USA > Vermont > Addison County > Cornwall > History of the town of Cornwall, Vermont > Part 26
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For two bridges only, viz. : for that across the Fair and that over the Beaver Brook near the saw mill, now owned by Garrison Foot, have the town have had occasion to make very large appropriations. To these we find frequent allusions on the records, as demanding expenditure of money either for construction or repairs. As early as December 1785, a vote was passed, making an appropriation "to build a bridge over Lemon Fair, to be paid by the first day of April next, in wheat or work, wheat at 5s per bushel, and work at 3s. and Gd. per day finding themselves." This vote was reconsid- ered, but what further action was had about this time we are not informed. The next action recorded was a tax of two cents on a dollar, on the list of 1799, "to be paid in cattle by the
* The name of this stream is said to be a contraction of "lamentable affair," an ex- pression used with reference to a disaster which, at an early day, occurred to a traveler at a time of high water.
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first day of October next, and if it is not paid by the time, to be paid in wheat or corn by the first day of January next, for the purpose of building Lemon Fair bridge, and other town charges." In Nov. 1814, the town were again called upon to act in reference to this bridge, and they appointed a committee of six to examine the bridge, and report to a subsequent meeting, their opinion in regard to re-building or repairing it. The committee reported Decem- ber 2nd, and another smaller committee was appointed with instruc- tions to build or repair as they should judge most conducive to the interests of the town. At the same time a tax of two cents on a dollar on the list of 1814, was assessed for the expense, and for other town charges. In October 1818 the subject of the bridge over the Fair was again presented to the town as requiring attention ; with what results we are not informed.
In 1823, the question was again discussed by the town whether a new bridge should be built over the Fair, and decided in the af- firmative. At the same time a tax of three cents on a dollar of the list of 1823, was voted, and a committee appointed to superin- tend its expenditure, in erecting the bridge and doing some repairs on the road which about this time had been re-surveyed as a County road from Middlebury to Lake Champlain. In 1834, the town again voted an appropriation for repairs. With occasional expendi- tures for repairs, the bridge was kept in passable condition until 1855, when it was rebuilt by order of the town, under the direction of the selectmen, at an expense of $2700. It is one hundred and fifty feet long and was intended to be a single self-supporting span ; and being built of the best materials, and well covered, it ought to be a permanent structure.
The bridge near Foot's saw-mill has called for occasional expen- ditures from an early date, and though for many years a safe and commodious viaduct, until weakened by age and use, it was rebuilt during the year 1861, in a form, it is to be hoped, still more du- rable, at an expense of $1000. Several other bridges over the same stream have sometimes required repairs involving considerable expense, owing to freshets occasioned by sudden and powerful rains, or the sudden melting of snows.
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CHAPTER XXX.
MISCELLANEOUS - PLACES FOR HOLDING TOWN MEETINGS-TOWN SIGN POST -- BURYING GROUNDS - KEEPING SATURDAY EVENING, ETC .- COMPENSATION FOR SERVICES RENDERED TO THE TOWN --- POST OFFICES -- POSTMASTERS - CAVE OF MRS. STORY -INDIAN RELICS.
The Proprietors' meetings were held at such places as conven- ience dictated without any regard to centrality ; while the town meetings were held in early times as near the centre as circumstan- ces allowed. The places most commonly designated in the warn- ings, previously to the erection of the first meeting house, were the dwellings of Samuel Benton ; his successor, Jeremiah Rockwell, and of Joel Linsly in cold weather, and their respective barns in
warm weather. After the erection of the first meeting house this was used for the purpose. After the erection of the Congregational meeting-house on its present site, it also was used for town meet- ings, no other provision having been made until 1832, when the town voted to hold its meetings at the Baptist meeting-house -- an arrangement which continued until 1836, when the town decided thereafter to hold the meetings half the time at the vestry or lecture room. Since 1836, the meetings have been held in these localities in alternate years.
