USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Ryegate > History of Ryegate, Vermont, from its settlement by the Scotch-American company of farmers to present time; > Part 29
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
258
HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
white-headed nails, and a great number of buttons and other trinkets hung around it, and he wore a cap made of some beast's skin with the hair on it, and a long tail came down to his waist, at the end of which hung about 20 or 25 women's thimbles. You may easily conjecture what a noise these trinkets made as he walked along. What makes them most remarkable is the painting of their faces which they color all over with red and black streaks.
We bought two horses here and set out from this place for New Perth, where one Dr Clark lives, who was to inform us about lan Is and he told us that he had some small lots, but none large enough for us. From this we were to have gone to Crown Point, but he told us that all the lands about Lake Champlain were in dispute between the two governors of York and New Hampshire, and indeed all the land in the province, so we went from there to Charlestown in New Hampshire, where Mr. Church lives, who is partner with Dr Witherspoon and Mr. Pagan in their township on Connecticut river, and he went along with us and showed it to us, and it seems to be good land, but very far back, being more than 300 miles from New York, and it lies along the bank of Connecticut river. It is 200 miles above Hartford which is the highest that sloops run up the river. The nearest seaport is Portsmouth which lies about 100 miles east of it.
On our way to this place we lodged one night where Dr. Wheelock has his Indian Academy or College, when we went and called for him, and as it was night he invited us into prayers in his college, where he prayed very earnestly for all the people who had contributed to the building and maintaining of the college. He told us that he now has upwards of 80 students in his college of whom about 30 were on charity, and 17 of these were Indians
On our way from Doctor Clark's to Charlestown we had a very bad road being over some very steep mountains, and one morning we set out from a house at 6 o'clock and did not see another till 12, our road being through the woods where we had no way but by marks on the trees as the road was not cut out. From Charlestown to New York the road is pretty good as it is mostly through an old inhabited country. The hay harvest is all finished along the road and now they are busy with their wheat and rye harvest. They have a curious way of managing their stacks, so that as soon as they are up they are thatched and it is this: They have 4 long trees which they set up at the 4 corners of the place where they are to build the stack and they make a frame on which they erect a roof.
The crops in this country are not so good as I expected to find them as their wheat does not commonly produce above 6 or 7 bolls an acre, and their rye about the same. Their barley looks to be very good, but their oats are rather indiffer- ent. Their Indian corn will produce 12 or 14 bolls an acre, and they have several ways of cooking it so it makes excellent food. They have plenty of white peas and a kind of bean, but none of our Scotch peas or beans. If the country were properly cultivated they might perhaps have larger crops for they do nothing but just plow and sow, and in some places they summer fallow their wheat land, which turns out greatly to their advantage.
There are several ways of clearing land in this country such as girdling. cut- ting and grubbing. Girdling is only cutting a notch about an inch deep, and two inches wide round the root of the tree which makes it die. Their method of cut- ting is to stand upright and cut the tree about two or three feet from the ground, as for grubbing, it is very little practiced. tho it is surely the best way.
When they want only pasture, they only cut the small brush aud girdle the trees, and for tillage they cut all except the very large ones which they girdle, and then they set fire to them and burn them, and with the leaves lying on the ground burn the whole surface, then without doing anything else they harrow through the roots with a three-cornered brake, then sow their grain which will grow tolerable good. This they continue for three or four years, after which they use the plow.
The weather they tell us has been warmer than ordinary for three weeks past. and though it is warmer than at home it is in no way intolerable, and the people in this country seem very healthy.
I never expected to have stood my journey so well for though we have rode, since we bought our horses about five hundred miles, I have never been the least weary.
. 259
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.
Pray Remember me to my Mother, and to all my brothers and sisters, and all other friends and acquaintances.
I have no more, but remain yours, etc.
JAMES WHITELAW. NEW YORK, July 13, 1773.
