietors under these divisions, it was almost the invariable rule to vote the lots to each person where he had already made his settlement. Where the original settler had died, his heirs were voted the land; such was the case with Nathan Tuttle's lot. The undivided lands of the town were ordered laid out in 1793, Simeon Wright, Nathan Pratt, and William Mead being appointed to perform the work; James Mead and Joel Roberts were subsequently added to the committee, whose instructions were to ascertain how much of the land remained and apportion it for the best interests of those concerned.
By the year 1794 settlement had so far progressed and stock accumulated that it was deemed necessary to order that sheep and swine should not be per- mitted to run at large. Bridges had been built at Sutherland Falls and Reyn- old's Mill and these were ordered repaired, if needed. One hundred and twenty- five pounds of powder, three hundred and fifty-four of lead and four hundred
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HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.
and fifty flints were also ordered purchased ; indicating that the warlike spirit engendered by the Revolution was still abroad.
In 1795, among other things, the main road in the east parish was ordered examined and incumbrances removed ; the inhabitants to be given time to re- move fences and buildings.
In 1797 the "stage or post road leading from the court-house to Vergennes" was surveyed.
In 1798 it was " voted that the selectmen agree with Frederick Hill, esq., to make an exact copy of the plan of the Town on parchment." This was the parchment chart now on file in the clerk's office, to which reference has already been made. Mr. Hill was postmaster of Rutland a number of years.
In 1799 it was " voted that the town and freemen's meetings be held alter- nately hereafter at the Court-House in the East Parish and at the Meeting- house in the West Parish." It was also voted that " no Horse, Mule or horse kind shall be permitted to run at Large on any common land or Publick high- way for the year ensuing." In the first year of the century the general cause of harmony was promoted by a vote " that the sum of one hundred dollars be paid out of the Town Treasury to pay for the encouragement of singing " - a measure which is, perhaps, unparalleled.
General History. - We need not further trace the records of the various meetings held in the town for the transaction of public business ; whatever is noted therein of importance will appear as we progress. Eight years before the record from which we last quoted was made, the first number of the first news- paper in Rutland made its appearance. It was issued in the year 1792, and named the Herald of Vermont ; or, Rutland Courier. This title was out of all proportion to the size of the paper. It was published by Anthony Haswell. This sheet lived but three months; but on the 8th of December, 1794, the first number of the Rutland Herald came from the press, and its legitimate successor is still published in Rutland village. This was an event of more than ordinary importance in that early period ; the publication of a first newspaper is an event of more importance in any locality than is often attributed to it, for a host of reasons into which we need not enter. A full account of this long-lived journal has been given in the chapter devoted to the press of the county ; but some mention of its contents in early years cannot fail to interest. A list of letters advertised in January, 1795, gives the names of Timothy Boardman, Benjamin Blancherd, Rutland ; Thomas Hammond, Miss Mary Hammond, Pittsford ; Abel Spencer, Clarendon ; General Isaac Clark, William Wood- ward, Castleton ; Eber Murray, Orwell; Bela Farnham, Leicester. Fred. Hill was postmaster of Rutland.
It was a common occurrence in those days to advertise for runaway boys. Apprentices were bound out for lengthy periods and their surroundings were either less happy than those of tradesmen at the present day, or else more at-
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tention was paid to their breaking their apprenticeship bonds ; probably both. The rewards offered were commonly of no account and intended to throw ridicule upon the offender. For example, in March, 1795, Isaac Hill of Mount Holly, advertised a runaway boy and offerred " one peck of ashes " for his apprehen- sion. This is a fair sample of scores of similar announcements. On the Ist of April there were letters remaining in the Rutland post-office for William Barnes, Samuel Buell, Matthew Fenton and Phineas Kingsley. William Barnes lived in the north part of the town where Edgar Davis now lives, and died in 1865 at the age of seventy-three years, and the man of the same name for whom the letter was held was his father, who died in 1824, aged seventy- one.
Phineas Kingsley came here from Beckett, Mass., in 1773 and settled on the place where the Osgood family now reside. In the Revolutionary War some of his relatives brought their families to Rutland from Sudbury, for greater safety, and persuaded Mr. Kingsley to take them to Massachusetts. He afterward returned to Rutland and died here. The late Gershom C. Rug- gles was a grandson of Mr. Kingsley.
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