USA > Vermont > Rutland County > History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 87
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123
733
TOWN OF PITTSFORD.
tague, originally from Massachusets, came to Pittsford in 1774 from Benning- ton, and pitched fifty-five acres, including what is now the north part of the farm of Frederick Woodcock. His sons Adonijah and Rufus came about the same time; they were weavers, like their father, and served in the Revolution. None of their descendants are in the town at present, as near as great-grand- children.
The inhabitants of Pittsford were directly interested and concerned in the Revolutionary War. When Ethan Allen was making his preparations for the capture of Ticonderoga, he dispatched Major Beach through several towns of Rutland county and others to collect men for the expedition. Beach passed through Pittsford and called at the home of Captain Benjamin Cooley and de- livered his message. Captain Cooley took his gun and with him started Isaac Buck, jr., John Deming, Hopkins Rowley and Ephraim Stevens for the place of rendezvous. Thus citizens of Pittsford joined in that memorable event. At that time there were thirty-eight families within the limits of the town, and about one hundred and ninety-five persons. The details of the great struggle for freedom need not be entered into here, and the events in which Pittsford settlers were directly interested can only be briefly touched upon.
On the day of the battle of Hubbardton, great excitement prevailed in the town. Most of the inhabitants left their houses on the night succeeding the battle, expecting immediate attack upon their homes; and with the approach of morning the women and children and a few of the more timid men fled away southward. Some of the families returned to the towns from which they had emigrated, but the majority came back to their homes as soon as it was deemed safe. On returning after the alarm of the near approach of the army had sub- sided, the male inhabitants set about preparing a place of refuge in case of an- other invasion. This resulted in the building of "Fort Mott," of which the following description is given by Dr. Caverly : "The place selected was the residence of William Cox, on the east bank of Otter Creek. This was sur- rounded by a high breastwork of hemlock logs set endwise in the ground, and on the west side this work was carried down the bank into the channel of the creek which supplied the inmates with an abundance of fresh water. In form the enclosure was nearly square, and contained about three-fourths of an acre of ground, in the center of which was the log dwelling which took the place of a block-house. This work was accomplished 'by the combined voluntary efforts of the neighboring inhabitants for their mutual security against the sud- den attacks of roaming parties of Indians and British, piloted by the detestable renegate Tories, familiar with every road, by-path, log-house and ambush in the settlements.' This was afterwards named Fort Mott, from Mr. John Mott, who often acted as commander of those collected within it."
The period from this time to the close of the war was one of constant peril to the settlers of the town. We have mentioned the capture of Gideon and
734
HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.
Thomas Sheldon. Two other boys, Joseph and John Rowley, were also carried into captivity, but they were returned a few months later.
The battle of Bennington and its victory left the inhabitants of the north- ern department a period of comparative security ; and the Committee of Safety kept a careful ward over the interests of the people.
When the continental troops were withdrawn from this State, the frontier towns were left at the mercy of an enemy that was always ready to take ad- vantage of their defenseless situation. Rutland was the headquarters of the State troops, and a small garrison was kept at Fort Mott. In May, 1779, the commander of the fort was informed that a force was coming up Lake Cham- plain to harass the settlers. A scouting party was thereupon sent out, consist- ing of Ephraim Stevens (commander), Benjamin Stevens, jr., Ebenezer Hop- kins and Jonathan Rowley, jr. Although ordered to not cross the lake, Stev- ens did so at Ticonderoga, in a canoe. After visiting the fort they embarked in their canoe and proceeded down as far as Basin Harbor and landed. After reconnoitering the vicinity they again entered their canoe, convinced that no Indians were about. They now foolishly discharged all of their pieces as a sort of salute. In a few moments a party of Indians appeared and ordered them to come ashore at the peril of their lives. This was refused and Stevens and his men pushed out into the lake amid a shower of bullets, none of which took effect. The Indians then jumped into another canoe and rapidly gave chase. An Indian lay flat in the bow where he kept up a fire with deliberate aim. Soon young Rowley was hit in the head and killed. Finding escape impossi- ble, the party surrendered, and after scalping the young scout, the Indians took the party ashore and started into the wilderness. After enduring many indig- nities and cruelties at the hands of the savages, the story of which is filled with interest, the party was taken to Quebec, whence they escaped in the follow- ing fall while engaged in harvesting, under a guard. They were recaptured near the head waters of the Connecticut by a party of Indians, taken again to Quebec and thrown into prison. After one fruitless attempt to dig through the walls of the prison, which was frustrated by an intoxicated prisoner, their second attempt, made in the winter of 1781, was successful ; but after getting within a day's journey of Vermont, amid much suffering from cold and hun- ger, they fell in with a party of British and were again taken back to Quebec. Their relatives had given them up for dead. In June, 1782, Benjamin Stev- ens, sr., learning that some prisoners were to be exchanged at Whitehall, went thither hoping to hear of his son. The first to disembark was his own son. Ephraim and Ebenezer Hopkins were also exchanged on this occasion. There are not many more heroic figures in the Revolution, as far as relates to Ver- mont, than Ephraim Stevens. (See Caverly's History of Pittsford.)
