USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Pittsford > History of the town of Pittsford, Vt., with biographical sketches and family records > Part 30
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The following, copied from the record of the proceedings of that meeting, will show that public sentiment was divided in relation to the subject under consideration :
"Proceeded to choose a moderator, whereupon Isaac Whea- ton was appointed.
2d. Appointed G. Newell, clerk protempore.
3d. Voted that the town will not discontinue the east and west road from the village across the bridge near Isachar Johnson's .*
4th. Voted to discontinue the road leading from the road
* Isachar Johnson at this time lived on the Mead place,
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HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
passing by Robert Wright's* across the Creek intersecting the road on the west side of the Creek.
5th. Voted to appoint a committee of five to joine the selectmen to examine the best place for a road from the village to Penfield's, and appointed Thomas Hammond, Calvin Drury, Nathan Gibbs, Amos Kellogg and Thomas Adams, and make report at the next meeting.
6th. Voted not to discontinue the road and bridge from the village in Pittsford to R. Wright's by the widow Cooley's.
7th. Voted to discontinue the road from the west side of the Creek across to Thomas Hammond's house.
8th. Voted to discontinue the bridge by Capt. Allen Pen- field's as a town bridge.
9th. Voted to discontinue the bridge near Andrew Leach's house, east.
10th. Voted to recind the vote as to the bridge near widow Cooley's.
11th. Voted to recind the former vote as to the Mead bridge and the road leading thereto."
A sufficient explanation of the foregoing record will be found in the fact we have already noticed, that there were many influential men in the town who felt that there were more bridges than the public could afford to support, and accordingly, whenever one was swept away or needed extensive repairs, an effort was made to discontinue the bridge and the road leading thereto. One party would occasionally succeed in discontinuing a bridge and road, and another would resort to such expedients as would soon cause them to be legally reopened. By the eighth vote an effort was made to throw the expense of supporting the Mills bridge upon the inhabitants in that neighborhood.
" March 6th, 1827. Voted to instruct the Selectmen to
* Robert Wright at this time lived on the Abel Stevens place.
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EXTRACT FROM RECORDS.
defend the suit in court, concerning the road and bridge near Thomas Hammond's."
It will be remembered that the town voted, in 1820, to discontinue this road and bridge, and the suit referred to was brought to compel the town to reopen them.
" March 3, 1829. Chose Rev. Willard Child, Thomas H. Palmer and A. G. Dana, Superintending Committee of Schools.
Voted the above committee serve without compensation."
1
392
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
CHAPTER XI.
Immigrants or Settlers and their Locations continued ; Repairs on the Meeting House; Purchase of the East Room. 1830-1840.
Ithiel Barnes, Jr., located here in 1830. He was the son of Ithiel, was born in Pittsford, June 12, 1803, married Char- lotte Palmer of Castleton, May 13, 1830, and located on the home farm with his parents. His time was mostly devoted to farming, but being in feeble health he could never accomplish what his ambition dictated. He died August 6, 1866, and the farm is now owned by Mrs. Charlotte Barnes.
Reuben Thomas, son of Ebel, married Sophronia, daughter of James Rollins, August 1, 1830, and located on land now owned by Augustus and John Richardson. The house he occupied stood on the east side of the road, a little north of the residence of Ambrose Parmelee. He owned a small house lot only, which was purchased of Mr. Parmelee .* He died there March 9, 1850, aged fifty-three years. Mrs. Sophronia Thomas died April 7, 1823, aged forty-nine years.
Nahum Mills, son of Luke, was born in Needham, Mass., January 17, 1785, married Eliza Ballou, about 1803, and resided a short time in Newton, but returned to Needham, and from thence removed to Brandon, Vt., in the winter of 1808. On the 19th day of January, 1830, Mr. Mills bought of Samuel Fairfield the farm in Pittsford formerly owned by Anthony Butler, but now by Mr. Mills' son, Allen. He removed his family here soon after he purchased the farm, but
* It will be rememqered that this was the north part of the Cox farm, which was first improved by Joshua June, and afterwards by Jonathan Dike.
