USA > Vermont > Addison County > Salisbury > History of Salisbury, Vermont > Part 13
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
As early as 1790, the subject of a proper and con- venient burial place, was agitated in a town meeting. At this time committees were appointed to make ar- rangements for a purchase of lands for this purpose, but for some reason or other, the purchase was ne- glected, and the few burials which took place for several subsequent years, were made on private grounds.
About thirty persons were buried on Oscar P. Sheldon's farm, and a few on home lot No. 1, near Mr. Arnold's. Quite a number were buried on the farm of the late Solomon Thomas, a little south of Isaac Shays' house.
In 1805, John Deming deeded the town a lot of land in the village, containing one fourth of an acre, for a burial place. This was a donation from Mr. Deming.
Eleazer Claghorn allowed any of his neighbors to bury their dead on his farm, in a little yard fenced 20*
-
٢
244
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
off for that purpose, as long as he owned it. In 1807, Mr. Claghorn sold his farm to John Morton, and at this time it was found that the yard was nearly filled, and must soon be enlarged; and as its fences had gone to decay, at least so far as to need a good deal of repairing, Mr. Morton allowed the peo- ple, without any charge, to build their new fence, so as to embrace quite an additional amount of land.
Since that time the farm has changed owners sev- eral times, but it is believed no legal title to the burial place has been given or taken by any one, unless it may be through the quieting act, which has a peculiar appropriateness in its protection of the dead. At any rate, the author is not aware that any one's right to lie here, in peace and quietness, has ever been questioned, and in but one instance has the grave yard, for any cause, been disturbed.
In the summer of 1805 or 1806, it was discovered that the body of a woman, which had been buried here a year or two before, was missing. Suspicion rested upon several individuals living in the neigh- borhood, who were thereupon arrested, a court of en- quiry held, and several witnesses examined; but the testimony given did not warrant the court in sending these individuals up for trial, and they were dis- charged.
While this examination was going on, some one
245
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
brought the bones of the deceased woman, in a bas- ket, and laid them by the side of her grave, which soon became known, and created a great excitement. After a careful examination, the identification of the teeth, made it certain that these were the bones of the lost body, and they were all deposited again in the place where they had before reposed. The name of the person exhumed, was Huldah Castle.
We might notice another incident that took place in this grave-yard in the year 1826. It is interesting for its novelty. It was this. Jonathan Titus was en- gaged to be married to Elizabeth Kelsey, daughter of Gamaliel Kelsey. The day of the wedding had been fixed upon, but its interesting ceremonies were inter- rupted and indefinitely postponed, on account of the death of a younger brother of the future bride. Af- ter the solemnities of the burial of the deceased, at which the Rev. Mr. Prindle, of the Methodist clergy, officiated, it was suggested by Mr. Kelsey, the father of both the deceased and of the bride, that the mar- riage of Mr. Titus and his daughter be there celebra- ted; whereupon the minister, after some prefatory remarks calculated to remove objections, took his place at the head of the new-made grave, while the bride and groom stood at the other extremity, and performed the marriage ceremony in the presence of
246
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
a congregation little anticipating a wedding among the tombs.
This wedding was the cause of much gossip at the time, though we are not aware that any one who was present on this occasion ever characterized it as highly improper.
In 1785 and 1786, the town and surrounding coun- try was filled so rapidly by immigration, that in the spring of 1787 a great scarcity of breadstuffs was ex- perienced. Many families suffered for want of proper food, and endured many hardships in endeavoring to obtain it. It is true there was no danger of absolute starvation, in a country abounding in wild animals, and in which the lakes and streams were filled with fish ; but people may suffer from hunger, in a state far short of starvation-and especially from a want of that kind of food to which they have been long ac- customed. All men need bread, or something con- taining similar nutriment. It is a universal food, and we cannot well estimate its loss until we have once been deprived of it.
Again, in the winter and spring of 1790, provisions became extremely scarce, especially all kinds of grain. Many families were compelled to put themselves upon allowances, some more, and some less liberal.
