USA > Vermont > Addison County > Middlebury > History of the town of Middlebury, in the county of Addison, Vermont > Part 16
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The first child born in town, as Miss Torrance thinks, was with them on the raft. This was Hannah Bentley, the only infant among fifteen or sixteen children, and of course much noticed among them, Mr. Slasson, whose child is said by Dr. Merrill to
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have been the first born in town, lived in the immediate neighbor- hood of the Torrance family, after they came to town, and she is certain had no child born there.
The first school house was built of logs, before the retreat of the settlers on " Tallow Hill," on the road leading from the poor house to Jonathan Seeley's. Eunice Keep; daughter of Samuel Keep, the first clerk of the proprietors, was brought from Crown Point, where the family then resided, to teach in it. She had commenced her school, but left on the alarm. Miss Torrance had not begun to attend. After their return, a school, the second in town, was kept by Mrs. Torrance, in their own neighborhood.
Some kinds of provisions were left concealed by the inhabitants, on their retreat. Sugar and flour, left by her family, she says, were taken from their storage, under the floor and consumed. Their pewter, and other articles, buried for safe keeping, were also taken up and appropriated. The house itself suffered no injury, except, as she thinks, from a party of immigrants, who had it for a shelter some cold nights, and took a board from the chamber floor for kindling wood. Otherwise they found it as they left it.
The Story and Smalley families remained through the war. Mrs. Story's cave, on the bank of the creek in Salisbury, Miss Torrence supposed to have been intended for a storehouse for goods only, rather than for the concealment of individuals. Mrs. Smalley told her of a visit from a scouting party of the enemy, chiefly Indians. An Indian took a milk-skimmer she was using and put it in his bosom. On which she complained to the commander, who compelled him to restore it. A part of the Foot family staid at John Foot's to secure the crops. They visited her mother's garden after the family had gone and found the melons ripened by thousands. Thus far Miss Torrance.
It is represented by all, that the flight of the inhabitants was sudden and made in great haste. It was the common practice to dig into the ground, and conceal such articles as they could not carry with them. The family of Daniel Foot, before they left, dug into the ground, in a thick hemlock grove, and built a large crib with poles, into which they put a half barrel of soap, such
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part of the furniture and other articles as they were compelled to leave, covered the crib with plank, and on the top of the whole piled hemlock branches, so as to resemble a large brush heap. On their return, after the war, they found their soap and other articles uninjured. Mr. Allen Foot, a grandson of Daniel Foot, has now in his possession a chest, which was thus preserved. A case of drawers, preserved in the same way, still remains in the possession of some of the relatives.
Mrs. Loomis, daughter of Col. John Chipman and wife of Horace Loomis Esq., of Burlington, represents, that her family fled in great haste, and, like the other inhabitants, buried such articles of value, as they could not in their haste take with them. She showed us a small looking glass, which was thus preserved. The frame was rotted off, and it has since been put into a rough frame, apparently " whittled out " with a jack knife.
William Douglass, before he left, concealed the family articles in the same way, but his family not returning until after he was killed, the place of deposit was never discovered by them.
While the British had control of the lake, probably in 1777, foraging and scouting parties, composed chiefly of Indians, made excursions into the several towns, appropriating to themselves such moveable property, as suited them belonging to those, who had left, or in the possession of those who remained. Daniel Foot had re- mained for some time after the settlers had generally left. A British party sent out to obtain supplies, came upon him, seized and drove off his oxen, while he kept out of the way to avoid being captured. Other similar depredations were made. Several other persons remained in the different towns, without other molestation, until the fall of 1778.
In the fall of that year, two British vessels came up the lake with troops, designed it was said, to march upon Rutland ; but being, in some way, thwarted in their purpose, the troops consisting of British, tories and Indians, were landed on both sides of the lake, and spread themselves, in scouting parties, over the whole region, where settlers had located themselves. They destroyed all the buildings and other property they could find, and made prisoners
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of all the men, who had had the temerity to remain, and sent them to Canada. In Middlebury, the whole population by this time had retreated, and none were taken prisoners. But all the buildings in the town were destroyed, except the houses of Joshua Hyde, Bill Thayer and Robert Torrance, in the same neighborhood, in the south part of the town, to which probably their excursion did not extend. The frame of a barn of Col. John Chipman, recently built of green timber, which they could neither burn or chop down, also escaped. It is still standing on the farm of Jonathan Seeley, with marks of the hatchets on its timbers.
