USA > Vermont > Addison County > Cornwall > History of the town of Cornwall, Vermont > Part 6
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IIc was connected with the army, in the revolutionary war, but in what capacity, or for how long a period, cannot now be ascer- tained. It is known that he was one of the prisoners on board the notorious Jersey Prison Ship, and that by an iron constitution, he was sustained through suffering which proved fatal to most of his companions.
The following incident related to me by his son Norman B. Slade, proves that in this case, as in others not unfrequently occur- ring, a stern exterior covered a warm heart. Some years before Esq. Slade's deccase, he had occasion to go to New Hampshire, and he took his son, then about sixteen years old, to drive his team and be his companion. His business being accomplished, he inform- ed his son that some miles aside from their course returning, there lived one of his fellow sufferers in the Prison Ship, whom he could not allow himself to pass without an interview. Accordingly as they neared his house and drove into the yard, he saw his old friend, attended also by a son, engaged in some employment. They at once recognized and embraced each other, with emotions too strong for utterance ; and hand in hand went into the house in silence. The recollection of their former sufferings, so far overcame them as to render both incapable of uttering a word. They stood mutely clasping each other's hands, until the young men had cared for the horses and entered the house, when the son of the host introduced the strangers to his mother, and explained the mystery.
Esq. Slade was a man of public spirit. He was also an earnest [wlitician-an especially firm supporter of the opinions and micas- ures of Madison in reference to the war of 1812.
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Another incident in his history, a topic of much comment and excitement at the time, may interest the reader.
It is a fact well known, that during the war of 1812, many who were opposed to it, and cared more about the gains of traffic than the support of non-intercourse laws, were engaged in smuggling goods from Canada. As the penalty, in case of the detection of the operators, was the loss of their goods and the confiscation of their teams, of which custom-house officers enjoyed a liberal share, the prospective gains of the employment induced many active par- tisans of the administration, actuated, perhaps, as much by the love of money as of country, to obtain commissions as deputy collectors of customs. Among these the subject of this sketch was specially active, incited, no doubt, in part by his earnest political zeal.
The more effectually to check the transit of contraband goods, he stretched strong chains across the highway during the night, just south of his house, confident that they would arrest the progress of passers by, until they might be visited and examined. But
" The best laid schemes of mice and men Gang oft agley,"
Certain men not having the fear of the administration or its sup- porters before their eyes, improved the hours of a dark night to detach the chains from their fastenings, and remove them to a rocky pasture south-east of the house, where they concealed them in a convenient crevice of the rock. Search for them was unavailing, and in the midst of many hard words, and more hard feelings, one young man was charged with the theft; was arrested and brought to trial. Much eloquence was expended in depicting the heinous guilt of endeavors to defraud the revenue, and, in so doing, to render aid and comfort to the enemy, for the purpose of private gain. The trial resulted in the young man's acquittal. But no one in the secret disclosed the whereabouts of the chains, until the owner had ceased to expect their recovery. After the war closed, and with it, further occasion for their use in the collection of rev- enue, an anonymous letter informed the owner where he might find them, securely concealed on his own premises.
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Another incident in Esquire Slade's history may interest the reader.
It once happened that his haying, which was usually done up with tolerable promptness, was in arrears, and a twenty acre field of grass remained uncut, after the hay on adjacent farins had been generally secured. A company of his neighbors, mostly young men, partly for a frolic, and partly perhaps, as a reproof for his supposed slackness, concerted a plan to go in the night and quietly mow the field, leaving before the light of the morning should reveal their doings. They went, and before the break of day the work was done. As they were about retiring, confident of the surprise their night's employment would occasion, they unexpectedly met Esq. Slade, who instead of manifesting anger, blandly said : "Gentle- men, I have been a witness of your industry, and I thank you for your assistance. Now, as you have done me a favor unsolicited, I claim the privilege of asking of you a favor in return. I have had prepared as good a breakfast as my house can furnish ; it is now. ready, and I insist on your going in to enjoy it with me." His kindness overcame all scruples, and they accepted his invitation .- While at the table, he further said : " Gentlemen, the grass which your generosity has cut, must be taken care of, and to each of you who will remain and assist in this work, I will pay a silver dollar at the close of the day"-an offer of remuneration which at that period was attractive. A sufficient number remained, and the hay was secured. I have this narrative from the late Jehial Scarls, who was one of the company.
The dwelling of Esq. Slade was the birth place of Rev. Henry N. Hudson, who was graduated at Middlebury College in 1840 .- Esq. Slade died in 1826, aged 73 years.
