USA > Vermont > Addison County > Shoreham > History of the town of Shoreham, Vermont, from the date of its charter, October 8th, 1761, to the present time > Part 12
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Athletic sports prevailed formerly more than now, ball-playing for all classes, so that there were many accomplished players, and match-games were played for the honors and the supper, on a chal- lenge with neighboring towns. On training days, the companies felt injured if not dismissed in season for a game ; at raisings, the sport was in order when the work was done. Wrestling had its champions, coming down from the first generation, and their imita-
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
tore rising in the third. Captain Thomas Barnum excelled in this class of exercises, and was said to clear forty-five feet at a hop, step and jump. His sons, Truman and Simeon, inherited this ath- letic vigor. They would cut and cord their four cords of hard wood per day, and be on hand for the favorite sport when the feat was over. The first named of the sons died at Chicago some fifteen years since, while engaged upon the strect improvements of that young metropolis.
The Ladies of the early settlement are less often commemorated than the men, whose names they bore. There was much sickness which prevailed, and the memories of some survive to this day, em- balmed in charity. Mrs. King and Mrs. Hunt were daughters of James Moore. Mrs. Gardner is still living at the age of ninety, who has brought up eleven children, none of them her own. The charm of youthful beauty patriarchal times has been recorded. It has glowed and attracted here, and not a virtue has been wanting in the household, of which the promise seemed to whisper in the bloom of youth.
Somewhat of the dignity and display of dress accompanied the emigrants from the older States, but the habits of the new country favored a simplicity which grew out of their position. Furs were more worn for dress, than they had ever been in Massachusetts or Connecticut. These, taken and prepared by the settlers, were fitted into articles of comfort and ornament. The beaver hat, made in the older region, better than any now worn, was preserved by some men of magisterial dignity, the gold beads, all but universal with the sex at that period, could not be relinquished, shoe and knee buckles of silver tempted the sedate gaze of those who aimed to set a salu- tary example before the young, and the scarlet cloak of wool, spun and wove in the family, as if bought with a great price, set off the person of the maiden with credit that was preparing to be saluted with reverence in lighter years. The short-gown at home was uni- versal, the great and little spinning-wheels made their seasonable music during the year, the loom filling up the intervals. Deer skin, the tanning of which was an art of the day, was worn for nether garments by the men, and for gaiters and moccasins by both
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sexes. Chintz had the place of style of damask elsewhere, for the simpler calico was not yet introduced, but the usual summer wear of both sexes was of linen wrought in the family.
Clocks were rare up to 1805 or 6, when they were introduced by a Mr. Pope of Connecticut, who made head-quarters at Gen. Chipman's and sold them about the country at twenty-three dol- lars. The time before this was taken from noon-marks and the position of the sun, but watches were carried by the men.
The first two-horse waggon, remembered in Shoreham by one of our oldest citizens, was introduced from New Jersey. About the year 1810, the first one horse waggon was brought into town. Be- fore that the people mostly performed their journeys, visited and went to meeting on horse-back, two persons often riding on one horse. If the two were a gentleman and lady, the gentleman rode on a saddle before, and the lady on a pillion behind him. I have been informed by one man, that in 1793, while he was an infant, he was carried by his mother on horse-back one hundred and ten miles to Warwick, Mass. Another, the parental hive of whos e family was in Sheffield, tells the same experience of infant history at about the same time. It was the way of such journeying in that day.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
CHAPTER XXIV.
MISCELLANEOUS-ADDITIONAL FACTS AND ANECDOTES-MONEY DIGGING.
When Allen's party came on from Castleton, Daniel Newton was chopping on the place afterward owned by Captain Cutting and by Mr. Randall, now by Benjamin Hurlbert. He set his axe up by the side of a tree, and joined the party. He went into the army and did not return to his place till seven years afterward, when he found the axe where he left it. He took it up, when it dropped from the helve and cut him on the back part of his ancle as it fell.
At the time of the Plattsburgh alarm, Captain Nathaniel North, in company with neighbors, was making a log coal-pit, on the southi part of the farm now occupied by John Ward. The news of the threatening invasion was communicated to him by his son Marvin, then a lad of fourteen years. All immediately stopped work, and, with one exception, said they would go immediately to repel the hostile invaders. The hesitating individual had made an engage- ment of a more amicable nature, having the claim of priority, and may perhaps be forgiven that he preferred the banner of rosy Cupid to that of bloody Mars.