Judge Painter, although driven from his home, like the others, did not immediately leave the State, but remained for a time to watch the movements of the enemy, as well as of the New York claimants, and to aid by his co-operation and advice, in measures to thwart the purposes of both. He was acquainted with Ethan Allen, in Salis- bury, the common residence of both, before either came into Ver- mont, and was intimately associated with him, Seth Warner and Remembrance Baker in their movements. He did not leave the State, until the British forces under Burgoyne, had obtained such extensive and dangerous control over all Western Vermont, that he was forced for safety to cross the mountain by Onion River, and went south on the east side of the State. While living, he related to his friends many anecdotes of his adventures ; but many of them are forgotten, especially in their dates and details. He was inti- mate with Hon. Horatio Seymour, in the later period of his life, and freely communicated to him many of the events of his life. Mr. Seymour relates the following :
While the British were in possession of Crown Point, probably in 1777, Judge Painter, in a feigned character, several times visited that post as a spy, to ascertain the condition and plans of the Brit- ish troops. The last time he went, he feigned the character of a half idiot, and took with him a basket, with a little butter and a few eggs, and other small articles to sell to the soldiers. He pre- tended to belong to a family of poor settlers, who needed the pro- ceeds of his articles for their support, as was indicated by his own dress. The under officers had been charged to arrest every suspi-
:
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cious person, who appeared, and bring him before the commanding officer. When Painter arrived at Chimney Point opposite the fort, and had made known his wishes, he was put into a boat with some British officers and soldiers, as he supposed, to go to the fort. When he went on board, he threw himself down on the boat, and began to examine his articles for sale, and talk with himself about his treas- ures, and to calculate the proceeds of his traffic. His articles were kept in separate parcels, and, as he was soliloquizing, he said, this butter is mother's, so many pounds at such a price will bring so much ; these eggs are sister Susey's, so many and I shall get so much money for Susey. It is claimed only, that this is the char- acter and purport of his words. Instead of going directly to the fort, he soon discovered, that the boat was directed towards a vessel lying in the lake, on which the superior officers were, and where they were taking him for examination. He became alarmed. He was then in the power of the enemy, and it would be easy for them to prove that the history he had given of himself was false. But he continued his soliloquy and feigned manners. After a time, one of the officers watching him said to another,-" This is a perfect idiot, it is not best for us to take him up there. I should be ashamed to take such a fellow there." The other officer assented to this view, and after a further consultation, they directed to change the course of the boat for the fort. After going on shore, Painter finished his traffic with the soldiers as soon as possible, and left them with a determination never to put himself in so hazardous a position again.
The following anecdote is recorded chiefly because it illustrates the character of Judge Painter, as well as that of the times, in which he lived. Having occasion to go the south,-probably when he attended the convention in Dorset, in July 1776,-he passed through Clarendon. Here was located a nest of tories. As he was drawing near he met two or three men on horseback, whom he sus- pected to be of that class. In order to avoid a suspicion of his own character, he inquired of them, " Can you tell me where Esq. S- lives ?" as though he was his friend. This Esq. S- was the leader of the tories, and his house their place of rendezvous. The men
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gave him the information asked of them and he passed on unmo- lested.
Judge Painter was a delegate from Middlebury to a convention of members from the west side of the mountain. The convention was called by a circular sent to the several towns, to consider the delicate and difficult position of the. "New Hampshire Grants." The congress of the United States had made their declaration of in- dependence, and left the Grants without any government, except by submission to the government of New York, to which that body had advised, and to which the Green Mountain Boys made a deter- mined opposition. The convention was held at Dorset, on the 24th of July 1776, and adjourned to the 25th of September following. At this time delegates were present from both sides of the mountain, and it was "resolved to take measures, as soon as may be, to declare the New Hampshire Grants a free and separate district." Judge Painter was also a member of the convention, on the 2d of July 1777, which formed the constitution of the State.
In the revolutionary war, he "held a captain's commission and served in the quartermaster's department." We have no details of his service.