On the farm west of Esq. Slade's upon which Mrs. . Sher- wood now lives, Jesse Chipman settled in 1783 or '84. I have already had occasion to notice a pitch of Jesse Chipman in 1774, in the north part of the town, adjoining Aaron Scott, on which he probably did not settle, or if he commenced improvements, he did not return to them after the war. IIe remained in Cornwall till 1804, when he sold to Ethan A. Sherwood, Esq., whose residence
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is still occupied by his widow, and by his youngest daughter, Mrs. Joseph Dagget and her family.
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In 1783 James and Nathan Campbell settled upon a lot which is embraced in what has been since known as the Benjamin Stevens farm. They each built a log house, -- the former on the south cor- ner formed by the main road and that leading to "Stockwell's Cor- ner," now West Cornwall; the latter on the cast side of the main road, some thirty rods further south. They sold to Mr. Stevens in 1793, and removed from town.
The site on which James Campbell built, known from that cir- cumstance as "Campbell's Corner," was afterwards occupied by Dr. Solomon Foot, who came to Cornwall in 1792. Previous to his location there, Dr. Foot had been several years devoted to profes- sional practice, remaining in the meantime unmarried. After his marriage in 1798, he purchased of Stephen A. Tambling a small farm on the south side of the road to West Cornwall, on which he lived a short time. But for his greater convenience as a physician, he removed to Campbell's Corner, where he continued to reside until his removal from town. This was the birth-place of Hon. Solomon Foot, and of Jonathan Foot, M. D. To the father and the sons, we shall have occasion to allude-to the former as one of the professional men of Cornwall- to the latter as natives who have entered professional life, with honor to the town that gave them birth, and to the professions they have severally espoused.
I take pleasure in acknowledging here, my obligations to Orin Field, Esq., for many of the following facts respecting. the location of the first settlers in the south and south-west parts of the town. The memory of Maj. Field reaches back to most of the early set- tlers, and his taste for such researches renders his statements reliable.
Near the site on which Benjamin Stevens built his house, now occupied by Major Orin and his son Benj. S. Field, Stephen Tam- bling owned a fifty-eight acre lot, which he conveyed to Mr. Ste- vens about the time of his purchase from the Campbells. Mr. Stevens came to Cornwall from Pittsford, in Rutland County. He
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fra had been subjected to a painful captivity in Canada, of three years continuance, of which Maj. Field, who was an inmate of his family, ichti and often heard the story from Mr. Stevens himself, related the Ins Following account, as furnished to Judge Swift, for the History of Addison County :
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" He was captured with three others, in a boat on Lake Cham- plain, near Split Rock, in May, 1779. Being pursued by tories and Indians from the shore, and one of the men, Jonathan Rowley, being killed by a shot from the pursuers, they surrendered. Stevens was then seventeen years old, and resided in Rutland County. The prisoners were taken to Chamblee, thrust into a small prison, ironed two together, and fed for nine days on no other food than dry peas uncooked. From thence they were taken to Quebec, where Mr. Ste- vens spent three New Years' days in one room. Twice they made their escape, and after traveling a long time in a destitute and suf- fering condition -- at one time in the dead of winter, and a part of the time living on roots and the bark of trees, until one of the party died-they were retaken and recommitted; and in June, 1782, were exchanged at Whitehall." Mr. Stevens died June 16, 1815, aged 53 years.
About sixty rods south of Mr. Stevens' house, Wait Squier set- tled and built on the east side of the road, at a very early day, but in 1793 sold to Mr. Stevens and removed to New Haven. During his brief residence in town, Mr. Squier was an able and efficient promoter of the public good, and in his removal, the loss of Corn- wall was to New Haven the gain of a staid and valuable citizen. Ile lived to advanced age. He was the father, and this was the birth-place of Rev. Miles P. Squier, who was born about two years before his father's removal.
On the west side of the road opposite Wait Squier, Timothy Squier settled on the farm now owned by Abijah Stearns, and built on the rising ground some sixty rods south-west of the present build- ings. Still further south, on the west side of the road, Solomon Plumb settled on the farm since known as . the Abbot farm, now owned by Sherwood Sawyer. On this farm was born Chauncey Abbot, Esq., now of Madison, Wisconsin.
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On the farm recently owned by Eli Stevens, deceased, Shadrach Norton settled in 1784, having pitched a part of his lot, and pur- chased a part of it of Archippus Blodget. The farm was subse- quently owned by Warner Gibbs, Simeon Wright and Jonathan " Wright, and is now owned by the heirs of Eli Stevens. .