A traditional anecdote of Gideon Sisson furnishes an illustration of trouble under the gentler standard, perhaps for want of the coun- tersign :- A gentleman from Canada, a native of France, as he was traveling through the country, put up in the north part of the County for the night, where he was hospitably entertained by the lady of the house. On taking his leave in the morning, he ven-
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
tured the salutation common in his own country, with which she thought herself to have been grossly insulted. The family were indignant, had him arrested by an officer, conducted to Middlebury and lodged in jail. Being unable to make himself understood in the English language, it was not in his power to explain his con- duct. His case excited considerable attention, and became the topic of conversation, while Hon. Charles Rich was present. Pitying the condition of the stranger, who appeared to be a gentleman in his manners, about to be brought forth for trial without the power to plead his own case, or to employ counsel to whom he could ex- plain his conduct, Mr. Rich remarked that there was a man in Shoreham who well understood and could talk the French lan- guage, and he thought he ought to be sent for. A messenger was accordingly dispatched who brought Mr. Sisson, the learned teach- er, who immediately held an interview with the prisoner, and at the proper time went with him before the court, and stated in his behalf that he meant no incivility, and that as he had been hospit- ably entertained, he had only done that which the laws of courtesy required in his own country. The explanation given by Mr. Sis- son was satisfactory, and the accused was immediately released. The stranger was deeply affected, parted with him, who had inter- posed as his friend, with many expressions of gratitude for his kind- ness, and generously rewarded him for his services.
On the Plattsburgh expedition, the infantry might have crossed the Lake on Saturday night, but their captain refused to go for- ward without a full supply of ammunition and provisions, leav- ing the proper stores of his company behind him. A portion of them blamed his untimely prudence, but a brief experience of mil- itary service satisfied them of his sagacity and foresight, and they frankly asked his pardon for their impatience. When their land- ing had been made, and, early in the morning of the next day, a quick march was to be made, Captain Hand directed his men to eat as they marched, and while others halted for their breakfast, his company had taken the lead of those who were hastening to the aid of their countrymen. As it happened, they were the first to meet the news of the retreat of the enemy.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
Thomas Barnum, on the same expedition, went with his team to carry the volunteers, and, though aged, was so enthusiastic as to cross over with them to the seat of war. The story is told of Deacon Stephen Barnum, in the Revolution, that he was on guard on Mount Independence at a pile of wood. The commanding General was known to him, and approached him without being challenged, and while praising his gun, got possession of it. The General, af- ter alarming him for his carelessness, restored it on the promise that he would never fail in his duty again, and said he would take a stick or two of the wood. The wood being in hand, the General was bidden to stand, and marched at onee to the guard-house, and detained till the Captain of the Guard chose to come and release him.
T. J. Ormsbee was a humourist, and many good stories are re- peated of his practical jokes. The most extraordinary, on account of the parties concerned and the peculiar excitement said to have been occasioned, was that which related to a pious Elder and his wife of Bridport, of whom Ormsbee reported they were seen pulling hair in their own door-yard. The matter spread, and though whispered at first, the scandal became violent and in due time raised an appro- priate inquiry in the church. Ormsbee was called to testify, and went as soon as practicable to the point : He had reported the fact, he saw it himself, the lady pouring scalding water, and the Elder, with a hoe, pulling hair from a slaughtered pig lying on an ox sled. This unequivocal testimony quieted the scandal which had arisen, and satisfied the public.
In the Canada trade, oak timber, as has been said, was a favorite article, and brought an important return of money. Ashbel Catlin, Senior, went in for his son with this article, and in leaving the Province had some close adventures in running out his specie. The export of this was forbidden, and at the suggestion of his son, John B., it came out as powder, the first layer in the cask being well cov- ered with that article. What is this ? said the officer of customs, examining it. John B. says it is powder; said the veteran without flinching. This was not satisfactory to the officer, who was proceed- ing to examine further, when the carrier drew his pistol, and point-
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
ing the muzzle at the contents of the cask-Touch it, said he, and we all go together ! The officer passed him.
A story is told, recited imperfectly in its important circumstances from a very dim tradition, of the earlier mail-carrier, trained to bring out the weekly budget of letters, in the days when they were received at Middlebury. The fact seems incredible, but not the incident, which was that the dog, a Newfoundland, passing the Lem- on Fair, saw a mink which had just been shot, floating at the sur- face. His package was about his neck, but unmindful of his re- sponsibility, in he plunged and brought the mink safely to the gun- ner, but his mail a little the worse for the water. Others say, it was a child that was fallen in the water, and that the dog laid down the bag, in which his trust was carried in his mouth, and rescued the boy, and then shook himself and went on his way with his burden. So difficult it is to get at the truth of so doubtful a mat- ter.
