USA > Vermont > Windham County > Rockingham > History of the town of Rockingham, Vermont, including the villages of Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Rockingham, Cambridgeport and Bartonsville, 1753-1907, with family genealogies > Part 3
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Name of "Rockingham" Chosen
not a man of marked talent but had great political power on account of his wealth and family connection. Under his administration the stamp act, which became so distasteful to American colonists, was repealed. The same name was applied to many divisions of the American colonies and has been perpetuated in nearly every state of the present Union, as one eminently honorable and distinguished.
Charters were granted other towns in this vicinity by Governor Wentworth, worded similarly to that of Rocking- ham, as follows : Walpole, February 13, 1752; Westmin- ster, November 9, 1752, (first chartered by the governor of Massachusetts under the name of "Number One" in 1735) ; Keene, April 11, 1753 ; Brattleboro, December 26, 1753; Chester, February 22, 1754 (the original name being Flamstead) ; Grafton, April 8, 1754 (original name Thom- linson) ; and Springfield, August 20, 1761. Charlestown was originally chartered by Massachusetts as "Number Four " in 1735.
Until March 5, 1740, all the territory upon both sides of the Connecticut river as far north as the south side of Ascut- ney mountain was a part of the Province of Massachusetts. On that date the state line of Massachusetts was fixed at about its present location, the survey being made the follow- ing year. From that time until January 15, 1777, Rock- ingham, as well as all that is now the state of Vermont, was a part of the province of New Hampshire, although the right to the same territory was disputed by New York. From that date until February 18, 1791, when she was admitted into the Union, Vermont was a sovereign state, without ties to other states or nations, governing herself, coining her own money, issuing her own paper money, having a complete postal system under a postmaster general, and enjoying all the privileges of an independent nationality. During a portion of this time forty-five New Hampshire towns east of the Connecticut river were also included in Vermont territory ; among them Charlestown, Walpole, Westmoreland and Hinsdale. In October, 1781, the Legislature of Vermont met in Charles- 3
I8
History of Rockingham
town, N. H. The March, 1780, session of Vermont Legisla- ture was held in Westminster.
By the first county divisions of what is now know as Vermont, the town of Rockingham was a part of Cumber- land county, which comprised all the territory in Vermont east of the Green Mountains. In 1766 Chester was made the shire town of this great county. Later Cumberland county was divided to comprise what is now Windham and Wind- sor counties, and Westminster was made the shire town, May 26, 1772. In 1778 the present bounds of Windham county were established, Westminster remaining the shire town until 1787, when the county buildings were removed to Newfane, where they have since remained.
During these changes the settlers of Rockingham took their full share of all the burdens and responsibilities of gov- ernment, and to the wisdom of her citizens of the period of the Revolution and the few succeeding years was due in a large measure the safe riding of the commonwealth into the haven of the Union. The history of the early Indian times, as well as that of each of the wars of our nation, shows the citizens of Rockingham to have been foremost in defending their rights by arms, while many have gone out from among us to lay down their lives upon the altar of liberty. Many eminent citizens who have achieved national fame and renown have pointed back to Rockingham as their birth- place, or at some time have been sheltered within her borders by the Connecticut, pointing with pride to the fact that they once called it their home.
Benjamin Bellows is credited with the title of " Founder " of the town of Walpole, N. II. He can rightfully have the same title from Rockingham as it was through his efforts that the above charter was granted to this town. Although he never lived here, he was intimately connected with all the affairs of early years and had a large influence. It was left to Col. Bellows to name the proprietors. It was necessary to secure a large number, many more than had any intention of becoming actual settlers, so Col. Bellows probably put in the
From Nature and on Stone by Mrs. Webber.
BELLOWS FALLS FROM THE SOUTH, IN IS33. (Mrs. Dr. Samuel Webber of Charlestown, N. H.)
Who the Proprietors Were 19
names of relatives and friends, largely residents of. Lunenburg, Lancaster and Groton, Mass., and that vicinity. Some of these had already become settlers in Charlestown, N. H. He used the names of prominent people interested with him in settling other frontier towns, like the Willards, for instance. Col. Josiah Willard, Sr., was Col. Bellows' half brother, they having the same mother, Dorcas Cutler (Willard) Bellows. The Wetherbes are an example of his use of the names of women and minor children. Mrs. Johanna Wetherbe was his sister and was wife of Capt. Ephraim Wetherbe, an original settler of Charlestown, N. H., under the Massachusetts grant, which was later confirmed by Governor Wentworth. Abijah, Jonathan and Samuel were her children and small boys when Rockingham was granted. In the division of lands among the different proprietors Col. Bellows drew many lots on the rights of his relatives and personal friends.