After the fashion of Connecticut, the fathers ordered the erection of a "Sign Post " in a central position, on which warnings for town meetings and notices of other public gatherings, advertise-
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ments, Sheriff's sales, auctions, &c., might be posted. The post was constructed with a capital projecting on all sides so as to pro- tect from the weather whatever papers were fastened upon it. The first sign post was placed by vote of the town in 1785, "near Joel Linsly's, by the pound." In 1787 the town voted that it should be removed " where Samuel Benton and Joel Linsly shall agree." They agreed, it appears, to place it on the north and south road, opposite the east and west road to David Parkill's. This was a convenient location, as it was near Col. Benton's house and barn, where the public meetings were much beld; and here it continued till 1793, when, in consequence of the completion of the meeting- house near the present school house No. 2, it was removed to that vicinity. Here it remained till 1805, when the selectmen were ordered to remove it to the common south of the present meeting- house. A solid, square oak post, with a massive projecting cap, it is doubtless well remembered by many who, as men or boys, were wont to visit that common on training and other public occasions.
In 1799, application was made to the town for leave "to set up the innoculation for small pox." The town voted "that any Doctor be allowed to set up the innoculation for the small pox, under such regulations and instructions as the selectmen shall think proper." A similar request in 1802 was denied.
The first Burying Ground laid out by the town was that near the Congregational meeting-house. The vote respecting it was passed at the second town meeting, October 12, 1784 : - " That Stephen Tambling, Jared Abernathy and William Slade, be chosen a committee to lay out a burying place as near the middle of the town as may be convenient." At an adjourned meeting November 3, it was voted "that a burying ground be laid opposite, west of the three mile tree, where Joel Linsly and the committee appointed for the purpose, shall agree." October 25, 1785, it was voted " to purchase two acres of land of Joel Linsly, for a burying yard, at thirty-five shillings per acre." In reference to this ground, the following action was taken in November 1792 :
" Voted, that the selectmen are hereby instructed to procure the burying yard near Esq. Linsly's, decently fenced, and the surface
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of the ground cleared and leveled ; all the graves rendered eligible by some coarse monuments.
" That they endeavor to have it done this fall, or early next spring, and that they do it by contract with any person or persons, who may thereafter receive the benefit of the ground, or otherwise, as they shall judge proper, provided it be not at the expense of the town.'
In March 1812, the town voted an appropriation of twelve dol- lars to purchase of Roswell Post, the burying ground west of the Baptist meeting-house.
In 1820, the town also purchased of Asahel Field, the burying ground in District No. 4. The price is not named in the records, nor so far as I have discovered, is there any mention of the time or mode of procuring the burying ground near the Fair bridge. The probability is that this ground was selected and appropriated for this use, at a much carlier date than either of the two last men- tioned, by the settlers in the vicinity, without any call upon the town. Here it will be remembered, was erected a log meeting- house in 1792, in which preaching was kept up for several years, by Elder Ephraim Sawyer. Probably this ground was devoted to this use at that time.
Most of the first settlers of Cornwall, following the usage to which they had been accustomed, practiced the "keeping" of Saturday evening as a part of the Sabbath. While there was & general, though not entire uniformity in this practice, there were some who were peculiarly rigid in their adherence to it. The set- ting of the Saturday's sun introduced holy time, and there were those among the fathers who would as soon have profaned by labor the hours usually devoted to Sabbath worship, as those of the evening preceding. Such remembered the Sabbath :- its approach was borne in mind, and labor was planned with reference to it. Labor which might not be performed on the Sabbath, was not com- menced at such a period of the week, that its completion would encroach on the evening of Saturday, or its prosecution was sus- pended before the advent of holy time. The affairs of the house- hold were all arranged, that the family as the sun sunk below the horizon, could enter upon duties appropriate to the Sabbath.
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Is must, however, be admitted that but few comparatively, were thus mindful of the approach of sacred time. Too many in early times, as now, who professed to regard the Sabbath as commencing with Saturday evening, allowed secular labors sadly to encroach upon the confines of holy time. There is unquestionably growing lax- ness in this matter. And whether attributable to convenience, or to an increasing conviction that, as to its beginning and ending, the Sabbath should be reckoned like other days, the community seem fast verging to that conclusion. Should this conviction become general, would that corresponding practice may also become gen- eral, that the Sabbath may not be robbed of both its extremes, while its remaining hours are profaned, or but indifferently ob- served.