" The inhabitants of the town were frequently alarmed by the reported ap- proach of small parties of the enemy, and on all such occasions the women and
735
TOWN OF PITTSFORD.
children repaired to the fort, where they remained till the alarm subsided. In the month of November Deacon Caleb Hendee, Elder Elisha Rich, of Claren- don, and Deacon Murray, late of Orwell, went in company to Neshobe to view a lot of land near the house of George and Aaron Robbins. After an inspec- tion of the land they called at the house of the Messrs. Robbins and then re- turned to Pittsford. A few minutes after they left the house it was attacked by the Indians and the two owners killed. Most of the other inhabitants of Neshobe were made prisoners and their houses burned. About ten o'clock that night the news of this attack reached Pittsford. The same hour Deacon Hendee, with the assistance of Elder Rich, Deacon Murray and Richard Hen- dee, the deacon's brother, who happened to be there at that time, placed his whole family (including his aged mother) on horseback, and traveled all night as far as the town of Clarendon, where they arrived at the house of Elder Rich early the next morning. A company of Colonel Gideon Warren's regiment was dispatched to the scene of distress, where it remained three days, but the enemy having retreated the company was withdrawn. Captain Wright and the lieutenant being absent, Ensign Blanchard had command of the force on this occasion. We find the name of Stephen Mead, of Pittsford, on the roll of this company.
" Fort Mott was illy adapted to shield the people from the protracted efforts of a powerful foe. Accordingly, being roused by the startling acts of cruelty and bloodshed which had been perpetrated, they resolved to have a fort built that would accommodate a large garrison and afford them adequate protection."
The subject was laid before the board of war and the final result was the erection of what was called Fort Vengeance. The following account of this fort was furnished to Henry Hall, of Rutland, by General Caleb Hendee, and is taken from Dr. Caverly's work : -
" The site selected for its location was on the upland about a mile north- easterly from Fort Mott, and around the very spot then occupied by the dwell- ing house of Caleb Hendee, sr. The stage road from Pittsford village to Bran- don passes over the ground formerly occupied by this fort. Like all the other forts in Vermont it was a picket fort ; a trench was dug five or six feet deep, the trunks of trees, mostly hard maple and beech, a foot or a foot and a half in diameter, were sunk into the trench as closely together as possible, extend- ing sixteen or eighteen feet above ground and sharpened to a point at the top ; between each log a stake was driven to fill the space left by the round unhewed logs ; within the pickets a breastwork was thrown up about six feet broad at the base, and composed entirely of dirt and logs. At a height convenient for the garrison were loop-holes between the logs and large enough at the center for the barrel of a musket to pass through, and radiating outside and inside so that the soldiers within could move the muzzles of their guns in the loop-holes and command a wide range without, while the loop-holes were so far from the
736
HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.
ground on the out-side that the enemy's shots coming through them would pass over the heads of the garrison. The form of the fort was square, enclos- ing an acre or more of ground. On each corner jutting outside was a flanker, with two stories, that is, a floor was laid across each about eight feet from the ground answering for a ceiling to the space below; above this floor or ceiling was the sentinel's box with loop-holes above and below, from which the mus- keteers could rake the approach to the fort in every direction with a deadly fire. On the east of the fort was a large double gate of oak plank, thickly studded with large headed nails or spikes so as to be completely bullet proof, while on the west side of the fort was a wicket-gate; within the fort, extending along the north side were the officers' barracks, and on the south side the soldiers' barracks. In the northwest corner was the magazine for the munitions of war, a framed building ; in the northeast and southwest corners were wells, which were soon neglected and the garrison supplied themselves with water from a spring thirty or forty rods east of the fort. The space between the officers' and sol- diers' barracks was the parade ground. The fort was finished in June, 1780. After the war the barracks were long used as dwelling houses, and one room of them may even now be seen, standing at the west end of Samuel Hendee's barn yard."