After nearly all the previous part of this volume had been printed, some papers of James Henderson, the pioneer, were found among his descendants in another state, and were sent to us. They came too late to be used in the narrative but some of them are so interesting and valu- able that we decided to reproduce them in full.
CONTRACT WITH JAMES HENDERSON.
This Contract of the date underwritten made and entered into between the partys following viz .-:
William Houston, Farmer in Craigend, Praeses ; John Erskine, Farmer in Beiley ; William Neilson, Farmer in Glenshinnock; Andrew Arthur, Son to John Arthur, Farmer in Boghall; Alexander Barnhill, Brewer in Port Glasgow; Matthew White, Farmer in Garneland; William Blackwood, Farmer in Bottom; John Pat- erson and Robert Brock, Farmers in Barns of Clyde; William Semple, Farmer in Brickhouse; John Cross, Milner at Braehead, and John Allen, Weaver in Paisley ; Managers of the Scotch-American Company of Farmers on the one part, and Tames Henderson, Wright.
On the other part in manner following Witnesseth, That the said James Hen- derson hath become bound As he hereby binds and oblidges himself to proceede on a voyage as Soon as the said managers shall require him So to do alongst with the said Companys Commissioners. And that to any of His Majestys Col- onys or Dominions That the said Managers or Commissioners shall direct, or wherein they shall purchase lands for the said Companys behoof, in manner men- tioned in the Contract of Copartnery entered into by the several partners of the said Company and the said James Henderson shall there remain for the Space of Fourteen days after his arrival at the said Company's Charges And thereafter at his own proper expense and Charges until Such time as the Said Companys Com- missioners shall have purchased said Lands and require him to begin to work for them And that he shall there serve the said Company or their Commissioners or Managers in America for the time being in such Service and Employment as the said Company's Managers or Commissioners in America Shall Employ him in. And that for the Space of One year Compleat from & after he the said James Henderson Shall be required and begin to work to the said Company. And further the said James Henderson doth hereby bind and oblidge himself to carry with him the whole Tools that he presently hath And to use them at the said Company's work during the sd Space. And the said James Henderson doth hereby declare & Covenant that he at the time of Subscribing hereof is of age of -- years and - 110.
JAMES HENDERSON,
WILLIAM HOUSTON. WILLIAM NEILSON, ANDREW ARTHUR, ALEX. BARNHILL, MATTHEW WHITE, WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, JOHN PATERSON, ROBERT BROCK, WILLIAM SEMPLE, JOHN CROSS, JOHN ALLAN.
260
HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
This curious paper is inserted as giving the prices of labor and mate- rials in 1797, as well as light upon the customs of the time.
An account of work done at Ryegate Meeting House and other Charges for Materials &c, &c.
Dollars. Cents.
For the Frame Hewing 65 days at 4/6 per d.
43
33
To framing of Meeting House 80 days at 4/6 per d.
53
33
No Charge for Hauling this part.
Slit work 1147 feet Being 4 inches Square,
Being 1429 feet of Boards.
250 feet of joists at 6 in. Depth and 3 thick 384 feet of Boards,
148 feet of 3 inch plank to go Round the Ell,
The whole added is 2061 feet at 51/2 Dollars at the Spot each Thousand,
14
25
For Liquor at Vandoeing the Meeting House,
1
50
123
74
Besides Bread and Cheese and other things. By other people I know not how much.
This for the Frame when Raised.
For the Covering and other work to finish as it now is.