Many had no other bread than that made of bran, unless they might have received an occasional gift of
247
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
something better from their more fortunate neighbors ; and some families, for many weeks in succession, sub- sisted entirely on milk, fish, and spontaneous vegeta- bles.
The great scarcity at this time was also, for the most part attributed to the too rapid filling up of the country. The comparatively few who had made clear- ings and brought their land into a state of cultiva- tion, were unable to raise provisions sufficient to sus- tain themselves and all those who were so constantly seeking to settle here, from the older states.
And what made the matter much worse, was the fact that the country was destitute of roads, and of the means of transporting provisions from abroad. Many of the early settlers brought wheat upon their backs to their families a distance of more than forty miles, with no guide through the long and tedious wilderness, except marked trees, and streams of water.
At one other period, much later than those above mentioned, this vicinity has suffered from a great scar- city of provisions, approximating toward a famine. It was in the spring and summer of the year 1817. This scarcity arose from the character of the summer sea- son of 1816, which was very cold and dry. Flakes of snow were occasionally seen falling, during all the month of June, and not a month of the whole ycar passed, without a frost more or less severe. Very few
248
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
of the farmers succeeded in ripening any corn, and the crop of all kinds of grain, if any was obtained at all, was extremely light. Pork was not properly fat- tened, for the want of food, and of potatoes there was almost no crop at all.
In the spring of 1817, wheat was sold as high as four dollars per bushel and rye at one dollar and a half less, while corn was not to be had at any price. Many families sent teams to Troy, New York, to pur- chase provisions, principally rye, while the poor, un- able to buy at such extravagant prices, suffered much for the want of good nutritious food, for at this time, with the increase of inhabitants, the abundance of game and fish to which the early settlers could resort, had very much diminished.
Of public roads in Salisbury, and the changes made in their location from time to time, it is not deemed a matter of sufficient interest to say much. It was a long time after the beginning of the settlement of the town, before its roads were very passable.
As early as the year 1775, a committee was ap- pointed by the grantees to lay out roads, but it is im- probable that any road was cut through the town, even if it had been laid out, before 1786, and after that time roads were not passable for teams of bur- den, except in the winter, for several years.
Holland Weeks made use of the creek, from Pitts-
249
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
ford to Salisbury, to move his farming implements, when he moved here in 1788.
That there was a road cut through this town, from Middlebury to Rutland, at quite an early date, and one which could be traveled on horseback, is evident from the following anecdote which Judge Painter used to relate.
When the legislature of this state was about to hold its annual session in Rutland, in the year 1786, Gov- ernor Chittenden, who at that time lived in Williston, and some others who were members of the legislature, and who lived in that vicinity, started for the scene of legislation, and as they approached Salisbury, their number having been constantly increased on the way their party amounted to about thirty.
Mr. Painter was one of the number, and a member from Middlebury. All were on horseback, and ar- rived in a body at Colonel Sawyer's, in Salisbury, who at that time kept a public-house on the spot now occupied by the store of W. Rustin and Co.
Now Col. Sawyer had in his possession a swivel, or small cannon, which had been used in the revolution- ary war; and it occurred to his boys and hired men, that it would be an honorable act in them to welcome their excellent governor with a hearty salute from this gun; so they had previously loaded it with a
250
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
heavy charge of powder and wadding, and patiently waited the arrival of his excellency and company.
The boys stationed themselves at a short distance from the house, at a point not likely to be observed by the governor or any of his company, and who, not anticipating a military salute at this time, were off their guard, and unprepared for the sudden shock which the firing of a heavy gun might produce. It probably did not occur to the boys, that firing a salute without giving notice, might create confusion and mischief among the horses, as well as their riders, and the consequence was, that one of the most ludicrous scenes occurred that had been witnessed for a long time.
The cannon was fired at the precise time the com- pany were dismounting. A few were yet seated on their horses, some were just throwing themselves out of their saddles, others were letting themselves down, resting midway, on one stirrup, while others, still, had gained the ground, with one foot, the other yet re- maining in the stirrup, when, whang! went the swivel, the sudden and astounding noise of which so startled the horses that a large majority of the com- pany were suddenly prostrated on the ground. The governor happened to be of that unfortunate number who, at the time of the salute, having one foot in the stirrup, was just reaching the ground with the other
251
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
-and none assumed the awkward horizontal position more suddenly or ungracefully than he.