The new fort was doubtless in a condition for occupancy early in June, 1780. After the fort was finished it was occupied by Major Ebenezer Allen, of Tinmouth, and about one hundred and fifty men.
In 1780 the people of the State were again left largely to their own re- sources for protection against the common enemy, and measures were taken for strengthening the forts of the county. Two companies of rangers were also raised and kept in constant service, in which were a number of Pittsford men. No large body of the enemy appear to have visited Vermont during this sum- mer ; but small parties of Indians and Tories made constant incursions, which kept the inhabitants in a state of alarm.
In midsummer Samuel Crippen was captured and a little later Betsey Cox ; the latter was, however, permitted to escape to the fort. Mr. Crippen was per- mitted to return from Canada in about a year, and died in Wallingford in 1783.
In June, 1781, the Indians laid their plans for a vigorous night assault on Fort Vengeance ; but they were discovered in the vicinity by some soldiers during the day previous and a well-planned ambush, which fired on them dur- ing their approach, frustrated the assault. Captain James Brookins was then in command of the fort, with a company under him in which were a number of Pittsford men.
But the end came, practically with the surrender of Cornwallis in October, 1781, and peace soon settled over the distressed country. With the final set- tlement of the difficulties with New York, the settlers again gave their atten- tion to the improvement of their farms, and others rapidly took up the land around them, as will be further narrated.
737
TOWN OF PITTSFORD.
Settlements after the War. - During the last twenty years of the last cen- tury numerous settlements were made in town, the more prominent only of which can be alluded to except in the briefest manner. Jonathan Warner, who had been in the town in 1772 and bought two rights of land, came in to settle in 1780; a part of his land included the farms now occupied by his great- grandson, John Warner and that of E. M. Bailey ; his first clearing was made near where Mr. Bailey now lives.
In 1780 Eleazer Harwood made a clearing on land which he had pitched in 1776, including a part of the present farm of John M. Goodnough.
Jonathan Dike settled in town in 1781, but removed to Chittenden three years later. His son Jonathan was sheriff of the county and otherwise promi- nent. Mrs. Capen Leonard is a granddaughter and Cyrus Dike a grandson of the elder Jonathan.
Peter Rice settled here in 1781 and in 1789 bought one hundred acres, which included the farm now owned by Ransom Burditt. Phineas Ripley, a Revolutionary soldier, came in the same year and made his first clearing on the east side of the brook. He lived there till 1802, when he built the house now owned by Carlos A. Hitchcock.
Several families settled in town in 1782. Eleazer Warner was one of the more conspicuous of these ; he came from Granby, Mass., and located in the south part of Sugar Hollow; built the first frame house north of the bridge, and in 1792 bought the lot known as the John Booth place ; he died in 1835. His son Samuel located on the farm now owned by the widow of Douglas Bates, where he resided until 1825, when he went to live with his children. Samuel's son, Nathan Smith Warner, lived in town and in company with his brother-in- law, Marshall Wood, became the owner of the Kingsley tannery (elsewhere mentioned); he removed to Rutland in 1852; Eleazer Chapin Warner, another son of Samuel, was a farmer of the town, and in company with his father and brother, purchased the David Crippen farm, and in 1841 bought their interests in the place. He is still a respected resident of the town. .
Amasa Ladd came into the town in this year and two years later purchased lands which included the farm now owned by Joseph Gagnon. He built the present house there about 1790, which is now one of the oldest in town; he afterwards removed to Malone, N. Y. . The Kellogg family settled in this year, when Amos, son of Joseph, came in and located ; the latter came from Wey- bridge, where he had lived with one of his sons. About the year 1805 he came to Pittsford to live with their son Amos. Amos was in the Revolution- ary service and held a commission. He located on the farm afterward occu- pied by his son, Samuel H., who was born in 1798. Amos Cushman Kellogg, son of Amos, located on the home farm with his brother, Samuel H., where he lived till 1837, when he purchased the place where he spent the remainder of his life. Newton Kellogg, now a prominent citizen and connected with the banks of Rutland, is a son of Samuel H. 47
738
HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.