In the war of 1812, Simeon Wright held a Captain's commission, and was in service during the war.
Benjamin Hall bought of Joseph Plumb, and settled in 1787 on the farm next south, since owned by Reuben D. Hall, Amos East- man, Zimri Pond, and now by the heirs of Eli Stevens. This was the residence, during his childhood and youth, of Rev. George C. V. Eastman.
Upon the next farm still further south, from which the dwelling. house has been removed, Barzillai Stickney settled in 1784, having purchased in part of Gamaliel Painter, who had received from the proprietors, the donation of a lot of one hundred acres for services performed in their behalf. This farm has since been owned by Henry Gibbs, James Rockwell, and now belongs to the heirs of Eli Stevens. Mr. Stickney was the first Constable of Cornwall, chosen at the organization of the town.
On the farm owned by Benjamin Atwood and his sons Amos and John C., Daniel Scovel from Cornwall, Conn, settled in 1784, hay- ing purchased in part of Archippus Blodget. Daniel Scovel was the father of Rev. Ezra Scovel, who was born on this spot. The west part of the farm, after the death of Mr. Scovel in 1813, was, for many years, owned by the late Joseph Thompson, whose dwell- ing soon after his decease was burned. On the same site John C. Atwood has recently erected a cottage. Mr. Thompson was the father of Gilbert T. Thompson, and of Strong Thompson, Esq., mentioned in another connection as professional men.
Ezra Scovel, brother of Daniel, settled probably the same year, on the farm now owned and occupied by his son, Horace G. Scovel. Here was born Ezra Scovel Jr., who became a physician, and received an appointment as surgeon in the army.
Eastward from Ezra Scovel, and near the swamp, a pitch was made and a log cabin erected by David B. Woodruff, of which the
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traces are still visible. This he sold in 1794 to Lemuel Chapman who settled upon it and there lived a few years.
South of Ezra Scovel, James Marsh Douglass, also from Corn- wall, Conn., settled in 1784, on a farm containing some five hun- dred aeres or more. He probably came to Cornwall carlier, without his family, as we find among the surveys an allusion to a survey for him in 1776. . Ile evilently intended that his sons should be settled about him, but had hardly completed his arrangements to that end, when he was stricken down by death in 1790. His farm was divided among his sons. Elias settled on that part of it on which the father lived, now owned by Eli Stevens Jr. The first cabin of James Marsh Douglass was situated on the high ground west of Stevens. Col. Benajah Douglass settled on that part of the farin now occupied by his widow, Mrs. Betsey Douglass, and her son, Nelson B. Douglass, Esq. Col. Douglass had a fondness for military service, and was esteemed as a military officer. He kept a tavern several years before his decease. Ile was the father of James Marsh Douglass, Esq., of Brunswick, Missouri.
A portion of the original Douglass pitch was also owned by John and Burnham, brothers of Elias and Benajah. Their land composes in part the farm for a time occupied by Harvey Pritchard, and now by Chesterfield Hooker, Esq. Another portion was owned by Stephen Blake, a tanner, and is now owned by Asa Bond.
. Major Field informs me that he used to see in the family of Mrs. Douglass, a mortar for pounding corn, or converting it into meal, when no mill was accessible nearer than Pittsford or Ticonderoga. This implement, which was long preserved as a curiosity, was made of a, log about three feet in length, by burning a hollow in the end large enough to hold three or four quarts. The pestle was a billet of wood about four or five inches in diameter, with a handle in the middle, so that it might be used with power. I recollect to have scen, in early life, one or two mortars similarly made.
South of the Douglass pitch Eliakim Mallory surveyed one hun- Ared acres, which was afterward owned by Nathaniel Johnson, Lemuel Chapman, Wm. Pitt Abbot, Elisha Field, and is now owned
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by Douglass E. Searl, and William P. Dewey. This lot lics on the town line.
West of Mallory's pitch, Elisha Field sen., bought a hundred acre lot of Eldad Andrus, and built a log house upon it in 1783. Mr. Field was born in Amherst, Mass., in 1717; re- moved to Bennington in 1763, and thence to Cornwall in 1782. At his death in 1791, he was seventy-three years old, and has now living one hundred and twenty-one descendants. After his decease the farm passed into the hands of his son, Dea. Asahel Field, and is now owned by Chesterfield Hooker, who married one of his daughters.