393
I. C. WHEATON-A. ANGER-O. SMITH -- J. W. SMITH.
some years afterwards returned to Brandon, where he died March 4, 1858. His widow died October 22, 1869.
Isaac C. Wheaton, born October 16, 1809, son of Isaac, married, Feb. 22, 1831, Mary A., born April 30, 1810, daugh- ter of Edward Clifford, and located on the home farm with his- aged parents. He built a large addition to the house in 1843, and improved the out-buildings and the farm. He continued to dwell there till the spring of 1868, when he sold the farm to Nathan Hand, and bought the Hammond farm, on which he now resides. During the period while the militia was organ- ized, and military drills were in vogue, he took a warm interest in sustaining them, and from a private he rose to the rank of Brigadier General.
Aaron Anger, son of Benjamin, married Eliza Luther, April 1, 1831, and resided a short time with his father, occu- pying the house now owned by Mr. Peabody, and recently occupied by John Dudley. He soon became a Baptist minister and removed from the town.
Orlin Smith, born March 14, 1807, son of Samuel, married, November, 2, 1831, Mary B. Manley, who was born in Chit- tenden, July 22, 1811. He located on the home farm now owned by William A. Wing, and he resided there till 1835, when he sold that farm to Bradley Burditt and bought the farm formerly owned by Amherst Lee, and now by David Holden. In 1837, he bought* the Richard Hendee farm (now N. Willis') and resided there till 1846, when he sold that place and bought the Owen farm,t formerly Rufus Montague's, and upon this he now resides.
John W. Smith, eldest son of Samuel, married Elvira, daughter of Solomon Hendee, September, 16, 1831, and resided with his father-in-law about five years. He then
* This was bought of James A. Potter.
t Bought of Asabel Wolcott.
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HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
bought the Lee farm, now owned by David Holden, and on this he died, Oct. 4, 1847, aged forty-three years.
Martin Leonard, born in Easton, Mass., in 1804, son of Isaac, married, December 5, 1831, Salome Manley, who was born in Pittsford in 1807. They located on the paternal homestead where they still reside.
Hiram Davis, from Chester, came here some time before he purchased real estate. He bought of William Stevens the north half of what was the home farm of his Iate father, Daniel Stevens, the other or south half being owned by his- brother Eli. This purchase consisted of about one hundred acres, and the deed, bearing date December 11, 1830, was in consideration of one thousand seven hundred dollars. In March, 1831, Mr. Davis married Ann Hubbell, of Chester, and located on the Daniel Stevens farm, occupying a part of the house. He died there about the year 1843.
Levi Woolson is of English descent. His ancestors came to this country at an early period and settled in Hopkinton, Mass. His father, Asa Woolson, was born in Townsend, Mass., married Ann Sargent and resided some years in Grafton, Vt., where he died in 1825. Mrs. Woolson died in Springfield, Vt., in 1857, aged eighty-six years. They had thirteen children. Levi, the sixth child, was born in Grafton, April 7, 1807, came to Pittsford when he was about ten years of age, and resided in the family of Thomas Burditt till he was twenty-one. He married, in 1831, Betsey. E. Thayer, who was born in Ben- nington, March 30, 1809. They located on the farm now owned by Alexander Parmelee. In 1849, Mr. Woolson bonght the land and built the house he now occupies ; and during his residence here he has worked at wagon and sleigh making. Mrs. Betsey E. Woolson died March 31, 1842. Mr. Woolson married, August 29, 1844, Elizabeth Hoar, who was born in Chester, August 28, 1822.
Ashbel Lee, Jr., born July 7, 1810, son of Ashbel, mar-
395
D. C. POWERS-R. THOMAS -N. ANDREWS-H. LEONARD.
ried, March 27, 1832, Eliza Mills, who was born February 11, 1810, and located on the farm* now owned by Marshall How- land. He removed to Castleton in 1843, where he now resides.