Elisha Rich, a native of Massachusetts, came here in 1783 and made the first improvements on what has been known as " Furnace Flat." In that fall he built a grist-mill on the brook above where the bridge now stands; Samuel Adams built a saw-mill a little below the bridge. The land he obtained em- braced three pieces, making 440 acres, including " the flat ; " he built a small house near where the brick house was afterward erected. In 1784 he sold his mill and one hundred acres of land to Thomas and Samuel Adams. In 1785 he was settled as pastor of the Baptist Church in Pittsford, where he continued in acceptable service until 1803 ; he soon removed to Pennsylvania. Joshua Morse settled in 1783 on a farm which embraced lands now owned by Capen Leonard ; he built a log house a little northeast of the present dwelling of Mr. Leonard and a few years later a frame house west of this and near the road. Justus Brewster settled in 1783 where Edward Phalen now lives.
The Brown family came in this year and became prominent in the town. Elijah Brown, jr., came to Rutland in 1780 and soon afterward to Pittsford ; it is not known just where he settled. Their son, bearing the same name, was born in Rutland. He became a tanner and currier and in 1805 bought of An- drew Prindle a half interest in the Nelson tannery, and in 1808 purchased the other half; the tannery place is now owned by John Hudson. In company with his brother, Samuel A., he carried on business until 1827, when Elijah sold his tannery interest to his brother and bought the Western Tavern, which he kept until 1839. He was accidentally killed in Providence in 1860. Samuel A. re- sided on the tannery property until his death in 1867. Willard C., a son of Samuel, enlisted in the Second Berdan Sharp Shooters and now lives in New York State. Oliver Brown, son of Elijah, was a harness-maker and lived in the village until 1842. Charles D., son of Elijah, jr., was connected for a few years after 1847 with the furnace property, but removed from town not long after- ward.
The Adams family located here in 1784. Elisha, the father, purchased the grist-mill and also built a saw-mill, just above the furnace, which were both op- erated a number of years by members of the family. The family first occupied the house built by Elisha Rich, who sold them the property, but soon con- structed another log house on the hill. Samuel Adams, one of the sons, after- wards built the red house, owned some years ago by A. G. Allen. Thomas, another son, located on the farm now occupied by his son, Elias T. Arbela, another son of Thomas, removed west many years ago.
Elias Hall came to Pittsford in the spring of 1784 and purchased lands in- cluding the place now occupied by George Bates; about 1795 he sold this and lived a few years in a house which stood where the Baptist meeting-house is located ; he removed to Williston and died in 1820.
Prominent among the settlers of 1785 was John Hitchcock, a native of Con- necticut ; he located on lands covering the farm now occupied by Elijah Gid-
739
TOWN OF PITTSFORD.
dings ; this he soon deeded to his son John and purchased the lot forming the farm now owned by his grandson, Captain Charles Hitchcock. His son, Re- membrance Hitchcock, came here from Brandon and lived with his parents about three years from 1797. He built the house which is now the residence of Charles Hitchcock, and in 1800 the house occupied by Frank Bresee, mov- ing into the latter as soon as it was finished. In later years he built the pres- ent residence of his son, Allen Hitchcock, as well as that occupied by Mrs. Obers. His son Lyman located on the farm now owned by George N. Eayres, where his parents resided for a time. He removed to Chittenden. Carlos A. Hitchcock, at present one of the wealthiest men of the town, is a son of Ly- man ; has held several town offices and represented the town in the Assembly. He now lives on what is known as the Sheldon place, in the village. Moses Hitchcock was a son of John, jr. ; was a blacksmith, and moved to St. Law- rence county about 1806. Chapman Hitchcock, son of John, was conspicuous in early years as a singing school teacher and choir leader. Captain Charles Hitchcock has occupied a prominent place in the town ; has held the numerous offices and represented the town two terms.
Thomas Hammond was given one hundred acres of land in Pittsford by his father-in-law, Ichabod Cross, and he built a small house which stood near the Cox Fort (Fort Mott). After two or three changes of residence he bought in 1814 the farm now owned by George Wheaton, and built the large house there, in which he took up his residence. He became a very prominent citizen ; was six years assistant judge of the county, beginning in 1815, and four years from 1816 a member of the Executive Council ; was two years assessor under the general government. He was conspicuous in the organization of the State militia and rose from captain to colonel. Morever, he was a devoted Christian. His son, Thomas Denny Hammond, born in 1812, also has an honorable rec- ord ; he was the first to respond to the call for troops in 1812, and served as orderly sergeant. In 1820 he removed to Orwell, where he was honored with several high offices. He died in 1841. Augustus, son of Thomas Hammond, married a daughter of Sturges Penfield and located on the home farm. In 1867 he purchased his father-in-law's farm, on which he died.