At this time only the following of the Rockingham proprietors have been definitely traced.
JOIIN ARMS, was born in Deerfield, Mass., 1722, and died in 1770. He was a settler of Brattleboro, its first postmaster and for many years hotel proprietor there. He was sheriff of Cumberland county, 1756 to 1769, and a major in the army 1766. A son-in-law of Colonel Josiah Willard. BENJAMIN BELLOWS, was born in 1712 and died in 1777. He was the founder of Walpole, N. H., in 1752, and procured the charter for Rockingham. He was the most influential citizen in all this locality. For him the village of Bellows Falls was named.
PETER BELLOWS, was born in 1739, and died in 1825. Was a son of Colonel Benjamin Bellows and came from Lunenburg, Mass., with his father in 1753. He settled later in Charlestown, N. H.
JONATHAN BIGELOW, was a resident of Lancaster, Mass. He was among the very first settlers in Rockingham, was present at the first meeting of the proprietors for organization, March 28, 1753, and the second meeting was held at his house, May 29, 1754. He took a prominent part in all movements for organizing and settling the town. He later removed to Charlestown, N. H., where he died previous to 1771. His son, Aaron, also one of the early residents of this town, removed to Groton, Mass., between 1771 and 1780.
VALENTINE BUTLER, was named as one of the proprietors of Westminster, Vt., when the New Hampshire charter was extended, June 11, 1760.
JOHN DENSMORE. In November, 1750, there was a " John Dunsmoor" living in the town of Keene, N. H., one of its first settlers,-possibly the same.
1
20
History of Rockingham
OBIDIAH DICKERSON (Obadiah Dickinson ), was of llatfield, Mass., as shown by deed on p. 188 of vol. 1, town records.
ASA DOUGLAS, was one of the proprietors of Westminster, Vt., when that charter was extended, June 11, 1760.
DAVID FARNSWORTHI, was born in Groton, Mass., August 4, 1711. He was one of the first settlers in Charlestown, N. H., in 1740; taken prisoner there by Indians in 1757.
EZRA FARNSWORTH, was born in Groton, Mass., January 17, 1733, and died in Groton, Mass., June 10, 1788. He was a cousin of David Farnsworth.
STEPHEN FARNSWORTHI, was one of the very first settlers of Charlestown, N. H., in 1740. Was captured by the Indians there in 1746, and taken to Canada. At the first proprietors' meeting in Rockingham, March 28, 1753, he was chosen on a committee " to Lay out the Land voted to be Laid out by ye Proprietors."
ANDREW GARDNER ( Rev.), was the first minister of Lunenburg, Mass., 1727 to 1732. In 1748 he was chaplain at Fort Dummer and acted also as surgeon. He acted in both capacities in Rockingham, evidently residing here occasionally. He was moderator of the first town meeting held by the citizens, in March 1761. He was the first recorded minister of Rockingham in 1770 and 1771. He removed to Bath, N. H.
ANDREW GARDNER (Jr. ), was in Deerfield in 1755. He lived in Rocking- ham and held various offices here. He was mentioned as one of the proprietors of Westminster in 1760.
PALMER GOULDING, was a prominent and wealthy citizen of Worcester, Mass. He was the leading petitioner for the charter of this township as " Num- ber Two," by Massachusetts Bay, in 1735, and was authorized to call the first meeting of the grantees in Worcester. in 1736. He was probably named as one of the grantees by Governor Wentworth because of his efforts and interest in the earlier charter.
SYLVENUS HASTINGS, probably Capt. Sylvanus, was one of the substantial early citizens and military men of Charlestown, N. H.
EBEN'R. HINDIDALE (Rev. Ebenezer Hinsdale), was born in Deerfield, Mass., in 1707 ; graduated from Harvard in 1727 ; ordained in Boston, December IIth, 1732 ; was chaplain during the Indian wars at many of the garrisons along the Connecticut river. He built a fort on land acquired by him across the river from Fort Dummer and established the town of Hinsdale. He was a colonel in the French and Indian War.
IAAZANIAH HOW (Jazeniah ), was in Deerfield, Mass., from 1765 to 1787.
SAMUEL JOHNSON, is a Lunenburg, Mass., name.
JOHN KILBUN (Kilburn ), was the first settler of Walpole, N. II., in 1749, and hero of the "Kilburn fight" with the Indians, August 17, 1755, at the south end of Mount Kilburn, which was named for him.