But the weather was fine and the ground dry, and as no one was mudded or hurt, the whole passed off with a "hearty good laugh," that the legislature of Vermont, executive and all, had been taken down so soon after its beginning, and so suddenly, by a single gun.
After having participated bountifully in the re- freshments furnished by their host, all pushed for- ward, with good cheer, toward the place of legisla- tion.
From the time of the close of the war, to about 1789, the population of the town increased very rapidly ; many came in from the old States, and quite a number was added by the re-survey of Mid- dlebury, in 1786; for by that survey our territory was enlarged, and people originally in Middle- bury became inhabitants of Salisbury, Gamaliel Painter was among that number, and thus in fact was made the first settler within the present limits of Salisbury.
Mr. Painter pitched on the farm where William F. Goodrich now lives, and began to clear the land in 1773, one year before Mr. Graves or Mr. Story came into this town.
Benjamin Smauley, even previous to this, had 21
f
252
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
thought of taking the farm on which Mr. Painter pitched, and had cut some brush, to show a begin- ning, near the river, southeast of Mr. Goodrich's present dwelling; but not having made a survey of it, at the suggestion of Mr. Painter, he concluded to pitch west of John Chipman's, and did so, in 1773, making the creek his west line. Here he built a house and made other preparation for a future home.
As Mr. Painter's house and the greater part of his farm were brought into the present limits of Salis- bury by the re-survey, the people of this town claim- ed him as one of their inhabitants, and sent him as delegate to the State Legislature in 1787. This office he filled with his usual promptness and ability, to the general satisfaction and honor of the people.
But he never intended to live in Salisbury, and was not one of its original grantees, but was of Middle- bury, in which he often expressed the wish to spend his days.
In fact, only one of the original proprietors of Salisbury, is known to have settled in it, and that was Gilbert Everts, though Benjamin Smauley was afterward brought within its boundaries by accident.
Mr. Everts, perhaps wisely, conceived the idea that it was better to pay the Governor of New Hampshire a yearly rent for his land, than to own it in fee simple.
253
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE LAYMAN'S CHURCH.
ALTHOUGH the organization of a religious society in Salisbury, was antecedent to that of the church, it was deemed best to bring the account of it into this late chapter.
The men who made the beginning in establishing religious worship among us, were Eleazer Claghorn, Solomon Story, and Holland Weeks.
Mr. Claghorn had been here some time before the other two moved in, and had sometimes held reli- gious meetings in his house; but not at stated times, nor in the manner of any particular society.
Mr. Story, having been born and raised in a land of good habits and principles, was possessed of much practical piety, and was anxious to see those about him instructed in the ways of righteousness.
Mr. Weeks was early imbued with religious prin- ciples, and had for a long time, in his native state, been a member of the Puritan or Congregational church.
And all three were ready and anxious to establish
f
254
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
religious meetings among the settlers; and it was their desire to establish these meetings permanently, and to form an organized society which should have its regular time and place of assemblage.
A small log house, used at that time as a school- house, and standing on the spot now occupied by the stone school-house, was chosen as the place of worship of this incipient church.
The worship was so simple and barren of form, that there was no difficulty in finding persons enough to carry on its few ceremonies. Mr. Weeks had ten children, several of whom were quite good singers, and able to perform any of the parts required to be sung during the exercises.
Many circumstances combined to favor the new so- ciety, and it was not long before its meetings were carried on in the utmost good order and regularity, and most of the settlers who lived within a reasonable dis- tance soon became interested, and were found in reg- ular attendance at the return of every Sunday.
The good influences of these meetings soon became apparent in the social and moral improvement of the people. Here the settlers met each other and brought with them their children, where, at least once in each week, they could hear prayers offered, and religious duties explained. Here, once in each week, the joys and sorrows of all could be talked over, and their ne-
255
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
cessities be made known, and opportunities offered for relieving them.