When the first Meeting House was raised in 1800, the people were assembled from all the country around to witness the procced- ings, deeply interested in so rare an occurrence in those early days, all participating in the joy and hilarity of the occasion. After the last timber had been laid upon the belfrey, a man of the name of Mark Mazouson went up and stood with his head downward on the cross timber, and his feet in the air. It was the proper posi- tion for his feet, if his head was heavy enough to steady them. Some say he stood thus on the shoulder of the post. This was thought at the time a wonderful feat and greatly amused the spec- tators, but was greatly out-done about four years afterward, when the cupola was finished, by Randall Wells, an apprentice, who went up the lightning rod and stood with his foot in the forks.
MONEY DIGGING .- About the year 1792, many people were much excited by one of those occurrences, which at an early day were not very rare in some other parts of the country.
A Scotchman of the name of Robert Barter, who then lived where Mr. Dennis formerly lived, dreamed three times in one night that he saw a pot of money deposited under a log on land now owned by Penn Frost, a few rods north of his barn on the east side
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of the road. He began to dig for the money, but got frightened by some strange appearances. He afterward purchased the land, and let others dig upon it, on condition of sharing with them in the treasure if any should be found.
Jabez Barnum afterward purchased the land, and engaged in digging, and permitted others to dig. The digging was generally done in the night, and many strange fancies occurred, such as at- traction of mineral rods, the movement of the money from one place to another. This excitement lasted seven or eight years, and men came to dig there from the distance of thirty or forty miles.
About the year 1794 many people in this and the neighboring towns were excited, by one of those singular instances which in former times was regarded as an omen of some hidden treasure, re- vealed by a mysterious supernatural agency. The cause of this excitement, which lasted several years, and induced many to dig for money, is thus given by one living near the scene of operations. "A man of the name of John M'Ginnis dreamed one night that a man came to him and said if he would, in the morning, take his butcher knife and go to Mr. Treadway's and grind it, and not tell any one why he did so, a large dog would come to him while grind- ing the knife, and if then he would go alone to a certain place and commence digging by the side of a log, a small sized man would come to him just as he should get near the money, and that if he would not speak to him, but kill him, he would succeed in getting it. The next morning M'Ginnis began to follow out the suggestions of his dream. While grinding his knife, Treadway's dog came to the grind-stone. IIe then went to the place designated and com- menced digging. After digging for a while, he took his crow bar, and striking it into the ground he thought he heard a noise, like the jingling of dollars, when he involuntarily exclaimed, "There, I've found it!" and looking behind him, he saw Mr. Treadway close by him, answering in appearance to the vision of his dream. Instead of killing the man, as directed, he kept on digging, but heard no more jingling of dollars, and found no money. But others, excited to dig for the precious treasure, saw strange sights, and heard strange
19
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sounds, which for a long time kept up the mania for money digging." Money digging was also carried on at a place called stony spring, near Solomon Bissell's waggon shed. It is said that parts of shov- els, sleeve buttons, knives, &c., were found there, which is not im- probable, as that spring affords a convenient place for refreshment and encampment of the troops, employed in the opening of the Crown Point road in the time of the French war, and was a common rest- ing place for the soldiers, and parties passing that way, in the time of the Revolution. That there was much deception and imposition practised in getting up the excitement at first is doubtless true, and still more were probably employed to keep it alive. Old Mrs. M'Ginnis affected to be much displeased that others should come to get away her son's treasures. One night she frightened away a party of diggers, by carrying a torch, elevated upon a long pole. Mrs. M'Ginnis and a woman of the name of Hogle, in that neigh- borhood, were professed fortune-tellers, to whom multitudes at one time resorted to have the future of their lives revealed to them. Even members of the church became implicated in patronizing their arts of necromancy and delusion. So great had the evil become, that the Congregational church passed a resolution making it a disciplinable offence in any member who should consult a fortune- teller. How much those families, in which this delusion originated, were interested by the money which they might have received, for refreshments furnished and aid rendered to those who resorted to this place to dig for money, we have no means of judging. It was no doubt a sufficient motive to prompt them to use every art to keep the excitement alive, which it was not difficult to accomplish, when so many believed in apparitions, ghosts and witchcraft.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
CHAPTER XXV.
STATISTICAL-POPULATION- PROPERTY-TAXES-WAGES-REG- ISTRATION RETURNS-GRADUATES.
POPULATION OF SHOREHAM-SUMMARY.
From the United States Census for 1860.