Col. John Chipman was also extensively engaged in the war of the revolution. We copy the following summary of his services from a paper left by him in his own hand writing, and preserved by his daughter, Mrs. Loomis.
"I turned out the commencement of the war, as a volunteer with Colonel Ethan Allen, in the spring of 1775, to take Ticonderoga and Crown Point. In May or June I received a second lieutenant's commission in Capt. Grant's company, Colonel Seth Warner's regi- ment, went into Canada, was at the taking of St. Johns and Mon- treal; was discharged at Montreal, and returned home the first part of December. In the summer of 1776, I received a first lieuten- ant's commission, in Capt. Smith's company, Seth Warner's regi- ment, and joined the army at Ticonderoga, in March 1777. I was in the retreat with the army, and was in the battle of Hubbardton. I was also in the battle of Bennington so called, on the 16th of August of that year, and was at Saratoga at the taking of Bur-
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY. 189
goyne in October. We were ordered to Fort Edward and Fort George in 1778 and 1779. I was promoted to a captain, and served in that capacity until October 1780, when I was taken prisoner, at Fort George. I remained in this situation until the summer of 1781, when I was exchanged and remained a supernumerary until the close of the war."
Col. Chipman had the command of Fort Edward and Fort George successively, and was in command of the latter, at the time of the capture of the garrison. Not suspecting the enemy was in the neighborhood, he had sent out a large portion of his troops, on scouting parties, which left him a force of only sixty or seventy men. In this condition he found himself surrounded by an overwhelming force and the garrison was forced to surrender. After he was ex- changed in 1781 he was raised to the rank of major. While he was in the command of these forts, in a comparatively settled state, Mrs. Chipman remained with him. After the close of the war, Col. Chipman retained in his possession the orderly book, containing a a record of general orders, court martials and other proceedings of the garrison, and when he was appointed clerk of the proprietors, the book, not being filled up, was used by him for the record of surveys. After his death, Mrs. Loomis, understanding the fact, procured that part containing the proprietors' records to be taken out and re-bound, leaving the orderly book by itself, which she still retains. This she kindly showed us, and we regret that we had not time more thoroughly to examine it. Among the records was an order for a court-martial, signed by Col. Warner, supposed to be in his own hand-writing.
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CHAPTER V.
RETURN OF SETTLERS- SMALLEY- THIAYER - JONA. CHIPMAN == TORRANCE-COL. CHIPMAN-FOOT FAMILY.
AFTER the war had closed in 1783, the former settlers gradually returned to their possessions in Middlebury. Benjamin Smalley, Bill Thayer and Jonathan Chipman returned with their families in April of that year, and took possession of the lands they had left. Joshua Hyde came also himself, and labored that season on the land he had before occupied, leaving his family in Salisbury until the following year, and during the time boarded in the family of of Bill Thayer. Daniel Foot came also with his sons Philip, Freeman, Martin, Stillman and John, leaving his wife behind until the next year.
In the year 1784, Gamaliel Painter, John Chipman and Robert Torrance returned with their families and resumed possession of the lands, from which they had fled at the commencement of the war.
Bill Thayer continued his possession of that part of the Slasson pitch on which he had before settled, and occupied that and home lot 34, adjoining it, as his farm until 1793, when he sold it to Eber Evarts. About that time he removed to New Haven and settled on a farm on New Haven River.
Jonathan Chipman continued on the farm on which he first settled until January 1790, when he sold it to Col. Chipman and left town.
Benjamin Smalley, on his two hundred acre pitch, which he still occupied as his home farm, soon replaced his log cabin with a comfortable frame house. His first wife, Martha Smalley, died in September 1792, and he was afterwards married to widow Story.