Elisha Field Jr., the father of Orin Field, Esq., settled in 1790, on the farm now owned by Wm. P. Dewey, near the school house, and died in 1852, aged 88. He resided at the time of his deccase, with his son, Liman Field, on the farm now occupied by Douglass E. Searl. Soon after his decease the dwelling was burned, but has been rebuilt by Mr. Searl.
North of the Field farm, Ebenezer Newell owned a lot which he sold in part to Richard Miner, and in part to Harvey Bell, a cloth dresser by trade, who afterward removed to Middlebury, and estab- lished himself in that business. Ifc at length engaged in keeping the principal hotel in that place, and was thus employed at the time of his death. When he removed from town, his land passed to David B. Woodruff, and from him to Richard Miner, who was suc- ceeded by his son Hiram ; the lot now being owned by the family of Pomeroy Searl, who, in the spring of 1860, was killed at Syra- cuse, on the New York Central Railroad. This was the birth-placo of Dr. Burrill Miner.
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CHAPTER IX.
LOCATION OF SETTLERS CONTINUED-DAVID NUTTING -- ISRAEL C. JANES-DEA. HORACE JANES-BEZALEEL RICHARDSON-NATHAN AND ABISHA DELANO-LEMUEL CHAPMAN -- WM. PECK-REUBEN PECK -- JOHN BALLARD -- RIVERIUS NEWELL-BENJ. REEVE --- WAIT WOOSTER - ELI STONE - DANIEL SAMSON-JACOB PECK- CORY MEAD-REUBEN BINGHAM-BENJ. SANFORD-DEA. JAMES PARKER -- NATHANIEL COGSWELL -- ISAAC HULL -- JOSHUA STOCK- WELL - NATHANIEL BLANCHARD - JOSEPH COGSWELL-ABIJAH DAVIS -- MATTHEW PARKER -- STEPHEN A. TAMBLING -- ROSWELL POST-BENJ. ATWOOD-SANBORN BEAN -- WM. SAMSON-EBENEZER , SQUIER -- HENRY GIBBS-DAVID SPERRY.
West of Asahel Field's farm, Capt. David Nutting settled on a hundred acre lot in 1784, which he bought of Nathan Foot sen. This lot lies on the south line of the town, and was afterward own- ed by Araunah Hill, Titus Hill, and is now owned by George W. Griswold.
West of the lands of James Marsh Douglass, Israel C. Janes was the first settler. He was born in Brimfield, Mass., Oct. 25, 1760, and came to Cornwall in 1787. He spent his life upon the farm on which he first settled. In connection with the cultivation of his farm, which was quite extended, he was engaged a number of years, in the mercantile business, and was probably the first mer-
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chant in town. He was connected with the army during the revo- lution, and belonged to the garrison at Ticonderoga when it was surrendered to Burgoyne. He was on picket duty whon the fort was evacuated, and as the commanding officer in his hurry neglected to call in his sentinels, they were obliged to seek safety cach in bis own way. Mr. Janes flod when he discovered his peril, and having been so fortunate as to secure a passage across the Lake, was fol- lowed as were other fugitives as far as Hubbardton. Mr. Janes was a man of energy and sound judgment, and was an active citizen, until deafness compelled him to decline participation in public affairs,
After his decease in 1847, at the age of 87, his farm passed into the hands of his son, Dea. Horace Janes, and is now owned by his grandson, Dea. Champion M. Janes.
A passing tribute to Dea. Horace Janes will be regarded as appro- priate by all who were acquainted with bis virtues. The esteem in which he was held by his fellow-citizens, is manifest in the fre- quency with which they called him to places of responsibility. He was often one of the selectmen ; often served on important com- mittees, and repeatedly represented the town in the General Assem- bly of the State. All felt that he was above craft or disguise. As a member and officer of the Church, he was equally an object of confidence. Meek, gentle and unassuming, he evulently sought not the honor which cometh from man, but that which cometh from God. Men rarely have fewer enemies; none more deservedly enjoy the affection of friends. He died in 1852, aged 63 years.
West of the Ilill farm, Bezaleel Richardson settled on a fifty acre lot, now owned by Dea. Benjamin Casey. A portion of Dea. Casey's farm was once owned by Nathan Eells, who purchased of Nathan Delano in 1780.
Lemuel Chapman, who owned and lived upon several different lots, once owned a small lot west of Dea. Casey, on the north side of the road. This lot was afterward owned a short time by . Dea. Janes ; Nathaniel Cogswell also lived a short period on a small aljoining lot, which, like the preceding, has since been divided and annexedl to adjacent farms. Next north of this, Abisha Delano settled on a lot which now belongs to the heirs of Wm. Peck.