66
00
14 Thousand Shingles @ 10 shil. per M,
23
33
3 Thousand Clap Boards @ 6 Dollars per M,
18
00
50 Thousand Nails & 17 M Shingle Nails at 3/6,
9
91
13 M Clap Board Nails @ 7/ per M,
15
17
4 M 20 penny Nails @ 16/ Shillings per M,
10
66
2 Boxes glass at 16 Dollars per Box,
32
00
For work Mr. Clough 56 Days at 5/ per Day,
46
66
James Henderson 33 Days at 5/ Shillings per Day,
27
50
Daniel Munroe 6 Days at 5/ Shillings per Day,
5
00
32 Days of Other hands at 3 Shillings per Day,
16
00
For Board of these men 16 weeks and one half at 8 Shillings per week,
22
00
4
00
For putty and setting glass that now is done,
347
55
The sashes that is to make 15 windows at 24 squares Each and 4 pence per Square the Making is
20
00
2 Boxes glass 32 Dollars Putty Setting and Fitting in,
40
00
60
00
531
30
7 Dollars for Laving under floor,
7
-
538
30
The tax Bill that I had to collect for it amounts only to 343.3 cents, the fees for Collecting out of it and a good many that cannot be got.
368
170
-
-
The following paper indicates that people a century ago had ideas regarding forestry.
11
33
Cost of Liquor at Raising,
16 M Board Nails one half Cut the other half worked at 11/ Shillings.
29
33
James Heath 33 Days at 4/ Shillings per Day,
22
00
12 Thousand feet of Boards @ 51/2 Dollars per M.
SOUTH RYEGATE VILLAGE FROM JEFFERSON HILL.
& NEW YORK LIBRARY
261
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.
RYEGATE, Dec. 6th, 1803.
At a meeting of the Members of the Scotch American Company of Farmers holden this day at the dwelling house of Mr. Andrew Brock in this town.
1st Voted, That all the persons who own company's land shall have leave in an equal proportion to cut pine timber on lots No. 130, 131 & 132 Lying south of Mr. Henderson's land and West of Mr. Whitelaw's land.
2d Voted, That all newcomers who have not formerly cut timber on sd lots shall have leave to cut and draw to the Mill sufficient timber to make three thou- sand feet of boards, each, besides paying the mill's share.
3rd Voted, That all who have formerly cut, and all others after having 3000 feet shall pay a square edged board out of their half of each log, provided never- theless that no person shall cut timber on sd lots to make any more boards than they want for their own use, except Mr. Andrew Brock who is to have every privilege that his father was understood to have when that land was deeded to him.
4th Voted, That unless the timber that is now cut down be cut into logs within one week from this date, any one in the company may cut what are left at that time and put their mark on them and draw them and have them sawed for their own use, the same as if they had first cut down the trees, and in future every person who cuts a tree shall immediately cut it into logs and mark it else forfeit his right to it, extraordinarys excepted.
5th Voted, That after any given log has lain a month from the time it is cut, any person in the Company may take the log and mark it with his own Mark and immediately draw it to the Mill, after which the person who cut it shall have no claim to it and those who have timber which was cut before this winter shall draw it to the Mill within two months else it shall be forfeited as above.
Attest: JAMES WHITELAW, Clerk to the Meeting.
BOND GIVEN BY ROBERT BROCK.
Know all men by these presents that I, Robert Brock, of the town of Ryegate, County of Orange, and State of Vermont, for Myself my Heirs, Execu- tors and Assigns and Administrators am firmly Bound and Obligated unto James Henderson, John Gray and Willlam Neilson, Agents of the Scots American Co., and their successors forever in penal sum of One Hundred and Thirty Pounds Sterling Money to be well and truly paid to the said Managers, Agents and Successors, viz .:
The Condition of the above Obligation is such that if I, the said Robert Brock, above Bounden, my Heirs and Successors, keep the Mills now in my pos- session on the Great Falls on Wells River, in sufficient repair so as to do Business for Two days in the week, or oftener if necessity requires until such time only as the Town or Company erect a Mill or Mills in Newbury or Ryegate bounds, or refuse to haul Millstones, then this obligation to be null and void. Otherwise to remain in full force.
Given at Ryegate this 29th day of Sept. 1786.
ROBERT BROCK.
WILLIAM JOHNSON, \Witnesses.
JAMES WHITELAW,
CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE COMPANY.