Whole number,
1382
Farmers,
198
Males,
696
Farm Laborers,
148
Females,
686
Mechanics,
51
Over 70 years,
52
Domestics,
74
Born in Vermont,
904
Merchants,
5
Lower Canada,
191
Clergymen,
2
New York,
105
Physician,
1
Ireland,
69
Taverners,
2
Massachusetts,
33
Dress Makers and Milliners.
3
New Hampshire,
15
Dentist,
1
Other N. E. States,
10
Insane,
3
Other States,
11
Idiotic,
2
Other Foreign,
4
Blind,
1
In School,
362
Cannot read and write,
74
A slight deficiency appears, in the sheets of the Census deposited in the County Clerk's office, in noting the place of birth of the younger members of a few families : some omissions may occur in transcribing. Sons of farmers, in a few instances, may be num- bered in their class, without implying ownership of farms.
" SOCIAL STATISTICS," OF U. S. CENSUS OF 1860.
From Assessors Books.
Real Estate,
$521,055
Personal "
178,463
$699,518
True Valuation, $931,690. From Census Returns.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
TAXES FOR 1859.
Town Tax, $1250 00, paid in Cash School Tax, $1688 00, paid in Cash
State " 1316 00, Road " 1184 00,paid in Work
SCHOOLS.
Academy-2 to 4 Teachers, 60 Pupils, Income from Quarter Bills.
Common Schools 12 in number. Pupils 350.
Paid from Taxes $1060, Public Funds $660.
CHURCHES.
Congregational, No. of Sittings, 400 Universalist, No. of Sittings, 350
Value of Property, $8,500 Value of Property, $8,000
LIBRARIES.
Town. 650 volumes. Univ. Sunday School, 150 volumes.
Cong. Sunday School, 225
Five Private Libraries, 1500 ..
PAUPERS, JUNE 1, 1860.
4 Native, 3 Foreign. Average cost per year, $550 00. WAGES.
Farm Laborers from $12 to 16 2-3 per month, per year.
Female Domestics, 1 to 2.00 per week.
Carpenters, without board, 1 to 1,75 per day.
Laborers. " av. 1,00 per day.
Board for Laborers, 2.00 per week.
A portion of the estimates above given, from the Census returns, are here corrected from other sources.
BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES.
A synopsis of the official reports, made under the Registration Act of 1856, is given below in a communication from Prof. Charles L. Allen, M. D., of the Castleton Medical College, by whom, as Chairman of a Committee of the Vermont Medical Society, the Reports, heretofore published by the State, have been prepared and presented. It is hinted that the returns may not be wholly perfect, and that the time under consideration is too limited to warrant very positive inferences :
During the years 1857 to 1860 inclusive, the returns to the of- fice of the Secretary of State, from the town of Shoreham, show
Births 115-males 63, females 52. Marriages 32. Deaths 95-males 42, females 53.
This indicates one birth to have taken place annually among ev- ery forty-nine persons ; one marriage among every one hundred and
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
seventy-two persons; and one death among every fifty-seven per- sons of the population, or a mortality of a little less than two per cent. The ordinary mortality of rural regions ranges from one and one-half to two per cent.
The average age of those dying was a trifle over thirty-eight years, being a little above the average for the State.
About one quarter of the deaths were of children under five years of age. A little more than one quarter were of persons over seventy years of age, being about five per cent. more than the gen- eral average for the State.
The greatest number of deaths occurred in the month of March, the next greatest in October, and the least number in December.
Consumption, although the most prominent cause of death, does not seem to be as prevalent in this town as in many other parts of the State. Seventeen per cent. of the deaths were from this dis- ease. The general average of the State exhibits about twenty-two per cent. of the deaths from this cause.
One tenth of the deaths were attributed simply or mainly to old age, considerably above the average in this or other States.
GRADUATES OF COLLEGES FROM SHOREIIAM.
BY REV. E. CHAMBERLIN.
NAMES
COLLEGE. Middlebury College,
YEAR. 1803.
Lawyer.
Silas Chipman,
1815.
Cong. Minister.
Samuel Wolcott,
1815.
Lawyer.
Joel Turrill
1816.
Lawyer.
Henry Howe, . ..
1817.
Cong. Minister.
Richard C, Hand
1822.
Cong. Minister.
Henry Lewis,
1822,
Lawyer.
John S. Chipman,
1823.
Lawyer.
Edgar L. Ormsbee, .
1823.
Lawyer.
Eli B. Smith, D. D.,
1823.
Bap. Minister.
Joseph N. Chipman,
1828.