It was the common practice till after the close of Mr. Bushnell's ministry, for members of the congregation, in cases of severe sick- ness, to ask public prayer in behalf of the sufferers ; in cases of bereavement, to ask prayers that afflictions might be sanctified ; in cases of special mercies received, publicly to return thanks-a practice which might profitably be perpetuated.
It was the uniform practice of the Congregational Church and society to stand during the prayers of public worship. The prac- tice continued until the settlement of Mr. Miner, when in accord- ance with a usage which at that time became prevalent, the con- gregation adopted the practice of sitting in the exercise. Of this Mr. Bushnell decidedly disapproved, though he conformed to it, that he might not appear singular. In reference to it he once remarked - " It is the laziest, most irreverent and indecent posture in which a sinner ever sought a favor from his Creator."
It may interest the reader to be informed of the remuneration furnished by the town for services performed in its behalf. In 1784 the first vote in relation to this matter was :- " To give the select- men for their services done for the town, five shillings per day, and Mr. Bingham six, when he carries his compass." Other allusions are found to the same topic, from which we learn that the town at different periods, allowed the select men from four to five shillings a day, and to men who labored on the highway from three shillings
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to three and sixpence a day, the laborer boarding himself. To form a correct idea of this compensation, it is needful that we compare the value of money at that period with its present value.
It was for many years the usage in Cornwall, for the selectmen to serve a formal warning upon every now comer, to leave town. The warning was in form as follows :
STATE OF VERMONT, Addison County, ss. 1
To either of the Constables of Cornwall,
GREETING : You are hereby required to summon now residing in Cornwall, to depart said town. Hercof fail not, but of this precept and your doings thereon, make due return according to law.
Given under our hands, at Cornwall, this day of A. D.
Selectmen.
The officer made his return in an equally formal manner, en- dorsed upon the warning, to be recorded with it by the Town Clerk.
These warnings cover many pages of the records, and exhibit commendable vigilance on the part of the selectmen to guard the town against liability for the support of the persons named, if they should by any change of circumstances, become paupers. I do not notice any of these we:nings of a later date than 1817.
Our fathers were troubled with some guests which are not accus- tomed to visit their children. In 1789, they voted "to pay four dollars for every grown wolf caught and killed in this town, and half the sum for a whelp."
As late as 1824, the people of Cornwall, though living upon & principal mail route, were not favored with a Post Office, but were obliged to receive their letters front adjacent towns. That year an office was established, and Chauncey II. Stowell was appointed postmaster, and continued to hold the position until 1883, when Samuel Everts was appointed, who held the office the next twelve years. Chauncey H. Stowell was now re-appointed, and officiated a few years. The office has since been held for short periods by
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Charles Merrill, Rev. G. W. Noyes, Calvin N. Lewis and Loyal L. Wright, who, during the year 1861, resigned the place, and Mr. Everts was re-appointed in accordance with a unanimous request of the town at the annual March meeting. Several years since, a Post Office was established at West Cornwall, and Benj. F. Haskell was appointed postmaster and still retains the place.
Quite in the southeastern part of Cornwall, on the shore of Otter Creek, was the opening in the bank, alluded to by D. P. Thompson in one of his romances, and familiarly known as the cave of Mrs. Story, a resident of Salisbury. The history of the cave is given by Rev. Dr. Merrill in his Semi-Centennial Discourse, who had his · information from a son-in-law of Mrs. Story, and in the History of Salisbury by Mr. Weeks, who lived in the vicinity and was very familiar with the locality.