WILLIAM WALLACE, Shoemaker in the Parish of Eastwood having offered him- self as a Member of the Scots American Company of Farmers and having paid the sum of Five Pounds Sterling Money to the Managers of the said Company, and further has become bound to Obtemper and fulfil the whole Article-Clauses and Conditions contained in the bond of their association, an exact copy whereof is hereto prefixed and therefore for the better security of the said William Wallace and to entitle him to his proportioned share of Lands and other profits arising from the management of the said Company in so far as he may be concerned- He is therefore Entered as a Member and partner upon the said Company's record and the said Entrance signed by William Houston, Preces.
262
HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
HOUSTON, 19 Aug. 1774.
That the above is a just and true copy of the said William Wallace's En- trance, and that by virtue thereof he was allowed by the Managers to draw for his Lotts Effering to the above Inputt, when he drew the Number one Hundred and one Hundred and one -
All which is extracted from the said company's record and is attested by
WILLIAM STEWART, Co. Cl'k.
The following letter shows the difficulty which the managers on both sides of the ocean found in adjusting their accounts.
RENFREW, 1st March, 1797.
Gentlemen : Your letter to. the managers of date 13 May, 1796 came safe to hand in answer to ours of the 6th Feb'y, 1796 by which we are happy to learn of your welfare and prosperity and approve of your conduct in the management of what concerns us in Ryegate.
Upon the 10th day of Feb'y last there was a meeting of the managers here when your letter was read before them, by which you inform us of the state of lots in Ryegate as it at present stands as to number. Also you inform us there has been sold by you and Rob't Brock about sixty-three lots at twenty- eight Dollars per lot. Now after all the inquiries we have been able to make we cannot be certain of the number of vacant or forfeited lots because the Mem- bers are so scattered. Deaths &c., have happened, and also that several of our number set out in war time after having paid every charge then due, yet were carried into Boston or other places in the time of the war, when the British were in possession of the places where they were landed. a number of whom never got to Ryegate to possess the lands they had paid for, in so far as we know, for which reasons we are of opinion that no more lots should be sold for some time at least, in case any of the heirs of some of these people who had been so unfor- tunate should yet claim, and we should not wish that any having right should be disappointed.
You wish us to appoint the way of conveyance for you to remit to us the money or price of these lots you have sold for the Co. when due, according to the terms on which you have strict bargains with your buyers.
But considering the distance and other impediments that would lie in our way, the Managers at the above meeting were unanimous in opinion that you yourselves had far better opportunities than we. Such as you must be ac- quainted with several good merchants about N. York or elsewhere who have business in this country and from whom you could easily purchase bills upon some good house in Glasgow, Greenock or other place in Scotland, where we could draw the cash, which is the easiest and safest way of remittance for us both. Our meeting on the 10th Feb. last authorized us hereto subscribing to write you these their resolutions, and we remain,
Gentlemen, sincerely your most humble servants.
DAVID ALLAN, WILLIAM HOUSTON.
The following is added as a postscript to the foregoing letter.
RENFREW, 1 March, 1797.
Gentlemen: As I wrote Messrs. James Nelson and William Craig of date 29th Feb. 1796, desiring them to such measures unto my six lots of land in Rye- gate (for which all charges are paid) as should secure my property there, but I am now informed by the Co's letter of 3d of May last that nothing short of settling the lands can secure the property. But I have since seen a letter from Mr. Andrew Brock to his brother William saying that if any of the Co. wished to redeem their property that on writing him for that purpose he would do it for them.
263
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.
By this I hereby empower Mr. Brock to secure mine. viz .: My six lots in Rye- gate, and in the meantime as Mr. James Nelson is said to wish to purchase them, let him inform me by first opportunity what price he will give for my six lots and how he will remit the money to me.
I remain yours, &c., W'M. HOUSTON.