Daniel C. Powers, born June 29, 1805, son of Richard M., married, May 10, 1832, N. Maria Palmer, of Castleton, who was born June 26, 1810. He located an the homestead with his parents where he resided till 1837, when he built the house now owned by Jeremiah C. Powers, into which he removed. This house was built on the farm formerly owned by Samuel Kendall who sold it to Richard M. Powers, and it was, by the latter, deeded to his son Daniel C., who resided on it till about the year 1853, when he sold it to his brother, Jeremiah C. After residing a short time in Castleton. and a few months in the westerly part of this town, he removed to Danby, Illinois, where he now resides.t
Rufus Thomas, son of Ebel, married Lucina Mead, and located on the place now owned by Charles Smith. He had purchased this place of Charles Pearse, of Chittenden, but finding no copy of the deed we are unable to give its date. He resided there till about the year 1855, when he sold his place to Mr. Smith and removed to Wisconsin.
Nelson Andrews, son of Elvin, was a clothier. He was in the employment of Sturges Penfield for some time, though we do not know where he learned his trade. He married Frances Wedge, February 23, 1832, and resided some months with his parents on the farm now (1870) owned by Judson Smith. He removed from the town about the year 1835.
Hiram Leonard, born Sept. 25, 1802, son of Capen, mar- ried, November, 1832, Almira Barnard, who was born in 1805. He located on the Rawson farm which he had purchased of Timothy Lester in 1827. Having improved his early school
* This farm was a part of his father's estate which he inherited.
t Mr. Powers returned to Pittsford in 1866, and was employed here in quarrying marble, but has recently returned to his home in the West.
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HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
advantages he had obtained a good English education, and, for some years after his marriage, he taught school in winter and worked on the farm in summer. He sold the Rawson farm to S. H. and A. C. Kellogg in 1835, and bought a small place a few rods north of Mr. A. C. Kellogg's, the same year. His wife Almira died in 1837, and he married Maria Dodge, of Weybridge, March 24, 1838. He sold his last mentioned place in 1839, and soon after removed to Mill Village, bought the saw-mill which he now owns, and after renting tenements some years, built the house in which he now resides. His wife Maria died in 1862, and he married Charlotte Dodge, sister of his second wife, Sept. 21, 1863.
Thomas Mills, son of Nahum, was born in Brandon, Dec. 10, 1810, and spent his minority in that town. He married Selinda, daughter of Wright Whipple, August 25, 1832, and located on the Weller farm, on the easterly slope of the hill, west of the present residence of Allen Mills. After residing there a short time he removed to Brandon, but returned and bought a part of the Stevens farm now owned by Albert Fletcher. A few years later he sold this and purchased the David Jackson farm, a part of which is in Rutland. He had this farm of the heirs of Eleazer H. Morgan, who had pur- chased it of the heirs of Zephaniah Potter. Potter had the place of Amherst Lee, and Lee had it of David Jackson. Thomas Mills died on that farm, July 17, 1866.
The Thomas family of Pittsford is of Welsh origin. Odourdo Thomas was born in Wales, and came to this country in early life. He married Hannah Morse and located in Marlboro', Mass. They had one son, Ebel, who was born in Maalboro', in 1761. He married Persis Baldwin, who was born in Swanton, Vt., in 1774. They located in Chittenden, and had fourteen children -twelve sons, Lucas, Nathan, Reuben, Rufus, Caleb, Augustus, Jeduthan, Eber, Robert, Orin, Joel and Aaron; and two daughters, Dolly and Irena.
397
AUGUSTUS THOMAS-ORIN W. PHILLIPS-HENRY MESSER.
Ebel, the father, died in Chittenden in 1834. Persis, the mother, died in Pittsford in 1842.
Augustus Thomas, son of Ebel, was born in Chittenden, Dec. 1, 1803, and married, July 15, 1832, Rebecca Hayward, who was born in Mount Holly, Jan. 4, 1809. They located on the farm in the north part of the town, where they have ever since resided. This farm was formerly a part of the estate of Caleb Hendee, Sen., and was deeded to his son David, who built the house and resided in it a few years. Thomas McCon- nel bought the farm and sold it Rufus and Augustus Thomas, March 18, 1829. Rufus sold his undivided half to Simeon Granger & sons, on the 26th of March, 1834, and on the same day, said Granger and sons conveyed the same property by deed to Augustus Thomas.