These meetings were regularly carried on with a wonderful interest, for many years, and appeared to be happily adapted to the religious and social wants of the people. It is said, and probably with truth, that until 1804, some one of these three fathers of this embryonic church was present at every meeting, and conducted the religious exercises, with the excep- tion of one Sunday, when Henry Kelar read the ser- vice of the Episcopal church.
These men looked to sound religious principle as the foundation of good order; and taught, both by pre- cept and example, what they considered the correct standard of christian character. They always ob- served daily morning and evening family prayers, and were careful to instruct their children in the Bible and catechism. Claghorn and Weeks were of a business turn of mind, and ready to undertake any public en- terprise, and thus made their influence felt in favor of their religion, on a class of men who might other- wise have remained unreached. Story was better known for his pious example, and quiet reproofs and instructions. Claghorn was ambitious, and fond of office, and yet, never sought a position among his neighbors at a sacrifice of principle. Weeks was more retiring, but full of good humor and frankness, and 21*
2
.
E
256
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
was playful beyond mediocrity. He sometimes went so far in playfulness, that some persons who inclined to superstitious strictness, thought he exceeded the bounds of piety. Story, being of more serious in- clinations, rarely gave offence in any way.
As an instance of the estimate that magistrates set upon moral example, in those days, and of their duty in enforcing the laws, we might mention the fact that Mr. Claghorn, at a town meeting held March 8th, 1790, fined Nathaniel Buel two dollars for using pro- fane language on that day.
But while these men took so prominent a part in the religious and social improvements of the town, others were among us who, under the same circum- stances, would have done as much or more. Many came into town about this time, who did much to promote its interests, and to raise its social condition. Among these were Stephen Hard, Asa Lawrence, Sa- lathiel Bump and others. The tables of town officers and of responsible committees show that these men held no obscure position in the early doings of the town.
The religious meetings were particularly strength- ened and its leaders encouraged by John Holt, Esq., Smauley and Reuben Saxton, and many other pro- fessing christians, who undertook the work as if they felt its importance.
257
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
The society was also greatly favored with occasion- al lectures from Rev. Mr. Barnet, the first minister settled in Middlebury, and from Rev. Mr. Wooster, of Cornwall, also from Rev. Mr. Chittenden, an Epis- copal clergyman who occasionally came through this part of the state as a missionary from Connecticut, and also from other missionaries from the same state.
As the society increased in numbers and influence, the clergy began to take more interest in it, and the people to make greater effort to obtain preaching. Accordingly we find Rev. Mr. Parker preaching here on a few Sundays in 1790, and Rev. Elisha Mosely four or five Sundays in 1791, and in 1795 or 1796, Rev. Mr. Remilee's services engaged for three months at a time. In the winter of 1798, Rev. Mr. Randall was hired for another term of three months, and un- der his teaching an unusual interest was excited on the subject of religion, and quite a large number of persons were reclaimed from their former wickedness and led to entertain a hope in the merits of their Sa- viour.
Some of these new converts united with the Con- gregational church in Cornwall, while others joined the church in Middlebury, and others still united and formed, under the direction of Rev. Mr. Mitchell, a
.
258
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
class in Jerusalem* (a district in Leicester), which was called the Methodist Episcopal Society.
These early religious meetings were invariably held at the school-house in district No. 1, from 1789 until about the year 1800, and the services and general management of the society conducted on one uniform plan.
At the expiration of this period, it was thought that the religious interests of the town could be better promoted by holding the meetings at the school-
* This part of Leicester happened to be named Jerusalem, after this wise. Gamaliel Painter, about the year 1787, al- lowed two of his colts to run at large, and they strayed so far that one of them was lost. A few years afterward, Mr. Pain- ter one day was standing on the bank of the creek among the trees, when he overheard John Farnham, who was a very loud speaking man, and who at that time was passing down the creek on a raft of logs, tell his companion all about the loss of this colt.
Here Mr. Painter learned that Isaac Scott and Cyrus Walch, who lived in the south-westerly part of the town, had killed his colt by accident, and to prevent discovery, laid the animal upon a log-heap, and consumed it by fire.