21
Who the Proprietors Werc
SIMEON KNIGHT, was one of the first three settlers of the town, in 1753, coming here from Northfield, Mass. He was prominent in the Indian wars, and was taken a captive to Canada in 1758, and probably died there. His residence in Rockingham was brief as the first three settlers were driven back to Northfield and Mr. Knight's service in the war was from there. His descendants were always prominent in this vicinity.
SAMUEL LARRABEE. There was a man of this name credited to Rockingham, Vt., in a New Hampshire regiment during the Revolutionary War.
JOHN MOFFETT. A man of this name was prominent in Boston, in 1777. He had much to do regarding lands in the southeastern portion of Vermont, having in his possession valuable journals and records of early date. Spelled " Moffatt."
JONAH MOOR, was one of the grantees of Walpole, N. H. He was probably son of Capt. Fairbank Moor, who married Judith Bellows, sister of Col. Benjamin Bellows.
DAVID PAGE, was a proprietor of Woodstock in 1761, and, with Jonathan Grout of Petersham, Mass., owned ten thousand acres in that town. He was a proprietor and settler of Lunenburg, Vt., in 1764. Probably a land speculator of the time, never living here.
ISAAC PARKER (Lieut.), was probably born in Groton, Mass. He lived in Deerfield, in 1718. He was an early settler of Charlestown, N. H., in 1740, and one of the first captives by the Indians there, in 1746. He was commander of the fort at " Number Four," succeeding Capt. Stevens. WILLIAM PARKER, son of Lieut. Isaac Parker, was born in Deerfield, Mass., August 19, 1710, and was an early settler of Charlestown, N. H.
WILLIAM SIMONDS (Capt. ), was an early settler of Charlestown, N. H., and removed to Rockingham as early as 1761. He was one of the foremost men in public affairs of the town during the remainder of his life. He held many offices, among them that of town clerk from 1769 to 1783, and was captain of the Rockingham company during the Revolutionary War. ASEL STEBENS (Asahel Stebbins), was born in Deerfield, Mass., May 16th, 1728, and was one of the earliest settlers of Charlestown, N. H. He was killed by the Indians, August 27, 1758, in their attack upon " Number Four."
THOMAS STEBENS (Stebbins), was probably born in Northfield, Mass., in 1730. He filled many important town offices. Was a Revolutionary soldier and " died in the army."
WILLIAM SYMS (Capt. ), was a grantee of Keene, N. H., and, in 1746 and 1755, was commander of the fort at that place.
ABIJAII WETHERBE, son of Capt. Ephraim Wetherbe, was one of the grantees of Charlestown, under their New Hampshire charter.
JONATHAN WETHERBE, son of Capt. Ephraim, was one of the grantees of Charlestown, under their New Hampshire charter.
SAMUEL WETHERBE (Capt. ), son of Capt. Ephraim, was an early settler of Charlestown, N. H., and an officer in the Revolutionary army. He was later a grantee of Concord, Vt., and settled there.
22
History of Rockingham
JOHANNA WETHERBE, was wife of Capt Ephraim Wetherbee and sister of Col. Benjamin Bellows of Walpole, N. H. She settled in Charlestown with her three sons named above. Abijah, Jonathan and Samuel.
JONATHAN WHITE, was an early resident of Rockingham, as the record of a town meeting, February 26, 1776, shows that a committee was chosen " to support the wife and children of Jonathan White."
JOSIAH WILLARD (Col. Jr.), was born in Groton, Mass., in 1716, and died in Winchester, N. H., in 1786. He commanded the garrison at Keene, N. H., in 1748, and succeeded his father in command of Fort Dummer, in 1750. Ile secured the renewal of the Westminster charter in 1760.
NATHAN WILLARD, was of Keene, N. H. Hle commanded Fort Dummer in 1757, and had the rank of Sergeant. Was a proprietor of Westminster, in 1760.
OLIVER WILLARD, was early of Winchester. N. H., later a proprietor and settler in Hartland, Vt., as early as 1763. An attorney and assistant judge of Cumberland county. Took an active part in the controversy between New Hampshire and New York authority.
WILLIAM WILLARD, was early of Deerfield, Mass. He was one of the pro- prietors of the town of Westminster, Vt., and probably settled there. He took an active part in the Westminster Massacre upon the King's side, was arrested and taken to Northampton for trial. He died at Brattleboro.