Orin W. Phillips, son of Jacob, was born December 8, 1807, married Frances F. Clifford, March 15, 1832, and located on the home farm with his parents. The farm was afterwards divided between him and his brother Harris, but the latter sold his part to Orin W. aad removed to the West. Orin W. still occupies the farm which has been in possession of the family since the first improvements upon it by his grandfather, Anthony Phillips.
Henry Messer located here about this time. He was the son of Moses Messer who was born in Methuen, Mass., about. 1772, and married Abigail Stevens, of Killingworth, Conn., in 1792. They were married in Newport, N. H., and located in Claremont, where their first child was born. They removed to Orwell, Vt., where Mr. Messer died, after a residence in that town of twenty-one years. Mrs. Messer died in February, 1833, aged sixty-two years. They had ten children, of which Henry, the eighth, was born in 1805. He resided with his parents in Orwell until he was fifteen years of age, when he came to Pittsford to learn the trade of tanner and currier of Elijah Brown. After serving his term of apprenticeship, he
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HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
worked at shoemaking with James Gorham. In March, 1832, he bought of Dr. Dana the Graham place in the Village, now owned by J. A. Randall. He married Lydia Fenton, and not long afterwards, he demolished the old house and built the sub- stantial brick house upon its site. He worked at shoemaking in the shop now occupied by Mr. Randall. He died August 21, 1839.
Charles Thomas Colburn, became an inhabitant of this "town in 1832. He is a decendant of Moses Colburn, who was born in Massachusetts, married Betsey Peabody, and settled in Andover, where were born the following children, viz .: Stephen,* Moses, David, Jonathan, Betsey and Hannah. The father died in Sheffield, N. B., 1790; the mother died in Andover, 1763.
Stephen, the eldest son, married Ann Wasson, February 20, 1787, and located in Sheffield, N. B. Their children were John P., Susannah V., Betsey, Moses, Rebecca M., George W., Mary P., Charles T., William B. and Ann Q. The father died February 20, 1829; the mother died October 16, 1832.
Charles Thomas Colburn was born in Fredericton, N. B., October 11, 1801, adopted the trade of a blacksmith, and married, Nov. 5, 1829, Olivia L. Moulton, who was born in Castleton, October 16, 1801. They settled in Fairhaven, Vt., where they resided till 1832, in the fall of which year they removed to this town. On the 17th of October, 1833, Mr. Colburn purchased of Andrew Leach the William Orcutt place, together with the blacksmith shop, and water privilege below the bridge-the same which had been improved by Mr. Leach. He at once occupied the house and carried on black- smithing business in the old Leach shop. He continued in the same employment, till three or four years ago, when he retired for the most part from active business.
* Stephen by his wife Betsey, the other children by a second wife.
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BRADLEY BURDITT-SILOE DUNKLEE.
Bradley Burditt, born September 4, 1817, son of Thomas,, married Cynthia, daughter of Samuel Smith, in 1833, and resided two years on the home farm with his parents. He. then bought of Orlin Smith the farm next south upon which his father-in-law had resided. He occupied this farm till 1862, when he bought the Buck place in the Village and this has. since been his residence.