I copy the facts as related by these writers. Dr. Merrill says :
" Mr. Story had not brought his family to Salisbury at the time of his death. His wife, Hannah, however after his decease removed to thezlot on which he had made a beginning. It being inconve- nient for her and one or two neighboring families to leave this part of the country, at the time the inhabitants generally withdrew, they conceived themselves in great danger of being surprised in the night, and perhaps carried captive by the Indians. As a means of security, they dug horizontally into the bank of Otter Creek, just above the water, a passage sufficient to admit one person to creep in at a time : and at a place where the roots of the trees would hold the superincumbent earth, and prevent its falling. After entering the bank a short distance, they made a place large enough to ac- commodate, during a night, the members of the families concerned in the enterprise. They probably made a small orifice over head to ventilate their subterranean dormitory. To rentler themselves, and their boat too, more secure, they made the entrance into the cave deeper, extending on one side so far below the surface of the water, that the boat itself, when its precious burden was prostrate, would go quite into the cave. After this, the ingress and egress was chiefly, perhaps solely, by the boat. There is no report that their apartment was furnished with any rich decorations. Their
boat, however, carried them in great plenty of straw, on which as a substitute for beds, they reclined safely and quietly in their clothes. They further used the precaution to cut bushes, and from the boat as they passed in or out, to place or stick them in the
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Water, in a manner that would give them, for the day or night, the same appearance as the bushes contiguous, and thus prevent those who navigated the Creek, from perceiving the orifice, or cherishing any suspicion of a retreat. They inhabited the cave but a few days. It was merely their retreat for spending the night more se- curely, till they could make arrangements for leaving the country. What a train of evils attend a state of war ! Who without agony can think of
" ' Lawless chiefs,' whose laurels bloomed, And wantoned in the widow's flowing tears, Their guilty joys bought with mankind's distress."
Mr. Weeks adds, " there have been many idle and fanciful ru- mors circulated in regard to Mrs. Story's cave .---- In fact it was designed only for a temporary retreat, for the better security of its occupants, while they secured their crops, and probably was in ex- istence only one year, for there was nothing to support its top ex- cent the roots of trees standing about it, and without much doubt the whole fell in at the next overflow of the Creek after it was made.
" The place where the excavation was made, has never been dis- turbed by the plow, and no freshet has here materially changed the bank of the creek, so that the remains of the cave are yet visi- ble, and quite clearly show every important feature as described by Mrs. Story.
" It should be added that great sagacity and judgment were ex- ercised, not only in making this cave, and using it when made, but also in the selection of the location of it, for it was located on the west side of the eresk, where there was little or no travel, and where, ( since the log house in which most of their work was done, was on the east side ) no trail would be made by their frequent en- trance. It was also located at a bend in the creek, where those who navigated its waters would invaribly near the opposite shore to save distance, and as the shore at this place is bold, nearly to & perpendicular, the dirt taken out in the excavation, settled down beneath the water entirely out of sight."
Mr. Weeks further informs us that Mrs. Story's retreat was discovered by a tory, in consequence of the crying of an infant, whose mother, captured by the Indians, had been abandoned by them because she was unable to travel, and was kindly cared for by Mrs. Story and taken to her subterranean abode. After its discov- ery the cave was no more used.
Numerous Indian relics are found in different localities in
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town, showing conclusively that our richest grounds were once the abode of the savage. Discoveries of these articles by several gentle- men, were by them communicated to Judge Swift for his history of Addison County. Their statements, as perspicuously related by the Judge, may be appropriately transferred to these pages.
" Rufus Mead, Esq., editor of the Middlebury Register, states, that on the farm on which his father lived, and his grandfather was an early settler, in the west part of Cornwall, have been found large numbers of arrow and spear-heads, from two to five inches in length, and, among them, stone chips, worked off in the construc- tion of arrow-beads, and many imperfect arrow heads, apparently made by unskillful artists, or spoiled in the manufacture ; that at every ploughing for many years, these relics have been thrown up. This locality is 'near a spring, and on ground sloping to Lemon Fair Flats. On this slope for some distance, the land is springy, and on several of the neighboring farms, similar relics are found. In that neighborhood was also found a stone gouge, in the regular shape of that tool, six or eight inches long, and two and a half inches wide. This tool Mr. Mead thinks, was used for dig- ging out their canoes, the wood being first burnt and charred by fire. The arrows, he says, were of flint partly light and partly black ; and he is confident they were made of materials which are not found in this country. Otter Creek and Lemon Fair which empties into it, are navigable for small boats from the head of the falls at Vergennes to this place.
" Deacon Warner states, that on his farm first settled by Benja- min Hamlin, were found, at an carly day, a great variety of In- dian relics. arrow-heads, spear-heads, and other implements" of which he does not know the use; also chippings and fragments of stone, made in the construction of the articles, and defective and broken implements. Some of the articles were made of flint stone, and some, designed for ornament, of slate. This locality is on a rise of ground near a Beaver Brook and Beaver Meadow. The brook empties into Lemon Fair, and is navigable for small boats from that stream, except in dry weather.