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so celebrated in history and romance, the early death of whose husband had left her to contend with the perils of the wilderness and war alone. She survived her new husband and was afterwards married, in the old age of both, to Capt. Stephen Goodrich. Mr. Smalley, in 1792 deeded to his son Imri a part of his farm, includ- ing his house and other buildings, and in 1794 the remainder to his son Alfred Smalley. The father continued to reside with his son Imri until his death, which occurred in 1807, at the age of 82 years. His son continued to occupy the premises for several years and then removed to the west. William Huntington suc- ceeded him, and he was succeeded by Michael Sanders. The farm is now owned by Michael Ryan, a son-in-law of Mr. Sanders. In 1803 the share of Alfred Smalley was purchased by Peter Foster, a respectable citizen and active christain, who resided on it in a one story house until his death. He died of the prevailing epidemic in December 1812, at the age of fifty-one years. His son, Col. Nathaniel Foster, succeeded him in the possession for several years. Mr. Sanders afterwards owning this lot, built the present large two story house. It is now owned by Gen. Nash, of New Haven.
Robert Torrance renewed his residence on home lot No. 33, where he had made a beginning before the war. Here he built the brick house, which is still standing, which he continued to occupy until his death in 1816, at the age of eighty. His daughters, Olive and Molly, and his grand son, Orleans Torrance continued the possession. The daughters have both died, Olive in 1850, at the age of 84, and Molly May 13, 1857, aged 76, and the grand son alone remains. The northern of his three lots was set off to his son Silas Torrance, and had not been cleared until about the year 1828, when Noah Stearns commenced a clearing and settlement on the west half, and Justus Hier on the east half. The whole is now owned by Chester Fenn, or his son James Fenn, both of whom reside on it. Of the return of Mr. Torrance and other reminis- cences of his daughter Olive, we continue her statement made to- Mr. Battell. At the time of their return she was the eldest of the children. They drove from Salisbury seven cows and ten sheep. They came in a sleigh and were six days in making the journey,
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stopping one at Richmond. At Pittsford they took the creek, and reached home at night.
Miss Torrance was now old enough intelligently to witness and appreciate the commencement of society in a new world. Other families had returned, and the settlers began to enjoy that Arcadian period in their history, when they have an abundance and all are upon the same level, and constitute one family. Religious services were held on the Sabbath at Jonathan Chipman's, and Mr. Chip- man and Benjamin Smalley made the prayers, and Col. John Chipman read the sermon. Mr. Collins was the first preacher, and after him a Mr. Bliss.
In the time of harvest, all the neighbors united and assisted each other in the labor of getting it in. They met at the place appointed, and the women came with them. While the men were employed in the field, gathering the crops, the women were engaged in pre- paring the feast for dinner, and spreading it out on the long board table, around which men and women gathered to satisfy their appetites from its abundance, when they all departed without spending the evening. They had no spirits in their harvests, but used beer. And Miss Torrance says, " we had a quiet township of people till Jabez Rogers built his still house." After awhile the gaieties of the new country commenced, and at the balls, which were occasionally held, the young people, from the whole region around, were collected, especially in Court time.
Miss Torrance, at the time of this communication, had in her possession, the first table made in town of the description above mentioned. It was made for Miss Melissa Stevens, daughter of Capt. Stevens, then about to be married. When she removed from town, Mr. Torrance bought it and left it to her.
The mother of Miss Torrance died in 1798, and her father in 1816. At the time of this communication the two daughters and grand son constituted the family and occupied the homestead. "The farm consisted originally of three hundred acres; but part having been set off to the sons, only 140 acres remained. The land Miss Torrance says, is good, but an orchard never succeeded on it. She and her sister Rhoda spun thirty-nine runs of yarn at eight
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ยท pence a run, and bought thirty-nine apple trees at the same price, but only one of them lived. Her father said the land would never bear an orchard, on this intervale. They had, she said, enough and wanted no more to take care of.
Mr. Torrance was a worthy and honest man, was out in various capacities in the French war, and it is supposed, with the Green Mountain Boys under Ethan Allen. They were probably acquainted before they came to this country, for they were special friends in after life, and had exchanged guns and powder flasks. "The former," Mr. Battell says, " I saw, which the good ladies preserve with religious care-a long duck piece, hanging up loaded in a spirit not unworthy of a token of the hero of the Grants."
Joshua Hyde having purchased of James Owen his fifty acres on the Slasson pitch, lying west of and adjoining home lots 35 and 36, which he also owned, settled on these a year or two after the war, and occupied them as his home farm. On the Slasson pitch, he built the two story house still standing, and resided in it until his death, which took place in the year 1828, at the age of seventy- eight. After his death, his son Joshua Hyde, Jun., who had always resided with him, continued in possession until his death in 1848, at the age of seventy-five. After that event, Luman Hyde, his son, continued in possession until recently he sold it to Hiram Sessions, who has now the possession.