Lawyer.
Sendol B. Munger,
1827.
For. Mission'y.
Samuel S. Howe,
1829.
Cong. Minister.
Asa Hemenway
1835.
For. Mission'y.
Louis Doolittle,
1836.
Lawyer.
John Ramsdell.
1837.
Lawyer.
William Wines,
1337.
Teacher.
PROFESSION.
Edward S. Stewart, .
.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
Byron Sunderland,
COLLEGE. Middlebury College,
YEAR. 1838.
PROFESSION. Pres. Minister
Daniel E. Morton
Lawyer.
William Schuyler Martin,
1836.
Teacher.
Charles K. Wright,
1844.
Lawyer.
Gustavus B. Wright,
1848.
Davis J. Rich,
1848.
Lawyer.
Henry Barnum,
1858.
Teacher.
Alva Wood,
Yale College,
1810.
Pres't College.
Henry N. Kellogg
Union College, 1857.
John T. Wolcott,
Lawyer. Cong. Minister.
Benjamin Larrabee
Wesleyan Seminary,
Charles W. Rich,
University of Vermont,
1856.
Romeo B. Petty,.
1857.
. Lawyer.
Robert E. Hitchcock,
Norwich University, 1860.
Eli Hunter,
Middlebury College,
Cong. Minister.
Joseph Ilurlburt,.
Cong. Minister
PROFESSIONAL MEN NOT GRADUATES OF COLLEGES.
George Cutting, Baptist Minister.
Minor Y. Turrill, Physician. Milo Smith, Engineer.
Henry Hunter, Cong. Minister.
George Rowley, Cong. Minister.
Augustus C. Hand, Lawyer.
LADIES, BECAME FOREIGN MISSIONARIES.
Thomas J. Ormsbee, Lawyer.
Eli Smith, Physician.
John Smith, Physician.
Nelson Chipman, Physician.
Mrs. Ann (Hemenway) Caswell, Siam. Mrs. Lucia (Hunt) Hemenway, Siam. Mrs. Jenette (Jones) Winchester, Turkey
Prest. Sem.
Vernon Wolcott,
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
CHAPTER XXVI.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-PAUL MOORE-COL. POND-JAMES MOORE.
PAUL MOORE was one of the company who came in 1766. His character is interesting chiefly as a daring and fearless adventurer, and for the conspicuous part which he acted in the settlement of this town. He was born in Worcester, Mass., in 1731. He ran away from his parents at the age of twelve years, and went to sea. He spent more than twenty years of his life on the ocean. Once the vessel in which he sailed had sprung a leak, and all on board were in peril of their lives, when Moore jumped overboard and stopped the leak, by a cake of tallow thrust in at the breach in its planking. After his return from sea, he went to Vermont with some of the soldiers in the French war. He had two brothers in the service, one of whom was a Lieutenant, and commanded a company near Lake George. and was killed in an engagement with the enemy. After the close of that war, he spent much of his time in hunting in the vicinity of the lake, probably as early as 1763, or 1764. In the fall and winter of 1765 he spent six months in Shoreham, in a hut which he constructed of pine and hemlock boughs, without seeing a human being the whole time.
That winter he caught seventy beavers. For several winters af- ter that, he spent his time in hunting for furs, in which he was so successful as to accumulate a small property. Some time after the year 1766, Moore happened to be at Fort Ticonderoga, and got into a dispute with Colonel Hayes, the commander. The story is that Hayes asked Moore what he was there for, and that he otherwise
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
insulted him, calling him a liar, &c. Moore answered him, much in his own style, whereupon Hayes struck him. Moore, being lame, carried a cane, with which he struck back. The affair re- sulted in a suit, in which it was necessary to prove who struck first. One of the witnesses testified that he saw the affray, but could not tell who struck first. One thing he knew, Mr. Moore struck two blows to Col. Hayes' one.
During the contests between the Green Mountain Boys and the Yorkers, as they were called, Ethan Allen, Seth Warner and one Smith were frequently at Moore's house. He strongly sympathised with them in their efforts to maintain the rights of those who held their lands under the grants of the Governor of New Hampshire. As he was lame, he took no active part with them in their expedi- tions to dispossess the settlers under the grants of the New York government. He claimed, therefore, the rights of a privileged person, a neutral, under no obligation to enter into the contests of either party, so long as he was permitted to remain on his own lands unmolested. In the years 1772 and 1773, Allen, Warner, Baker and others, in their expeditions to the North to dispossess and drive off the New York intruders, often shared in Moore's hospi- tality.
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