The above are addressed,
MR. JAMES HENDERSON IN RYEGATE, County of Orange, State of Vermont, N. America.
Care of Mr. Peter Hatridge, mercht, Pearle Street, New York.
The following extract from the books of the Managers show how much was received by them :
To Company, Dr. Sold by Managers 121 Lots of Land before Jan. 1815 at, $4545.71
CONTRA.
(This is of interest as showing how the money was remitted to Scot- land. When a man in Scotland was coming to Ryegate with money or wished to send it for investment, he deposited it with the managers in Scotland, receiving from them bills of exchange drawn upon the mana- gers in Ryegate. By this means the risk of transporting money across the ocean was avoided.)
Oct. 21, 1801. Paid by a Draught from Andiew Buchanan of £45.3 Sterling of Company Money, the Receipt of it con- firmed by a letter of Date Feb. 16, 1802, Signed by John Paterson, Preces, and others of the Co., $ 200.66
May 21, 1803. Paid to Andrew Miller a bill of Exchange drawn on his father in behalf of the Com., 444.44
Mills sold to Old Mr. Brock, three Lots. 555.56
May 5, 1806. Paid to Andrew Brock in Behalf of John Pater- son and others in the Comp'y, 173.61
April 15, 1807. Paid to the said Andrew Brock as above,
16.50
May, 1809. Paid Mr. Marsh to answer a Draught the Com- pany sent to New York to Mr. Bethune for £100 Ster- ling, and £3 Sterling it cost Mr. Marsh to purchase New York Bill, 457.78
Oct. 26, 1809. Paid Robert Fulton for a Draught he gave on his father in Scotland to the Comp'y as per Receipt,
19.08
Aug. 7, 1810. Paid to Mr. Bachop for a Draught for his friend in Scotland as per receipt, 45.94
June 10. 1814. Paid William Allan in part of a Debt due to him from the Company in Behalf of one John Allan a partner in the Company in Scotland,
93.00
From Oct 4, 1808 to March 1811 from Bills by Mr. Todd in Glasgow to John Paterson there in Behalf of James Henderson, Jun. here and interest, 528.36
May 4, 1812. Paid James McNab for a Bill of Exchange that John Paterson Received in Scotland in Behalf of the Com'y, 337.69
264
HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
Nov. 23, 1812. Paid James Wallace for a Draught on his Brother in Scotland that the Com'y received as per Re- ceipt,
55.26
1812 a tax of 4 cents on each acre of land granted by the Legislature for Roads and Bridges the Com'y sum for sd tax paid by J. Henderson,
20.04
From the year 1810 to the year 1812 for Com'y letters going and coming and some deeds recording,
1.60
From the year 1812 to 1815 for Letters, Records and other Company business,
3.70
From the year 1813 to the year 1818 for Letters, Rec- ords and other Company Business paid by James Hen- derson,
4 70
Paid for them [in Scotland] and to them before this date Jan. 1815, $3424.00.
May 29, 1812. Paid by Mr. Todd of Glasgow to John Neilson there in Behalf of James Henderson, Jun., here and paid to sd Henderson here and of Co's. Money,
137.56 133.34
May 27, 1816. (From and to same),
Nov. 5, 1817. (From and to same),
133.34
Nov. 24, 1817. Paid by William Holmes of Kilmalcolm par- ish to John Neilson in Behalf of the Com'y here,
And this money paid to John and Alexander Holmes out of Co's. Money, as per Receipt, 132.40
Jan. 30, 1819. Paid by Mr. Todd of Glasgow in Behalf of James Henderson, Jun., here, and the same sum paid here, 133.34
Jan. 15, 1820. Paid Matthew White by your instruction in Behalf of his grandfather David Smith in Scotland, 41.00
$4124.98
FORM OF BILL OF EXCHANGE.
RYEGATE MILLS, 21 May, 1803.