Mr. Painter, having secured payment for the animal, de- clared that "that part of the town should hereafter be called JERUSALEM, because they had made a burnt sacrifice there, by offering up his colt on an altar made of logs."
259
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
house in the centre of the town, and accordingly the society began to assemble at that place.
In the absence of a minister, one of the leading members usually conducted the exercises, offered the prayers and read a sermon ; and perhaps more com- monly the different parts of the exercises were per- formed by different individuals at the same meeting. Holland Weeks read the sermons until Reuben Sax- ton came into town, which was in 1799. After that time, Mr. Saxton, being a good reader, having a clear voice and distinct articulation, undertook the perform- ance of this duty, which he continued to do on all necessary occasions, for the space of thirty years.
The clergy of all denominations, as they came among us, were treated with the greatest hospitality. The doors of the settlers were always open to them, and the people always glad to show their regard and high respect for the ministerial office. The ministry then commanded a more general and unreserved rev- erence, than in these later days of criticism and free speech.
The church proper, as is recorded in a previous chapter, was organized in 1804, and commenced under circumstances not the most flattering. It was organized at a private house, that of Holland Weeks, and was composed of only five male and four female members, and none of these had ever taken any active
260
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
part in matters of the town, and but one of the males had ever taken an active interest in religious meet- ings, and most of them being young, had not had the advantage of experience in church matters.
A short time after the church was formed, one of the old leaders, one Sunday, arose in meeting, and, as usual, commenced reading a psalm; about the same time, a young man who was a member of the new formed church, arose, and commenced reading ano- ther psalm, in a louder tone of voice, and continued to read, while the other, astonished and ashamed of his young brother, sat down in silence. The psalm was sung, but all the congregation was much distur- · bed, and many left the house. This little, but un- fortunate matter, caused a vast deal of subsequent trouble. It seemed to be an indication on the part of the church, that the services of the old leaders were no longer wanted in their religious meetings.
For several years previous to this the town seemed to be in a state of unusual prosperity. The contro- versy between Vermont and the claimants of New York, had been settled. The State, in 1791 had been admitted into the Union on an equal footing with her sister states. The long and tedious controversy with Leicester, had long before been brought to an amica- ble settlement, and no religious difficulties had previ- ously agitated the public mind.
261
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
But this event appeared to produce a very great and general excitement, which pervaded the entire town, and called forth a mass meeting of its inhabi- tants. At this mass meeting, the whole matter was very seriously and thoroughly discussed, and by a committee appointed for that purpose, it was reported that there ought to be a religious meeting held every Sunday, separate from the meetings of the church, whereupon Eleazer Claghorn, Holland Weeks, and Daniel Saxton, were appointed as managers, to keep alive and direct the religious meetings as had been done so many years.
These elderly men, and a great part of those who had taken the greatest interest in the religious meet- ings, could not conscientiously subscribe to all the articles of faith which had been adopted by the church ; and by the obligations of that church, every member was to give his unqualified assent and ap- proval of those articles, and govern his daily walk and conversation by them. On the other hand, the members of the church thought it unsafe and unlike a church to carry on meetings in so loose a manner, without written articles of faith or creed to guide them, and looked upon all outside their organization as heterodox, and unfit to call themselves members of Christ's church.
This unfortunate state of things brought the interests
262
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
of the church in conflict with the feelings and wishes of most people in town. Scarcely half a dozen per- sons other than the members of the church attended its meetings, while at the same time the meetings of the society were filled to overflowing.
The society now for a while held its meetings at Mr. Saxton's barn, but it was soon apparent that its increasing numbers (increased undoubtedly by the recent excitement to a certain extent,) would soon require a more commodious place of worship. Ac- cordingly a plan for a meeting-house, of sufficient size to accommodate several hundred people, was soon adopted, and pew ground sold at auction sufficient to raise the means to erect, cover and glaze the house. A building committee was appointed, consisting of Holland Weeks, Reuben Saxton and Christopher Johnson, and the house was so rapidly constructed, after the work was commenced, that it was used for holding meetings in the course of a few weeks.
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.