Oliver Hyde, another son of Joshua Hyde, Jun., about the year 1831, received a deed of one hundred acres of the Skeel pitch, and for the accommodation of his residence, purchased of Mr. Cham- plin a small piece from home lot 38, on the east side of the road opposite his farm, and built there a house, in which he resided until within a short time he has sold his farm to his brother Luman, who is now in possession of it. It was on this lot, that Joshua Hyde, senior, first settled in 1774, and the foundation of his house is still to be seen there.
Joshua Hyde, senior, was one of the most prominent and useful citizens in Middlebury. While he was in active life, and even until an advanced age, no man occupied so often the office of selectman and other places of trust in the town; and no man better understood
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the prudential and financial interests of the town, or more faithfully and economically managed them. Ile was, for several years, elected a representative in the legislature.
Simeon Chandler, after the war, resumed his possession of home lots 37 and 38, on which he had before settled, and continued to reside on this farm, until he sold to Joshua Hyde in 1798 the west end of both lots, and removed to the north part of the State. Mr. Hyde gave this land to Paul Champlin, Esq., who married his daughter. Mr. Champlin continued to occupy it until his death, which took place in 1853, at the age of seventy-nine. It is still the residence of his widow, to whom we are indebted for several facts relating to the early settlement.
Col. John Chipman, after his return, went to work in earnest for the improvement of his farm, and soon his fertile fields were cleared and produced an abundance of the comforts and even luxuries of life. IIe built on the ground, where his first cabin stood, a hand- some brick house, in which he resided with his family many years. His house was opened for the entertainment of travellers coming into the country, and being four or five miles distant, was often the resort of parties from the village at the falls. The smooth road on the bank of the creek, lined on both sides with forest trees and shrubs, and the hospitable dwelling and inmates at the end, rendered . it a favorite ride, especially for the young, and was, not inappropri- ately, called " Love Lane."
Col. Chipman was a prompt, active and efficient man, of com- manding person and address, with talents and manners, which pecu- liarly fitted him for an executive officer. . He was elected sheriff of the County for twelve years, from 1789 to 1801. He was also much of the time moderator of town meetings, and selectman and held other offices of trust in town. He continued in possession of his farm, until the marriage of his daughter, Mary Chipman, who had been the light and life of his dwelling, to Horace Loomis, Esq., of Burlington, in 1805, and the death of his wife in 1810, at the age of fifty-eight, left him alone. In his advanced age, he made his home in the family of Freedom Loomis and his son George C. Loomis, in the neighborhood of his farm. He died in 1829 at the age
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of eighty-four years. The farm was afterwards purchased by William Y. Ripley, Esq. While in his possession, the brick house built by Col. Chipman was burnt, and he erected the present handsome house, with its appendages. Mr. Ripley afterwards removed to Rutland, where he still resides. It is now occupied by Mr. Jonathan Seeley. Mrs. Julia C. R. Dorr, daughter of Mr. Ripley, has made this res- idence and neighborhood the scene of her well written novel, " Farmingdale."
Col. Chipman's family was connected with several others, which are more or less noticed in our history ; some account of which we propose to place together here to save the necessity of a more distinct notice elsewhere. Col. Chipman's father was John Chipman, who was a brother of Thomas Chipman an original proprietor, of Jona- than Chipman an early settler, and of Samuel Chipman, the father of Hon. Daniel Chipman. Col. Chipman's father died early, leav- ing two sons, John and Thomas and three daughters, Mrs. Vic- toria Painter, first wife of Judge Painter, Mrs. Swetland mother of William Swetland, Esq. of Plattsburgh, and Mrs. Mary Vanduzer, wife of Abraham Vanduzer. Thomas Chipman, brother of John, in 1784, settled on a 100 acre pitch of his brother, directly south of the latter's farm. lle continued to occupy this farm until 1815, when he sold it and moved out of the State. It is now owned by Locklin Wainwright. The former two story house built by Chip- man was burnt, and has been re-built by Mr. Wainwright.
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