Ninety Days after Sight of this my first of exchange My second and third of the same tenor and date not being paid, Pay to the Order of James Henderson, William Neilson and Hugh Gardner One Hundred Pound Sterling money and place the same to my account.
Your loving son, ANDREW MILLER.
TO MR. JAMES MILLER, Farmer in Chapel,
Pay the within Contents to John Paterson, Preses in Glenshinock, parish of Erskine.
JAMES HENDERSON, WILLIAM NEILSON, HUGH GARDNER.
LETTER FROM THE MANAGERS IN SCOTLAND.
This relates to the sums mentioned in the previous account.
RENFREW, JUNE 2d, 1809.
GENTLEMEN :
We wrote you of Date the 10th Octr, 1808 having a few days previous received yours of Date the 1 st of July. In ours of that Date we informed you that we had written you the 23d of May last, at which time we Drew on you for £100 Sterling at 60 Days after sight payable to Davie Berthune, Esq., New York; we also in-
265
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.
formed you that before Draughting the Bill we called on Mr. David Todd that in case he paid any Money we might deduct it from the £100 but he informed us at that time he would pay no money unless he were regularly drawn upon.
Notwithstanding, on Delivering the letter inclosed in the wrapper along with yours of the 1 st of July on seeing its contents, he seemed so well Pleased with the Family his Daughter had married into that he paid us £30 Ster. which we thought advisable to take, altho we had drawn upon you for the £100, Mr. Todd letting us understand that his Daughter was in no want of money, and would take it from you when you could get it cashed. We wrote you also that we called on James Millar about the security from Mr. Whitehill. He said he never received the scrape of a pen from him, therefore he could have had no security from him. He also says that if his son and you could send him a regular Bond subscribed by James Whitehill whereon he becomes bound to Pay James Millar, Andrew Millars' father £200 Ster. which he understands to be the £100 he paid and the other which is due. *
* When we met at Renfrew John Fulton appeared and paid us 4 Guineas which we gave him a receipt for, which sum you are to pay to his son Robert Fulton on receiving this. * **
We think that the common lands and forfeit lots should pay all the Debts of the Co., and have a full sum for all the just claimers of lots, as there is a number of Members who paid their Inputs, but are forfeit for not paying their Assess- ments. The Debt now amounts to £160, 18, 5, which was advanced by the Man- agers in the year 1786, the interest of which sum at the time we received the Draught of £60 from Mr. McCallum was £120, 12/ which with £45, 3/ after- wards received made only £105, 3/ Ster. which we have Received, besides the £30 from Mr. Todd, the £4, 4/from Mr. Fulton. We trust soon to receive the balance.
Yours with all Due Esteem,
To Messrs. JAMES HENDERSON, HUGH GARDNER, WILLIAM NEILSON,
JOHN PATERSON, Presess.
JAMES SMITH,
MATTHEW SHAW, JOHN NEILSON.
RYEGATE, March 29, 1821.
This day William Neilson and James Henderson, Managers of the Scots Amer- ican Company met on purpose to examine the Book where the Records of their Business are kept both in Debt and Credit.
And find by Book that the Managers here, William Nelson and James Hender- son are indebted to the Managers in Scotland $4555 Dollars and 47 Cents.
Likeways they find the managers in Scotland by Book at the same Date above indebted to the managers here, William Nelson and James Henderson the sum of $5326 Dollars and 33 Cents.
WEIGHT OF MILL IRONS.
The following paper in the hand writing of James Whitelaw gives the names and weight of the irons used in the saw mill and grist mill at Boltonville in 1775. We give it to show the names of the different parts of the iron work used in the construction of the old time up-and-down saw mills. There are few living who can tell how they were put together.
Lbs.
Spindle,
125
Horns,
48
Grist miln gudgeons,
97
4 large hoops for the grist miln axletree,
63
Box in which the foot of the spindle runs,
16
4 picks,
151/2
266
HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
2 crow bars,
50
3 short bolts for raising the millstones,
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.