The Dunklee families of Pittsford were originally from. New Hampshire. Thaddeus Dunklee was born in Amherst, N. H., and married Sarah Prince, of that town, in 1774. Their children were Abel, Sarah, Abraham, Susanna, Damaris, Esther, James, Thaddeus, Joseph and Betsey. Abel, the eldest, born in Amherst, N. H., April 8, 1776, married, in 1803, Ruth Wright, who was born in Dublin in 1772. They resided a few years in Dublin, then removed to Hartford, Vt., and some time afterwards to Rutland where both died-the wife in April, 1864, the husband in December, 1867. Their children were Siloe, Mary, Lucias and Lucia (twins), Paschal, John W., Elmira, Jane, Louisa and Phebe. Siloe, the eldest, born in Dublin, January 18, 1805, married Elizabeth Booth, of Pittsford, January 16, 1827, and located in Chittenden, from which town he removed to Rutland. In 1833, he came to Pittsford and occupied the house then standing between Amos Crippen's and Samuel W. Boardman's, though he did not pur- chase the place till the 29th day of October, 1839, when he took a deed of the house* and thirty rods of land from Paschal Dunklee of Fredericktown, Ohio. He sold this place to Isaac Leonard, March 3, 1840, and on the same day bought of Ira Hitchcock the Hickockt place, on which he now resides. The house at that time was considerably dilapidated, and Mr. Dunklee removed it and built the present one upon its site in 1849. Mr. Dunklee is a cooper, and has done a large amount
* This house was demolished in 1866.
+ Oliver Hickock formerly resided on this place.
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HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
of work in this line of business. Within a few years his health has become so much impaired, that he has been com- pelled to retire from active business. His wife Elizabeth died August 9, 1864, and he married Nancy Beard, December 28, 1864.
Daniel Chaffee, son of Benjamin, married Miranda, daugh- ter of Simon Haven, February 7, 1833, and located on the home farm with his parents. He died suddenly, in the house now owned by Michael Carrigan, about the year 1839.
William C. Cotting, son of Samuel and Hannah (Coolidge) Cotting, was born in Ashburnham, Mass., in 1808, and at the age of twelve years, his parents removed to Chester, Vt., where his mother died in 1824, aged forty-five years. His father subsequently married and removed to Rutland in 1827, where, after surviving five of his eight children, he died in 1854, aged eighty-two years. The son, William C., became a cabinet- maker, and worked in Pittsford when a young man. He married Mary, daughter of Amos and Lucy Kimball, in 1833, and located in the Johnson house, now owned by Joseph Kelley. They changed locations several times, but on the 12th day of April, 1855, Mr. Cotting purchased the Andrew Leach place, and this has since been his residence. Mrs. Mary Cotting died in 1863.
Simeon Parmelee, born Feb. 19, 1807, son of Hezekiah, married, January 29, 1834, Roxana Powell, who was born in Sullivan, N. H., August 22, 1804. He had purchased of his father, on the 25th of January, 1831, the Keith place, consist- ing of a house and fifteen acres of land, the same that is now owned by William Morseman. This place was deeded to Hezekiah Parmelee by Daniel Keith, the 5th day of May, 1823. On the 10th of October, 1833, Mr. Parmelee, the younger, bought of Joel Cutler, fifteen acres, lying south of and adjoining the Dr. Deming place, then owned by his father. He located on the farm with his father, and somewhat enlarged
401
ARTHUR MILLER-LEWIS WHITE-E. L. GRANGER.
it by additional purcahse, and the most of the later improve- ments upon it are the result of his labor. He built the present house. He is a mason, and formerly devoted a large share of his time to this trade. We are informed that few men could excel him in the thoroughness and finish of his work. Within the past few years he has devoted the most of his time to farming.
Arthur Mullin is the son of William and Hannah (Haybron) Mullin, and was born in Tyrone County, Ireland, about the year 1810. He came to this country in early life, married Mary McCre, July 14, 1834, and located in Pittsford. He changed his location quite often while a citizen of the town. In 1856, he removed to the north part of Chittenden where he purchased land. He is now counted among the thrifty farmers of that town. He has raised a large family of children, and they are industrious and enterprising.
Lewis White located here in 1834. His father, Solomon White, was born in Charlestown, N. H., married Hannah Simonds, of that town, and located in Antwerp, Jefferson County, N. Y. Mrs. White died there at the age of seventy- one ; Mr. White died at the age of eighty-four. Their son Lewis was born in Antwerp, January 29, 1811, and on the 28th of October, 1834, he married Charlotte Burditt, who was born in Pittsford, April 18, 1815. Mr. White located on the Amos Crippen farm in this town, where he still resides.