Only eight of the fifty-nine grantees of the town are known to have been actual settlers here, viz. : Jonathan Bigelow, Stephen Farnsworth, Andrew Gardner, Andrew Gardner, Jr., Simeon Knight, Samuel Larrabee, William Simonds and Jonathan White. · It is probable all the others disposed of their rights to land, receiving in some instances a material consideration and in other cases practically nothing for their grant. Col. Ben- jamin Bellows received title to many of the lots from those to whom they were granted and became the largest land holder of this section of New England. He held title to from 8,000 to 9,000 acres at his death, located in Walpole, Rockingham, Westminster, Rindge, Fitzwilliam, Keene and other adjoining towns. The larger part of this was acquired by direct grants from the New Hampshire governor, while much was acquired by purchasing title to what had been granted to others.
CHAPTER IV.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS IN TOWN -FEAR OF INDIANS CAUSED
THEIR ABANDONMENT
Although Canada had been inhabited many years by the French, and Massachusetts by the English, the first white man known to have looked upon the mountains and valleys of Vermont was Samuel Champlain, who, in 1609, some weeks before Hendrik Hudson sailed up the North River, approached what was afterward known as Vermont, from the lake later called by his name.
The first settlement by white men within the territory of Vermont was at Fort Dummer, just south of Brattleboro village, in 1724.
The first white men to reside in the tract which later became the town of Rockingham came early in 1753 and settled near the present site of the village of Rockingham. Three men, at least two of whom had been residents of Northfield, Mass., came here during that year and attempted to make permanent homes, but were obliged to return within a few months through fear of the Indians and French who were particularly active in harassing these northern-most settlements at that time.
As early as 1824 the eminent historian Zadock Thompson in his "Gazetter of Vermont" recorded the names of these men as Moses Wright, Joel Bigelow and Simeon Knight, and succeeding historians have evidently copied the names as he gave them. It is probable, however, that the name "Joel" should be "Jonathan " Bigelow. Col. Joel Bigelow was a pioneer resident of Guilford, Vt., and a noted man in the early days of Vermont. There is no record that he ever resided in Rockingham or owned property here. It is not
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History of Rockingham
known that there was any relationship between these two Bigelows. Jonathan Bigelow was a very early settler here. His dwelling is the first mentioned in the records of the town. He was one of the grantees of the town named in the charter from Governor Wentworth, and the second proprietors' meet- ing was held at his house May 29, 1754. During the remainder of his life he took a prominent part in the affairs of the town, holding various important offices. From the prominence of Col. Joel Bigelow in affairs of this county during the Revolution, it is easy to see how the error in names might have occurred, but evidently to Jonathan Bigelow should be given the credit of being one of the first three pioneers to push their way into this wilderness with their families, and to be the advance guard of the civilization, which we, as citizens of to-day, are enjoying.
These three hardy men, driven back by the marauding Indians, returned to their former homes and at least two of them appear upon the lists of those taking active part in the military service against the Indians and French during the next eight years. Moses Wright was with the Crown Point expedition in 1755, and in August, 1757, Simeon Knight was with the English army at the Fort William Henry massacre where he was taken a prisoner and carried to Canada.
From the time of the return of these settlers to Northfield, Massachusetts, until about 1760. or 1761. when they came back to Rockingham, it is probable there were no actual resi- dents in this town. A number of families made their homes here between 1760 and 1763, including Moses Wright, Jonathan Bigelow, Michael Lovell and others. The close of the French and Indian War in 1763 made it safer for the settlers in this extreme northern outpost of civilization, and from that date the town increased rapidly in population. The forests were leveled and evidences of civilization became visible in many sections of the town, particularly along the Connecticut and Williams rivers.
Fort Dummer at Brattleboro had been built in 1724, and Fort Hill on the Putney "Great Meadows" and the fort at
25
Location of First Settlement Unknown
Charlestown, "Old Number Four," the two latter in 1740. Outside of these fortified settlements, few settlers had the hardi- hood to take up land in this dangerous country at so early a date as this settlement in Rockingham was made.
"Number Four," Charlestown, was settled in 1740 by a few families and a fort built there, a small garrison being maintained most of the time.
John Kilburn had built his cabin in Walpole, a mile or so south of the "Great Falls" in 1749, and Col. Benjamin Bellows had settled two miles south of Kilburn early in 1753. There were two families in Westminster in 1751 and in 1760 the number had not increased owing to the war. With these exceptions there were no settlements in this vicinity for many miles around. The whole territory was an unbroken wilder- ness, almost impenetrable except along the larger streams.