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West of the Delano lot, Benj. Stevens bought one hundred acres in 1792, and soll it the same year to Reuben Peck, who had pre- viously settled on a smaller lot adjoining which he bought of Wm. Samson in 1738. Mr. Peck remained on this farm until his decease in 1847, at the age of 88 years. The farm is now occupied by his son, Romeo Peck.
North of this farm, John Ballard was an early settler on a small lot. Ile kept a store, and in connection, as was common in those days, manufactured potash. In 1790 he sold to Riverius Newell, who had previously bought a lot of Israel C. Janes on the east side of the north and south road, and another lot of fifty acres of Jacob Pock. Newell was a blacksmith, and lived where Capt. Alanson Peck now lives.
Lieut. Benjamin Reeve, a brother of the late Hon. Tappan Reeve, of Litchfield, Conn., built where William Atwood now lives. He was an officer in the revolutionary army, and held a Lieutenant's commission at the surrender of Burgoyne. Ile was highly esteem- ed by his neighbors for his intelligence and his inexhaustable fund of humor. His family consisted of one son and eight daughters who were married and settled in life. He used to say in a playful way, that " the Lord never gave any man eight daughters better suited to make good wives." Since his death, his farm has been owned by his son, Erastus Reeve, Joshua Stockwell, Benj. F. Haskell and William Atwood, already named.
Wait Wooster settled on the farm west of Reuben Peck, now owned by his son, Abel J. Wooster ; and Eli Stone settled on the farm still further west, now owned by Dorastus J. Wooster.
North of the Reeve farm on the west side of the road, Deacon Daniel Samson settled on a small lot, which he managed in con- ner tion with his trade, shoemaking .. He was born in Newburyport, Mass., Nov. 10th, 1758; lived in his youth at Londonderry, N. II., and removed to Cornwall in 1785. During his residence in town He was a rare example of all the Christian graces. In 1832, he re- moved to Barre. N. Y., where he died in 1842. His son, the late IIon. Ashley Samson, of Rochester, N. Y., prepared the following obit- uary, which was published in the N. Y. Observer, and Evangelist :
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"A REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER.
" Died in Barre, Orleans County, N. Y., on the 28th of May last, Dea. Daniel Samson, formerly of Cornwall, Addison County, Vt., in his Sith year.
" The deceased was a revolutionary soldier in the cause of the Redeemer. He removed to Cornwall when the country was & wilderness ; was one of the founders of the Congregational Church in that town ; for fifty-seven years was a consistent professor of re- ligion, and officiated as a deacon more than fifty years. In his de- portment and character, he was a rare specimen of patriarchal sim -. plicity. With no very remarkable endowments by nature or edu- cation, he nevertheless as a christian, exerted an extensive influence. The Bible was his daily companion, and his soul was deeply imbued with its spirit. A firm believer in the doctrines of grace as taught by the reformers; in his spirit he was remarkably catholic. He loved all, and his charity embraced all who bore the image of his Savior. Social and affectionate in his disposition ; his conversation abounded in anecdote, and was eminently scriptural and spiritual .-- It was his habit to spiritualize the most common occurrences of life. His acquaintance was extensively cultivated not only by private christians, but by ministers of the Gospel. His admoni- tions and reproofs, though frequent and faithful, were tempered with so much kindness and meekness, that they seldom or never gave offence.
" The writer knew him intimately for more than forty-five years, and is not aware that he ever had an enemy. He was eminently a man of prayer. In this exercise, he was wont to pour out his whole soul in strains of fervent pathos, which often melted the hearts of his hearers. In the benevolent operations of the day, and especially in the cause of foreign missions, he took a deep and increasing interest, sympathizing with the missionaries in all their labors and trials. It is believed that he read every line of the Missionary Herald from its commencement until his death. He lived to see all his children hopefully converted to God. For sev- eral years past, having withdrawn from the world in his thoughts, bis affections and prospects, he evidently lived much more in
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Leaven than upon earth. Yet few men formed so humble an esti- mate of themselves. Ilis common remark was, "In mc there is nothing but sin." He had long contemplated his departure, and by the grace of God was ready. On the day of his death, after a short walk, he complained of fatigue; spoke as he often did of his speedy departure ; alluded to Whitefield, whom in his childhood ho knew, and repeated the following lines of a hymn which was sung at Whitefield's funeral, at which he was present :
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