Edward Livingston Granger located here in 1834. He was the youngest son of Simeon Granger, and was born April 5, 1808. He married, January 6, 1834, Mary W., daughter of Elijah Brown, and located in Furnace Village, occupying the cottage in which his older brother, Chester, had before resided. He was engaged in operating the furnace, of which he was a joint owner with his brother Chester. He was active, shrewd in business, and under his management the furnace property was very productive, and yielded the proprietors large profits.
27
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HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
He died, after a short illness, Dec. 1, 1846, leaving his heirs considerable property. Mrs. Mary W. Granger afterwards married B. F. Winslow, Esq.
Newell Leonard, son of Isaac, married Clarissa Cutler, March 24, 1835, and located on what was a part of the John Miller place, where he now resides. The house he occupies was built only a short time before he married. The farm he cultivates was purchased in small portions, at different times, a part being taken from the Derby place, and a part from other adjoining lots.
Luther Nourse, son of Ebenezer, was born in Fitzwilliam, N. H., July 16, 1787, married Lucy Davis, of that town, in 1812, and resided on the home farm with his parents until 1825, when he removed to Albany, Vt. He afterwards removed to Canada, and from thence, in 1835, to Pittsford. He resided some time in the Nixon house, from which he removed to the Wright farm, a little south of Lewis White's, and ín 1850, he and his son Joel bought the place now owned by Jeduthan Thomas. A few years later Joel sold his share of the property to his brother William, who married and resided there with his father till 1863, when they sold the place. After residing two years at Mill Village, and one at Center Rutland, they removed to Fairhaven, where the father died in 1868.
Deming Gorham became a citizen of this town in 1835. He was a son of Seth Gorham, who was born in Fairfield, Conn., married Millacent Dunks, and located in Poultney, Vt., where were born the following children, viz .: Betsey, Barlow, Eli, Deming, Judson, Alonzo and Laura. Deming, the third son, was born June 6, 1789, and married, February 11, 1808, Sabra Gates, who was born in Rutland, August 22, 1790. They located in West Rutland where they resided till 1835, when Mr. Gorham bought the Abel Stevens farm in Pittsford, and immediately came here with. his family. This farm had,
403
SAMUEL MEAD-JOSEPH KELLEY.
but a short time before, been owned and occupied by Robert Wright, Mr. Gorham improved the farm and buildings, and in 1856, he built the cottage a little east of the old mansion. In this he died, Nov. 14, 1861. Mrs. Sabra Gorham died June 23, 1869.
Samuel Mead settled here in 1835. He was the son of Samuel Mead who was the son of John, and was born in this town, November 27, 1808. June 3, 1835, he married Solana Chaffee, who was born in Chittenden, December 23, 1810. Mr. Mead located on the home farm with his parents-the same farm which is now owned by John McCail. After residing there some years he removed to a house near the Furnace, where he died July 2, 1858. Mrs. Mead now resides in Hitchcockville.
Joseph Kelley became a citizen of Pittsford in 1835. His grandfather, Joseph Kelley, was born in Swansea, Mass., Sep- tember 14, 1719, and married Lydia Buffum who was born in Salem, Mass., July 12, 1721. They located in Smithfield, R. I., and had the following children, viz .: Hannah, Benjamin, Joseph Daniel, David, Betsey, Micajah, Hopestill, Lydia and Elipha- let. Lydia, the mother, died in Smithfield, October 23, 1802. Joseph, the father, died in Wallingford, Vt., Sept. 11, 1817.
Eliphalet, the youngest child, was born November 28, 1766, and married Prudence Matthewson, who was born in Glouces- ter, October 14, 1770. They also located in Smithfield and had the following children, viz .: Azel, David, Joseph, George W., Hannah, Daniel, Timothy, Lydia, Anna and Amy. Mrs. Kelley died Jan. 23, 1835. Mr. Kelley died June 23, 1850.
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