It is impossible at the present day to state definitely where these first civilized inhabitants of Rockingham made their earlier homes. The records of the town do not begin until some years after and although each man in after years prob- ably had real estate recorded as owned by him in different localities, it does not settle the question as to where these first clearings were made and log cabins erected. History is entirely silent regarding it. One tradition places the site of their dwellings as on the north side of Williams river, just below the Rockingham railroad station on land now owned by Charles E. Weeden ; another in the vicinity of Lawrence's Mills two or three miles farther up the river ; another places it where the present village of Rockingham stands, while still another states "it must have been on the Connecticut river on the large meadows a little north of the mouth of Williams river." It is probable the question may never be definitely settled. An early historian says "the attention of the first settlers was principally directed to fishing for salmon and shad, which were then taken in great abundance at Bel- lows Falls. For this reason agriculture was, for many years, much neglected and the settlement advanced very slowly." Inasmuch as the Connecticut river was the principal high-
26
History of Rockingham
way of the marauding bands of savages when on their predatory excursions to and from the white settlements, it seems more than probable that the first three families made their homes at a distance from that river, even though they made fishing one of their principal occupations. Dur- ing the first years but few additional settlers came to join the three mentioned. Upon the termination of the war between the French and English, in 1763, settlements in the town became much more frequent, and in the year 1765 Michael Lovell and Benjamin Bellows declared there were at that time twenty-five families settled in the town, and that they had made sufficient improvements in the tillage of land and the laying out of roads to fulfill the conditions of their charter.
The first census of Rockingham, of which there is record, was taken in 1771. There were then in this township 225 souls, fifty of whom were heads of families, or married men. The enumeration was as follows: forty-eight white males under sixteen years of age, sixty-two over sixteen, four over sixty, fifty-two white females under sixteen, fifty- seven over sixteen, one colored male and one colored female, whose ages are not known. These blacks were formerly slaves in Massachusetts and were in the employment of Michael Lovell.
The grand list or property valuation of the town was first taken in 1781, with the result that it aggregated £3,363. In 1791 it had increased to £4,832 15s. In taking the above lists the prices of some of the principal articles were thus stated to the Legislature, to whom the returns were made ; " Improved land, Ios. per acre ; neat cattle, one year old, 15s. per head ; two years old, 30s. per head ; three years old and upwards, 40s. per head ; an ox, four years old and upwards, £3; horses, one year old, 20s. ; two years old, 40s. ; three years old and upwards, £4." These prices were considered as about one-half the average selling value of the different property at that time. While the ratio of increase in property in this town during that decade was a fraction over 43 per
27
Other Townships Granted
cent, the increase of property in the whole state for the same time was 140 per cent.
From 1760 the whole territory contiguous to the Con- necticut river including each of the towns north and south of Rockingham on both sides of the river, had what would now be termed a "boomed " growth. This was occasioned by the knowledge of the fertility of the soil and the advantages of being near a great waterway, like the Connecticut river. This knowledge had been gained in passing up and down during the Indian wars and by those who had been engaged as " rangers" by the government while protecting the outposts of civilization. From the time Gov. Benning Wentworth granted the first township within the limits of what is now the state of Vermont (Bennington granted in January, 1749), to 1760, only fourteen townships had been granted, including Rockingham, in 1752. Before the close of the year 1764, so actively had he been engaged in prosecuting his design of opening up this territory, and so urgent had been the call for this new land, that he had named and sold one hundred and eighteen different townships and given fourteen thousand acres of land to reduced officers. This territory included the richest and most valuable portions of land over which New Hampshire claimed jurisdiction, and left but little of the present state of Vermont ungranted. The governor's official fees, and a reservation in every township of a certain portion of land for his own use and benefit, made him one of the richest men in his own province, and put him in possession of abundance of good land, for which he rendered no com- pensation. Governor Wentworth was a loyal adherent to the Church of England and reserved for its use in each township a certain tract, as is shown by the proprietors' records of Rockingham, in addition to that reserved for his own enrich- ment.
CHAPTER V.
INDIAN OCCUPANCY- LOCAL EVENTS IN THE LAST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
History records that when the white men first came into the Connecticut valley there were but a few roving tribes of Indians in this section of New England, small remnants of great and powerful races of earlier years. In different parts of this town, particularly in the vicinity of the " Great Falls," were found ample evidences of a much larger Indian popu- lation. This is partially explained by the fact that this locality was the fighting ground between the larger Indian races, making permanent residence in the Connecticut valley hazardous.
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