" About three quarters of a mile from the above, on the same Beaver Brook, and on the farm of Ira Hamlin, is found similar evidence of the manufacture of Indian relies, among other things, gouges, chisels and arrows, of three or four different kinds of stone. This statement was received from Mr. Hamlin and com- municated to us, with specimens of the manufacture, by Rufus Mead, Esq., who was also personally acquainted with the locality, and generally with the facts.
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" Major Orin Field, states that on his farm, on the road leading south from the Congregational Church, scattered arrow-heads have been frequently found, and Judge Tilden says, that on his farm not far distant, similar discoveries have been made. Major Field also says that on the same farm, then owned by Benjamin Stevens, he was shown by Mr. Stevens, in 1807, what was regarded as the foundation of an Indian's wigwam or hut. It was a ridge of earth, about six inches high, in a square shape, the sides of which were eight or twelve feet long, the ridge running all around except the east end where was a vacant space, apparently designed for a door way. The earth was thrown up to form the ridge on the out- side. The ridges have now disappeared.
" Major Field also says, that on the farm of his father, on which his grandfather was an early settler, in a burying ground on sandy land, in digging a grave in 1802, there were thrown up In- dian relics, of the same size and shape, and in the form of a heart, about five inches long and three wide at the top. A smooth and straight hole, one half inch in diameter, was bored through the length, the exterior surface being swollen to accommodate the hole. The sides were worked to an edge.
" Austin Dana, Esq., states that on his farm, which borders on Lemon Fair, he has often ploughed up large numbers of points from one and a half to seven inches long, all which he thinks were designed for arrow-heads, intended for shooting animals of different sizes, together with some which were broken, and a stone gouge eight or ten inches long, in the proper shape of that instrument. Pieces of the arrow-heads he has often used for gun flints. He has also found, at three different springs on his farm, as many different . pavements of stone, designed and used for fires in their huts, which have evident marks of the effects of fire. They are made of cob- ble-stones pounded down and made level and solid like a pavement, six or seven feet in diameter. Ile says also, that on several farms lying north of his, he has seen hearths formed in the same way and obviously for the same purpose. These are always on the border of the Fair, or of brooks running from the hills into it.
"Jesse Ellsworth. Esq., states that on his farm, near Lemon Fair, on low ground he has often found arrow and spear-heads, and a pestle. Some of the spear and arrow-heads are grey and others black."
The writer will add that upon the farm on which he now lives, and on the adjoining farms, it was in his childhood, very common for arrow-points to be turned up by the plough, especially on low grounds.
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CHAPTER XXXI.
SOCIAL CHARACTER AND SPIRIT OF THE SETTLERS-USAGES OF THE PEOPLE IN CHOICE OF TOWN OFFICERS ~ REPRESENTATIVES - SELECTMEN-HAYWARDS-INTEMPERANCE ; ITS VICTIMS.
We have already had occasion to notice in our account of the "pitches" of the first settlers, the places of their birth, and whence they emigrated. Whatever may be said of the origin of the early settlers of this town may with equal propriety, be said of many other towns of Vermont, especially of those portions of it which were first settled. They were in large proportion from Litchfield County, Connecticut. In reference to the agency of that County in shaping the character and destinies of Vermont, Judge Church remarks in his Centennial Address, delivered a few years since :
" The spirit of emigration, that same Anglo-Saxon temperament which brought our ancestors into the country, and which constantly pushes forward to the trial of unknown fortune, began its manifes- tations before the Revolution, and sought its gratification first in Vermont. Vermont is the child of Litchfield County. We gave to her her first Governor, and three Governors besides ; as many as three Senators in Congress, and also many of her most efficient founders and early distinguished citizens, -- Chittendens, Allens, Galushas, Chipmans, Skinner and others. The attitude assumed by Vermont in the early stages of the Revolutionary war, in re- spect to Canada on the north and the threatening States of New York and New Hampshire on either side, was peculiar and delicate, and demanded the most adroit policy to secure her purpose of in-
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