In 1786 Jacob Weed settled in town, coming from Massachusetts; his lot included a part of the farm now owned by Cyrus Dike. Jeremiah Powers, sr., settled in Sugar Hollow, but not until 1792, locating on a lot including the present farm of William Nicholas; he died in 1801. His son Jeremiah had preceded him to this town in 1786, locating on lands including the place now owned by E. M. Bailey ; he died in 1845. Joab, son of the first Jeremiah, came here in 1799, and located in Sugar Hollow, and died about 1830. Lot Keeler settled in the town in 1786 and made a small purchase which included the homestead now owned by Hills and Benjamin Taylor, where he built a log house. His son Lot, jr., spent his life in town and died in 1871. Abraham
740
HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.
Owen came in this year and located on lands embracing the easterly part of the farm now owned by Orlin Smith ; he died in 1813. The name of Nathan Webster appears first on the records in 1785, when he purchased twelve acres of land, including the site of the present Otter Creek House in the village ; for this he paid forty pounds. He cleared this spot and removed his family, prob- ably in 1786. The site of the village was then covered by a heavy forest. The house he built was the beginning of the village. The site was early known as " Blackberry Hill," from the quantities of that fruit that grew thereabouts. Amos Webster was probably a brother of Nathan, and purchased lands in 1785 which embraced all the territory on which the village was built, east of the north and south road, between the town hall lot and the road leading to Hitch- cockville, together with lands lying eastward of the village, now owned by va- rious persons. He built a house the following spring about where Carlos A. Hitchcock's residence now stands, which was afterwards known as the " Web- ster House."
In 1787 Reuben Ives, a native of Massachusetts, came into the town and bought land of Richard Hendee, including that now owned by Volney Baird, Charles Smith and others. Simeon Parmelee also settled in this year ; he was a Revolutionary soldier and purchased a farm on which he lived some years and removed to Westford. His brother Hezekiah, son of Simeon, sr., located on the paternal homestead ; after several changes of residence he died in the town in 1853. Rev. Simeon Parmelee, Rev. Ashbel Parmelee and Rev. Moses were of this family and became distinguished in the ministry. Simeon Parme- lee, son of Hezekiah, located in the easterly part of the town on the farm of his father, and formerly devoted a large share of his time to his trade, that of mason. He is a respected citizen and deacon in the Congregational Church. The Jackson family were numerous in the town in early years ; David, son of David, settled in the south part of the town and died in the War of 1812. Jonathan's purchase included the farm now owned by Hiram Bates ; he died on that place. James removed to Pennsylvania. Samuel removed to Canada before 1812. Daniel settled in the west part of the town. Anthony Phillips came to Pittsford in 1787 and purchased a lot including what is the farm now owned by his great-grandson, Moses Phillips. His son Jacob located on the home farm an died in 1848. Orin W. was a son of Jacob, and also settled on the home farm, where he died and left it in possession of his son.
Asa Stevens came to the town in 1788 and bought a tract including the present farm of W. P. Ward, and other lands ; here he resided until his death in 1817. Dr. Abiathar Millard came in this year and located in the village, building what was probably the fourth house on " Blackberry Hill." Nathaniel Fairfield settled in 1788 in the west part of the town, where he and his son Samuel lived for some years.
Ithiel Barnes came to Pittsford and purchased of his cousin, John Barnes,
741
TOWN OF PITTSFORD.
in 1798, eighty acres of land in Whipple Hollow. The following spring he built his house and went back to Connecticut for his family. His father was James Barnes, and he followed his son to this town in 1793, also locating in Whipple Hollow ; he died in 1809. Ithiel Barnes, jr., located in the town in 1830; he died in 1866. John R. was the son of John, jr., and was born in 1822 and located on the home farm with his parents. Nehemiah Barnes, son of John, bought a farm in town in 1819, and the next year exchanged with Na- thaniel K. Andrews, for the farm now owned by Chauncey Thomas; he lived there until 1865, when he exchanged for the place where he afterwards lived. His son Charles, now living in town, is one of the respected citizens. Franklin B. Barnes, now a resident of Pittsford, is a son of Nehemiah. In 1855 he pur- chased what was long known as the Abraham Drury farm and resided there until his death. Jeffrey Barnes, son of John, located on the home farm with his parents. He made several changes of residence and finally in 1832 ex- changed places with David Hall and obtained the Mead farm, now owned by B. J. Douglass. In 1855 he purchased the place where he afterward lived. He was a leading citizen and held various political offices ; he died in 1861.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.